254 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



the air, notwithstanding the island generally presented 

 the same flat level top as the others — thus showing 

 in its different parts the opposite forms of mirage at the 

 same time. 



Something like this occurs frequently in the straits of 

 Belle-Isle, where the Labrador coast exhibits the flattened 

 tops, walled sides, and other marks of the mirage which 

 is connected with a cold surface ; whilst on the Newfound- 

 land side the horizon is depressed, and the points and low 

 shores of the headlands consequently lifted into the air. 



The most remarkable mirages over water have occurred 

 in straits, — those seen by Mr. Vince at Dover, and the cele- 

 brated Fata ]\Iorgagna at IMessina. In the St. Lawrence 

 they are most frequently observed and present the greatest 

 varieties in similar situations, as at Bic, Point des Monts, 

 Mingan, and the Straits of Belle-Isle. 



But to return to our story. The crescents continued 

 gradually to approach, and, as they did so, to become less 

 elevated at the horns, until after a short time they stood 

 revealed before us in their true character, as two whale 

 boats each having one man standing up in the stern steer- 

 ing with a long oar, and another in the bow armed with 

 the fatal harpoon. Almost at the same instant that we 

 discerned these things clearly, the mist which had previ- 

 ously obstructed our view and distorted what we saw, was 

 withdrawn as the lifting up of a veil, and presented to us 

 clearly the whaling vessel to which the boats belonged, and, 



