4S 



thought of for a moment. Once I overstretched myself, and 

 canoe and all were within an ace of being upset. At last success 

 attended us — I secured a piece of board, and the first employ- 

 ment of it was the conferring a good sound thwack on Jean Qros/ 



shoulders, accompanied with "Ramez! s , ramez!" The 



effect was electrical — the old fellow seized the board and began 

 to paddle vigorously, steering, as we approached an island, 

 down the smaller branch, where the rapid could be passed with 

 safety. By great good luck our co-voyageur in the water, took 

 the same channel, and down the stream we all went merrily for 

 half a mile. The rapid ended in a deep and quiet hole where the 

 fish was soon gaffed ; and after a little rest, and a coup of bran- 

 dy to the old man, notwithstanding his delinquencies, he placed . 

 the canoe on his shoulders, I carried the fish and we returned by 

 the bank. 



" The practicability of passing the smaller rapid being thus es- 

 tablished, Wingfield, two or three days after, having hooked a 

 large salmon, and not being able to prevent it from going down 

 guided it in the canoe through the same branch of the river ; but, 

 unfortunately the line caught in a rock near the bottom and the 

 fish broke off. 



" We spent a delightful fortnight at Malbaie, killing many 

 fine salmon, and a great number of magnificent trout ; whilst 

 we employed our servant, when we were fishing, in pickling, 

 smoking, or salting them. But the season became dry — the river 

 fell, and the fish ceased to run in any considerable numbers. 

 Towards the end of July we struck our tent, embarked in a large 

 boat and proceeded twenty miles down the North shore of the 

 St. Lawrence, with the intention of exploring a small salmon 

 stream, called " La Eiviere Noire," which, it was said, had ne- 

 ver been fished. 



" The North shore of the great Canadian Estuary, is an inte- 

 resting field for the Geologist and it has not yet been half explor- 

 ed. Indeed a comprehensive and scientific research through 

 both these great Provinces is yet to be made ; and would, I am 

 persuaded, develop great natural riches, as well as many objects 



