pool, taking line off the reel ad libitum, until he was 
checked by a pressure of the thumb. 
The cautious angler always thumbs his line—that is, he 
keeps a pressure upon it against the- but of the rod while 
it is passing off the reel, and is thus enabled to feel his 
fish all tho time, and to a degree control him. Fish when 
hooked generally make for the upper stream. Their in¬ 
stinct is upward. A fish only goes down stream when he 
is dazed and bewildered. I don’t think a headlong pitob 
down stream is ever a part of his recognized tactics. 
When a fish gets into a rapid he is swept down like any 
dead body. He makes no effort to bore Me way up, but 
merely tugs at the line in an obstinate endeavor to get 
loose somehow, and is swept down until he brings up in 
still water. As a rule the methods of a salmon on the 
hook are a series of short runs alternating with circular 
sweeps. Indeed, what can he do otherwise, with a per¬ 
pendicular lifting power at his nose. which never relaxes 
except when he temporarily ceases his own exertions? 
Then, of course, the angler reels him in at once, passive, 
and tending toward the shore and the fatal gaff, and there 
is nothing for Mm to do but to make another desperate 
break for liberty, and pull away with all his might. 
When he does this, he makes the reel sing again, which 
is the music the angler likes so much to hear. It must be 
a prodigious exertion which enables him to dive and hold 
on to the bottom for so long a. time as he often does, say 
twenty minutes or more! People call this manoeuvre 
“ sulking." Perhaps it is. Rather let us regard it as dog¬ 
ged obstinacy and sullen determination. I am quite pre¬ 
pared to say that the salmon knows instinctively that if 
he yields he will be brought to gaff, and that if he runs 
again he will only exhaust Mmself. Let us give him 
credit for some reasoning faculties, He is simply cogita¬ 
ting down there on the bottom—thinking what tactics to 
try next. 
Ha ! did you notice that tremendous motion? Did 
you feel him shake his head? Look out now ! lie is get¬ 
ting ready for a spurt. Experience has taught the pro¬ 
fessional angler what to expect, and—surely enough, there 
ho goes, straight for the top, through the surface, and 
clean out of the water ? “What a glorious leap! Now 
drop your tip handsomely. Let your pliant rod make its 
most obsequious bow. The strategy of the noble captive 
deservs appreciative recognition. There! that was done 
well, and the fisli is still fast. Had the line been kept 
taut he would have thrown Iris whole weight on it and 
snapped it in a twin klin g. Now we feel more certain ot 
a capture. Those double Kelso hooks hold well. Now 
let us try aud tow him to the land, Reel in firmly, and 
watch carefully ; he may make another jump. Walk 
him up the beach. Just now is a critical juncture, and 
much depends upon the steadiness of the angler and the 
dexterity and judgment of the gaffer, and not a little also 
upon the temper of the fish, which is not always as dead 
a cock.as he seems. Many a goodly salmon has been lost 
at the very moment when victory seemed most positively 
won. I have sometimes stood breathless, watching a 
comrade heaving in steadily on his fish and gradually 
bringing him to shore, with his rod bent almost double, 
while the clumsy gaffer floundered in knee-deep, and 
lunging wildly, barely managed to scratch the struggling 
fish as he walloped past in full career for the centre pool, 
ready to prolong the battle. 
1. Not so with my Gregroire. See how the agile French¬ 
man watches each movement, craning Ms neck forward, 
and holding his gaff in readiness. He keeps out of sight 
of the fish as much as he can ; and never makes a false 
coup. Clip ! splash ! There, he has Mm ! Let your reel 
run now, and give the rod a rest. A sharp blow on the 
head with a billet will give the fish Ms quietus, and you 
may contemplate him at your leisure. There is no object 
in nature more beautiful to the eye of the angler. 
While I was killing my salmon, my friend Manuel was 
pitching his fly persistently at the tail of the pool, There 
was a heavy curl just where the water broke into the 
rapids, and, he felt confident of a fish ; but not a reward 
of merit did he get. Finally, just as he was about to give 
over in disgust, he was favored with a heavy foil and a 
sharp tug, followed by a well arched rod, which hidicated 
that business was on hand. As usual, the fish ran up the 
pool, but with a most desperate rush, half emptying the 
reel, These desperate rushes are what wemostly read of, 
hut sometimes they do occur, and this was one of them. 
Manuel ran up the beach as fast as he could, taking in 
slack as fast as he could all the time; and then for a J ew 
minutes it looked as though he were to have an easy 
capture. The fish was lively enough, and evidently a 
large one; but he kept in the center pool, and the chances 
were lovely. However, he soon took a new departure, 
and ran for the bottom, taking all the line which Manuel 
had industriously retrieved, Manuel shoved the but of 
the rod full at Mm, and checked Mm for a moment, just 
at the verge of the. broken water; but the full power of 
the current had already caught him, and a clothes line 
couldn’t have held him there. Down the rapids he went 
in full career, taking fathom after fathom of line, and 
making the reel sing like a rattle, while Manuel followed 
as fast as he could legit, until he was brought up standing 
by a projecting cliff. He-could go no further, and the 
sahnon was accounted a lost fish. However, just at the 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
critical moment, when the one hundred yards of line had 
nearly run off, and something had to give way, the sal¬ 
mon got into an eddy behind a big boulder, and hung 
there. By this time the angler waB dripping with perspi¬ 
ration, and pretty well blown ; but he held to liis rod 
valliantly, keeping it well up, while the gaffer scrambled 
over the rooks, and making a little detour through tho 
woods, came out at the right spot, and succeeded in gaff¬ 
ing him—a fish weighingtwenty-three pounds, and a prize 
well earned. 
Very similar was a capture made at the “Shea” pool 
on a subsequent day, only more brilliant, for there were 
more boulders in the rapid, by any one of which the line 
was liable to be cut. The sun was shining brightly at the 
time, and we could trace the taut glistening line, stretch¬ 
ing like a telegraph wire from the tip of the rod away 
down to where the fish hud come to anchor a hundred 
yards below. His halting place happened to be at the 
head of an island which formed one side of a pool where 
another party was fishing fronva boat. So the gaffer ran 
down the main shore, took the boat, paddled over to the 
island, and after much wading and scramblingover rocks, 
succeeded in hauling Mm. out with his gaff. 
Lunch time came soon, and we proceeded to investi¬ 
gate the hamper which our man had brought with Jiim. 
There was a little hoard shelter built against the side of 
the cliff, with a flat rock underneath to serve as a table. A 
jet of ice-cold water trickled out of the rocks close by, 
and all the conditions being favorable, a good digestion 
waited on appetite. One of the most acceptable items of 
the supply was a can of fresh beef, prepared by the 
Boston Beef Packing Company, who had kindly presented 
us with a lot for uso on the expedition. We used tins 
beef on several occasions, serving it in different styles, 
and found it very palatable and nutritious. I am dis¬ 
posed to recommend it to all camping parties. WMle we 
were eating, our guide told us that later in the season the 
salmon were accustomed to gather in great masses at the 
head of the pool, just under the grand cascade, prepara¬ 
tory to their ascent of the long chute, up which they have 
a toilsome journey of ten miles before they reach another 
pool. Once Comeau, the river guardian, dove into a 
huddle of them, and brought one out with his hands 1 
An otter could not have done better. How he avoided 
being sucked in under the fall is a wonder. 
After luncheon we went down the river, following the 
path along the lofty cliffs which overlook the channel, 
passing the “ Chartres ” and the “ Eagle.” pools, which 
are scarcely pools at all, but merely breaks in the boiling 
rapids. They are sometimes fished at a low stage of 
water, but not often. Then we reached the “Indian” 
pool, and hauled ourselves across to the opposite shore in 
a boat whioh is always stationed there, made fast by a 
strong cable to the rocks above. It is a dangerous place, 
tuid nothing could save disaster if the boat should chance 
to drift into the rapids below. Some excellent scores are 
sometimes made here. A short walk through the woods 
brought ns to the “Doctor’s Stone,” which is a famous 
cast, and generally yields a fish. TMs is a short pool, not 
more than twenty yards in length, and the only cast is 
from a big boulder a little way from shore. The fish 
must be hooked, if hooked at all, directly from the curl of 
the rapid at the tail of the pool. Here Manuel made a 
half dozen seductive casts, and was rewarded with a 
spanking rise and a firm fasten. I had been asked to try 
this ticklish pool, but declined. I was now greatly inter¬ 
ested to watch the outcome. The game began on the 
instant. Of course it was impossible to give an inch more 
line. It was feet foremost and check from the start to 
finish. Fortunately the fish was only a twelve-pounder. 
He showed his inches at the very outset by a desperate 
leap, for the lifting power of the rod was tremendous, and 
the current very strong. What else could he do but 
leap against such lateral pressure? Down chucked the 
rod in a twinkling, and out of sight went the tish ! Out 
into the air he comes again, flying, and again the rod 
drops! Out a third time, with a shower of spray all 
around him, and a third time the rod makes deferential 
obeisance ! All this in the brief space of a couple of 
minutes. Then he dove to the bottom, and made a swift 
circuit of-the pool, but the unrelenting rod soon brought 
him near the surface again, and lie seemed preparing for 
another leap. Just here came a shout from an unseen 
presence on the shore, “ Slew him ! ” It was a call from 
Gilmour. The fish was then surging toward the bank, 
and instantly the rod responded with a tremendous sweep, 
wMch accelerated the impetus of the fish, and actually 
“slewed ” him iifto the embrace of the ready gaffer, who 
lifted him to terra firma in a jiffy. Time, five minutes. 
Satisfied with this exploit, we next walked down to the 
“Shea.” There I was detailed for duty. The Shea is a 
difficult pool to fish, and requires the same tactics as the 
Doctor’s Stone. The fish must be killed quickly, or no 
count. The river is wide here, and the pool, which is on 
the further side, is reached by a series of seven Jong lad¬ 
ders laid over the boulders. By walking- out to the end 
of these we get an admirable east. One seldom fails to 
raise a fish, and it is generally considered good for three 
or four. It is double the length of the Doctor's Stone, 
and a rise can only be tempted by a very long cast. Only 
the longest pole will reach the persimmon. I did my 
531 
level heat, and after a few casts struck a flsh, and had the 
good fortune to lead liim up to the very head of the pool, 
after a severe scramble over a series of rocks. Thereby I 
gained a very fair margin of advantage, and the fish soon 
came to gaff easily, without any exciting incidents. Very 
soon afterwards I fastened to a second fish, and then I 
had an opportunity to show that I was an apt scholar. I 
gave my beauty no latitude, but held steadily to my grip, 
When he leaped, I dropped ; when he bolted, X snubbed 
him ; and when he swung across current, I slaved Mm 1 
After a sharp tussel of ten minutes or so, he came to gaff 
in good form. The applause which followed was hearty 
and generous. 
Before sundown we had the pleasure of seeing some 
very pretty work at tho “ Belle,” where Farquharson 
Smith, of the Bunk of British North America, was busy. 
He is a most skillful angler, who knows the pool well. It 
was good sport to see him fast en to a fish, casting from the 
shore, and then follow Mm down totlie foot of the rapids, 
where leaping into a boat, he would kill hhn at his leisure 
in the still water below. This he had already done re¬ 
peatedly, until the day’s score reached seven. Fain would 
I fight all our battles over, audrecount on paper the deeds 
of valor which we jointly and severally performed. The 
river is so varied in its physical features, and each contest 
so different in its character, that I could reel off letter 
after letter in their description if my readers would only 
carry off line like a fresh-run salmon ; but I know that 
many of them must be already surfeited with fish, and 
therefore I wind up here, It cannot be always Lent or 
Friday, 
My kind host set mo across the St. Lawrence one fine 
day when the sea was calm and the skies were without a 
cloud. I bade adieu to the Godbout with a natural regret, 
and landing at the old French town of Rimouski, made 
my way to Quebec by the Inter-ColoMal railway, aud 
thence homeward. My rod is stowed away in its case, 
and my Teel is mute. While I write, the camp on the 
Godbout is tenantless. The whole party have left tho 
river, and the sahnon have a free run undisturbed. May 
they never be vexed by net or spear ! Hallock, 
GAME PROTECTION. 
Co-operative Game Laws In Canada. —The Quebec 
Association for the Protection of Game, of which Mr. A. 
N. Sliewan is Secretary and one of its most efficient 
members, is doing a great deal for the cause in the New 
Dominion. Indeed, if it were not for this body of gentle¬ 
men, protection would hardly be thought of, or at least 
practically considered. The last movement of the society 
has been just now to prepare petitions in French and 
English to be presented to the Governor aud Legislature 
of the Province, for the improvement of existing game 
laws and their better enforcement, and to send copies 
thereof broadcast throughout the Province for signatures. 
Tire changes which the petition calls for are: that deer¬ 
shooting shall be prohibited in tho winter months, and 
that the destruction of black ducks and other ducks wMoh 
breed there shall not be allowed in spring, when tho birds 
are pairing and nesting. It concludes by saying that “ if 
these changes are carried out, an additional great advan¬ 
tage will be that it will bring the law into harmony, not 
only with those of other Provinces of the Dominion, but 
also of the neighboring States." 
We are delighted to observe the alacrity with which the 
Canadians respond to our scheme of uniform close sea¬ 
sons tMoughout Canada and the United States, and that 
they are generous enough to refer to the editor of tMs 
paper personally us as authority in this matter. 
Maine Game Law for Birds.— “ Sec. No. 31 person shall 
kill or have in his possession, except alive, or expose for 
sale, any wood duck, duskyMuck, commonly called black 
duck, or other sea duck, between the first day of May 
and the first day of September; or kill, sell, or have in 
possession, except alive, any ruffed grouse, commonly 
called partridge, or woodcock, between the first day of 
December and the first clay of September following'; or 
kill, sell, or have in possession, except alive, any quail 
or pinnated grouse, commonly called prairie cluoken, be¬ 
tween the first day of January aud the first day of Sep¬ 
tember, or plover, between the first day of May and the 
first (lay of August, following, under a penalty of not less 
than fi ve nor more than ten dollars for each bird so killed, 
or had in possession, or exposed for sale. 
(Approved February 37, 1879.) 
Vermont Woodcock Season. —Mon ipdier, August 2d. 
—Editor Forest and Stream .—In the last issue of the 
Forest and Stream, I notice that you give the time for 
the opening of the woodcock season as August 1st. 
If you will consult the “ Laws of Vermont for 1878,” 
you will find that by an act approved November 26tli, the 
close season for woodcock and partridge was extended 
to the 1st of September. Will you please correct the 
emu 1 , for as your paper is considered as authority, it may 
lead some people into a violation of the laws. 
In the last part of the article referred to above, you will 
find the following'clause : 11 uor shall any person use a 
dog or dogs in hunting the ruffled grouse or partridge. ” 
Our sportsmen are all greatly pleased by the above display 
of wisdom by our state legislature, and are in hopes to se¬ 
cure the passage ol' a law at the next session wluch shall 
forbid the use of a gun or guns in hunting, as they are 
confident that the number of accidents will be greatly re¬ 
duced thereby. Yours truly. 
Major, 
