HOLIDAYS ON A HOUSEBOAT. 



H. E. BEATTY. 



I. 



Houseboat life is an ideal kind of outing, 

 for if scenery, surroundings or sport are riot 

 satisfactory one can easily move to a more 

 desirable locality. 



Our houseboat, known as the Ark, is a 

 2 story house, 54 feet long by 20 feet wide, 

 built on a large scow, with verandas at 

 either end, and a walk, protected by a rail- 



steam tug to tow us, and as the work of 

 making ready consists only of bringing the 

 ax, sawhorse and clothesline on board, and 

 hauling in the gangplanks, we are off in 10 

 minutes after her arrival. 



Those of our party with a proper appre- 

 ciation of nature, seat themselves in easy 

 chairs on the veranda, and drink in the 



THE POOL OF S1LOAM. 



ing, around it. The kitchen is at one end, 

 dining room adjoining, sitting room at the 

 other end and comfortable sleeping apart- 

 ments for 8 persons between the two latter 

 rooms. The whole second flat is divided 

 into bedrooms. 



We employ a steam tug to tow us to fa- 

 vorable fishing grounds, and usually moor 

 the Ark securely with cables to the shore of 

 a point of land, or to the lee side of an 

 island. We never quarrel with neighbors, 

 as our favorite resort is 30 miles from a 

 settler. It is, however, near the line of a 

 daily steamer, and we have no difficulty 

 in procuring ample supplies the same day 

 they are ordered. 



When desirable to move we send for the 



beauties of the ever changing scenery, as 

 our house glides through the narrow chan- 

 nels that separate the well wooded islands. 

 As this part of the Georgian bay possesses 

 30,000 islands we are well sheltered for row- 

 ing and sailing. 



We have excellent black bass fishing in 

 some of these narrow channels, in the small 

 bays, and around the many shoals that pre- 

 vail here. Feathered game of all kinds 

 abounds, while deer are plentiful on the 

 main land and on the larger islands. 



My chum and special companion on our 



last cruise was Roy , genial, fond of 



sport and outdoor life, a good shot, able to 

 swim, paddle a canoe and row a boat. 



We left Toronto on the 10 a.m. train, and 



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