THE PLAYGROUND OF THE EAST 



479 



where to go, he may get a muscallunge 

 which will actually weigh twenty 

 pounds. Ten-pound fish of this species 

 are common, but a ten-pounder, will 

 put up as good fight as one which will 

 weigh twice as much, for the smaller 

 fish are usually more active. Probably 

 this variety grows to a larger size in 

 the waters of the St. Lawrence than 

 elsewhere in America, with the possible 

 exception of Little Rice Lake in the 

 province of Ontario, one of the para- 

 dises of the muscallunge angler. Dur- 

 ing* July and August especially they 

 rise to the spoon, but are very fond of 

 a fat, lively chub. They have been known 

 to take a worm-baited hook, but onlv 

 on rare occasions. As may be imagined 



a canvas roof over your head. So many 

 of the islets have pine groves, that the 

 tent can be pitched where a floor of 

 pine needles is furnished, warranted to 

 cure the worst case of insomnia. The 

 water of the river, ever pure, is al- 

 ways cold enough for drinking. There 

 is abundance of firewood, and plenty 

 of rock to make a fireplace for boiling 

 or baking the catch just as it comes 

 from the water. A good boat, enough 

 tents to shelter the crowd, perhaps a 

 camp chair or so, and the usual outfit 

 of cooking utensils, with fishing tackle, 

 will furnish an outfit to last a week 

 or a month with the necessary 

 clothing. 



A short sail will bring you to Gana- 



CANOE RACE ON THE RIVER 



the best string not only of this species 

 but of bass, are caught from boats, al- 

 though many a party of tenters have 

 set their stakes on an island from the 

 shores of which they have secured 

 breakfast, dinner and supper, day after 



»day, from the schools of smaller fish 

 lying in the shady pools. 



The man who wants to be right out 



I amid nature, can have his choice of 

 hundreds of places. The nights even in 

 mid-summer are just cool enough to 

 make a blanket or a pair of blankets 

 comfortable, and it is well to have 



noque or some of the little towns on the 

 Canadian or American side, where you 

 can stock up with "things in cans" and 

 groceries, if the supply runs out. If 

 you want a guide to the favorite fishing 

 grounds you can pick him out from the 

 Canadian Indians and half breeds, who 

 come to the Islands every season to pick 

 up American dollars with the oar vm\ 

 gaff. Most of them know the region 

 like a book, and besides are good cooks. 

 In the fall when the ducks begin to fly, 

 they arc almost indispensable as guides, 

 for they have a knowledge which is 



