228 Field and Forest Rambles. 



close and specific relationship does exist. I have, moreover, a 

 strong conviction that the so-called Salmo Canadensis will turn 

 out to be specifically identical with Salmo trutta, or else there 

 is more than one species in the cis- Atlantic waters. As to the 

 sporting qualities of the former, although it was not my fortune 

 to capture it in the main rivers and briny deep, I have the 

 descriptions of several fishermen vivid in my thoughts ; and 

 there is also the record of two, whose practical experience may 

 be accepted by those who may desire to indulge in the exciting 

 sport. "The sportsman will find it a thoroughly game fish, 

 rising well at a brilliant fly of scarlet ibis and gold (in June), 

 and affording sport second only to salmon fishing. The 

 writer has caught this fish with the scarlet ibis fly in the water 

 of the Nuf, at the entrance of St. Peter's Bay, on the north side 

 of Prince Edward Island, to the weight of five pounds ; but 

 the most sporting fishing is from a boat under easy sail, with a 

 ' mackerel breeze/ and oftentimes a heavy ' ground swell.' The 

 fly skips from wave to wave at the end of thirty yards of line, 

 and there should at least be seventy yards more on the reel. It 

 is truly splendid sport, as a strong fish will oftentimes make a 

 long run, and give a sharp chase down the wind."* 



Frank Forrester, in his " Fish and Fishing," calls it " royal 

 sport;" moreover, a friend informed me that on the north- 

 eastern shore of this province, in July, himself and two other 

 fishermen landed no less than 400 sea trout in one day with 

 the fly, from the waters of the river Tabucintac, which flows 

 into a gully of the same name, famous, as before stated, as 

 one of the best wild-fowl shooting-grounds, and where, in the 

 beginning of October, abundance of wild geese and ducks are 

 readily obtained. 



* Perley, op. cit., p. 199. 



