SALMON FISHING- IN EASTERN CANADA. 
91 
this is also paid on Sunday when there is no fishing. Then the party, 
consisting in my case of four men, have to divide between them the cost 
of another canoe at, say 10s. a day, which is engaged as a baggage 
canoe to move baggage, tents, etc., to the different camps ; they also 
do other odd jobs. We got letters up from the nearest post town 
(six miles off) thrice a week, paying a messenger to bring them, and to 
take away ours, this expense was divided. Telegrams were always 
brought out at the cost of the receiver. Salmon were put in boxes and 
sent off twice a week when the steamer went, or an opportunity 
offered. The cost of boxes and cart hire were divided up. Then there 
were two cooks, one man for the lower camp and one for the upper. 
Their wages were divided as were all the expenses of food and drink 
for ourselves and the men. Someone of the party generally acts as 
caterer and general manager and on his management depends a good 
deal what will be the cost of living. With good management the total 
expenses (exclusive of journeys and rent of fishing) should come to 6 
dollars or about £1 5s. a day. 
This may appear somewhat high, but when it is remembered what 
extraordinary good sport is generally obtained (an average of 25 to 30 
fish to each rod for the fortnight) that you are saving a large portion 
of your mess bill whilst away, and that you are laying up a stock of 
health which should last you for some time, the game appears to be 
well worth the candle. 
By the Canadian Government fishery laws, all net and rod fishing 
cease at 6 p.m. on Saturday until 6 a.m. on Monday, so that the fish 
have an opportunity to get up the river unmolested and the angler can 
take his rest on the seventh, day according to commandment. 
I have spoken of the fishing outfit ; there remains, therefore, only 
the outfit of bedding, etc., and personal gear to mention. 
In most of the fishing huts some sort of bed is provided. You may 
have the good fortune to find comfortable beds and wire mattrasses, 
but this is not possible, except when fairly near civilization, with roads 
for transport and where some caretaker can be obtained to look after 
what is left in the hut when the fishing season is over. Often you will 
find a rough log hut with wooden bed places partitioned off. On the 
planks which form your only mattrass, you generally place a good 
thick layer of spruce boughs. This forms a very comfortable bed, the 
odour of the spruce is most agreeable and wholesome and you can lay 
your blankets on it and sleep like a top. If you go into camp and 
sleep in a tent you have spruce boughs laid on the ground and sleep 
on them. Instead of a tent, you may only have what is known as a 
lean to, that is a half tent of triangular section open to leeward where 
a fire is lighted, and the travellers sleep on spruce boughs with their 
bodies fairly well protected and their feet to the fire. The smoke from 
the fire keeps off insects and other intruders. 
In a tent it is quite easy to fix up mosquito nets, and you can sleep 
perfectly comfortably, It is, of course, unfortunate if the ground is 
very wet before you pitch camp, but if you have a waterproof sheet you 
can easily protect yourself from damp/ 
Fishery 
Laws. 
Outfit. 
Bed and 
Bedding. 
