92 
SALMON FISHING- IN EASTERN CANADA. 
The first thing which is done on taking possession of the camping 
ground, is to cut down timber to make fires. A fire for the kitchen is 
at once lighted and water is put on to boil to prepare supper. Others 
are engaged in clearing the ground for the tents, cutting spruce boughs 
for the beds, setting up the tents, etc., and in a very short space of 
time there is a roaring camp fire going, your meal is prepared and 
consumed, pipes are produced and the toil of the day is soon forgotten. 
Songs, cards, etc., may serve to enliven the evening for a while, but 
one is generally ready for bed at a fairly early hour, as work is resumed 
betimes in the morning. 
The backwoodsmen in Canada, or in Australia and other forest 
countries are wonderfully handy with the axe. In an extraordinary 
short time, with the aid of the axe alone, they prepare all that is 
necessary in the way of fire wood, tent poles, laths for various 
purposes, tables and washhand-stands. 
Whatever the weather, they will light a fire in a moment, that 
invaluable commodity, birch-bark, serving as tinder, besides being put 
to a hundred and one other uses. 
I have digressed considerably on the subject of bed and bedding and 
will now proceed with describing the rest of an outfit. 
Blankets, In summer time a good plaid or railway rug and one blanket besides 
&c * should suffice to take with you. Sheets are unnecessary and undesir¬ 
able. A double blanket made into a bag is very useful, as it keeps out 
insects. Two pillow cases should be taken and a pillow (if not two). 
An air cushion is very useful, as it acts as a pillow by night and serves 
to reduce the stiffness which results from sitting all day in a canoe in 
a cramped position. 
Waterproof A waterproof sheet is a necessity. It keeps your baggage dry in 
jsheet i U gg a g e boat whether from rain or from the water which splashes 
in when ascending or descending rapids, and it protects you from 
damp at night. 
Camp stool. A camp stool to fold up into a small space is useful, as otherwise 
you must sit on logs of wood or other improvised seat. A brown 
holland hold-all to hang on the wall of your hut, in which you can 
keep your brushes, etc., and odds and ends, is useful and takes up no 
space. 
Kit-bag For carrying your clothes there is nothing much better than a couple 
Ma erproo) ^ Quinary soldiers* waterproof kit-bags, which are closed by drawing 
together at the mouth with a cord. You can ram your clothes into 
them and chuck them anywhere without being afraid of damaging 
them. They are also iusect proof so far as standing on the ground is 
concerned. 
Ordinary bags of some stout material to pack your boots in instead 
of paper are very handy. The boots are generally greasy and dirty 
and by means of these bags they will not soil the other contents of 
your kit-bags. 
Clothes. It is important to avoid all needless baggage, because it means great 
trouble and expense if you carry much, and moreover constant packing 
