aced one boy in charge of each of the canoes, and sent them off in
high spirits to see which canoe would return with the largest load of
fish. To the boys alone was to be left the work of securing the fish.
The Indians were only to attend to the paddling, and as the men in the
canoe that succeeded in securing the greatest load were to receive, in
addition to their wages, a flannel shirt apiece they all keenly entered
into the spirit of the expedition.

All was needed in each boat for this kind of fishing was a good gun and
a gaff hook with a long handle. The boys decided to go to Jack River,
which takes its name from the number of jack fish that used to swarm in
its waters. Not many hours' paddling brought them to their destination,
and then the fun began.

To start even they drew up side by side, and then at the given word away
they all paddled toward a distant spot, where the Indians knew the fish
were likely to be found in large numbers. So evenly matched were the
canoemen that they were not far apart when they arrived at the
designated locality. So they widened the space between their canoes,
and noiselessly paddled up to where the disturbed waters, and many back
and tail fins told of the presence of the gamey fish.

For the first firing it was decided that it should be simultaneous, and
then after that it was each canoe for itself, and they were not to meet
till they reached Mr Ross's launch.

This method of fishing is very novel. The guns, heavily loaded with
powder, are fired as nearly over the fish as it is possible to be done
from the canoe. The concussion of the air seems to so stun them that
they stiffen out on their backs, and there lie apparently dead for a
minute or so. The men hunting them, aware of this, the instant they
have fired immediately set to work with their long-handled gaff hooks,
and gather in as many as they can ere the fish return to consciousness,
and those not captured instantly swim off.

When all have been secured at that place as the result of that one heavy
discharge of the gun, the canoe is paddled away to another spot where it
is observed that the fish are plentiful near the surface and the process
is repeated. So for this kind of fishing all that is necessary is the
gun, with a plentiful supply of powder, and the gaff hook. A good deal
of skill is required for the efficient management of the hook in seizing
the fish so that it can be successfully landed over the side o