The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-17
LIFE In NORTHERN CANADA
THE HOME OF THE WOODMAHs
HUNTER AND FISHERMAN
A Good Field for sportsmen-u uniting ssf
Fishing stories Told by Donald Cameroa
Terrible Denth Of a Village Tn hnruaIaf.

LAKE CoUCHICHINe, Sept. "a rafting
ride of twenty-sx hours from New York, over
the Erie Railway to Suspension Bridge, thence
by the Great Western and Northern Railway OF
Canada, brought us to the beautiful town Of
OriIna, opposite the Indian village OF Rama, al
the south end OF Lake Couohiching, or, In the
Indian tongue, the Lake OF Many Winds.
1t was o'clock In the evening when We
reached this town, located at the beginning Of
the fishing grounds OF northern Canada. Throw
ing open tho window blinds and drawing aside
the curtains, so as to awaken at the dawn Of
day, we slept soundly until the first streak Of
sunlight shot up from behind the Ojibbeway
Iudian village OF Rama the eastern shore OF
Lake Couchiching. The sun rose In splendor.
The crimson tnts OF the clouds and the blue OF
the sky were reflected in the waters OF the lake.
which we're as smooth and clear as polished
mirror. As Sol rose above the horizon he drew
a thin, misty veil from the borders OF the lake.
From out this mist an occasional canoe would
glide, its dusky occupants padding deity
around the green-clad Islands In search Of
fish and game. This sight aroused the fishing
| fever within US whoh had lain dormant fors
| year.
Through the kindness OF Mr.. George Wick. an
| old resident OF Orillia we were introduced To
Donald Cameron, the veteran hunter and fisher.
man Of that region. Donald was gaunt, tall
I
and steady nerves. As he walked with Free
swinging gait toward Bass Like, which lies q
short distance west Of Lake Conchiching, he
! looked every inch Nimrod
| Donald, they tell us that this IL a good piaoa
| for is Ing and hunting" we retnarkeu.
| " 1t WAS when there was more woodland In
! these parts, but thinning out the timber thins
! out the game"
"Why Donald, only last week 1 read In q
newspaper that the fishing was never better Ia
strange stories ind their way into the news
| papers, mon" replied Donald.
! " Did any OF your hunting and fishing stories
ever get into the newspapers, DonaldF
now GAME Is CAPTURED.
"My game and fish have appeared In print, but
| never did. You see some time ago a friend VI
mine went with me ON shooting expedition
around Sparrow Lake and thereabouts. Tbs
birds were plenty, and we bagRod one hundred
aud seventy-nine partridges and such like. We
| brought them into town, and at the hotel found
two men from Montreal, with fancy guns and
silver mounted equipments. They had been Out
all day and hadn't feather to show. As We
wanted silver more than birds, we sold oui
game. In about week after ward I'm blessed u
| We didn't read In Montreal newspaper about
the wonderful days shooting Of Messrs. SLAM
aud Bang, followed by the Identical list OF the
| birds We had solo 'em.
Another time caught black bass In the wa
tiers we are coming to that weighed a little over
| seven pounds. sold him to a gentleman from
ToIonto. who went home without catching any
that weighed over three pounds. He took the
Ash caught To Toronto, and In few days
read IN the Globe glowing account Of the isrge
bass that the Hon. Mt Snapum caught In Bass
lake They put Its weight at over nine pounds.
50 you see tnat dead nsh gained two pounds on
the way TO Toronto, some ninety miles"
They say, Donald, that you have had narrow
IN OF many most Of these bear n ebting stories
are all b, sh. There Is no beast or reptile that
Will not try TO get away from man II he Is care
Their or bear unless | wanted 1t. Sometimes aftss
shooting a beast and getting my blood up,
often, and there were some monstrOus bears
here years ago. More men are killed by the
careless handling OF their guns than in ans
at har ala har vi lnsra
barber, Frenchman. He met with terribls
death snort time ago
"well. you see, he was very fond OF preserv-
ing specimens Of beautiful birds. Of whioh there
his shop window full OF them as you passed
through the village. Ito went out early one
Of rare bird that he WAS anxious to add to Ills
collection. After patiently waiting several
ho1rs he padded hts %, BOAT near enough TO ons
bird he drew his gun W from euc bottom
IFS 'body oetveeS t6vSR.. caught, explod.
his heart. The poor fellow fell back groanlnt
In the bottom Of the boat, where he lay fol-
bo,t drilled shore and the wound cd man was
discovered by woman,who appealed to bard
, lsted farmer near by to aid In carrying the mau
, - house i9r medical assistance. me IInei
lac was ousy getting in his crops. The won al
sought other assistance, but before doctor
. could be 90 AIMED Ine barber had Lost SO muon
blood that Ae died.
> THE FISHING GROUNDS.
, ~ this time We had reached Bass Lake. Don
aid procured boat for Us, aud sooI
| trolling for bass. The lake Is only about three
! miles lOn- aud one mile wide. In crossing IL al
/ the lower ond, we struck three bass ana CAD
| tur0d two. Iney weighed only about one
= pound aud half each, and did not afford much
! sport. Tie water vas evidently too warm, and
had softened tho nsh. This has been the gen
: era complaint in all ateTs on the seaDoaTd and
| inland this season We hshed three hours ant
y only succeeded In capturing eight bass. This
= too, in place where In ordinary seasons. large
mesa OF nne fish eau be caught IN an hour.
= Inc day tried Lake CouchihinR
, whose waters are famous for large bass, pic 4
u ersl, mus kinOnge, aud salmon trout. We cauRh
II u Few 1ne black bAs-, which afforded US excel
lent play, but. the trout and muskinonge couit
not he entlced from their deep, shady retreats.
II Is Lake y the highest In Ontario, being %
feet anOve Lake Ontario, and 3yO feet aoov,
Lake Superior. On to the northward are nu
merous lakes and water courses rounded bI
uense forests with here and there a clearing
:, and saw MILL where lunbermen hnd a marke
Tor their LOGS. Along the streams ana surround
/, iug The lakes the rocks are piled up In mug
=, bocks and fragments, many of them square ant
perfect, a. II prep red FOR building purposes
10 Mith the immense stock OF timber on all sides
5 1t looks as though this were the deserted work
i shop 81 the world, where tue material had heel
= left after tue rest had been flushed. Many Of tn
u lakes have 10 Quiet or inlet They are immens
o the limestone rocks. The PRINCIPAL likos ar
IA sparrow, Nipsslug Muskoka, Lake OF Bays
-. kosseau' Joseph, vernon skeleton, MarV, fa,ry
70 ami Peninsula. ihere Is good shooting ana nsn
u in 80 be had almost everywhere through TN
"a region. IL was never thoroughly hunted owe
"a but once aud that was many years ago, 0y IN
~ Hudson lbAk Comp nN. Inc route mas fecenti
y been opened 10y railroad aud steamboat from
u Toronto, rs FIR Is NepigOn Bay ON Lake 81
l. UerlOr The trout lshing IN the NepigOn IL tn
re finest In the world, The hsh are fierce an
~ Strong, ana IL requires patience and skin, as we
y a. strength and endurance, 90 iani the nye ani
~ six pound trout tnat aro frequently siruck
~ these waters. We found the flavor " the hsh n
~ mArAably sweet aud entirely FREQ from "a
- woody taste 50 often found In fish caught IN "a
inland waters II the states.
In the severn river and other streams whic
r. run from the larger lAae, there are many rapid
and falls. Indian guides, i'm tnelr lEhl graceful
and strong hlrch bark canoes, safely SHOOT Tn
rapids, ana al the IL, they carry thsir canoe
W / around 10y ~ purta ages.
~ Luidss and Information OF tho nshing an
ed hunting grounds can ue Obtained Al the vlllaa
MS OF Oullt. or AT tue Ia itlu -rttltmonl oi ham'
ng on Lake toucnchluE. OF leLer Jacobs, the II
he, nous Chippewa Indian, VINO was once pfesoute
NJ 70 Queen Victoria
~ "
~ Fall Fashions In Paris.