"WHERE THE SPECKLED TROUT DOTH JUMP"

"Nature in her sequestered haunts I'll court."

ALTHOUGH such a tiny atom-among the larger divisions of our fair Dominion, this charming bit of earth - of old by Indian sage and warrior called "Abegweit" is by no means unknown to a considerable and annually increasing number of pleasure seekers from the neighboring Republic. In various portions of our sea-girt Isle, have been, and are being built pleasant summer residences, for the occupation of those who have found out by frequent visits how delightful a summer spent in P. E. Island really is. For the benefit of those who have never had the good fortune to be enrolled among the visitors to our Isle, I will give a brief sketch of one or more of the many pleasant summer resorts within its bounds.

I have had the pleasure of visiting a goodly number of them; but I may say, without hesitation, that for pleasure and sport the one that had for me the most attraction was North Lake, beautifully situated in the eastern extremity of the Island, about sixty miles from Charlottetown, the capital. The nearest station is Souris, the eastern terminus of the P.E. I.R. But a drive either awheel or by carriage, through the pleasant farming sections and along the sea-shore, is infinitely superior to travelling in a close railway carriage.

The lake itself is decidedly picturesque, and must certainly appeal to all lovers of the beautiful in nature. The camera fiend would here find ample opportunity for the pursuit of his hobby; while parties wishing to camp out during the summer will find along the upper reaches of the lake, situations admirably adapted to the purpose. But, besides being so bounteously endowed by nature in this respect, the lake has those qualifications which will appeal more forcibly to the heart of the sportsman; for, as a fishing place it will satisfy the most eager angler. There is also very good shooting on or about the lake, at almost any season of the year. The trout in the lake are of the finest quality, coming as they do right from the salt water; and although from two to three pounds is their limit, the angler will be well satisfied after a very short time both with the quality and quantity of his "kill." To those who have but a short time to devote to the sport, I would recommend the lake, as the fish are plentiful and at all times-like Barkis-"willin'." As I have already mentioned, few are caught weighing more than two pounds, but all are clean, gamey fish.

With any light bodied fly, such as the " Dusty Miller," or, better still, the old reliable " Silver Doctor, " one may be pretty sure of a fine string of trout, if he will but take the trouble to row up the lake just about dusk, for that is the most favorable time to try for the " big fellows." For my part I can say that I never failed to secure a fair string by fishing them at dusk or even when it was dark.

There is an element of uncertainty about fishing at that time,-it is not as to whether you will catch any or not, for there is no doubt about that ; but it is whether they will be large or small. The big fellows sometimes take the fly with a mighty splash, and at other times the fly disappears as if drawn down by some invisible power, noiselessly and without any disturbance of the water, so that the fisherman blissfully unconscious of this, somewhat carelessly perhaps, may start to make another cast, and then-his nerves tingling he realizes by the shriek of his reel that he has struck "one of the aristocracy." He need not say with the French plebeian of the novelist "Aristo va", for he goes, and unless carefully and skillfully handled, he will keep on going; and that too, with a portion of the angler's tackle.

Another pleasing feature is the hearty hospitality of the people of the district, as if to render still more delightful a visit to this angler's paradise.

This is only one of the many, and even in the immediate vicinity of North Lake, we find a number of other lakes and ponds, all of which will amply occupy either the angler or the gunner, and reward him most abundantly for his visit.

But to the pleasure-seekers who are doubtful, I would say come and see, for seeing is believing. As one of our writers has said

" We tender ye a welcome true Unto fair Abegweit."

by R. E. Smith - from The Prince Island Magazine - May 1899

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Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

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