“So F—— will come for £10 a month, will he? He could make that anywhere while the fishing season lasts, but that is only three months; and this is rather a cold, wet climate. I have had my first shot at a bear, and missed him, as it was pretty dark: they are common here, and we see one every day—great big black fellows—about a hundred yards from the house: they come down to eat salmon heads. “I met an old ‘Worcester’ friend, who had run away from his ship, the other day in Astoria: he was going home overland. “Hodge offers to board me free all the winter, but as friend Hodge says he can’t afford wages, I’ll see friend Hodge a long way off. “I am very well and contented, and shall be about a hundred dollars in pocket at the end of the season.” “July 19th. “We expect the fishing season to last about a fortnight or three weeks more. Tom and I got some old net from Hodge, and went out fishing: we caught about six salmon the first night, for which we got 4s. We went out again on Saturday, and caught eighteen, for which we got 9s. 3d., and as that is extra money we profit a little. There are plenty of bears knocking around here, and Tom and I got a boat and went out one night. We don’t have to go more than two hundred yards from the house. About dusk, out comes old Bruin. I was very much excited, and Tom fired first, and did not hit him; then I had a running shot, and did not hit him either. He has taken a sack of salmon heads, which I put out for a bait, right away to his den, and I have not seen him since. However—the time will come, and when it does, let him look well to himself. “Did you ever taste sturgeon? I don’t remember ever having any in the ‘old country,’ but it’s very nice. “Hodge has a fisherman who has caught over eight hundred fish in the last seven nights; he gets 10d. per fish, so he is making money hand over fist. “I have not decided on any particular plans for the winter, but shall get along somehow. “Send me any old papers you can, and write lots of times.” “The last fortnight we have been very busy salting and taking salmon to the cannery. I have been out four times with Hodge, whom I call Bill, and the first drift we got twenty-eight; second, twenty-eight; third and fourth, thirty-one. “I like this sort of business very well, and am quite contented. “I wish you would send me out some English newspapers now and then—‘Illustrated London News,’ ‘Graphics,’ etc. It does not much matter if they are not quite new. “The people out here are a rough lot, but a very goodnatured sort. Hodge has got a nice piece of ground which he intends to cultivate: he put some potatoes in early last year, and has not looked at them since. However, I am to be put on to work there for a bit, and I’ll bet my crop will beat yours. “There are wild cherries and strawberries growing in the woods, but of course they are not ripe yet.