14
While on the river, the couple rose early every morning at dawn, paddled upstream to one of the deep, still pools of water that marked the river's course and fished from their canoes. They caught far more than they could eat themselves, and distributed the surplus to the local notables in New Richmond. They also sent carefully packed boxes back to Ottawa and even to her mother at Windsor Castle in England. The salmon were described as having reached their destination as "cold, pink and perfect".We are catching very fine salmon", Lorne informed Lord Granville in England. "The river is lovely almost beyond belief and were it not that the Princess is not feeling strong, and that the flies are odious, our happiness would be perfect".
15
Peace on the River1879-1883
Grand Cascapedia River
16
The Princess was happy during her stay on the river and found peace in the isolated forests of the Cascapedia. Maybe it was here that she was finally allowed to escape from the demands of being a Princess. Here in the secluded wilderness of the Gaspe she could be Louise an ordinary young woman enjoying the simple pleasures of life. In a remark she later made to a friend she stated, "I preferred the mosquitoes on the Cascapedia to the buffoons in Ottawa" which confirms her feelings at the time.17
R.G. Dun1873-1898
Grand Cascapedia River
Credits:Hoagy Carmichael, The Grand Cascapedia - A History
18
R. G. Dun of Dun and Bradstreet fame, first came to the Cascapedia in 1873 to try his luck at salmon fishing. When he first arrived, he stayed at the Woodman's Inn and later built a place of his own which he called Red Camp. He along with some of the most influential men in America enjoyed the sport of angling. General Chester Arthur, who later became President of the United States, was among his friends that made their way to the Cascapedia with him. In 1886, Mr. Dun caught a 54 pound salmon and there is also evidence that he may have caught a 56 pounder in 1878. Mr Dun was one of the most respectable men of the river and he hardly ever missed a summer on the Grand Cascapedia. It was his generosity and love of the river that encouraged an appreciation for the river and its resources.19
Edmund W. Davis1887-1908
Grand Cascapedia River
20
Edmund W. Davis, from the Painkiller medicine fame, made his way to the Grand Cascapedia in 1878. He was a close friend of R.G. Dun and later became the owner of Red Camp after Mr. Dun died. Mr. Davis' wife Maria and their son Steuart also enjoyed the sport and both caught salmon weighing over 40 pounds. Mr Davis himself caught two Cascapedia Giants weighing over 50 pounds. On June 28, 1900 he caught his first and what he later described as the River-goddess, a 50 1/2 pounder.He died on the Cascapedia on June 19, 1908 from a gunshot wound. There has been much speculation as to what really happened. Some say it was his gun that accidently went off as he was cleaning it, others have said that he shot himself because of his failing health, and other reports state that his son Steuart may have held the gun. The actual facts of the mishap of his untimely death has become part of the folklore of the Grand Cascapedia What we do know is that Mr. Davis like so many of the other fishermen that came to the river, loved it here. In his book titled Salmon fishing on the Grand Cascapedia, 1904, he wrote about the river;
"Such a beautiful country is not an accident; God must have created this wonderful wilderness, where all is happiness, where all is peace."
21
William B. Mershon1884-1935
Grand Cascapedia River
Credits:Hoagy Carmichael
22
William B. Mershon of Saginaw, Michigan first came to the river in 1884. He was a very successful man in the lumber business and had the means to lease fishing rights on the Cascapedia and built his own fishing camp, what today is known as Horse Island Camp. He enjoyed the people and community life of the river. He became involved in the management of the river and took on issues that would better its future. Like so many people who fished here, the Cascapedia became a place he called "home" and it was worth his time and effort to create the perfect environment. Mr Mershon spent 50 years coming to the river and when he left he felt a great loss, knowing that he would probaby never see the grand old river or his friends again.Not long before he died he wrote a quote that said that "the Cascapedia was as near as Heaven as can be"
23
New Derreen Camp1894
Grand Cascapedia River
24
New Derreen Camp was built by Lord Lansdowne, the 5th Governor General of Canada. When he received the rights for the river from his predecessor the Marquis of Lorne, he acquired a piece of land overlooking the Grand Cascapedia River. He named it after his estate in Ireland called Derreen. He loved to garden as well as fish and he spent much time planting trees and flowers around the camp. During his term in Canada from 1884 to 1887 he personally caught 368 fish weighing a total of 8,818 pounds.25
A Fishing TaleMid 1900's
Grand Cascapedia River
26
Alfred Harrison was a fishing guide on the Cascapedia River. Like other guides his job was to help the guest (Bing Crosby) catch a prize salmon.27
Wesley Harrison1916 2005
Grand Cascapedia River
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