QP, ah the days of aluminum canoes! Dad and I bought one about 1955 and we thought we were pretty much something special. I still have it in the garage, but it has been years since I took it out.

You are right that the best way (only way?) to stow an external frame pack in a canoe is top down and slide the top under a thwart as best you can. And the little side pockets do stow little bits that tumble to the bottom of an internal frame pack. Except, as DD notes, the various pockets, belts, rings, whatever on the outside of the packs seem to catch on things, particularly irksome if bushwhacking.

Tim