HISTORY OF THE ICHTHYOLOGY OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 27 



ARTICLE II. 



HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF THE 

 ICHTHYOLOGY OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 



Bt Philip Cox, A.B., B.Sc, Ph. D. 



CHAPTER I. 



Few countries of equal area surpass New Brunswick 

 in the extent and variety of its inland waters. Rivers 

 and streams, lakes and ponds, are scattered over the sur- 

 face to such an extent as to form, with short portages, 

 water communication between the most remote sections, 

 while the undulating nature of the surface favors the 

 formation of springs and brooks, which, flowing from 

 forest regions, are not only deliciously pure and cool, but 

 sensibly lower the temperature of the larger streams and 

 rivers even at the hottest season of the year. This cool- 

 ing influence is further increased by the melting of snow 

 often prolonged into early summer, especially in deep and 

 narrow forest valleys and on wooded northern exposures. 

 Thus it happens that the main rivers of the province, the 

 St. John, Miramichi, Nepisiguit and Restigouche, attract 

 swarms of anadromous fishes which enter and thread 

 these watercourses and their numerous tributaries far 

 into the interior. Hence the ocean's flocks and herds are 

 annually spread all over the province, where they linger 

 for weeks or even months ; and, as many are the choicest 

 and most valuable food-fishes, the inhabitants are not 

 only supplied with an excellent article of diet, but also 



