818 APPENDIX. 
ver from the effects of successive or casual devastations. And 
while there remains a loophole for escape, as between the Indians 
and abetting traders, active temptations on either side will drive 
them to calculate their mutual chances of evading the law. 
The qualified exemption of Indians under the Fishery Eegulations' 
arose, I feel assured, from motives humane and considerate. Those 
considerations doubtless were influenced by arguments in support 
of such exception, drawn from the apparent necessities of Indian 
life. Experience dissipates this cause of sympathy. It proves that 
the Montaignais, Micmacs, Naskapis and Metifs, seldom spear sal- 
mon in any considerable quantities for present subsistence ; and to 
smoke, or dry, or pickle them for winter use, never. They go to 
the salting-vats of the nighest trader — pork, tea, sugar, tobacco, and 
sometimes spirits, principally returning to the wigwam in exchange. 
I, of course, speak of the Indians whilst near the St. Lawrence, whe- 
ther from the interior or residing by turns near the seaboard. It is 
quite a mistaken notion that they kill and cure salmon for provision- 
ing the inland hunt. 
The experienced missionary, Pere Arnaud, in his evidence to the 
Indian Commissioners, says, " These Indians care for nothing but 
hunting and fishing." Indeed I think that, as regards several of 
them, the native love of excitement in the chase has somewhat to 
do with their pertinacious pursuit of salmon by spears and flam- 
beaux. It is a passion among some of the bands ; and I must admit 
the habit has peculiar fascinations, and to many it is strangely excit- 
ing. Nothing can exceed the wild excitement with whicli these 
men pursue it. The sombre night-scene of the forest river seems to 
delight them. The elder man occupies the stern of the canoe, while 
the younger takes " the post of honor " forward. The murmur of 
waterfalls and rapids, drown those exclamatory Ughs! and the fre- 
quent splash that would else disturb the pervading stillness. With 
steady, stealthy speed the light birchen boat enters the rapid, and 
cutting through its white waters glides smoothly over the fall and 
into the " tail " of the pool above, or across the quiet " reach." The 
blazing torch, stuck in a cleft stake and leaning over the bow of the 
canoe, glares with dazzling lightness. The flame and shadow, 
swayed by ripples, conceal the spearers' forms, and bewilder the 
doomed salmon. Like moths, they sidle toward the fatal light ; 
their silvery sides and amber-colored eyeballs glisten through the 
rippled water. The dilated eyes, the expanding nostrils and com- 
pressed lips of the swarthy canoemen, fitly picture their eager and 
excited mood. A quick, deadly aim, a sudden swirl, and those mo- 
mentary convulsive wriggles tell the rest. The aquatic captive, with 
blood and spawn, and slime and entrails, besmear the inside of the 
canoe. Often the quarry is transfixed with wonderful precision and 
instantly killed, the spinal marrow being pierced by the barb, and 
the strong springy tines of the spear paralyzing in their sharp pinch 
