12 OPENING ADDRESS. 



anything like ample protection of the game was afforded, but the 

 policy of i)rotection adopted has been most advantageous and a 

 source of revenue. 



Guides are not always the better people from whom to obtain 

 reliable information. Naturally they will tell you to-day that the 

 large game is increasing — Moose and Caribou, but I believe and 

 have every good reason to 1)elieve that the fact is otherwise. 

 Hunters during the open season look for the heads w^ith the 

 largest spread of horns or antlers. Killing off these noble animals 

 year after year must necessarily exhaust the svipply, and I have 

 always advocated that there should be a jjeriod, say for a year or 

 so, in which the slaughter of the Moose and Caribou should be 

 entirely prohibited The State of Maine, which was a great game 

 country for years, pursued a sleepy policy. No great attention 

 was paid to the preservation of the game and in consequence the 

 Province of New Brunswick became a greater game centre than 

 that of Maine, but now seeing their e-ror they have very strin- 

 gent laws for the preservation of Moose and Caribou and Deer in 

 that State. 



Another sublect that might well receive the attention of this 

 Society is our fisheries. It is claimed, and I have reason to 

 believe that the claim is well founded, that our fish hatcheries 

 are engaged in producing a useless or fall fish instead of the 

 bright Spring salmon, and to prove this fishermen will point out 

 to you that in the month of September of each year this noble 

 river of ours is filled with salmon which are of no commercial 

 value. Illegal fishing is also carried on to an alarming extent. 

 Many of our finest trout streams have become depleted. The 

 oyster beds of the river Miramichi and the bays are a most valu- 

 able asset, but in a short time, iinless proper means are taken, this 

 industry will be destroyed. Prince Edward Island has suffered in 

 this respect. 



All these matters might well be discussed and dealt with by 

 this Society, and I have no doubt that educating our people along 

 the lines suggested would be of great practical benefit. 



Another matter that might well engage the attention of this 

 Society is the fact that no recognition whatever has been given 

 to the iHiblic men of this County who took such a jn'ominent part 

 in their efforts to obtain Responsible Government, and also in the 



