Prince. — Fishery Administration in Canada 167 



Almost every river and stream from Niagara to Labrador 

 abounded with salmon in 1825, he tells us, and while he criti- 

 cises the Hudson Bay Company for not appreciating the sal- 

 mon resources, he candidly admits that a "prohibition by the 

 company affords the only present safeguard for the existence 

 of the salmon; * * * were that protection withdrawn," 

 he says, "for one season, without effective means substituted, 

 salmon would be exterminated from our country." Mr. Nettle 

 was himself an energetic and fearless officer, and inflicted 

 fines, under the act of 1855, for violations detected by him 

 during his lengthy tours. 



First Fishery Cruiser in Canada. — A vessel was found 

 to be necessary for proper patrol, and as early as the period 

 with which I am dealing a fishery protection schooner. La 

 Canadienne, in command of Dr. Pierre Fortin, made inspec- 

 tion trips down the St. Lawrence shores, and even visited 

 the Magdalen Islands, and the waters from the Bay of Chaleurs 

 to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Dr. Fortin's reports, 

 and his description of the condition of the salmon, cod, her- 

 ring, mackerel, seal, and whale fisheries are extremely inter- 

 esting. In his 1859 reports he tells of ten whaling vessels 

 fitted out at Gaspe, and operating with 200 local whaling men 

 for black whale, i. e., the great Arctic right whale, which 

 has long been extinct, excepting in remote polar waters. He 

 speaks of humpback, sulphur-bottom, and finner whales as 

 plentiful. He was succeeded by Inspector Theophile Tetu in 

 September, 1867. 



In the old and rather rare printed reports, issued at this 

 time, the name of Mr. W. F. Whitcher appears as an officer 

 of the Quebec Crown Lands Department, who early paid at- 

 tention to the fisheries, and was afterwards appointed the 

 first Commissioner of Fisheries at Ottawa. Mr. Whitcher 

 did great service for the fisheries, and was regarded as an 

 able authority and a courageous administrator. 



Ontario Laws and Administration 60 Years Ago. — 

 The Ontario waters or Great Lakes fisheries were also the ob- 



