SALMON RIVERS 367 



case. Next day I received an answer to give her 

 "four pounds of lard and half a barrel of flour 

 and advise her not to waste anything!" About 

 four dollars worth of provisions to keep her and 

 her child through the whole winter ! I know of a 

 number of similar cases. If these are the general 

 lines of the relief given by the Agents, it is no 

 wonder that these Indians are classed as self-sup- 

 porting. 



I trust that some day the Bersimis Indians will 

 receive the full benefit of their river in the manner 

 I have suggested, not only from the rental that it 

 would bring them, but also in the way of employ- 

 ment by anglers, as guides and canoemen, at 

 which all of them are experts. 



Formerly, immense numbers of the harbor seal 

 used to ascend this river to the first falls, causing 

 great destruction. But now, owing to the con- 

 tinual hunting and shooting carried on by a large 

 number of Indians in the vicinity, the natural 

 enemies of the salmon are very few on this stream. 

 Possibly some wealthy and influential angler can 

 find means of obtaining some concessions on this 

 river from the Indian Department. If so, I 

 think the sport he would get will well repay his 

 trouble, for the fish are there and fine ones, too. 



