FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 27 



Speaking further of the fish to be found in different parts 

 of what was then included in New France, Sagard says: 

 "As for the fishes found in the rivers and lakes in the coun- 

 try of our Hurons, and particularly in the fresh-water sea, 

 the principal are the Assihendo, of which we have spoken 

 elsewhere, and trout, called Ahouyouche by them, which are 

 mostly of extraordinary size, insomuch that I have not seen 

 there any that were not bigger than the largest we have on 

 this side; their flesh is ordinarily red, though in some of a 

 yellow or orange color, yet of excellent taste. 



"The pike, called Soruissan, which they catch here also 

 with the sturgeon, called Hixrahon, astonish people, for some 

 are of marvellous size, and more palatable than any of our 

 species of fish . . . Some weeks after the season for catch- 

 ing large fish, they pursue the capture of the Einchataon, a 

 kind somewhat resembling our barbel, and about a foot and 

 a half or a little less in length : this fish serves to give taste 

 to their sagamite during winter 



"In another season they catch with the seine a certain 

 kind of fish, which seem to correspond to our smallest her- 

 rings, and which they eat fresh or buccaned. . . . They 

 also catch several other species of fish, but as they are un- 

 known to us, and as similar ones are not found in our rivers, 

 I make no mention of them. . . . 



"Eel in the proper season is an invaluable article to our 

 Montagnais. I have admired the extreme abundance of this 

 fish in some of the rivers of our Canada, where every year 

 uncountable hundreds are caught. They come just in time, 

 for, were it not for this succor, one would be greatly embar- 

 rassed, more especially in some months of the year ; the 

 savages and the members of our orders use them as meat sent 

 by Heaven for their relief and solace. They catch them in 

 two ways: with a wicker basket, or with a harpoon during 

 night by the light of fire. They construct with some ingenuity 



esturgeons. assihendos, truittes & brockets, si monstrueusement 

 grands qu'il ne s'en voit point ailleurs de plus gros non plus que 

 de plusiers autres especes de poissons qu'on y pesche & qui MOUS 

 sont icy incognus.'* 



