158 FISHERIES OP THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



during a severe storm on the North Shore of the St. Law- 

 rence in 1861. 



Dr. Fortin was a native of Vercheres and an M.D. of 

 McGill University. He was one of the physicians on duty 

 at the Quarantine Station, Grosse Isle, during the ship 

 fever years of 1847-48. 



Appointed Stipendiary Magistrate for Lower Canada 

 on the 20th April, 1852, at a salary of $600 per annum, the 

 amount of his stipend was gradually increased, as the im- 

 portance and value of his services became appreciated, until 

 1856, when it was made $1,200. Down to the year 1860, Dr. 



Fortin 's expenses were paid 



through the Provincial Secretary's 

 Department and the Board of 

 Public Works, and even after that 

 date, the care and fitting of the 

 vessels used in the service, and the 

 control of expenses attending the 

 same remained with the Depart- 

 ment of Public Works, while cer- 

 tain extra duties as Stipendiary 

 Magistrate were performed by 

 him under orders from the Provin- 

 Hon. Dr. Fortin. cial Secretary's Department. Sub- 



sequent to 1860, Dr. Fortin 's du- 

 ties were largely increased. Besides being Stipendiary Magis- 

 trate, charged with enforcing the special provisions of the 

 Fisheries Act, supplying magisterial authority throughout the 

 unorganized portions of Lower Canada, aiding both the cus- 

 toms, as Preventive Officer, and also the local authorities, keep- 

 ing down illicit traffic in ardent spirits and maintaining order 

 amongst the maritime and fishing population and the foreign 

 fishing vessels frequenting the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it be- 

 came his duty as a Fishery Officer to issue season fishery 

 licenses and licenses of occupation as they were then called, 

 and to collect the fees, adjudge differences, maintain 

 order at the fishery stations, protect the Crown lessees and 

 licensees, visit the Indian settlements, procure statistics of 



