FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 177 



a comparatively idle, desultory and unproductive branch of 

 fishing, as it had heretofore been conducted, and the transfer 

 to a more steady and lucrative one, have at once stimulated 

 the working of abundant but neglected sources, whilst afford- 

 ing some measure of rest to the almost exhausted river fisher- 

 ies. 



"I regret that an obstinate hindrance to the due restor- 

 ation of this valuable fishery is still presented in the practice 

 of spearing the breeding salmon by Indians and others. 

 Hitherto the chief inducement held forth to the Indian in- 

 habitants, has been the facility with which speared fish could 

 be disposed of amongst petty tracers. Notwithstanding that 

 the purchase and possession by these persons have been visited 

 with extreme severity whenever detected, it is in practice 

 found to be exceedingly difficult to deter any parties con- 

 cerned from violating or evading the law. Its evasion is also 

 rendered the more easy because of certain exemptions in favor 

 of Indian tribes. Such is especially the case within the dis- 

 tricts watered by the River Ristigouche and tributary streams ; 

 and, owing to the peculiar position of that neighbourhood and 

 the immediate proximity of different jurisdictions, it had be- 

 come almost impossible to effect any due protection and fair 

 use of the fisheries in the waters which divide the two Prov- 

 inces. " 



AFTER CONFEDERATION. 



The system of protection practised under the Govern- 

 ment of the old Province of United Canada up to the time of 

 Confederation (1867), was practically maintained under the 

 Federal Department and Minister of Marine and Fisheries. 

 Thereafter, up to the year 1883, the Province of Quebec exer- 

 cised no control whatever over the fisheries within its limits, 

 and consequently not the slightest reference to them is to be 

 found in any of our Provincial Departmental reports prior 

 to 1883. 



The judgment of the Supreme Court, in the case of the 

 Queen vs. Robertson, in 1882, gave to the provinces the fish- 



