FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 181 



members of it, have got ahead of the Department in this 

 matter. Where any such lots ,do remain in the hands of 

 the Crown, as on the Ristigouche River, the greater portion 

 of which is already in private hands, I think it would be 

 advisable to offer a certain depth of land for sale at such 

 upset price as would represent the capital of the rental the 

 same lands would fetch if leased. The lands being thus dis- 

 posed of, the Government would be relieved from any 

 responsibility with regard to protection, and disputes such 

 as have already arisen as to how far the respective rights- 

 of parties holding lands on opposite sides of the river extend 

 would have to be settled among the parties themselves with- 

 out the Government being called upon to intervene. There 

 is, however, one objection to this course being pursued with 

 regard to the lands on the Ristigouche, which it may seem 

 undignified to refer to but which has been made and is likely 

 to be made again. That is, that the lands would almost in- 

 evitably be brought up by citizens of the United States to the 

 exclusion of Canadians. 



"In the case of a river flowing between lands still un- 

 disposed of on either side, and in which both sides would be 

 disposed of to the same person, it would, I think, materially 

 lower the value of the lands in rear for colonization to allow 

 the whole river front to pass permanently into the hands of 

 a private individual, with whom settlers would have to make 

 arrangements regarding access to the water. Trouble would 

 also be likely to arise between the purchaser of a long stretch 

 of river front and the holder of timber limits in the vicinity, 

 and the Government be obliged to pay an indemnity to one 

 or the other. This would be obviated by the Government 

 retaining possession of the lands or the power to resume 

 possession of them at any time. 



"It may be said that it would not be necessary to sell 

 the whole water front of the lands bordering on a river in 

 order to convey the fishing rights, but the enjoyment of fishing 

 rights implies power to protect them and guard the river at 

 other places besides those where fishing is legitimately prac- 

 tised. 



