182 FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



"To define and convey strips of land at such places it 

 is needless to say, would be impracticable. The holder of fish- 

 ing rights in a river must have power to guard such river in 

 its whole length, or as far as it may be frequented by salmon 

 as long as they remain in it, otherwise his rights are likely 

 to be seriously interfered with, and the value of the river 

 much impaired. In leasing lands such power can be given 

 and the use which may be made of the land clearly defined, 

 while any desirable reserve may be made by the Government 

 in connection with other interests, more effectually, it ap- 

 pears to me, in a revocable lease than in a sale. 



"On the whole I think it would not be advantageous to 

 adopt the policy of selling instead of leasing fishing rights, 

 more especially as these privileges appear to be increasing 

 in value, and are likely soon to yield a much larger revenue 

 than has 'hitherto been derived from them." 



As shown by the subsequent policy of the Government of 

 Quebec, Mr. Mackedie's recommendations have been carried 

 out almost in their entirety. 



RESULTS OF PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION. 



The results of the Provincial administration of the 

 fisheries have been extremely gratifying. The history of this 

 administration and the results obtained from year to year will 

 form the object of a later report. Suffice it, for the present, 

 to say that the revenue of the Provincial Fish and Game 

 Branch, which was only $3,232.50 in 1884, amounted, for the 

 year ended the 30th June 1912, to over $116,000. 



The Hon. Mr. Lynch, who organized this Branch on a 

 small scale in 1883, was succeeded as head of the Crown Lands 

 Department by the Hon. P. Garneau. Then followed in turn 

 the Hon. Messrs. Duhamel, Flynn, Parent and Turgeon. 



In 1905 the Fisheries and Game Branch was detached 

 from the Crown Lands Department and made part of the new 

 Department of Colonization, Mines and Fisheries, of which the 

 Hon. Jean Prevost was Minister from July, 1905, till October, 

 1907, The Hon. Charles R. Devlin, the present Minister, has" 

 been the official head of the Department since the 17th 

 October, 1907. 



