136 SALMON BRITISH AND COLONIAL. 



which man was originally endowed, and which, though 

 rendered dormant by civilisation, is not extinct, but 

 specially active in certain individuals. 



Salmon-fishing in Canada has been grievously in- 

 jured by stake-nets, and especially by " burning the 

 water," and the Indian's fish - spear, which Colonel 

 Alexander pronounces a very ingenious implement. A 

 prong at the end of a pole transfixes the fish, whilst 

 two semicircles of wood on each side of the prong em- 

 brace its flanks, and enable the fisherman to raise it 

 from the bottom of the stream. By a most foolish ten- 

 derness for the liberties of the Indians, they are allowed 

 to use the murderous spear ; and as, like our home sav- 

 ages, they use it mercilessly, and most successfully, 

 against pregnant fish, we do not wonder to be told 

 that the number of salmon in the St Lawrence and its 

 numerous tributaries is rapidly decreasing. We have 

 lying before us a list of no less than sixty-two of the 

 chief salmon and sea-trout fisheries of Lower Canada, 

 twenty-two of which are Crown rivers, and now open 

 to public sale. In case any of our readers should think 

 of speculating in these strange waters, we extract two 

 or three notices from the Government advertisement. 



" Discharging into the St Lawrence. Musquarro : 

 bold, rapid river ; affords fine salmon-fishing with fly ; 

 good net-fishery station. Great Natashquan : famous 

 stream ; salmon of finest kind, and numerous. Nipime- 

 wecanan : fairy-like stream ; falls nine miles inside ; 

 exquisite fly-fishing. 



This fairy-like region, with its unpronounceable 

 name, has, we fear, an unusual complement of Indians, 

 who care for nothing but hunting and fishing. 



" I think," writes Colonel Alexander, " the native 

 love of excitement in the chase has something to do 

 with their pertinacious pursuit of salmon by spears and 

 flambeaux. It is a passion among some of the bands ; 

 and I must admit the habit has peculiar fascinations, 

 and to many it is strangely exciting. Nothing can 



