316 APPENDIX. 



Stress of weather compelled me to advance from here to Trinity 

 Bay, without exploring the river Calumet, where I am informed 

 there once was an abundance of salmon. 



There are several fair salmon, and many good sea trout fishing- 

 stands on this part of the coast. 



The Trinity Eiver I consider a valuable stream. Of the estuary 

 portion I shall not now speak, having described its fishings, etc., in 

 the previous season's report. An almost uninterrupted passage for 

 near forty miles admits salmon into a part of this stream where it 

 widens and is divided by small islands. Here seems to be the breed- 

 ing-ground ; and it is so distant from any place where fish taken 

 could be disposed of, and the labor of navigating it with a canoe, 

 even lightly laden, is so formidable that salmon may again multiply 

 there in primeval quiet. Hitherto the estuary has been over-netted, 

 and the river barred across by gill-nets. Hence' the decline of the 

 fishery. Now, however, fair play is insured, and the natural conse- 

 quence will be a rapid restoration of the river to its pristine cele- 

 brity. 



Some three leagues west are the forks of the famous Godbout. 

 Here, too, the spawning-beds in the northeast branch are admirably 

 sheltered and spacious. The northwest arm communicates through 

 a long deep lake with one of the feeders of the Manicouagan River. 

 The Godbout salmon breed also in a north tributary of this lake ; 

 and from appearance it might be inferred that they lie also within 

 the main outlet. Were spearing everywhere prohibited, and reason- 

 able netting alone allowed, there cannot be a doubt that the supply 

 of salmon from this river would in a few years become almost inex- 

 haustible. Indeed, when we recollect the dire havoc and riotous 

 abuse of fishing which this beautiful stream has already suffered, 

 nothing save a knowledge of its extensive and fine breeding-places 

 could enable us to account for the present existence of any remnant 

 of former abundance. There is encouragement in the hope that pro- 

 tective measures strictly enforced will fast multiply and improve the 

 run of salmon resorting to this rich river. 



******** 



I cannot close this report without touching upon the subject of 

 spearing by Indians. 



The practice of capturing salmon by torchlight and spears is justly 

 held to be most pernicious. Employed, as it almost invariably is, at 

 a time when the waters of each river are lowest and clearest, whilst 

 the salmon are balked at the base of steep falls, awaiting the next 

 freshet, and congregate during sultry nights near the mouths of lit- 

 tle rivulets emptying into the main stream, or loiter about the tails 

 of pools, spear-fishing involves excessive slaughter. Sometimes in 

 the course of one night as many salmon will be thup killed and 

 maimed as an ordinary net-fishery along the coast, or in the estua- 

 ries, can capture throughout the regular fishing season. Practised 



