318 APPENDIX. 



ver from the effects of successive or casual devastations. And 

 while there remains a loophole for escape, as between the Indians 

 and abetting traders, active temptations on either side will drive 

 them to calculate their mutual chances of evading the law. 



The qualified exemption of Indians under the Fishery Regulations 

 arose, I feel assured, from motives humane and considerate. Those 

 considerations doubtless were influenced by arguments in support 

 of such exception, drawn from the apparent necessities of Indian 

 life. Experience dissipates this cause of sympathy. It proves that 

 the Montaignais, Micmacs, Naskapis and Metifs, seldom spear sal- 

 mon in any considerable quantities for present subsistence ; and to 

 smoke, or dry, or pickle them for winter use, never. They go to 

 the salting-vats of the nighest trader pork, tea, sugar, tobacco, and 

 sometimes spirits, principally returning to the wigwam in exchange. 

 I, of course, speak of the Indians whilst near the St. Lawrence, whe- 

 ther from the interior or residing by turns near the seaboard. It is 

 quite a mistaken notion that they kill and cure salmon for provision- 

 ing the inland hunt. 



The experienced missionary, Pere Arnaud, in his evidence to tho 

 Indian Commissioners, says, "These Indians care for nothing but 

 hunting and fishing." Indeed I think that, as regards several of 

 them, the native love of excitement in the chase has somewhat to 

 do with their pertinacious pursuit of salmon by spears and flam- 

 beaux. It is a passion among some of the bands ; and I must admit 

 the habit has peculiar fascinations, and to many it is strangely excit- 

 ing. Nothing can exceed the wild excitement with which these 

 men pursue it. The sombre night-scene of the forest river seems to 

 delight them. The elder man occupies the stern of the canoe, while 

 the younger takes " the post of honor " forward. The murmur of 

 waterfalls and rapids, drown those exclamatory Ughs ! and the fre- 

 quent splash that would else disturb the pervading stillness. "With 

 steady, stealthy speed the light birchen boat enters the rapid, and 

 cutting through its white waters glides smoothly over the fall and 

 into the " tail " of the pool above, or across the quiet " reach." The 

 blazing torch, stuck in a cleft stake and leaning over the bow of the 

 canoe, glares with dazzling lightness. The flame and shadow, 

 swayed by ripples, conceal the spearers' forms, and bewilder the 

 doomed salmon. Like moths, they sidle toward the fatal light ; 

 their silvery sides and amber-colored eyeballs glisten through the 

 rippled water. The dilated eyes, the expanding nostrils and com- 

 pressed lips of the swarthy canoemen, fitly picture their eager and 

 excited mood. A quick, deadly aim, a sudden swirl, and those mo- 

 mentary convulsive wriggles tell the rest. The aquatic captive, with 

 blood and spawn, and slime and entrails, besmear the inside of the 

 canoe. Often the quarry is transfixed with wonderful precision and 

 instantly killed, the spinal marrow being pierced by the barb, and 

 the strong springy tines of the spear paralyzing in their sharp pinch 



