250 FISHERIES. 



In the lakes and rivers of the Upper Province fish 

 of the most valuable kinds are now increasing per- 

 ceptibly, while the salmon rivers of the Lower one, bid 

 fair to surpass those of Scotland, and are yearly inviting 

 over our countrymen in growing numbers. 



Important and valuable as are the above fish, there is 

 one which neither figures in the Returns nor attracts the 

 lovers of the gentle craft, and yet deserves mention before 

 proceeding to the higher groups, on account of its use- 

 fulness to a large class of Indians, habitans, and settlers, 

 by whom it is taken in very great quantities. This is the 

 "Longbec" or Common Eel (Anguilla vulgaris), which 

 both when freshly caught or when dried forms a most 

 important article of food in many parts of the country. 



Though more generally taken in traps with fascine 

 leaders, they are often speared by torchlight on a large 

 scale, a sight which one evening in the month of July I 

 had an opportunity of witnessing at Coteau-du-Lac on 

 Lake St. Francis. 



Darkness had barely descended when, as if by magic, 

 the whole lake, which is twenty miles in length and six 

 broad, was suddenly dotted over with bright flaming 

 lights proceeding from the canoes engaged in spearing. 

 The extraordinary number of these lights, and the vast 

 space over which they were spread, produced a most 

 strange and beautiful effect. 



