234 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



merit to missionaries to enter the Indian territory, and in 

 consequence of the absence of competition they have the 

 power of compelling the Indians to pay them higher prices 

 than they would otherwise have to pay. The Company 

 has entirely succeeded in acquiring a controlling influence 

 over the various tribes within their territories ; and justice 

 compels me to aver that in the main this influence has 

 been exercised beneficially to the natives. They have re- 

 pressed their vindictive wars, given them adequate motives 

 to exert themselves for a support, substituted our imple- 

 ments and many of the comforts of civilisation for the rude 

 inventions of barbarism ; and in many other ways essen- 

 tially ameliorated their condition. Some of the hunters 

 and trappers, when far beyond their control, have occa- 

 sionally perpetrated acts worthy of fiends ; but there is no 

 room to doubt that these atrocities have been severely 

 punished when discovered. 



This Company holds by lease, from the government of 

 Canada, that portion of its territory denominated the 

 King's Posts, extending from the Saguenay to the boundary 

 of Terra Firma. This lease is dated 2nd October 1851, 

 and is for twenty years, at a rent of 60l. per annum. 



The old lease held by the Company from the Canadian 

 government, gave them exclusive rights in the seal and 

 other fisheries. The present lease cancels all exclusive 

 privileges, and gives the government the power to let or 

 sell any of their lands for lumbering, or agricultural 



