322 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



I assume then, as a matter of notoriety, that a serious diminu- 

 tion in the numbers of the St. Lawrence salmon has lately 

 taken place ; but for want of sufficient data, it is not easy to 

 estimate its extent with any accuracy. My own impression is, 

 judging from an angling experience of ten years in several of 

 its branches, and from statements I have heard from intelli- 

 gent persons, that there has been a falling off at least of a fourth 

 within the time mentioned. It is true that any legal prohibi- 

 tion of catching salmon within certain stated periods might be 

 often eluded in this country, where a similar law with regard to 

 bringing partridges into market during the breeding season is 

 never, I believe, enforced. Still it appears to be the interest of all 

 classes that some legislative protection should be given to the 

 salmon, and rigidly carried into operation. For instance, a pro- 

 hibition of catching or selling the fish after the 20th August 

 (we will say) each year, when they go out of season. A law to 

 this effect, carefully enforced, would, to a certain extent, pre- 

 vent unhealthy food from being imposed on the public, and 

 tend to keep up an adequate supply of breeding fish. Indeed, 

 if matters go on as at present, salmon, which are even now 

 sold at a high rate in the Quebec market, will, in all proba- 

 bility, before many years pass, become so scarce and dear as to be 

 quite beyond the reach of the community. With increasing 

 means of destruction directed against them on the one hand, 

 and no legal protection when breeding on the other, they will 

 soon be banished from the St. Lawrence, as they have been 

 already from the Hudson, the Avon, the Severn, the Trent, and 

 the Thames. 



