APPENDIX. 329 



estuary fishings. Besides, to tolerate, it must always expose 

 Crown lessees to the risk of having their limits suddenly deterio- 

 rated by the bold encroachments of spearers. To punish them, 

 even, cannot restore the damage. Years indeed must elapse ere 

 the pirated rivers can recover from the effects of successive or 

 casual devastations. And while there remains a loop-hole for 

 escape as between the Indians and abetting traders, active temp- 

 tations on either side will drive them to calculate their mutual 

 chances of evading the law. 



The qualified exemption of Indians under the fishery regula- 

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

 These 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, Micmac, Naskapis, and Metifs 

 seldom spear salmon 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 nearest trader, pork, 

 tea, sugar, tobacco, bread, and sometimes spirits, principally re- 

 turning to the wigwam in exchange, that is, the Indians whilst 

 near the St. Lawrence, &c. whether from the interior, or residing by 

 turns near the sea-board. It is quite a mistaken notion that they 

 kill and cure salmon for provisioning the inland hunt. 



The experienced missionary, Pere Arnaud, in his evidence to 

 the 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 flambeaux. It is a passion among some of the bands ; 

 and, I must admit, the habit has peculiar fascinations, and to 

 many it is strangely exciting. Nothing can exceed the wild ex- 

 citement with which these men pursue it. The sombre night 

 scene of the forest river seems to delight them. The elder man 



