FISHERIES. 247 



barrels) being taken two years previously at Wellington 

 Beach at a single haul. At Burlington Beach, during 

 1856, 1,900,000 Herrings and 86,400 White-fish were 

 taken. At Port Credit, 470,000 fish were captured, 

 two-thirds of them being Salmon, and at other fishing 

 stations on Lake Ontario, 200,000 to 300,000 fish. The 

 entire take for the year, according to the lowest esti- 

 mate, amounting in value to $500,000. Although as 

 above stated all the less impoi'tant lakes and streams are 

 excluded from these Returns, their aggregate quota is an 

 item of no inconsiderable importance to the inhabitants of 

 the districts in which they are situated. In the Western 

 Province the up-country lakes and their feeders are ex- 

 ceedingly numerous, and abound with fish of great 

 variety. In the Eastern townships, which are the 

 English-speaking portion of Lower Canada, lying south 

 of the St. Lawrence and between the French country 

 and the States, these minor waters are also as prolific as 

 they are numerous. 



The variety of fish inhabiting this vast extent of 

 waters, which are for the most part of great depth and 

 extraordinary clearness, is as great as their quantity is 

 extraordinary, comprising, in addition to nearly all the 

 fresh-water species of Great Britain, several altogether 

 unknown in our country. 



About thirty or five-and-thirty years ago most of the 



