298 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



effective in those parts of the province where there are no settled 

 inhabitants, no magistrates, and no tribiuials before Avhich those 

 who infringe the law can be cited; and this is the case of all the 

 best rivers in Lower Canada. 



I cannot close these observations without endeavouring to im- 

 press on all Avho hear me the necessity for prompt action in this 

 matter ; for there can be no doubt upon the mind of any man 

 A\dio is acquainted with the localities, that if the King's Posts 

 should be abandoned by the Hudson's Baj' Company, before some 

 well devised system be adopted for carrying on the work which 

 they have hitherto effected, two melancholy residts -will be the 

 inevitable consequences, A'iz. — the salmon rivers will be taken 

 pjossession of liy hordes of lawless men, who AviU in no way con- 

 tribute to the revenue of the country, but will quickly and 

 recklessly exterminate the fish, and then desert our shores, leaving 

 Ix'hind them no trace of their temporary occupation excepit the 

 destructitm they ha"\'e wrought; and — more terrible still — a "whole 

 trilie of Indians (the Moutagnards) will be reduced to a state of 

 positive starvation, for upon the Hudson's Bay Compjany they 

 have hitherto been, and are now, dependent for their anmuuiition, 

 guns, and other means b}" which they oljtaiu their food and 

 clothinu'. 



