31 



CHAPTEE VIII. 



RI YEK S AGUEN A Y. 



We now enter the grand, the chief tributary of the St. 

 Lawrence, (the St. Maurice not excepted) which for subli- 

 mity, may vie with any in the world. 



Its source is to be found in Lake St. John, whence it 

 issues from two outlets, the Grande and Petite Decharge. 

 On reference to Bouchette's B. N. America, I find it stated, 

 that this river is from 150 to 180 miles in length, and, 

 that on its downward course it receives the waters of above 

 30 tributaries ; in most of which Salmon were formerly 

 taken. The lover of the sublime and picturesque will b& 

 well repaid by a visit to this locality, and opportunities are 

 afforded by steamer from Quebec, every week during the 

 summer months. 



As a nursery for the Salmon few rivers can equal it, suf- 

 ficient spawn could be preserved in its tributaries alone, to 

 stock the whole river with myriads of the finny tribe. 



The fish (beside the Salmon) in this river are the stur- 

 geon, salmon-trout, pike, white fish, trout, pickerel, cod, 

 herring and smelts. The bottle nosed whale were former- 

 ly taken, and the seal are even now had in the bay : 

 the cod fish once so common is now seldom caught. The 

 same causes which have led to the destruction of the fish- 

 eries elsewhere, hold good in this river. 



The immense quantites of timber, formerly to be had in 

 this district, led to the construction of mills, without the 

 necessary chute or slide — consequently the fish have been 

 unable to ascend many of the rivers, in which there were 



