89 



case, sold on the spot to American vessels, which have 

 visited Campbelltown for that purpose. Mr. Ferguson 

 informs me that his father was in the habit of exporting 

 2000 barrels of salmon annually, but that he is quite 

 content if he can manage to catch 300 barrels per yeari 

 He attributes the great falling off in their numbers to the 

 spearing and netting by the Indians and other barbarians 

 while on their spawning-beds in the back settlements." 



Can anything more clearly demonstrate the truth of what 

 has been so repeatedly stated, or the pressing necessity of 

 immediate action to prevent utter destruction from com- 

 ing on such a branch of public wealth. It has been said 

 that no law will prevent the Indians from spearing and 

 netting the fish at any time. I here enter my protest 

 against any such assertion, and exclaim, — 'tis a libel 

 against the poor Indian, to cover the evil practices of the 

 white man ! It is only when in a state of starvation that 

 the child of the forest will take the life of a breeding 

 animal. They know that were they to do so, they would 

 soon have to leave their hunting-grounds. 'Tis against 

 their oral teachings and their traditions. Their future 

 both here and hereafter is involved in the question. The 

 good Spirit would be angry, and no pleasant hunting- 

 grounds would be prepared for their hereafter. Conse- 

 quently no one is more careful to guard the life of forest 

 animal or fish, when in the breeding state, than the native 

 Indian. True, indeed, it is, that some few half-breeds : 

 tinctured alike with the blood of the whites and with their 

 vices, urged on by the offer of that bane of the savage, 

 drink, — and the glittering silver coin, — urged on by the 

 white man, they may use spear and net. But whose the 



