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ports designate as " migration passes ; " that in the branches of 

 the large rivers, as also in the smaller rivers, nets are too often 

 placed completely across the stream, from bank to bank, which 

 take every fish that attempts to pass ; that " close> time " in many 

 of the rivers is scarcely, if at all, regarded ; and that, besides the 

 improper use of nets at all seasons, fish of all sizes are destroyed 

 by hundreds, in the very act of spawning ; by torch light and 

 spears, at a time when they are quite unfit for human food. 



The preservation and maintenance of the salmon fisheries of 

 New Brunswick generally, is a subject well worthy of earnest 

 attention. To prevent the destruction of the fish during the 

 spawning season, and by improper modes of fishing, as also to 

 provide for the passage of the fish up those streams which they 

 have formerly frequented, but from which they are now exclud- 

 ed by mill dams, some further enactments are absolutely 

 necessary, and more efficient means are required for enforcing 

 the provisions of the law. The most valuable river fishery of 

 the Province is in a fair way of being rendered valueless, or 

 wholly destroyed ; and as the rivers are the natural nurseries of 

 the salmon, the fishery on the coast will, of course, be destroyed 

 also. 



Aided by railway!, the fisheries of the Gulf of Saint Law- 

 rence, now of so little importance, and such limited value, 

 would take rank as one of the highest privileges of New 

 Brunswick — its unfailing source of wealth forever hereafter. 

 And while the efforts of the people were successfully directed 

 towards securing these bounties of Providence, lavished with 

 such unsparing hand, they would rejoice in the goodness of an 

 all-wise Creator, and offer up humble but earnest thanks to 

 Almighty God, for his exceeding goodness and mercy towards 

 his erring and sinful creatures. 



The Restigouche is about 220 miles in length, and it has four 

 large tributaries, each more than 60 miles long ; with its 

 numerous affluents, it is supposed to drain more than 6000 

 square miles of territory. At present, this river is the dividing 

 line between New Brunswick and Canada, and the fisheries in 



