120 



was ent away by the lumbermen,- because it obstructed the navi- 

 gation, and was therefore a public nuisance. There is nothing 

 now to prevent salmon ascending this river, and very many still 

 go up it every year ; anciently, they passed up in thousands. 

 There is an Indian village at the mouth of the TobiquC) which is 

 the principal settlement of the MiliCetes of the Saint John ; and 

 these Indians, aided by lumbermen, and poachers of all shades, 

 from every clime and Country, pursue the salmon up to the very 

 sources of the river, and destroy them by every species of con- 

 trivance, without the slighest regard to season, or the condition 

 of the fish. 



The Arestook is another noble tributary of the Saint John, 

 entering it from the westward; about two miles above the Tobi- 

 que, on the opposite side. Owing to some lofty falls on this river, 

 about four miles from its mouth, and within British territoryj sal- 

 mon can ascend it no farther, and here also, they are subjected 

 to great slaughter. Very few salmon ascend the Saint John 

 above the Arestook, although some occasionally reach the basin 

 below the Grand Palls ; when they do they are netted and 

 speared in sucTi an effective manner, that few ever escape. 



From this brief notice of the principal tributaries of the Saint 

 John, frequented by salmon, it will be seen how greatly fish-ways 

 are required in the various mill-dams, and the necessity that ex- 

 ists for some superintendence over these rivers, as otherwise the 

 breeding fish will be wholly destroyed ere many years elapse; and 

 the valuable fishery in the Harbour of Saint John, and along the 

 lower part of the river, will scarcely exist. 



The settlers here said, that before the dams were built across 

 Salmon River, the fishing was excellent, and persons came from 

 all parts to catch salmon there. One man had caught as many 

 salmon there, during a single season, as sold for £00 ; and during 

 another season, fifty years since, Wright and the Tufts caught 40 

 barrels, while some others who fished in company, caught 20 bar- 

 rels more — now, nbt a single salmon is caught in the river ! 



Although the lower part of this river, so far as the tide-way 

 extends, is excessively muddy, yet above the tide, its waters are 



