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bright, and ripple gently over a gravelly bed, forming a* almost 

 constant succession of pools and rapids. Great numbers of sal- 

 mon, generally of small size, formerly frequented this river : but 

 latterly, owing to the unmerciful and cruel manner in which this 

 fish has been hunted and persecuted, as well, in the tide-way as 

 above it, they have greatly diminished, and are at present in a 

 fair way of being extirpated altogether. 



In August, 1848, the writer was on the upper part of this river, 

 near the head of the tide, and at night, saw thirly-five hay-makers 

 making war upon a few salmon which had reached a pool the 

 day previous. They built large fires upon the banks, and enter- 

 ing the pool, some wading, and others in canoes with torches, 

 each man armed with a pitchfork, they pursued and mangled the 

 fish until the whole were killed. At a pool fkrther up the river, 

 the next day, the writer saw a boy in a canoe, With a pitchfork, 

 pursuing a solitary salmon in a shallow pool, from which it could 

 not escape ; the fish was killed at last, but so mutilated as to be 

 almost worthless. Every where on the river, the same destruc- 

 tion appeared to be going on ; it was said by the inhabitants tirat 

 no regard was paid to season, but that salmon were always 

 taken, whenever and however they could be had. 



Unless it be intended, that the salmon fishery of the Petitco- 

 diac shall be allowed to cease altogether, as a thing of no value, 

 it is absolutely necessary, that steps should be taken to restrain 

 this wanton destruction of fine fish. If the river is not put un- 

 der some superintendence, to restrain the destructive inclination 

 of the sojourners on its banks, it cannot be expected, but that 

 the salmon shery of the Petitcodiac will fishortly be remembered 

 as a fishery that has been, but which no longer exists. 



The salmon enters the rivers of Nova Seotia during the latter 

 part of April. Those rivers of New Brunswick which fall into 

 the Bay of Pundy, the salmon enters at the latter part of May ; 

 while it seldom enters the rivers which fall into the Gulf of 

 Saint Lawrence, until the month of June. The female salmon 

 first enters the rivers ; the male fish follows, about a month 

 later than the female ; and lastly, come the grilse, or yoting 



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