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THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



country. If it were possible to prevent the 

 snaring of Ruffed Grouse, the present protec- 

 tection would, no doubt, be ample ; as it is, 

 however, the habitants pursue their work of 

 trapping unmolested, and the only feasible 

 way of stopping this would seem to be by 

 prohibiting the sale of these birds after a 

 specified time ; the law would not then be 

 violated to such an extent as the market 

 hunters would not be able to dispose of their 

 game and would in consequence restrict their 

 efforts to obtaining a supply sufficient for their 

 own use. — Wallace. 



THE DESTRUCTIVE BRUSH WEIRS. 



That there is cause for the decrease of 

 Salmon along the shores of Nova Scotia, 

 New Brunswick and the tributaries of the St. 

 Lawrence, cannot be denied. They have 

 steadily decreased in these waters since 1841. 

 The blame for paying high prices for this 

 wholesome food, must rest on the shoulders 

 of the Government, who have allowed the in- 

 habitants residing along the sea-board to erect 

 " Stake or Barrier Nets " and " Brush Weirs." 

 The " Stake-Net" is a Scotch invention intro- 

 duced into Canada about the year 1818, and 

 they have been found effective modes of cap- 

 ture, by intercepting the fish in their 

 approaches to the rivers. They are formed of 

 strong netting attached to "Stakes" driven 

 into the shore, and these nets extend from high 

 to low water mark ; thus placed before the 

 course of the fish on their way to the breeding 

 grounds. The " Stake-Net " terminates in a 

 chamber or trap from which there is no 

 escape. The " Brush Weir " is more destruc- 

 tive ; composed of wicker-work or brush- 

 wood, it also has a chamber with a narrow 

 entrance wherein all kinds and sizes of fish are 

 caught at the et)b of the tide. These destruc- 

 tive traps are self-acting, working night and 

 day. Although the fishery regulations require 

 an open space to be made in the lower part of 

 the chamber to be covered with net-work to 



admit the passage of small fishes, the provision 

 is defeated by quantities of seaweed and other 

 floating substances which close the netting at 

 every tide. We advise the Government to de- 

 stroy every one of these watling fences at once 

 and forever. " Stake-Nets " should be absolu- 

 tely abolished in the Lower St. Lawrence. In 

 1841, Salmon were abundant; 50,000 being 

 the annual catch on one of the Labradorian 

 rivers, and during the latter year, 1 ,800 Salmon 

 were taking during one tide at Tadousac. 

 Other rivers along the Lower St. Lawrence 

 were then equally productive, but the " Weirs" 

 and " Stake-nets" extended rapidly, and since 

 then Salmon, Shad, Cod, Herring, Striped and 

 Sea-Bass have been annually destroyed by 

 •'Brush Weirs." These engines when first 

 placed in Scottish and Irish waters, produced 

 profitable returns to the Weir-holders ; but, 

 during this time, destructive results so far as 

 regarded the propagation of Salmon. The 

 British Government became alarmed, and a 

 scientific commission was appointed to make 

 enquiry as to the cause. The following is an 

 extract from the Report of Sir William Jar- 

 dine, one of the Commissioners. It speaks 

 for itself. — 



" In adverting to the evil done to the Fish- 

 eries by the use of these fixed barriers, and in 

 pointing out the course believed to be indis- 

 pensable to preserve what remains of these 

 Fisheries, may be interfering with the gains of 

 a few, who, in large estuaries or other favored 

 localities, still reap a precarious harvest from 

 their use ; but I hold it to be due to the public 

 that the destruction caused by the modes of 

 fishing hitherto and still practised should be 

 frankly indicated without regard to the private 

 gains of any individual. There is no doubt 

 that the longer these obnoxious Engines are 

 permitted to exist the more difficult will be 

 their removal. The instances in older coun- 

 tries of the destitution, the riots, the bloodshed 

 and loss of life caused by these nuisances to 

 fishing and navigation ought to be a warning 

 to us." 



Here in Canada, we have a Fishery Depart- 

 ment which is cognizant of the fact that these 

 "Brush Weirs" are annually a source of 



