Destruction of Food Fishes, 3 



where not one individual now exists; and, on referring to dates, 

 it will be observed that less than a century has sufficed to bring 

 about this extinction. I shall frequently refer to the rapid 

 extermination of many animals through human agency, and 

 to the destructive propensity which characterizes the settlers 

 of the present day — a wanton love of destruction, in many 

 instances similar to that of the Indian, as if a spice of the old 

 savage nature still lurked in them also. No doubt the impru- 

 dent use of the spear and net has been the chief cause of the 

 decrease in inland fisheries, but the most effectual modes of 

 extermination have been through mill-dams, and pollution of 

 rivers and their bottoms. 



On these points all inquirers are unanimous, whilst it is the 

 belief of many that, by proper surveillance, introduction of 

 fish-ways, and prohibition of nuisances, the salmon will return 

 to his ancient haunts. I am doubtful, however, if this will be 

 a sovereign remedy. I doubt very much whether a salmon 

 will care to go up streams paved several feet deep with 

 decomposing sawdust and rubbish, to find a by no means 

 tempting entrance to the dam, and when that is surmounted 

 another or another expanse of the same bottom before he 

 gains clear water. Surely, small blame to him should he be 

 somewhat- punctilious under such circumstances, more especi- 

 ally in rivers choked up by rubbish and lumber for long 

 distances above their debouchures. 



There are few rivers better adapted for migratory fishes than 

 the St. John. From its mouth to the Grand Falls, there drain 

 into it no less than fourteen large influents, once the favourite 

 haunts of salmon, shad, gaspereau, etc. ; and even now, with 

 all the poaching and obstructions, it is wonderful that any fishes 

 attempt to run up : indeed, almost every second salmon or 

 grilse caught by the rod either presents spear wounds, or is 

 maimed in some manner by standing nets. Not long since 

 many hundreds of salmon were speared on the spawning-beds 

 of the Miramichi River, in order to procure ova for transmission 



