The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-07
Fish Culture No. 3.

Fish Culture No. 3.
The Canadian Salmon rivers arc huge
mountainous torrents, magnitic,l brooks of
the coldcst spring water. and swollen in
the spring by the melting SHOWS become
scething turbid cataracts, impassi bic
even by the Indians in tn ir bark canoes.
With the disappearance Of the winter
snow they quickly c,ntract their jl,m.n :
sions and resume their natural trunspar
ency, and then it is that the salmon and
trout enter them from the ocean, impeIle.l
by the instinct of reproduction. Tarry.
ing but short time in the lower parts of
the streams, they quickly make for and
reach the head -wuters, and here in these
remote and deserted retreats it might be
supposed they could bid defiance to the
rapacity OF mankind, but it is just in these
localities on the contrary that they find
themselves peculiarly exposed and help
less. In the late summer and early
autumn the rivers are generally low,
quite brook-like in comparison with their
former selves, and the fish find themselves
penned up in pools, separated one from
another by stretches of broad and shall
low rapids often but few inches in
depth. From these pools is no escape
and in them no safety from the cruel
spear and devouring drag-net. The
salmon too, at this season have become
dull and sluggish Che act of spawning
being an exhaustive process) and are
quite incapable Of that celebrity of move
ment which distinguishes them when
fresh run from the ocean. They only
desire to be let alone and suffered to per
petuate their species, and this boon long
denied them, they now enjoy to the
fullest extent that severe statut es en-
forced by Government officers can com
mand. Even the purchase of a fish
captured in violation of Government
regulations is made penal offence. and
the offending party on conviction, is
mulcted in heavy sum This is all as
1t should be, and while depriviny the few
OF the privilege of destroying unhealthy
fish at improper seas ,Es, the general re .ult
Is obtained of securing to the many
bountlful supply of dcsirable and sub.
stantlal food at low COST.
onc or two extracts from official rp-
ports Will serve to show the recent i'm.
mense improvements in the salmon
fsaeries of the Bay of Chaleurs. Saws
hr. Mowat government overseer:
This season has been a prosperous
one for the net fishermen in nv division
the catch in s:veral localities being near
double the usual quantity. Salmon COM
menced running III the Restigouche river
about the 1st OF June, and for three
weeks the fish were delivered ut the can
nlng establishments in such Juautit;es
that, although provision had been made
70 put up larger humber .han usual
tne cahners could receive the fish ONLY
ABOUT three days in five, fishermen bnv
ing 10 salt the bala zee. AS TO the r,d
nshlng, before 1868, he was an adcnt
VINO could take salmon in the Rest,
gouche with the hy-a lew still remained
ouI "nat with spears and nets the, were
ehaseu 10 death, an ", re so wild as IN
i"ho ~ Impossible 10 get near them
One might by clIlnce see a fiusl, of snn,,.
th'ig under water. and if Experienced h.
coulu tell 1t was salmon on oh ,,rv,py :,
piece OF his skin Torn by the Spar, or tin,
while ilngs around his body caused bv
the aDrasions of the hets. rbis IL aE
ea0hgea no~; If the fish do NO, rise f., fine
anglers lure 1t Is net from their wildn.ss
or scarcity, hut from their d .sinclino,;nn
to do SOL
Mr. D1mock.anothcr Government q f;cor
rieporls as follows: salmon are incr ~
ing rapidly, sQ nucI, So, that this wear.
eaten has again as,onIs,ed many. When
my see sp 'rt ncn eagerly pairinp tn
our rivers, giving employment To onr
people, spending money freely, and actina
kInaly and generously towards the in,
ha0isants when they see one hundred
ana Iorty salmon the produce of twenty.
lour hours net-fshing, lying side by side
on the beach at the grand CascapedIa fer
~ ana recollect that few years ago they
wouiu not see one hundred salmon dur.
ing the whole season, and those killed
win the spear these people who were
iormeriy opposed to the fishery laws
pegin h appreciate the wisdom and ad-
vantage OF placing our salmon fisheries
uhnef ludlcious system of protection !,
" e might introduce evidences an