, 1877-08-31
OUR FISHERIES.

written editorial, thus deals with q
question of universal Importance,
and offers suggestions in regard to
the proper protection of fisheries,
which might be needed with advsn-
tage to all:
"a visit to the bark Prince Ru-
pert, as she lies alongside the Hud-
son Bay Company's wharf, would in
teress anyone who may feel con-
oerned in the prosperity and growth
of the Province. This fine vessel is
filed with salmon in cases and bar
rels, destined for London market.
There will not be spare nook or
Granny anywhere about her. There
is salmon above, salmon below, sal.
mon TO the right, salmon to the left; !;
forward, aft, amidships, there is moth
ing to be seen but salmon slowed
away for export. 1t is said the YES
sci will carry away 10000 cases, val.
ued at $4,000. This large amount
does not represent more than one
tenth Of the seasons catch of Fraser
River, the total value Of which will
reach 81, 100000. Most, or nearly all
these fish were sold before they had
been caught-actually disposed Of
before they had left the mysterious
seas where salmon "most do con-
gregate" for their native streams in
British Columbia. They were liter.
ally counted like chickens, before
they were hatched! The Importance
Of the salmon fisheries to British Col
umbia cannot be estimated.
Oregon has but one river-the Col
umbia-where salmon may be taken
in any quantity. British Columbia
has some seven salmon producing
rivers, only two of which-the Fraser
and Skeena--are being "worked,"
and they only partially. The Stick
cen, Mass, and Tarcoo, away to the
North, abound in salmon. On the
Island, Cowichan and Salmon rivers
offer splendid advantages for the es-
tsblishment of fisheries, whilst the
harbors, bays, and estuaries all along
the coast line are "alive" with fish
of the choicest varieties. The de.
mand in Europe for these fish is un.
limited, and there is no good reason
why next year ten ships carrying an
aggregate of 100000 cases should not
load at our wharves. Several new
companies are forming at San Fran
cisco to fish in these waters, and it is
becoming evident enough that the
long.neglected fisheries of British
Columbia, as long as they may last,
will prove as profitable as the gold
mines of Cariboo in days gone by.
As long as they may last! The fish
cries, with proper restrictions and
close season, ought to be practically |
ine1haustible. They should be a
source Of wealth to the country, fur
ish food for millions Of human beings
for ages to come. But if natural
laws be disregsrded and the good
and wholesome regulations in force
in the Eastern Provinces be neglect
ed, in course of a very few years the
salmon will disappear. The fate of
the Sacramento River ought to serve
as warning to Columbians to pro-
tect their fish from wholesale des,ruc.
tion. The Sacramento was once
filled with salmon. The supply was
supposed to be exhaustless. People
acting on that supposition caught
and killed the noble fish in and out
Of season, frequently in sheer want
onness. At the present time the
supply is barely sufficient to satisfy
the daily wants of San Francisco,
with none left for export. To come
nearer home, last year the Coum.
bia river fisheries produced 100000
cases of canned salmon. This year
the catch has fallen off nearly one
third!--the effect of overworking.
Such calamity may be averted
here. Proper regulations must be
imposed, and persons violating them
visited with severe penalties. Above
all, there should be a close season,
during which it is illegal to take
salmon. The fisheries Commissioner
cannot commepce the discharge OF
his duties moment too soon."
The fisheries Of Puget Sound, like
those Of British Columbia, are still
almost in their infancy, vet measures
for the protection of this the source
Of All immense revenue cannot begin
tOn g,NOn