The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
roAoHlNe IN =
Anslsrs sunrsrinr necasse ef the n.
lernl Deatructien 90 RAlnsoa.

N-EeA bNAsEaoiSa - ea-S
QUEBEC, Aug. 7.-American salmon fishermen
in Canada, particularly those who lease angling
rights from tho province upon the north shore
of the ST. Lawrence. have q real grievance
against the Dominion Government. In defiance
of all its own laws tho Government is permit.
ting . system Of poaching on the part of un-
licensed net fishermen that amounts to direct
spoliation OF the rights acquired here at so
heavy a cost by visiting anglers.
Among tho greatest sufferers so far from this
injustice are the members Of the wealthy and
influential st. Marguerite Salmon Club. who
ish the st. Marguerite River, a tributary Of tho
Saguenay. The club is tho riparian owner OF
the land in the vicinity of the best salmon pools
Of the river, and 1t has leased the fishing in tho
balance of the west branch OF tho river tor q
term Of years from the provincial Government
for $l10 q year, simply for the purpose OF
keeping everybody else OF tho water.
Among the members of tho club who
have fshed tho river this season arc g.. T.
Lyons of oswego, N. Y; A. l.. Barney of
New York; J. Z. Elton of Waterbury, Conn. {;
Robert L. Plumb. Henry Russell, and DR.. Jen-
nings of Detroit, and David Blanchard of Bos-
ton. The aforementioned angler, though he took
eight fish in one week. was fishing for throo
weeks without killing any at nil. Mr.. Lyons
spent five weeks on the river and killed only ten
nsn, though last year his score was o.. DIR. JON
nings took but twelve fish during his stay, whilo
AZ ali fi0 MI. Elton Sn ky,I Gas i snd M slTm Russell snd n %r
Waiter Bracket, the Boston fish artist, who
leases tho northeast branch of tho river. has
killed only about a dozen, and was more than o
The destruction of the fishing in the Mar
guerite this year is altogether due to the illegal
netting of the salmon on their way up tho Sa-
guenay to the mouth Of the stream. Not a single
licensed net exists in the Saguenay. but un-
licensed iSsn ed, fishermen ai1f nn, have set this year more
guerite. The poachcrs And their security and
encouragement in the Canadian system OF pol
at Ottawa. They Il were told tdd"d distinctly II sE%ys by esn.
y ya,,@r for the present dominant party that by
ing in turning out the then Government,
they he would bring about the e%bolition of
s as they ssist liked. l1 Without nnd fear BE of able Sposs to So
or punishment. Many of the poachers actually
believed these stories; and SO assured Messrs.
their nets contiscated, are now finding out that
they were wrong, but in tho majority OF cases
they voted to shield them from the effects OF
prosecution by the employment OF political in;
salmon have been Illegally Melted by the poach-
ers this season. the larger number OF which were
on their way to tho marguerite RIVER. Tho
wonder Ia that any fish at all escaped to enter
When complaint was made to Ottawa the
Deputy Minister OF Fisheries went down to the
Saguenay in the Government steamer Druid and
succeeded in Selling four nets. but the offenders
naturally Heu AZ the approach OF the vessel. and
no proper efforts have been made by the author.
tiles to detect and punish them. Tho fishermen
themselves and their guides and river guardians
have succeeded In obtaining the names Of ten
OF the poachers, and have entered prosecutions
and furnished the names Of witnesses. Nothing
more has yet been done toward prosecuting the
poachers. Meanwhile, the FISH that properly
belonged to the lessces Of the river has been
hawked among the summer residents OF Ia
doussac for six cents a pound, though SO a
pound would be a very low estimate
for supplies, for canoes, for travel. for fishing
tackle. and principally for wages OF guardians
and guides, by the anglers who come from the
United States for the sport OF killing salmon.
Not fewer than twenty-five families are annual
" maintained at the cost Of the st. Marguerite
salmon Club. and ifthe present poachin9 Is per-
mitted TO continue, not only these people, but
hundreds OF others near other streams VIII be
deprived Of their present means OF subsistence.