IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 /. 
 
 Ls i^ 
 
 
 
 w 
 
 '^< 
 
 i/.A 
 
 fc 
 
 !.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 «f lis 
 
 IIIM 
 
 2.0 
 
 IIIU 
 
 M. II 1.6 
 
 <? 
 
 % 
 
 /a 
 
 o 
 
 el 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 f^.^^' 
 
 
 /^ 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 A 
 
 ^Ij 
 
 rtV 
 
 .^ 
 
 t^ 
 
 ,V 
 
 ^^,^^ 
 
 ^1 
 
 
 rv 
 
 '^J^ 
 
 ^4;, <<(^ 
 
 . "^^..-^.'^j* 
 
 6^ 
 
 '9,'- 
 
 :■%.-.*' 
 
A 
 
 A 
 
 .v^ 
 
 fe'- 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
 I. 
 
 O 
 
 > 
 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquas at bibltographiquas 
 
 Tha Instituta has attamptad to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may altar any of the images in tha 
 reproduction, or which may significantly change 
 the usu<il method of filming, are chucked below. 
 
 E 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couvertura da couieur 
 
 I j Covers damage'^/ 
 
 Couvertura andommagile 
 
 □ Covers restorad and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurio et/ou peiliculie 
 
 n Cover title missing/ 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 □ Coloured maps/ 
 Cartes gAographiques en couieur 
 
 □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couieur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 □ Coloured plates and/or il*ustrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur 
 
 □ 
 
 D 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 ReliA avec d'autres documents 
 
 Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distorsion ie long da la marge intdrieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during I'estcration may 
 appear within tha text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties 
 lors dune restauration apparaissent dans le texte. 
 mais, lorsqua cela 4tait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas ixi filmies. 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a M possible de se procuisr. Lss details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la mithoda normale de filmage 
 sont indiqute ci-dessous. 
 
 I I Coloured pages/ 
 
 Pages de couieur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagies 
 
 .''ages restored and/oi 
 
 Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculdes 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxei 
 Pages d^colordes, tachet^es ou piquecs 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages ditachees 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Quality inigala de I'impression 
 
 Includes supplementary materii 
 Comprend du materiel supplementaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 [~n Pages damaged/ 
 
 j I .''ages restored and/or laminated/ 
 
 I I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 
 rjl Pages detached/ 
 
 r~n Showthrough/ 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 r~1 Includes supplementary material/ 
 
 r~n Only edition available/ 
 
 n 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to 
 ensure the be^it possible image/ 
 Les pages totaiement ou pi>.rtiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'eriata, une pelure. 
 etc., cnt it6 fitmies i nouveau de facon a 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaires supplimentairos; 
 
 Various pagings. 
 
 I 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est fUmi au taux de reduction indiquA ci-de9-<ous. 
 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 2SX 
 
 30X 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
Th« copy filmed hare has b««n reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 L'exemplaire filmi fut reproduit grAce h la 
 gAnirositi de: 
 
 Legislature du Quebec 
 Quebec 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in lce«plng with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or thB bacic cover when appropriate. All 
 othf>r original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on tf;e last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol —^-(meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 L^islature du Quebec 
 Quebec 
 
 Les images suivantes ont kt6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at 
 de la nettetA de rexempiaire film*, at en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 fiimage. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont ia couverture en 
 papier est imprimte sont filmte en commen^ant 
 par ie premier plat at en terminant soiv par ia 
 darnidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, selon le cas. Tous l«> autrss exemplaires 
 originatix sont filmAs an commandant par la 
 pramlAre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par 
 la derni^re page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un dee symboles suivants apparaltra sur la 
 dernlAre image de cheque microfic'ne, selon le 
 cas: le symbols -^ signifie "A SUiVRE", le 
 symbols V signifie "FIN". 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those tco large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the uppsr left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartee, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atr9 
 fllmte A das taux de reduction diff brents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film* i partir 
 da I'anglo supArieur gauche, de gaucha A droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nicessaire. Les oiagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mAthode. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 
;/ 
 
 I, \ 
 
mrnmrn^mmmmmmm 
 
 mmmmmm 
 
 ' \ 
 
 "^ ■ 
 
 1' 
 
 m 
 
 •1 ( 
 
 i !# 
 
 ]' .':'! 
 
 n-i 
 
 U 
 
Statement and Documents 
 
 — SUBMITTED BY — 
 
 THE OTTAWA AND GHTlNEflU SAWMILL 
 
 OWNERS 
 
 — ON THE SUBJECT OF — 
 
 THE PROHIBITORY LAW AS TO THE PUTTING OF 
 SAWDUST INTO THESE RIVERS. 
 
 , I 
 
 OTTAWA 
 Printf.d by Tiioiutrn & Co., 36 Elgin Street, 
 
 1895. 
 
h 
 
 STATEMENT 
 
 — BY — 
 
 OTTAWA AND GATINEAU SAWMILL OWNERS 
 
 — ON THE — 
 
 SUBJECT OF TEIE SAWDUST IN THESE RIVERS. 
 
 Ottawa, May 20th, 1895. 
 To the Honourable the Senators and 
 
 Members of the House of Commons : 
 
 Hon. Gentlemen — 
 
 Referring to the Bill No. 67 lately introduced into the Ho?jse of 
 Commons by the Honourable the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, to 
 amend the Fisheries Act of last session, the under-mentioned owners of 
 saw mills on the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers beg most respectfully to 
 draw attention to to the following facts and documents. 
 
 For very mr y years prior to the passing of the Act of last session 
 sawdust and other waste material from these saw mills had been lawfully 
 permitted by the owners of the mills to pass into the Ottawa and Gati- 
 neau rivers. Owing to their being water-power mills, and to their 
 location and construction there was no other way of disposing of it 
 Whilst, ))erhaps, some of the mills might, with a considerable outlay be 
 fitted with appliances to dispose otherwise of the sawdust, &c, as to 
 others of them It would be practically impossible to comply with the 
 provisions of the Act of last session except by a complete re-construc- 
 tion or total stoppage and abandonment of them. The greater number 
 of the mills were built at a lime long prior to there being any legislation 
 in the direction of the prohibition now provided for in the Fisheries 
 Act with reference to the putting of sawdust, &c., into the streams in 
 question. As to those of them at least which would require to be 
 either wholly rebuilt or reconstructed in order to comply with the law, 
 the enforcement of the prohibition would mean the loss to the owners ' 
 of the cost of the total reconstruction of their mills and the derangement 
 
V 
 
 of their business meantime ; and as to those of them who in order to 
 obey the law would find it necessary wholly to abandon their operations 
 it would mean to the owners the loss of the means oi currying on their 
 manufacturing business and of the capital invested in these mills, and to 
 the localities interested it would entail the very serious loss of local 
 employment for a very large number of men. 
 
 Such being the position in the session of 1894, without any notice 
 or knowledge on the part of the lumbermen that any such legislation as 
 that of last session was contemplated, and therefore without any oppor- 
 tunity whatever being afforded to the saw mill owners affected of being 
 heard or of having their side of the cjuestion presented to Parliament, 
 the amendment referred to was made law. 
 
 In 1889, an elaborate examination and report upon the question of 
 the extent and effects of the dep )siting sawdust, &c., in the Ottawa 
 river was made by Mr. Sandford Fleming, CE. The report and 
 accompanying soundings and plan sections of the river were put on file 
 in the Department of Public Works and Marine and Fisheries. The 
 report was printed and copies of it accompany this letter. 
 
 In reply to a circular letter sent out last autumn from the Depart- 
 ment of Marine and Fisheries on the subject of the A.ct of last session, 
 the joint letter of the under-mentioned mill owners and the separate 
 reply of VV.C. Edwards & Co. (Limited), copies of which are hereto 
 annexed, were sent to the Honourable the Minister of Marine and 
 Fisheries. 
 
 Attached hereto there are also submitted on the same subject for 
 perusal copies of the resolutions of the Board of Trade of the City of 
 Ottawa, and of the headings of the petitions presented in the House of 
 Commons this cession from between three and tour thousand persons pro- 
 prietors or residents along either bank of the Ottawa river between the 
 City of Ottawa and the Village of Grenville. 
 
 In so far as any effect that the sawdust &c., may have upon the 
 fish in these rivers is concerned, it is respectfully submitted that the 
 interests of a long established and important industry should not, under 
 the circumstances, be sacrificed to that comparatively minor interest, 
 even if it were shown, which it has not been, that any serious injury 
 has been done by the sawdust in that connection ; and the report of 
 Mr. Fleming it is respectfully submitted, establishes that the allegation 
 that the navigation of the river has been or is likely to be seriously ob- 
 structed by the deposit of sawdust, &c., in the river has no real founda- 
 tion, whilst the inconvenienc; or injury, if any, to other interests by the 
 continual deposit of the sawdust are not in his opinion to be compared 
 to the serious loss that the enforcement of a prohibitory law in respect 
 of this matter would have upon the most important business carried on 
 in the Ottawa Valley, and to the localities and population dependent 
 upon it, 
 
 
 V'l 
 
 C^. 
 
M, 
 
 J 
 
 C^: 
 
 II* *» 
 
 The accompanying letters from the lumbermen, the resolutions of 
 the Board of Trade, and the petitions referred to, set forth the views of 
 those chierly mterested in the subject, directly or indirectly. 
 
 In view of all the facts, the mill owners submit thai the enforce- 
 ment of the Act of last session would be to them most unjust and in 
 the p-ubhc interest an unnecessary and unjustifiable proceeding, estab- 
 lished as their mills have been, under a state'of the law which permitted 
 the disposing of the sawdust and mill refuse in a mode which under the 
 Act of last session is made unlawful. 
 
 In any event, and at tl e very least, it is further respectfully sub- 
 mitfed that before this prohibition is enforced, full enquiry should be 
 made with regard to !he different mills as to whether the representation 
 now made that some of them at least cannot without permanent stop- 
 page and abandonment, or complete reconstruction comply with the 
 law, and that if such is found to be the case then that the law should 
 not as to these mills be put into operation, whilst as lo those if any 
 which can with a moderate expense be rearranged so as to comply with 
 the law, a reasonably long delay should be granted before allowing the 
 Act to go into force as against them. 
 
 The mill owners in conclusion, respectfully request a re-consider- 
 ation af the Act of last session and an amendment of it on the lines 
 just indicated. 
 
 We have the honor tq be. 
 Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servants, 
 THE BRONSONS & WESTON LUMBER CO., . 
 BUELL, HURDMAN & CO. 
 ESTATE OF THE LATE JAS. MACLAREN, 
 
 PER David Maclaren, for Self, Co., 
 
 T D Tjr^rA'P.T Executors and Trustees. 
 
 J. K. riUUl n. 
 
 HAWKESBURY LUMBER CO., LTD., 
 
 H. K. Egan, Managing Director. 
 R. & W. CONROY. 
 
 ROSS BROS., in liquiaation, 
 
 GILMOUR 8i HUGHSON, 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 SANDFORD FLEMING, C.E. 
 
-f 
 
 i 
 
 
 If' 
 
-f 
 
 Ottawa, January 30th 1889. 
 
 (r 
 
 To the Committee oj Lumber Manufacturers, Ottawa : 
 
 Gentlemen, — Having been requested by you to make an exami- 
 nation of that part of the River Ottawa, between the City of Ottawa and 
 Grenville, I have now the honor to report the result. 
 
 The object of the examination was to ascertain to what extent the 
 refuse from the various sawmills interferes with public and private 
 rights and more especially to determine definitely how far the navigation 
 of the river is obstructed from the same cause. 
 
 The examination has been made in general by myself and in detail 
 by my son S. H. Fleming under my instructions. 
 
 The refuse from the mills consists of sawdust, edgings, buttings and 
 slabs. A large proportion of the slabs and heavy refuse is not cast 
 into the river, it is separated at each of the mills and generally sold for 
 fuel and other uses. 
 
 At most, if not at all the mills, the slabs and heavy refuse not sold, 
 are broken into small fragments by a machine sometimes designated a 
 "hogging machine". 
 
 There can be no doubt that all or nearly all the light refuse, such 
 as sawdust and broken-up slabs together with some of the edgings and 
 buttings finds its way into the river ; the exact proportions of edgings and 
 buttings are not easily ascertained. 
 
 The annual product of manufactured lumber of all sorts at the 
 various mills around the City of Ottawa will probably average fully 300,- 
 000,000 feet B. M. If we estimate 10 per cent, of the annual output 
 as waste we have 30,000.000 feet B.M. or 92,592 cubic yards of refuse, 
 a large proportion of which passes into the river. Whatever the 
 proportion, it is reasonable to suppose that such a quantity of foreign 
 matter if deposited locally would necessarily produce some marked 
 effect. Much, if not the whole of this waste material is buoyant and it 
 is carried away by the stream to a greater or lesser distance, possibly 
 some portion finds its way to the lower reaches of the river, towards the 
 ocean. 
 
 In its passage down the river the sawdust floats for a time. While 
 it remains on the surface it is moved by the wind and not infrequently 
 is blown into bays and sheltered spots where, if not removed by a 
 change of wind, it in course of time becomes saturated and disappears. 
 
 In such places where the water is still, the water-logged particles 
 of sawdust find their way to the bottom. Owners of property especially 
 in the neighborhood of Ottawa, in some cases claim to suffer damage 
 from the deposit of mill waste in front of their lands, and likewise from 
 its presence on the surface of the water. In an artistic point of view, 
 

 the broad- expanse of sawdust often seen during the summer months 
 floating on the river, is undoubtedly detrimental to the landscape. 
 Likewise it is objected to by those who indulge in ()leasure boating. 
 
 The waste product from the mills is however not without advan- 
 tage to. another class of people. There are a large number of families 
 settled along the river banks between Ottawa and Grenville who appear 
 to have selected this site of their habitations on account of the supply of 
 fuel which is annua'ly floated to their doors. During the summer 
 months numbers of women and children may be seen regularly at work 
 in boats and canes gathering in from the stream their winter's supply of 
 fuel. 
 
 There is in reality a considerable population dependent on the 
 mills for their winter's firewood which thus costs them only the trouble 
 of gathering it . 
 
 As already indicated, I found large deposits of sawdust in side chan- 
 nels, sheltered bays, eddies and inlets, but the main channel of the river 
 remains unobstructed for the purposes of navigation, 
 
 I caused soundings to be taken during the past season on lines of 
 cross-sections which were made by the Government Engineers the year 
 previous. 
 
 These cross-sections extend generally from shore to shore of the 
 Ottawa, across the navigable channel, at the following points, viz : — 
 
 Line A-A at Upper end of Kettle Island, 3 miles below Ottawa. 
 " B-B " Lower " Kettle Island, 5 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 6, 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 9 
 10 
 
 II 
 
 C-C 
 
 D-D " Upper 
 
 Goose Island, 7^ 
 Lenard Island, 10 
 16 
 
 21 
 
 261^ 
 
 34 
 
 44 
 
 5T4 
 
 E-E " Lievre River, 
 
 F-F " Rockland, 
 
 G-G " Upper end of Clarence Isld. 
 
 H-H" Nation River, 
 
 I-I " Montebello, 
 
 K-K" McTavish Light House 
 
 L-L " Calumet, 
 
 Attention is directed to both sets of soundings which for ease of 
 comparison are reduced to the same datum and shown side by side on 
 the accompanying sheets (numbered 1 to II.) 
 
 An examination clearly shows that the bed of the river has to some 
 extent been changed within the period of twelve months, and that the 
 change is generally in the increase of depth. At one or two points, the 
 bed rock of the river has been laid bare, so that the depth at such spots 
 cannot be further increased from the same natural cause . I can only 
 account for the increase of depth in the channel by a greater scouring 
 effect of the current, and it is just possible that this may be due to the 
 lessening of the depth in the bays and shallows and side inlets, producing 
 to increase the flow of water in the central portion of the 
 
 ■t 
 
 f 
 
 . pnnpnr'' 
 
r 
 O 
 
 -f 
 
 river . Be the reason what it may, it appears that the navigable chan- 
 nel is fully maintained in its integrity, and the increase in depth is con- 
 firmed by the statements of old river pilots who allege that the channel 
 is better now than it was thirty or forty years back . 
 
 In addition to the new cross-sections referred to, a series of sound- 
 ings has been made on a continuous line along the entire length of the 
 channel from Ottawa to Grenville, a distance of sixty miles. These 
 soundings reveal a depth of water for the greater part of the distance 
 which is indeed remarkable. 
 
 The accompanying longitudinal section shows the soundings taken 
 in this sixty-mile stretch. These and all the other soundings although 
 taken at different stages of the water, have been reduced to a common 
 uniform datum. This datum conforms with the lowest level of the 
 river of which we have any record, and is established by the observations 
 of the Ottawa Lockmaster of the Rideau Canal, taken daily during a 
 period of seventeen years. A copy of this officer's record is ap- 
 pended ; he gives the level of the water above the sill of the lower lock 
 showing the daily variations of the river. 
 
 I find the extreme range of level of the River Ottawa in each year, 
 according to this record, as follows : 
 
 Year. 
 
 1872 
 
 1873- 
 1874- 
 
 187s- 
 1876- 
 
 1877- 
 
 1888- 
 
 1879- 
 
 1880- 
 
 1881- 
 
 1882- 
 
 1883- 
 
 1884- 
 
 1885- 
 
 1886- 
 
 1887- 
 
 1888- 
 
 Date. 
 
 Highest . 
 ft. in. 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -June 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -Oct. 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -June 
 
 -July 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 -May 
 
 18. 
 24- 
 
 I . 
 20 
 16. 
 
 I , 
 
 22 , 
 
 18, 
 
 20 , 
 I . 
 
 5- 
 13- 
 
 23' 
 
 I . 
 10. 
 
 21 . 
 
 , 21 
 
 24 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 29 
 
 •15 
 
 IS 
 ,14 
 
 •23 
 
 . 20 
 
 20 
 
 18 
 
 .20 
 
 , 21 
 
 24 
 
 4 
 
 ,24 
 
 5 
 
 S 
 
 5 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 1 1 
 
 3 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 2 
 
 Date. Lowest. Yly. Range 
 
 ft. in. ft. in. 
 
 April I .5 7 
 
 Sept. 17 6 10 
 
 Sept. 20 5 9 
 
 Feby. 27 6 5 
 
 Sept. 29 5 7 
 
 Sept. 26 5 8 
 
 Sept. 14 6 4 
 
 Nov. 12 .... 5 II 
 
 Oct. I 6 10 
 
 Oct. 1 4 6^ 
 
 Feby. 11 7 2 
 
 April 7 7 
 
 Sept. 21 6 II 
 
 Oct. 15 7 5 
 
 Sept. 19 7 8 
 
 Oct. 24 4 8 
 
 Mch. 20 6 2 
 
 T5 
 
 17 
 16 
 
 17 
 23 
 
 9 
 8 
 8 
 
 17 
 15 
 T3 
 II 
 
 13 
 M 
 16 
 
 19 
 18 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 3 
 II 
 
 4 
 10 
 II 
 
 4 
 4 
 
 9 
 II 
 
 I 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 o 
 
 
 r 
 
 HIGHEST WATER. 
 
 Highest in 1 7 years, May 16, 1876 29 ft. 6 in 
 
 Minimum highest in 17 years. May i, 1877 15 
 
 Mean highest in 1 7 years . = . = = = = .... = ..... = ........ 21 
 
 " o " 
 
6 
 
 LOWEST WATER. 
 
 Lowest in 17 years, Oct. i, 1881 .4 ft, 6) 
 
 Maximum lowest in 17 years, Sept. 19, 1886 7 " 8 
 
 Mean lowest in 1 7 years 6 " 3 
 
 RANGE OF WATER LEVEL. 
 
 Greatest range of level in 1 7 years 24 ft. 1 1 > 
 
 Greatest yearly range of level, (1876) 23 '* 11 
 
 Least yearly range of level, 1878 8 " 10 
 
 Mean yearly range of level in 1 7 years 15" 9 
 
 m. 
 
 ^ m. 
 ti 
 
 Taking each separate mile of the river from Ottawa to Grenville, 
 the minimum and maximum depths under extreme low water in the 
 channel, as depicted on the longitudinal section, are as follows : 
 
 Note. — In the ist mile the longitudinal section shows the depths 
 in the main channel of the river from the Chaudiere downwards — not 
 in the bay leading to the Rideau Canal. 
 
 I St mile 
 
 2nd 
 
 3rd 
 
 4th 
 
 5th 
 
 6th 
 
 7th 
 
 8th 
 
 9th 
 loth 
 nth 
 1 2th 
 13th 
 14th 
 iSth 
 16th 
 17th 
 i8th 
 19th 
 20th 
 
 2ISt 
 
 22nd 
 
 23rd 
 
 below 
 
 K 
 (( 
 t( 
 l( 
 (I 
 (( 
 «( 
 (I 
 
 Ottawa 
 t( 
 
 (t 
 
 << 
 
 tc 
 It 
 
 (( 
 (t 
 u 
 (i 
 »i 
 (( 
 >c 
 t( 
 (< 
 (( 
 (( 
 (I 
 (( 
 .< 
 «( 
 (I 
 «( 
 
 Least Depth, 
 feet. 
 
 35 
 
 31 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 18 
 
 10 
 
 14 
 
 ro 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 20 
 
 27 
 
 II 
 
 18 
 
 26 
 
 24 
 22 
 
 19 
 18 
 
 34 
 35 
 31 
 
 Greatest Depth 
 feet. 
 
 55 
 79 
 
 75 
 
 30 
 28 
 
 17 
 16 
 
 20 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 21 
 
 3^* 
 33 
 33 
 33 
 34 
 35 
 
 33 
 26 
 
 34 
 62 
 65 
 
 39 
 
li 
 (I 
 
 IC 
 
 Least Depth. Greatest Depth 
 
 24th mile below Ottawa ^''^*" '^**- 
 
 25th " u 25 21 
 
 26lh «* t( 18 24 
 
 27lh '< f« '8 21 
 
 28th " 'i< 21 ^^ 
 
 29th '« «i 28 ^5 
 
 30th •« II '7 28 
 
 31st '< 11 ' .... 13 ,p 
 
 32nd •' 11 ... 7 ,5 
 
 33rd " 'I 12 72 
 
 34th " r 37 74 
 
 35ih " « 26 3y 
 
 36th " u 30 50 
 
 37th «« II 41 14a 
 
 38th '« ii 90 134 
 
 39th «» II 82 100 
 
 40th •' II 46 82 
 
 41st «' II " 48 78 
 
 42nd «« II 31 58 
 
 43rd " <i 31 55 
 
 44th " M 44 140 
 
 45th " II 75 113 
 
 46th '« 11 ^03 137 
 
 47th " II "3 135 
 
 48th " II ■ ^03 113 
 
 49th «' li ^5 103 
 
 50th " (I 50 66 
 
 51st '« II 42 52 
 
 52nd " II 52 98 
 
 S3rd «' II 50 98 
 
 54th '« II 40 50 
 
 55th " II 44 118 
 
 56th " II M 118 
 
 57th " .• 21 3p 
 
 58th «' II 39 63 
 
 59th «' II 32 50 
 
 60th « 11 ^4 32 
 
 10 26 
 
 greater in depfh IhanTo fe"? S for Zj^'^""," If "«"' °^ 59 miles 
 
 tl.e depth exceeds ,0 feet iha for Z^T '"^ •?' "'^ "''ole distance 
 
 andthLfor 5^ ^11ertVe"is'rre";ha*;c;o^ 
 
 depth of ,42 feet under the lowest r..„™ iS ,1™? '°° '^'*' ='"""'"« » 
 
8 
 
 Only at five points on the whole distance of Go miles is the depth 
 folio ^^ extreme low water under lo feet. They are as 
 
 ist.— At the entrance to the Rideau Canal for about 600 feet out 
 irom the lower lock. 
 
 •1 ^r"^""~^^ ^^^ ^^""^ ^^ ^^"'^ ^^'^"^ at the beginning of the 4th 
 mile from Ottawa, near the cross section marked "A-A " Here the 
 least depth in the channel is 8^ feet. 
 
 3rd .-On the 9th mile below Ottawa, near the light house, directly 
 east of the cross-section marked "C-C" Here the least depth in the 
 channel is 6 feet. 
 
 4th.— Below the mouth of the Blanche River on the loth mile from 
 Ottawa. Here the least depth in the channel is 7 feet, 
 
 .u 5th.— At Parker's Island on the 31st mile below Ottawa. Here 
 the least depth m the channel is 7 feet. 
 
 These places have been examined carefully ; the shallow spots are 
 of no great extent, being limited to a few hundred yards in each case 
 and as already stated there is only an aggregate distance of a mile in the 
 whole 60 miles within which the depth is not greater than 10 feet. 
 Borings have been made by which it is established that in cases 2 and 7, 
 the material in the channel bed is coarse red sand. In cases 4 and t 
 the borings indicate a fine sand or silt ; the material in all cases being 
 easy of removal. Except in the case of No. i the borings did not 
 reveal the presence of sawdust or mill refuse in any form in any part of 
 the main channel. It is inferred that, these points are simply natural 
 shallows such as are found in all rivers. 
 
 The evidence goes to show that these shallow portions of the 
 channel have quite as much water over them as when the River Ottawa 
 was first navigated. Only in the case of No. i is the navigation in 
 question affected. Here there is a deposit for a distance of about 200 
 yards outwards from the entrance to the lower lock, The deposit here is 
 probably for the most part sawdust, and it is due to the fact that the 
 entrance to the Rideau Canal is in a deep and sheltered bay, where the 
 sawdust collects and where there is no current sufficient to carry it away 
 With this exception, it is established beyond all question that no appre- ' 
 ciable injury has been done to the navigable channel of the river 
 through the operations of the lumbering manufacturers. 
 
 Moreover, it appears that the lumber manufacturing interests would 
 suffer very much more than all other interests from any possible injury 
 to the navigation. This inference is drawn from the volume of river 
 traffic, as shown by government returns. If the tolls collected on ton- 
 
 . 
 
 I 
 
,! / 
 
 9 
 
 nage passing the Grenville Canal be taken as a criterion, we may judge 
 of the value of the traffic by the following table, which gives a compar- 
 ison for a period of ten years. 
 
 '''''■ louLlt Tolls on Sawn Lumber ^^''V^igllLr^'" 
 
 1878 34,527 $28,688 $5,839 
 
 llll 35,392 29,727 5,665 
 
 1880 39,309 33,631 5,678 
 
 llll 52.245 46,496 5,749 
 
 ]rII ^'''JJ ^3,890 7,263 
 
 883 55,665 48,250 7,4X5 
 
 1884 53,845 46,946 6,899 
 
 \lll ^H^'^ 44,036 5,301 
 
 886 50,620 45.664 4,95^ 
 
 1887 _^9^^ 45,5^6 4,314 
 
 Totals.... $471,923 $412,844 $59,079 
 
 By these returns it is established that the gross revenue frorr* 
 Canal tolls in lo years ending 31st December, 1887, was $471,92^ of 
 which sawn lumber contributed $412,844, and all other traffic $59,079. 
 
 If we take by way of example the last year given in the table, viz., 
 1887, we have as follows : — 
 
 Tons. Tolls. 
 
 Total freight of all sorts 684.047 $49 830 01 
 
 S^^"'""'b^^ _5_S8,49o 45,516 14 
 
 All other traffic ~~ "^^^S^ 
 
 The sawn lumber above named does not include the following : 
 
 Tons Tolls 
 
 paying tolls. amounting to. 
 
 Timber m rafts 2,189 $76 60 
 
 1^^ '°g^:. 14,074 327 80 
 
 ^^^.'^^y t'^^ • 3,625 391 22 
 
 l'?'"?^^^ 563 441 71 
 
 ^!^^'«- 27.126 39980 
 
 ^"■^^°°^ • _5^5_2 ^37932 
 
 "^'o^s 90,729 Tolls.. 3,016 45 
 
 If the latter tolls be included it would appear that the lumbering 
 interests contributed $48,522.59 of a total canal revenue of $49,830 11 
 But taking sawn lumber alone which pays close on 90 per cent of the 
 
10 
 
 ?;??eT.'f.'?o I '""^'f' '^^'' """°^ ^' ^ ^°"bt that the manufac- 
 
 Hv^/h/n In r ^^^' "'''^"^ '" the navigation of the 
 
 river than all other interests combined. 
 
 ar. JV^'Tl'^'u V^^ ^^^ "^^P'h °^ ^^t^*" i" the channel my enquiries 
 go to show that the barges used in the transportation of sawn lumbe 
 are greater in draught than any other craft now employed or which have 
 at any previous time been employed on the river. 
 
 The question arises, are the causes in operation, if continued for a 
 
 stream? 'ThT'''"°'' '''''^'° '''''''^' '^^ ^"awa as a navigable 
 ItJemi^n. ^""^""^ " of great importance and demands special 
 
 , It is not easy to ascertain the exact quantity of solid matter cast 
 mto the river from the mills, be the quantity svhat it may, .he materia 
 being buoyant .s carried forward a greater or lesser distance be?ore i 
 sinks or disappears. 
 
 Wherever it may find its way to the bottom, it is seldom found in 
 a compact body. A deposit of sawdust is easily moved by current 
 and as the volume of water in the Ottawa during floods is^ery large 
 and of great force it may be assumed that no deposit of this loose ma 
 terial can remain in the shallow parts of the main channel, where in fact 
 the currents arc always greatest. 
 
 .u . i^ ^""^ u^^" satisfactorily established by the recent examination 
 that during the constantly recurring periods of high water any such de- 
 posits are moved forward by the scour ot the currents and carried prob- 
 ably to parts of the river where the water is deep and still. 
 
 ■ Taking that portion of the Ottawa between this City and Grenvilie 
 and dividing the whole distance of 60 miles into subdivisions of 10 
 miles each, we obtain from the recent measurements the folowinc aver- 
 age depths in the channel at extreme low water. 
 
 Leasi depth. Greatest depth. 
 
 ist sub-division average 14 ft. 9 in. ,3 ft q in 
 
 2nd sub-division average 19 " 3 " ^^ «" 2 «" 
 
 3rd subdivision average 24 " o " I7 '< 6 " 
 
 4th sub-division average 41 " g " tg » ^ ,, 
 
 Sth sub-division average 65 " 7 " g, " 2 " 
 
 6th sub-division average 31 " 6 " 6q " 2 " 
 
 From these averages we have for the whole 60 miles of the channel 
 taken in sub-divisions of 10 miles. 
 
 1. A mean minimum depth of 32 ft, 9 in. 
 
 2. A mean maximum depth of 58 ft. 7 in.' 
 
 3. A general mean depth of 45 ft. 9 in . 
 
u 
 
 .fn J^'11' ^^ b°^"\'" 'ni"d that all these depths mentioned refer to a 
 stage of the water which has only occurred once in the past iTvel 
 hat .s to say when the river fell to but 4 ft. 6^ in. over the lock sfll of 
 the Rideau Canal, on the ist of October, iSsf °^ 
 
 The large quantity of refuse passing from the mills would in ;, 
 
 I have had an estimate prepared to convey some idea of the ienpth 
 of t.me wh.ch would elapse before the deep parts o the ?ivr between 
 Ottawa and Grenv.Ile would be filled. This estimate is based on 
 the soundmgs recently made and en other data. Accord nfuthk 
 estnnate It would require 350,000,000 cubic yards of solid macHal to fi 
 up ihe deeper parts to a line ten feet under\^xiremeTow wl?er have 
 already indicated that the quantity of sawdust and ..fusrofdl kinds 
 
 yarr^ertnu^' t T'"":°" ^"-Kr^'^^^ '' '''^-' -han i^o ol c"b 
 yaras per annum. It is not possible to determine what nart nf fhic 
 
 niatena remains above Grenville. It ,s reasonab e ■ ppo^' th 
 
 one of It finds its way to the lower reaches of the river but a ;uming 
 
 fnat no part of it is carried towards the ocean and that v lumernof 
 
 Itself into one of ;,.mpie proportion, viz:-How long will it like to 
 deposit 350,000 000 cubic yards at the rate of loS^ooo cubic vards 
 per annum ? This whole calculation may be held °o be but mu'ht 
 approximate yet it will guesome idea of the enormous kn^tl o time 
 which would elapse before ihe deep space under the leve demanded^v 
 a navigable channel could be filled up . c.emanded by 
 
 clusio?" '''^'"''"'^'"" ^^'^'^^ ^ '^^^^e made points to the following con- 
 
 . I. With respect to private interests, there can be no doubt ihnt 
 riparian owners in some individual cases sufier actual damage f?om the 
 operations of the lumber manufacturers. While this is Hp J ^ 
 especially in the neighborhood of Ottawa there tj ma y persons Z^ 
 along the river banks between this City and Grenvilie whj^are benefi ed 
 in a manner which to them may be considered material Thl^ 
 persons may indeed be counted by Lndreds, and hey tu Id feeTh o 
 
 Mi^J' ^^^^'■^has been a deposit of sawdust directly in front of the 
 can.i .0 en.c. ,v.th cu^e wnen the water is at its lowest stage. Withthis 
 
^1 
 
 12 
 
 single exception I am unable to s..' that the navigation of the river 
 Mnrll. V .1'" 'T"?'^^ interfered with to any appreciable extent. 
 th..T 7' K ' °^'"' '■'^"'■"' "^^""^ ^ "^^^"s °f judging, it appears 
 Innl %r^^""^ '"'"■'l^ ^'■' "^^""^ ^^^P'y concerned in the minte- 
 llTmnH '^^"^r'g^tion than all other interests. The official returns of 
 np!rK iwK^ . n^ Grenviile canal showing that the lumber business pays 
 nearly all the tolls collected. 
 
 fh.J- ^"^ ""u^u-r ^° .'^^ ^"^"'■'^ " 's conclusively established that 
 there is no probability of the navigation between the City of Ottawa and 
 Crenville being irretrievably destroyed or seriously obstructed from the 
 cause assigned for centuries to come. 
 
 I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) SANDFORD FLEMING. 
 
 <4't 
 
 J. 
 
 I 
 
i 
 
 JCJINT K'EPLY 
 
 — OK- 
 
 OTTAWA AND GATINEAU SAWMILL OWNERS. 
 
 
 H' 
 
 Ottawa, Ont., September 22, 1894. 
 
 To the Honourable Sir Charles Hibhert Tup/>cr, K.C.M.G.. 
 Minister of Marine and Fisheries, 
 Ottawa. 
 Sir : 
 
 We have the Iionor to ackt owledge the receipt of vour 
 comrnunication of the 3rd ult. in relati .n to a recent enactment of the 
 Canadian parhament with regard to the throwing of sawdust and other 
 mill refuse into any water frequented by various kinds of fish. 
 
 This practice is objected to upon the following grounds, which 
 may be named m order of their importance, viz : That it is injurious 
 to the navigable channel ; that it is hurtful to fish ; that it impairs the 
 purity of the water for domestic and other purposes ■ that it is inimical 
 to the public health, and is objectionable from an esthetic ooint of 
 view. 
 
 I. As to the alleged injury to the navigation. 
 
 If we remember rightly, the first official investigation in connection 
 with this matter was made during the season of '72 by a Royal 
 Commission composed of Messrs. H. H KilJaly, R. W. Shepherd and 
 John Mather; unfortunately we have i,o copy of the report of this 
 commission at hand, but a recent writer says of it "The whole tenor of 
 this report is strongly opposed to the i)retensions of the lumbermen " 
 these pretensions being in part that sawousi is not injurious to navigation 
 How well our pretensions have been verified, notwithstanding the 
 opinions to which the commission referred to give expression 
 and notwithstanding the fact that since the date of their examination 
 twenty-two years have elapsed, during which time sawdust and mill 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 3 
 
 refuse have ten pcrnmial lo fall i„i„ ihc river, it will l,> ,,.,.„ f, „, ,u 
 .followinfi cxlracls from llie n'lxirl „l il„. l., . ■ , " '"^' 
 
 n.adc. during >hc season of ,l(8g '■'^"•■•''^""""""" "f >l.e o„av„, 
 
 Sa„fort^.•|"i"•c':"l r ""''^""<^-""-■ superin.ondencc of Mr. 
 are sure, .'acTa^y concl^'i. s''ud ;;'i'Vr'r"T^ 'T""^ ""'• ''^• 
 
 Mr. Fleming reports in part as follows :— 
 
 "I caused soundini's to he tikrn Hmir,,, .u 
 cross section which were made In >h, (• ** ' I'"'' ,«•■»»"" <>" 'mes of 
 previous. These sc^ c ir^g te >, ,w, ^r.'h '"''" ^""'"""' '"' f'" 
 An exantination clearl; show th. the hed ^"""i""]'"'^ 'I'-^^s. 
 extent changed withir, the l-erio, of wdve mom s ,nd',I n' "V°""= 
 
 cannot he 'fuXr I'n^eaL^d 'iil ' Tj :'„;:■;',;;?;'." 7'" '"'f 
 
 lessening of the de mh' in he Ki ^ ■;' ' n " "'" "'»>' '"= <^"= '" 'he 
 
 ducing t tendenc "to^:crte";h' " owllnf,:' «tt^r'^'' "'", 
 portion of the river It H.nc n,>. "'^,,'-"'^;^ water in ihe centra 
 
 fully n=ai„t..ined Tn its m g it;'"'B"i rr'a^' "'7'""' ^'•■^"-' '^ 
 increase in depth U confirmed b/d,es,. it,,:'? oTo'''' " ',"^'>' ""^ 
 allege that the channel is bette^i n,™^';',;:;:u"lLl"lr,,;;orSrVet 
 
 conciuIioL'r'"'"^"™ "'"^■' ' ''"•^- '»"''^' I'"-'' 'o the following 
 
 ripari:;;;r i^'r.ernrr^'cri:;;:^^,^-^'; i' "- *'""■ '^=" 
 
 operations of the lumber n,an fje t,r' mnTotitT'" '™'" "'= 
 espectally in the neighborhood of Ottawa thirl "'" '""'^ 
 
 .-.long the river banks hetween th s c ly "nd v;.' :,ir"7 ''"'T' '""8 
 in a manuer which to then, n,ay be c2sTcred m r il ,•'; ' '^"'^""' 
 may mdeed be counted by hu.Leds and ley wo d fee ^.^T"' 
 
 fraf:Kp;?ro?firewrd':^' '"' --■""=' '"'/-ore 'eut"tf/U° ^Sei^ 
 
 Ridel'u^n'ar^n 't'h: '^^ S^K 'I c'.S f ^"',1 '" /'""^ "< '^^ 
 sn..t distance into the rler.T*erl maofl, I, ''""" '"''' ^ 
 ya... by dredging at this spot wouW^en^'ble a1 '^sse,:" „a°^2,."thc 
 
 t 
 
r 
 
 8 
 
 Ouawa River h!>» l,ecn I,! „S ,, ime e ed wi.h . ""'«"""" "' "•= 
 appears l!,at ,|„ lu,„l,cr,„K inlc c ,, , o ,nn wl T"" "' J"''8'"^■• " 
 
 husincs, pays nearly all Ihe ,„|i:"erilc;.e;i" '"° '""' ""^ '""'^' 
 
 .hcre''.^„„'p;;LX\;?,t^:---;, ■-'•"'■U.sively e.al,nshed .ha. 
 Crcnville heing irrelrLai Iv ,l«r ov "^Iween Ihe r„y of O.-aw., and 
 
 ai», rcpo;ll;Js^:^'^r:!T.Mlr.'::;';r t'"' -■ """ «'■ '■'--« 
 
 Chaudiere l^alls, the . os^ n >, n„, , i ■ 'T'" "'"^'I'^lely below ihe 
 "f the Rideau dnal. T , , eS' " , !!'';'' '' '' ""= f™' "' 'he locks 
 
 and has been s„ ren.oved on .! o 'en ^e «Llm'n?7' ''■ ''"^""'"S- 
 the exnensc of the lumbermen and »„ ,, '. "' '""« '""••rvals at 
 
 particttlar deposit becon.r t^^tb s™,e VilTt',"""'''^'' "'?™ '"'^ 
 evidence adduced proves concli.siv, l, .L^'.t'' • '" ''^"'""^ «• The 
 <o the navigable chan" Z sZl t mMl t f "° ''"'™«'^ "''■='"'"" 
 pomt referred to, and as this Hen !;, ■'^"* ""P' "' i^-' ""e 
 
 submit that its ex stenoeshr;. Id in' '''" ""y «a»ily be removed, we 
 
 of such an industry as thelumb" t"ade.""" ""°'' "«-^"'" ""^ '"'-«'» 
 
 no d.^;/";::!.;^ ^^-z ■: ^i::::y;;« ^-,^,-"*» -o ^me 
 
 Mr. Fleming's conclusions are fnlK k ^^ . . ^ ^^ correctness of 
 
 Hudson River in th; S ale of New Yorr"'h°"' \^ '^' ^^^""^ "P^^" 'he 
 
 sawdust and nnll refuse into th J M^en' u"'' '^' ''^'"''"^ «^ ''^^«^i"g 
 
 ranee or restriction for ft , hu dr -1 "' '''"-' '^ ''''^°"' '^'"^ 
 
 Mr. 1). M. Greene C 1 u. ^-^ hu.idred years ; with reference to which 
 
 states as follows ^'InVip^rsXr '^'^ ^"^^''^'^ '" ^«73 
 
 eration has been sub ected 'nr'n , f" ^'^^^ under consid' 
 
 practical test covering a ,trod of n^ni""" ^^"'^ '° " ^^'^ ^^vere 
 obstructions in the n^vig We^ht nd o 'in m'"'"'^' f ".^ ''' '''''^^'' 
 river have never been known.^' ' '*" ''^"^'' ^^^ ^^^m this 
 
 2. As to the question of the fisheries. 
 
 ™igh.''b;'tl[;d'a fi?h ri;er"r„d°tr: 'r^" t 'If '"" """ "^ »»»' 
 from the stream to-day hav.WinvLnvL'T ."i'' "" ?''''">' '^''^ '^'<^" 
 for a great number of vea s nf Zr. 7 \'"" *^' " ''"' 1^=^" fished 
 similar conditions a to orSnal u "^"'tf ' '''"r '" ^"""'^^ ""d" 
 assertion that the n,„,..i°, "n%"„^ f' ' ' >' ' "I'' ""^ ''^"'"'^ "te 
 the river as hrewood by the seuSJaTonf itfr,!: ^ T^'^Z 
 
value than all the fish that were ever taken from it, as will be seen 
 rom vanous pet.t.ons from settlers along the rive, ent in to the 
 
 mm /Zr' I'Z ''"^' V'''''' P^^y*"^' '^^' ^he practice o throw n« 
 mill refuse mto the river be not discontinued. i' fowmg 
 
 nr. ■fTu^'^V^^ ^^?''°^' ^^'"' ^^ ^hich no fishways have ever been 
 provided, has been an absolute barrier ever since its construction fnfh, 
 ascent from the lower reaches of the Ottawa and he SrSence of 
 
 s'th. r^''7°"^^ ^T^'^T "^'^^^^•^^ »^^^^ ^^>""d theh- way asTr up 
 as he Chaud.ere, and would have effectually altered the charac er o 
 tl^atjK)rt.onofthenver between this city and Grenville as a fis^ 
 
 That the presence of sawdust and mill refuse in the Ottawa is not 
 .njunous to the fish .n that river is manifest from the exper en^e of the 
 Commissioners of Fisheries of .he State of New York up^on the Hudson 
 River into which stream, as has been already said, this material is 
 thrown without restriction or hindrance. ^ In he "Seventeenth 
 Report published in ,889 they state, (page 10 of the Report) that 'In 
 the increasing number of shad caught yearly in the Hudson he rlidlv 
 growing evidences of the presence of salmon in the s"^r'stream '^ ^ 
 ........ are sufficient proof of the value of the work of the commisVinn 
 
 in the past, and the future will show still greater resuUs " ''°"'""'''°" 
 
 We venture the opinion that the construction of proper fishwavs at 
 the dams upon the Ottawa, as in the case of the Hudsorwherrthese 
 fishways are built past the very dams, in several instances, that establish 
 il rete in^:^'".'"""^ the sawmills that throw their sal "ustanS 
 mill retuse mto th. -iver ; and the same well directed efforts towards 
 he re-stocking of the Ottawa with suitable kinds offish would 1^^^^ 
 the same results that have been secured upon the Hudson notwith- 
 standing the presence of sawdust and mill refuse in that stream. 
 
 We respectfully suggest that at all events it is manifestly unfiir tT 
 cripple so important an industry as the sawn lumber trade upon he 
 
 inte^erulCU o/t^^ '"" ^"'"^'l'' " ^^^^^^ h""^"' to thTfish y' 
 nterests upon the Ottawa, so long as the weight of evidence is stronelv 
 
 to the contrary ; and so long as the means ordinarily empby c ' f r the 
 maintenance of a fish supply, and which are successfuf d ewheVe unde? 
 uTon'SsttnT"^ ^°"'''°" '' "'^'^'" "" ^^^ ^^'^-'^' -e "egrect'ed 
 
 3- As to the purity of the water for domestic and other purposes. " 
 Upon that point permit us to quote from a "Resume on Water 
 Analysis ' by J. Baker Edwards, Ph. D,, KC.S. Pub c Analvst 
 Montreal, as published in part second of the Third Su, ' menfo he 
 Report of the Department of Inland Revenue, i88r Mr^Edwa rds 
 M^ s rf ' f Ottawa water analysis, taken Septembe/y ^88^ by 
 Messrs. Reefer, Lasage and Arnoldi, as follows : "This water. thcrc4e 
 
 T 
 
 i> 
 
T 
 
 i> 
 
 Z^r &:::!: ----a t/;;tH' cXaS::.:^.'r 
 
 average water supplies of Great Hritain even after fiStio^^' . ,"■? 
 
 on the Momreals,n,,iv7, 7s"^„ °T "T" ""'Y" "''''^'' ' '^forted 
 of ...uation I nnd'tt, ■■Vttl.'H^?. dl',;|;'V:.^ '"nc ttr^ol'-'^'^t^te"'^'^ 
 ™spens,o„. Montreal water stands very high' brromHson " '" 
 
 .s..e.":s:r:rhr;e7^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 date fhe'^sTh September ^SootTu I" 't ^^J^^ ^""')''^'- """er 
 
 vegetable) in Ly^^^Z^^ 11"^^"";^ :!^''JTZ''"' 
 thronghont ,ts course between the Chaudie e i™ls at f^,,, "''"5 
 Cat, Ion ; that this organic n.atter, in so far asit s vegetlbi? ^ i f" 
 small amount to raateriallv -h,rmi ,1, . 1, i^ vegetaoie, is m too 
 
 ;TeS M^-:--',-:^^^ ^f z 
 
 //.. «.,^ *«/..v,«./w.; ol'X"\ ; e",,'''^^^^^^^ "i w"; Our'' 'r 
 
 domestic use I do not thinl. tu.^ l\ ■ Oua\va for 
 
 'The limit ofsafetv in the niitfJr ^r .th • . ordmary sewage: 
 VVonklyn and other a uhoriti^^fo c "'""n''^ ''""^""''^ ''^ ^^>^ed by 
 exceeded by th^ wate o The I nt ? f'v ""''?"' " """^'^^•- ^^^ich is 
 present exanLatfon^d^n^hSt^f ^Hl (s : 131^^^,^^^^^^^^^^ '^t' 'T' 
 ever, unw.se to press any arbitrary stlnda dlo do "iv^ nd I "' °''" 
 from my knowledge of the historv nf tZcZ, ^"'^^'>' ^^"^ ^ cannot, 
 justified in condemning it as d ng7o.s .t 2'"'' ''"'' .""^^^^' ^^^' 
 that it could bo grcatlvimnrnvpH^^s^^^^ --^t the same time, I feei sure 
 
 lower reaches ^fh^ ni;j"T::;:;1h;Zr ^IS^'.-'^^ ^"'^ '" ^'- 
 
 samples of water sunnlied ! Hfirhi?' / .u "'^'"''"^'^ "'"^^^ 
 
 writis as follows ^' '^'tifically to the towns ofthe Domin^ n, 
 
 ^rnJT^i:Z^:!tT^::^ K^^^:'^ the Ottawa water stands 
 the large amount of vegetal^e o;gan;cma;;e;;' ^^ZljiCbS it 
 
.V 
 
 6 
 
 superfluous to sny anyUung funhor u"o„ Umt poi,„ " "'"'" '° '"^ 
 
 ^sp-r^i;j5-;:'T£^^^ 
 
 whe her or not the public health had suffered frou) the facts derred to 
 chc.ted the following replies : Mr. Barber, City Recorde of BaTch^^ 
 writes as follows : '^I have no^ heirrl ni ,,.. ^. ^<:^^iratr or j>ay City, 
 
 mmmm 
 
 bten filerl .• ,h i f'?' ^ "??■" '""">' '"" R'"""'"ls and bayous have 
 Dcen I Ned ivjlh sawdusl and slalis, without endaii-eriiiL' the h..nlil, If 
 
 The same condition of affairs prevails at Musker^on Mirhi„no 
 
 S:f^:S-?,-tl;:::xh-h-d™EFH-- 
 
 an^ount ofsawSu. andn^r'iete tlo;" Ihe'w'.^^eJTa'ind The 
 
 t 
 
t 
 
 composed of solid mck'in^ fv en y'' ;■;;*:, r, "•,'"■ "'y- ->" 
 
 sl.glncs, dcgr.c be injurious to Ihe public health *' ""' '" ""= 
 
 5- As reg.-.rds ihe beauty of the landscape 
 
 ably held to be paramt^ 'o h ' ^^&^,::^'t '^^^'^'\-- '"-ri: 
 safslactory and desirable as that ma^t'S^n^e:^:^^^-^ ^^^ 
 
 iu.be^.:2rr::!inu]:^tS'upoi:theo;ii^\'^^"^ ^" --^ ^'-^ 
 
 years and upon Us tributaries at "n^ m^ upwards of forty 
 
 time sawdust and umII reffse have ee 2n ' '^''^^^^^ ^"^'^^ 
 
 during that lonu neriod nf m, „ u .^■^'^ '"^^ '^^ stream. • If 
 
 public or private n "es fromt 's 0^^^^''" i"T^ ''^^ ^^^"^^^^ ^° -"V 
 be shown \o be the case tee ct be n "' 'f' ''' '"^"^'^ ^^" ^^^^'^V 
 from the continuance oU™^ fJ^u'^^u' J' ^"^^' ''^'^'^''^ 
 the case when it is reme bered m^ r ^T^^'^^y ^^'" ^^is be seen to be 
 of the timber of he cTta va Val ev hi'' f '^^ 'T''^'^^'^' ''^"^^ '^^o^e, 
 
 that in futu. the lun.S? •:;du^,^'i^;.::s:s;^,^- -<^ 
 
 Ottawa Imp ovement Cm^^^^^^^^^^ '^' statements of the Upper 
 
 year to year, will sho v tha Snf hf T^^' ^^-'l^ '^' ^''^''^ ^^""1 
 of business upon the Ou-nla "n i I. f i f "' °'' ''^^^ y'''' '^e volume 
 district has dLiined ne Hr^c^ i^ "^'^^^^^'^ '" ^^e Ottawa 
 
 with this decline the 4- U,a a ws o m,, Tr ,"'"' ^^^"" '"^ ^°"Ple 
 the manufacture of lum'ler th^'^ ^^ sed ei'^t or T'' ''' "^^^ '" 
 areciuite safe in saying that the voknne nf ^. ? . " ^.'^'' ■ ^S^' ^e 
 
 thrown into the Ottawa is consfd^av^l^^^^^^^ ".^^ '"'^ ''^^^"^^ 
 
 say ten years ago. ^ ^^"^'cl-'-ably less than one-half what it was 
 
 theo!;^tr^:t::^:;:;;,:j^^t;^-f- that the pine upon 
 
 hasdeclinednearl V;;^?:';!;,;"^/^;;''^^^^^^^ 
 
 sawdust and mill refuse fmm thi. . ' ^'^^^^ ^'^^ quantity of 
 
 is very much le pe7 ho,' nd Vf nf ' "^"'f '^^^ '"'^""^' ^^ ^^"^i"ess 
 probably not over^one-thitl^^^^' \,l' ^Z^^J':^];'^'''' r'' ^^^° 
 evenassuming that all siw.iMO nfr u^ • u '^ "'^^ ^^^^u- ^^ut 
 kept out of the rive he ewouijr, ,1 ? '' '''"'^ ''"'" ^•^''■^'^^'' ^-'^e 
 rubbish conip<,scd hr /e V w/b^ f r u' ,' ^^'"^'^erable quantity of 
 
 out of the riier n^ r r : n 'r';\ rf which canno\ be kept 
 
 necessarily bean incidc^o'a^htn>b;ri;'d T ^'^V^^^^''^- '-'^t 
 be exploited upon the Ottawa ' '"^ *''"''^' ^'' '^ ^"ontinues to 
 
 ■ 
 
8 
 
 I 
 
 shonl 1 hi 1^' ^'f'^re the reasons why we feel that further exemption 
 bhould be granted the Ottawa River from the Act forbidding the 
 throwing of sawdust and mill refuse into the stream. ^ 
 
 VVe have no desire that our private interests should be in any wav 
 
 oTZlnc ''^^,fH^.'^^"- «^ ^h-\«f other private individuL or 
 o the public Ihis IS a question that must be looked at from the 
 
 tandpoint o the greatest good to the greatest number, and we submit 
 that upon the questions us to the effect of this material upon the 
 navigauon, upon the fishery interests, upon the purity of the witer and 
 upon the public health, no satisfactory evidence' has been adduced "o 
 prove that any substantial injury arises from the presence of sawdust or 
 mill release in the river Ottawa, but that upon the other hand 1 1 
 productive of greater good than injury. 
 
 We believe it is alleged, we are unable to say with what truth that 
 
 h"be tn^ ^ ^"'^"ir 'k "'"•' ^^^"P^'"" '^ S-"^^d - Canada. J 
 
 ocaliK/r;hTT ■■"'/" '"^'J^''^''' '^'' ''' P^^'^'-^bly the only 
 
 local ly m the Dominion where the same conditions exist viz • a 
 
 rapidly running current with an immense volume of water conditions 
 which admit of the disposition of this sawdust and mil refuse by 
 allowing It to fall into the stream without any substantial injury to any 
 public (jr private interest. •' ^ ^ 
 
 .u ^^"'u7 '^•;,^^e»ied superfluous for us to make any statement as to 
 the probable effect upon the business interests of the Ottawa "m on S 
 the enforcement of f . Fisheries Act as amended at the last ses ion o 
 Parliament but masmuch ns it is a matter in which the peopl of 
 Ottawa and Its vianity have a very substantial interest, we may be 
 pardoned the statement that such enforcement must have one or other 
 of two results ; either that the mills must be removed to some other 
 locality, smce Ottawa possesses no advantages as a lumber manufacturing 
 pomt apart from the unrestricted use of the water power, but on the 
 
 ctcYeX7h'T'"'-''"*T\^'^'^'^"^^^^^^'°^'^^'^^ b"^"^^^ "^"^t be 
 erected for the burning of this material, which will tend to create a 
 
 smoke nuisance throughout the whole city, and will doubtless be taken 
 advantage of by insurance companies to raise the rates upon all insurable 
 property within the limits of the city, In either case, we sub t that 
 the public interests, so far as Ottawa is concerned, would suffer much 
 more than they could by any possibility suffer from the present practice 
 of allowing this material to pass away in the running water of the river' 
 
 whnn! . ''''"/'^ ^' ""''^- ^^t'^^^'o'-y to us if we were rxiade aware as to 
 wha interests are pressing this matter upon the attention of the Govern- 
 ment, what protests have been entered against the continuance of the 
 present practice bo far as we know, any representations made to the 
 (.overnment in the' premises have been in favor of permitting sawdust 
 and mill refuse to fall into the river, not asking that t be prohib ted 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 I 
 
i 
 
 ( 
 
 ( 
 I 
 
 po,.a„ce to ™.ke an e„.rr„riatU'^ "^ ^s ? Uot".^-!! '"- 
 
 mke into consideration the fmpor aLe of ,h. ^ , ' ''"V^ '''»" 
 
 of ;" 48 Vk Chap 24 ' "' "^^ °'' '"'"f^^tice complained 
 
 indirect;;'''!;;''^ 'h^vtaM-hM '"""^"'V'" "^" •="8^8^'' "irec.ly and 
 rea.o„abi.teL^St^;„;t;',?Zr™eitof^rnar'''^''' '^'^ ^"<' 
 We have the honor to be, 
 Sir, 
 Your obedient servants, 
 (Signed) 
 THE BRONSONS & WESTON LUMBER CO., LTD,, 
 
 BUELL, HURDMAN & CO, "'' ^' ^' ^''^^'^^• 
 
 ESTATE OF THE LATE JAS. MACLAREN, 
 
 PER David Maclaren, for Self, Co., 
 J. R. BOOTH. Executors and Trustees. 
 
 HAWKESBURY LUMBER CO., LTD., 
 
 H. K. Egan, Managing Director. 
 R. & W. CON ROY. 
 
 ROSS BROS., in liquidation, 
 
 G. L. Parker, Attornev. 
 GILMOUR & HUGHSON. 
 
10 
 
 SEPAI^ATE l^EPLY 
 
 — OF — 
 
 VV. C. EDWARDS & CO. 
 
 I 
 
 Rockland, Ont., Sept. 24th, 1894. 
 lo the Hon. The Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa : 
 
 .f .. ^n~^^'^ ''"l^ T*'^'''^^ y^""" ^''■^"'a'- 'etter referring to the action 
 of the Domimon Parhament during the last session in the matter of saw 
 dust and m. 1 refuse, and although not personally interested toany grelt 
 extent ourselves, yet, being life-long residents on the bank cf '-^ O^awl 
 River, and for n.any years interested in the sawmill and fu.wardine 
 busmess on the Ottawa, .t has (rom the first been our intenti m o re y 
 to your circular and g.ve you our views upon the subject, and pressu e 
 of business is tne only cause for our not having done so sioner. 
 
 The subject is one of great importance, not only to the lumber 
 rade but is also of very great importance to the whole di °rict o c un 
 try adjacent to the Ottawa River, and in any discussion of the ubjcct 
 we look upon It that the general interests of the country should be con 
 
 "[^'dL"';^ il"''^''"'^' •"^--^^' -^ - ^^^^ 'l-" we wilUn- 
 
 The four questions that we have generally heard raised as affected 
 by putting sawdust and mill refuse in the river, are those of naCtion 
 the fisheries, the public health and danger to life. As to the firsi named 
 we may say that no one can be in a better position to judge than our- 
 selves, and m our long and large experience we have never known of 
 .any inconvenience, hindrance or delay in the navigation of he oT uw. 
 R.ver as a result of sawdust being put into the stream,excepting what 
 may have been suffered at the foot of the locks at Ottawa. In no oThe 
 way has the commercial navigation of the Ottawa River evei been hn 
 peded. It IS true that sawdust may accumulate to some extentlnbavs" 
 andsuch places and It IS possible, also, that where there are great ine- 
 qualities in the bed of the river, sawdust mav dwell to a morfor ess" 
 extent, but otherwise it has never been known to accumulate or dwel 
 
• 
 
 11 
 
 Now as to the fjsh question, large quantities have bee., taken from 
 The river for matiy years, and large quantities are still taken from it 
 I he population has largely increased and fishermen have also increased 
 We do not know that fish have diminished in the river, but while it is 
 possible they have we know of no cause that can be adduced but in- 
 cessant fishing We have never heard the settlers along the banks of 
 the river complain or advance in any way the theory that the number 
 of fish has lessened in the stream as a result of putting sawdust in it 
 but we have frequently heard the assertion made by city people who 
 know nothing whatever of the matter. We do, however, know of our 
 own observation, a mieans by which we would consider it quite possible 
 that the quantity of fish has been diminished. Years ago there were no 
 fish aken from the stream except by the residents along the river for 
 amily use, and by an occasional sportsman ; but for several years past a 
 large traffic has been carried on, and is still being carried on, in fishing 
 with nets and selling the fish in the Ottawa market. This, we think on 
 investigation will prove the means by which the fish supply of the Ot- 
 tawa River has been lessened, if it is lessened, 
 
 .u . .^^ '° ^^^ question of health, we have frequently heard it asserted 
 that the water of the river was rendered impure and unhealthy as a re- 
 sult of sawdust being allowed to go into the stream. We are unable to 
 aea with the subject scientifically, but we can say with all sincerity that 
 we know of no evidence whatever to justify the assertion that any dele- 
 terious effects whatever result from this cause. The v.llage of Rock- 
 land, with two thousand inhabitants, gets its water supply from the 
 Ottawa No doubt many other villages along the stream are similarly 
 situated in this respect, as well as a great number of the farmers, but we 
 have yet to learn of the first case of injury in any respect from drinking 
 Ottawa River water ; but otherwise we have always heard it spoken of 
 as being good and wholesome water. 
 
 ^ Lastly, as to the danger to life, we have never seen anything of the 
 i'lnd ourselves, but we have heard of explosions whereby quantities of 
 ice have been broken up and thrown into the air, and we have heard it 
 asserted by those opposed to the sawdust question that this was a dan- 
 ger to life, and that these explosio.ns resulted from gases formed from ac- 
 cumulations of sawdust in the bed of the stream. We can offer nothing 
 in reply to this, as we know nothing of the circumstances,but the reports 
 we have heard, e^oepting this, that we have heard of similar explosions 
 on lakes, where no sawmills or sawdust ever existed. 
 
 We have given you our views so far as we can in writing on the 
 tour points we mentioned, and none cf which in our opinion form any 
 just grounds for complaint. And it is our opinion that no contemion 
 exists on this question arising from those engaged in traffic or naviga- 
 gation on the Ottawa River ; or from the settlers or occupants on the 
 banks of the river. 
 
I 
 
 12 
 
 to burn U l?"^\'^«"T^"'e"^^''^y of disposing of our mill refuse here 
 
 The situation with eTh of th" othJ "J 5^^'-''»"^> '^''^se on the Ottawa. 
 
 if we'^had'':, vi'eT our I'n'^'Jjfi I, '"' "' ™"'P«'''« l-"hern,e„, and 
 
 River. Ar,df we we encriiuedfo ..'"'""" °' ""^ '"'''' O""" 
 The nerinrt nf tim. k ? I"^™""^d to advise you, we wou d suggest this 
 
 May St to?s" rt'a^^e^t trif^hf '"''^"""^ ^"^ ''' '''' °^ 
 of the mills if it m.,«f kI^ 'f ^'''^' reconstruction or removal 
 
 sion of he opeadon ofthe" An/f' '' "°' \'"'^ ^° ^"'^"^^ '°^ « «"^P^"- 
 mission comSdof Dmctic^l i^L'"°^''''" ''"'' '"^ '^PP^'"^ ^ ^«'^- 
 whole matter KutfiCs as e^^'-^^^^^^^ -"^ investigate the 
 
 There is little doub in ou m nd thatTp 'r' " '^' ''''''''' °^ ^^^S- 
 influenced by the condidons of Hp 1 1 P''^'-'''^ment many will be 
 
 on,:^u!rt»i;--rt-Ce:^^i-u^-'S 
 
 Yours, etc., 
 
 W. C EDVVARD3&C0. 
 
 r 
 
 1 
 
i 
 
 4 
 
 18 
 
 KESOI.LJTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 OTTAWA BOARD OF TRADE. 
 
 r 
 
 Ottawa, 26th February, ,895. 
 The Hon. the Minister of Marine and lusheries. 
 Sir, 
 
 persono'at all times o7Vy^S',\^T^ employ,„ent to thousands of 
 
 largelTSr i *tHe"':rs";Y/ e^;;:?!!" o^^JteiT '"% ''^-^ /' ^""^ 
 thereby greatly curtailing cost of same ""' °" "" """"' 
 
 Be it. therefore resolved that this Rmr,l ;„ „f .u 
 there be any damage or iniurv nricin V t ** °P'"'°" "'"t if 
 
 sawdust or inill refifse intithJ O, ! "^ "™ *•? P™'"'^'' °< i^romr^g 
 been done and Thatihe few rem nT' ■"■ '" '"'»""'« " has already 
 continue win add buttle'lfVnTto™iftir;c::'d!tir"rd '^ "^^'^ '' 
 
 that loMii,^zM7^s'iSr:%r T "'""" °' p-"'--"' 
 
 would earnestly imp-ess on the ri ' '" '""^""^ ''"=^"<'". a"d 
 
 restrictions that'wotlld have this eft^'c,ra„7'"' ""' "'^''''""^ 'o •■•">■ 
 
14 
 
 That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Hon tho UmScfn. «/ 
 
 honoMX!"''"' ' ""' "'' '"'"'"■ '" """"'" '^'P'^'^'fl'V "d have the 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 N. S. GARLAND, 
 
 ! 
 
er of 
 
 I the 
 
 this 
 
 : the 
 
 15 
 
 g of 
 
 I 
 
 I^ETITIOISr 
 
 or 
 
 RIPARIAN PROPRIETORS AND RESIDENTS ALONG 
 
 OT TAWA RIVER. 
 
 (No. I.) 
 
 To the Parliament of Canada. 
 
 Ottaw?.L'rhe"Sc:s^7^^^^^^^^ ^-^-f the 
 
 Ottawa and G/envilLThav he d wi h eS'tha't''^"'^'" ^''^ ^^ 
 provisions of an Act oassed d.irinor f hT /^ '"^' according to the 
 Canada, the privUeL^^^^^^^^^ ''!^ '^P^^u" °^ '^^ l^^rliament of 
 
 Ottawa river ind tstrbuS of fhT^"'* ^^ '^"^ '"^'"'"^ "PO" the 
 the water, will be :^^:::,^t:::\i:;^^ "' "^'^ ^^-^ '"^« 
 
 action':nrhe7a^t"oVth:'c^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -son for such 
 
 to lands fronting upon the riJeanliZ"^^ Tu'^""' '^7"^ '"J""«"« 
 these lands, and we beg Lpec full „ to fate rh.^^'l'' ^^""'"^ "P°" 
 Not only have we suffered no in ,» V ? ^^^ ?"''^ '' "«* the case. 
 
 has been' a Posidv;t:n:lTo'uT L^ZucfasTML"?"^ ^^^ '"^ '^ 
 large quantity of material suitable for firewood a nH.T a ''"'"•^^^^^ ^ 
 our shores more or less sawdust whi.hfiV^ ^''" deposits upon 
 upon our clay lands. ' "^^ ^"^ ^"^ ^^""-^ ^^'tiable for use 
 
 that ,r^SirofThe'F"h^ ^^"^^ P>--d tore-enact 
 
 Marine and FisheriL mav Txemn 7^"\P'-"^'des that the Minister of 
 Act, wholly or Sly Lv st^el^^^^^^^^ °P'''''^^'°" ^^ ^^e Fisheries 
 considers i^at itLnfor^S^^^^S r^qS^ '[L^^^S^L ^^tS^' ^^ 
 
16 
 
 i^sTXTioasr 
 
 OK 
 
 RIPARIAN PROPRIETORS AND RESIDENTS Al-ONG 
 
 OTTAWA RIVER. 
 
 (No. 2.) 
 To the Parliament of Canada. 
 
 Petition of inhabitants of the County of Prescott and Counties of 
 Ottawa, Argcnteuil, Vaudrcuil, and Two Mountains, humbly sheweth : — 
 
 Having learned that an Act passed during the last session of 
 Parlianiei"'t, making it illegal for mill-owners to put sawdust, mill editings, 
 or refuse in^o the Ottawa river, and that this Act takes effect on the ist 
 May, 1895, we the petitioners humbly request the consideration of the 
 Governor-in-Council to the following : — 
 
 I St, That the Hawkesbury Lumber Company (Limited) manufacture 
 pine lumber to about the annual average extent of fifty millions of feet 
 at their Hawkesbury mills at the Longue Sault in the County of Prescott. 
 
 2nd, That upwards of 750 hands from this and adjoining Counties, 
 and over 900 men and teams in the bush find employment with this firm. 
 
 3rd, That very many of the petitioners for many miles below these 
 mills find a large proportion of their winter's fuel, and that the edgings, 
 slabs and other refuse which are unground or not passed through a 
 •' hog " are a great boon to the poor people. 
 
 4th, That your petitioners are firmly of the belief that pine sawdust 
 or pine wood does not injure the quality ot the Ottawa river, but on the 
 contrary is helpful in purifying it ; while we are strongly of the opinion 
 that l! e filthy sewage and defilement from the drains of Ottawa city 
 pollutes and injures the water and should be prevented. 
 
 5th, That pine sawdust and edgings have been put in the Ottawa 
 river at this place for upwards of 90 years without injury to fish, naviga- 
 tion or otherwise, and your petitioners believe that pine sawdust or pine 
 edgings do not effect or injure the fish that are now to be found in this 
 part of the Ottawa river, but that the Government dam at Carrillon does 
 entirely prevent the ascent of fish of all kinds from the Lower St. 
 Lawrence and shad from the sea ; the latter entirely disappeared after 
 the dam was completed. 
 
 6ih, That if the Act passed last session is enforced it must leave the 
 proprietors of the Hawkesbury mills no other alternative but to close 
 their mills, to the great injury of the surrounding country, 
 
 7th, Your petitioners would humbly pray that your Parliament 
 would exempt these mills from the recent Fishery Act, so as to permit 
 of sawdust and mill edgings being allowed to go into the river as hereto- 
 fore at Hawkesbury mills, as in like manner the Government did at the 
 request of a similar petition sent to the Government some seventeen 
 pf eighteen years ago,