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IIIVER FISHERIES. ri^^W^ ■ bell I j>mm \ igF: THE RIVER FISHERIES ov NOVA SCOTIA. By THOMAS F. KNIGHT, AUTHOR OF "KOVA SCOTIA AND HER RESOURCES." (Puizk E^kay ) 6 mari mertcs. PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HALIFAX, N. S.: i> n I N T i: I) r. y a . (} ii a n t . I'KINTEU TO THE QVEBN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 1867. \ V / I i r'' TO HIS EXCELLENCY SIR WILl.lAM FENWKK WILLIAMS, Bt. K.C.B. IIKUO Ol" KAILS, LIEUrKNANl-ljlOVKRNOK AND ( OMMANDER-INCHIEF IN AND OVER HBK MAJESTY'S TROVINCE OK NOVA SCOTIA AND ITS DEI'ENDENCIES, &c. THIS P A M P H LET, ON THK J{1^'KK Kls^HKKlKtS CJK HIS NATIVK COLON V, IS RKSI'KrTKrM,V INSCRIIIKI) BY HI« OBKDIKNT SKRVANT. THE AUTHOR. A i'?''^^ m t i ( ( Extract frmi Report of Committee of House of A^^embly on Fisheries^ 1867. "They beg also to acknowledfrf the vahiable services rendered the fishii.-,' interests of this Province by Mr. T. F. Knight, in the publication, w.thn, the last year, of his two able pamphlets on the Fishes and fisheries of Nova Scotia. The clear and comprehensive description furnished by Mr. Knight, of the nature, localities, and extent of our varied fisheries, nu.st lead^to the awakening, both at home and abroad, of a more accurate know- ledge of, and active interest in this vast fieldof the natural resources of this Province." Extract from Official Letter of the i ommimoner of Nova Scotia at the Paris Exhibition. "The Grand Prize— the Gold Medal — was awarded by the jury of Group VII. Articles of Food. This medal was gained by Messrs. Townsend, Harablin & Baker, Barber, Christian, Dickson, and Hardy-taken ui con- nection with Mr. Jones' Natural History illustration, and Mr. Knights treatise on the Fisheries of Nova Scotia-so that it may be considered as gained, more or less, by eight exhibitors Knight's treatise, Part II., supplied the information necessary to secure the medal of the more precious metal." — Halifax Reporter, July 16, 1867. SOURCES OP INFORMATION. <: .JOURNALS OK HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF NOVA SIOTIA. OKFICIAL ( IHCULARS FROM COLLKCTOKS OF CUSTOMS iN NOVA SCOTiA. IKANSACnONS OF INSrirUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCE OF NoVA SCOTJA KISIIERIES IN THE BAY OF FUNDY. By M. II. Terlkv, Esg. ARTIFICIAL FISH BREEUINo. By W. H. FRy. MISCELLANEOUS REI'ORTS AND I'AI'ERS. / \\ CONTENTS. PAei INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER I. BIVBB FISHES. The Salmon— The Sea Trout— The Smelt— The Striped Bass— The Shad— The Alewife or Gaspereau — The Eel 4 CHAPTER II. Brv J'li. The Atlantic \^c; 3t — Gulf of Saint Lawrence — Bay of Fundy 20 CHAPTER III. OBSTRUCTIONS, ETC. Obstructions in Rivers — Fishery Protection Society — Laws relating to River Fisheries — Fish Ladders 31 CHAPTER IV. ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OP PISH. Introduction — The River Tay in Scotland — The River Moy in Ireland — Pisciculture in Canada 46 OBNBRAI. REMARKS AND HINTS — CONCLUSION. Fishery Laws of Canada — Leases and Licenses — Inspectors or Overieers — Fish-Ladders — Propagation of Fish — Statistics — Exportation — Con- clusion 53 APPENDIX 63 OlUJKtittilftaWUbTK'Mi I n ii i RIVER FISHERIES. Not loss important than the Sea Fisheries, though more limited in their extent, are the valuable fisheries which pertain to our rivers and estuaries. As regards the kinds of fish which, in the propagation t)f their species, do not resort to fresh water, it has been shewn that but few artificial means are necessary to })rcserve them from destruction or diminution. The limitless ocean, which forms their iiabitation, is also their protection, and the hand of man is almost powerless to diminish the vast masses which are diffused over a space so enormous. But those fish whose instincts compel them to seek fresh waters for the propagation of their species, are, for a certain period in each year, confined within narrow limits, are at the mercy of man, and may be diminished or exterminated at his will. For such fish it has been found necessary to interpose legis- lative protection, and to preserve the true interests of a country by restraining its inhabitants from pursuing an immediate and direct good, at the expense of future and immeasurably greater loss. But the immediate benefit is very much lessened, from the injudi- cious capture of them, when out of season, at which the fish are of little value for food. In the early history of this country our rivers teemed with fish. The narratives of the first adventurers to Nova Scotia, respecting the abundance of fish, arc almost incredible : and in later years, it has been somewhat humorously asserted, it was customary to make it a condition of engagement with farm " helps," that they should not be requii-ed to partake of a salmon dinner more than twice in a week. The fish had at that early period no enemy but the spear of the native hunter, who killed only what he wanted for his own use, and who raised no physical obstacle to their return every year to the spot dictated by instinct for the preservation and propagation of their kind. To a much later ])criod the salmon and gaspereaux abounded in, and gave name to many of our rivers, where they arc 4-- if 2 RIVER FISHERIES. now almost unknown ; but the great decrease has taken place since the growth of our lumber trade, which has blocked our rivers with numerous dams, that have been erected in reference only to the immediate interest of the proprietors. There has been an increasing war between the axe of the settler and the noble fish, who, if unmo- lested, generously pours forth from her body life-germs in untold myriads, to mature for the provision of man. The important connection which subsists between the fisheries in the rivers and those in the ocean must not be forgotten, since certain kinds of fish that propagate in the rivers form a large share of the food of the cod, the haddock, and the mackerel, which abound on the coast. Mr. Pcrley has remarked, regarding the gaspereau : — " Tlie gaspereau fishery is valuable in itself, and it must also be borne in mind that the care and preservation of that fishery is most important as regards the cod-fishery on the coast. The mouths of all the rivers, fre- quented by gaspereaux, are resorted to by cod at the proper season, thus aifording profitable occupation to the coast fishermen ; and wherever the gaspereaux have been allowed to be exterminated, (as I am sorry to say they have been in several rivers of these Colonies,) the cod-fishery has ceased to exist in that vicinity. No fish that ascends rivers from the sea in order to spawn, is of so much consequence to the cod-fishermen as the gaspereau." And not only the gaspereaux, but unhappily the young of the salmonidffi, contribute to the sustenance of the more voracious denizens of the sea. The fish which resort to our rivers are the salmon, the trout, the gaspereau or alcwife, the shad, the bass, and the smelt. The annual migration of these fishes is a wonderful provision of God's providence. The marvellous instinct which impels them, if there be no obstructions, to return to their native streams, and after propagation, to seek the sea again, is one of the most interesting phenomena in the domain of animated nature. From the abun- dance and great nutritive quality of their food, when they regain the sea they recuperate and grow rapidly. The young fry that go sea-ward, diminutive in size, return the following spring or summer adult fish, perfect in their power of reproduction. The time required for hatching out the spawn is various with the different orders and families. In the same genera, or even in the same species, the time may vary. Much depends on climate and the temperature of 1 (I place since r rivers with only to the tn increasing ho, if unmo- is in untold e fisheries in otten, since I large share :erel, which garding the be borne in important as le rivers, fre- ' season, thus wherever the ry to say they has ceased to a in order to jaspereau." )ung of the e voracious le trout, the nclt. The on of God's )m, if there I, and after interesting 1 the abun- they regain fry that go or summer no required orders and species, the perature of RIVER FISHERIES. 3 the water ; the warmer streams hatching out the eggs before those of a lower temperature. Fish that spawn in still water generally deposit their ova on plants, which give out sufficient oxygen to promote fecundation. It is to be feared that unless a vigorous legislation is interposed, the once abundant salmon, the gaspereau, the shad, and the sea- trout, will become exterminated. It is the unanimous testimony from every county in the Province that the numbers of these valuable fish are rapidly decreasing; and notwithstanding that there are legal enactments against these obstructions, mill dams are continually being constructed without the least chance for the passage of salmon. Often abandoned for want of work, their mills block up many a fine stream without any effort to help the fish in passing to their haunts. The tidal netters, whenever an oppor- tunity offers, place their nets entirely from bank to bank ; the same practice is pursued at every available station of the river ; gaspe- reaux weirs, and the shameful use of the spear on the spawning grounds, complete the list of destructive agents. Much praise is due to the gentlemen comprising the " Society for the Protection of the Inland Fisheries and Game of Nova Scotia," for their patriotic efforts to prompt the public to an interest in the preserva- tion of the River Fisheries. This society was founded in 1853, and has at different times published a report of its labors. Its indefatigable president, Capt. Chearnley, is known to have been engaged for a brief period by the Provincial Government as Com- missioner for the protection of the Inland Fisheries. All the efforts of this Association are, however, rendered abortive, so long as County Inspectors are wholly negligent in the discharge of their duties, and the Magistrates of the country permit the laws to be violated almost before their eyes. In treating of this subject, I purpose to consider : — 1. The River Fishes, giving a brief account of their several characteristics. 2. The Rivers on the Atlantic, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and in the Bay of Fundy. 3. Obstructions in Rivers, Ac. 4. Obser- vations on the Artificial Propagation of Fish ; concluding with some general remarks and hints. 4 EIVEll FISHERIES, CHAPTER I. RIVER FISHES. The Salmon. — Salmo Solar. This magnificent fish has been the exalted theme of all lovers of fish and fishing, from the time of Walton to the present. Its exceeding beauty, and its marvellous strength and agility, render it the delight of the sportsman ; and its delicious flesh places it at once in the first rank of food-fishes. Its form is an elongated ellipse, its greatest breadth in front of the dorsal fin. Its color — hack, of greenish blue ; sides, light silvery gray ; belly white; and there are angular but irregular markings, sometimes like the letter X, dispersed along the back and above the lateral line, about an inch or two apart. The brilliancy of a fresh-run fish is unsur- passed, its sides gleaming in the sun-light like burnished silver, as it leaps above the water. There is a great difference in the pro- portions of a male and female salmon, which is more perceptible as the summer advances ; the head of a male fish is nearly one-fourth of its length, exclusive of the caudal, that of a female is not much more than a fifth, while the head of a female grilse is not more than a sixth. There is a cartilaginous projection on the tip of the lower jaw, in the male fish, which closes into a cavity in the snout ; it becomes harder and larger, and has more of an inward curve as the time of spawning approaches ; it is supposed by some persons that it is used by the fish in removing the gravel when preparing the spawning bed in the autumn. Salmon enter the rivers of Nova Scotia from the middle of March to the middle of September. They swim along the coast from southward and westward, entering first the rivers of Shel- burne, Queens, and Liuienburg ; later, the rivers of Halifax and Guysboro', and still later, the rivers and streams of the Culf of Saint Lawrence. But this eastwardly course is not always pre- served with respect to contiguous rivers, as they sometimes revert i )f all lovers of present. Its agility, render ill places it at ail elongated • Its color — lly white ; and imes like the ral line, about fish is unsur- shcd silver, as ;c in the pro- perceptible as rly one-fourth le is not much is not more the tip of the ■ in the snout ; ward curve as some persons 1011 preparing ho middle of >ng the coast vers of Shel- f Halifax and 1" the CUiIf of t always pro- itinics revere J RIVER FISHES. 5 the usual order by appearing first in the eastern rivers. The female salmon first enters, the male follows about a month after ; and lastly come the grilse or young salmon. On the passage up they take tlie fly of the sportsman, and are seen leaping over the natural obstacles or artificial barriers that arrest their progress, sometimes to a height of six or eight feet. They often linger in the deep holes of the streams which they are ascending. They become lean and thin almost immediately on entering the fresh waters. Their flesh loses the lively red tint and exquisite flavour, their silvery sides turn yellow, their steel-blue backs a dingy black, and reddish diffused patches their sides, head, and cheeks. In the autumn the male salmon is seen frequenting the shallow, sandy-bottomed running streams. He is busy furrowing up the gravelly bottom with his lower jaw, in water so shallow that his tail flaps upon the surface. Tlie loitering sportsman often per- ceives him working up stream so as not to foul his water, and sedulously conducting his mate into the furrow, where he impreg- nates the ova streaming from her teeming sides, or rushing out upon the shoals of young males in clouds about him, each a miniature salmon, with hook and bill, though barely six or seven inches long. The lumberman, too, is sometimes tempted from his toil by suddenly coming upon a shallow lake literally covered by hundreds if not thousands. Serious encounters are sometimes instanced between two rival males, the wounds taken and given are often frightful. At the end of the season, an old male, thoroughly emaciated, lean, dingy yellow, his jaws literally worn to the bone or hanging in fragments, his body torn into gaping wounds, with his pale blue gleaming eyes, is truly a ghastly form, flitting dark and dull, and half seen through his watery home. They arc now said to return to the sea, principally because we find them there in early spring. Some say they remain in the rivers or lakes all winter, and no doubt many do. Capt. Chearnley is of opinion that this is caused by debility, and that in the spring they are found in an exhausted state. It may be said that the salmon in Novp, Scotia have their principal run from the ocean to the lakes in April, May, and June ; that they spawn in November, and innnediately return to the ocean. But this is only gene- rally true. 6 RIVER FISHERIES. " From a number of facts, (writes Dr. Gilpin), I am led to conclude that there is a perpetual passing up and down during the whole summer. On the 20th of May, 1865, 1 procured from the tide-way at Bedford Bridge* five young salmon from six to eight inches long ; these I suppose were fry of the last year, fifteen or sixteen months old, going to the sea for the first time. With t!ie exception of a few vermillion spots upon them, and that the nose was rounded and short, they were true salmon, teeth perfect, and some with ova. It is now admitted (from the numerous and conclusive experiments of marking fish) that they visit the ocean and return in a few weeks weighing six or seven pounds, and spawn in November. Successive runs of these fish must be perpetually passing up and down our rivers. In September, female spawning fish, entirely discoloured, and filled with spawn of the size of buck shot, which escapes readily, are exposed in market from the Shubenacadie river, and one would never think they could retain their spawn till November. The year just passed was unusually dry and the lakes and streams low. Thus Bedford river, near Halifax, was thronged with fish unable to get up. In November thirty were counted from Flat rock in one deep lK>le. Our markets have always a run of November salmon taken outside on the ocean, in the highest condition, and which, according to Col. Hardy, have the ova very small and undeveloped. Thus at one point of time we have three sets of fish, one spawning or spawned in the lakes, one running up, and a third ranging the ocean unimpregnated. From these facts we must deduce that there are modifications perpetually occurring to vary within certain limits any general law. On his passage he readily takes the fly, during his sojourn in the lakes ; but though of these facts I am not quite certain. In the ocean we find him a deep feeder, his food being said to be the spawn of various fish, and he is often taken by bait-fishing on our coast some distance from shore, and at about sixty or seventy fathoms. There can be little doubt that he also feeds upon smaller living fishes as well as flies and larva." To give a minute description of the manner of propagation would occupy several pages, and is unnecessary in a treatise so general in its aim. The ova of all the salmonidae require water highly aerated, much oxygen being needed in the incubation. They select the gentle current of streams, but if this is not accessible, as is the case in sluggish trout rivers and lakelets, they find some pool with gravelly bottom where a cool spring enters. The spawning season in the American rivers is brief. Instead of extending over a period of six months, as it does in the British rivers, it hardly embraces as many weeks, for by the end of the year the rivers are often closed by ice, and the spawning beds ! I KIVER FISHES. 3 conclude that summer. On iedford Bridge* ose were fry of a for the first hem, and that h perfect, and ind conclusive eturn in a few r. Successive ur rivers. In ed with spawn n market from d retain their dry and the was thronged ed from Flat of November 1, and which, sloped. Thus )r spawned in limpregnated. s perpetually lis passage he >ugh of these ;p feeder, his en taken by bout sixty or upon smaller itiou would > general in Lter highly on. They accessible, they find iig enters. '. Instead es in the the end of ning beds 4 sealed against the fecundating influence of the air. After the salmon have passed the necessary time in the fresh water to mature the spawn and milt, they leave the pools and rapids, and collect on the shallows and in the tributaries of the rivers by the middle of October or the beginning of November to deposit their spawn ; but it is supposed that incubation is arrested for months by the spawn being encased in ice, so that even a much longer period (perhaps even double the time) is required for the ova to hatch than is necessary in the temperate waters of Scotland and Ireland. In about three months (some say six months) after the deposit of the spawn, the eggs are hatched ; in two months more the yoimg fish attain the length of li inches ; and at the age of six months it has grown to the length of 3i inches. In this state the young salmon are called parr. They do not go down to the sea till they are a year old. When the fry has obtained this age it is about 7 inches long and 6 or 7 ounces in weight, and is called a rniolt ; but after remaining two or three months absent in the sea, it returns a grihe of four or five pounds weight, and when returning a second year is sometimes found to have grown to 12 or 15 pounds. A careful observer will have no hesitation in distinguishing the fry of the salmon from the small trout. The salmon-fry have scales which are much more perceptible, and easily detached ; they are also more brilliant, and generally with a single row of red spots ; the eyes are larger and more prominent. The usual manner of designating the different stages of growth and changes in the condition of the salmon is thus: — As long as it bears the red spots and finger marks, it is known as pink^ ialmon-fry^ samlet^ and is sometimes yet called parr. When it puts on the bright coat, preparatory to going to the sea for the first time, it is called a smolt. After its return it is a grilse. After its second migration it is a salmon, and is ever after so called. A salmon just from the sea is called a fresh-run fish. After it has boon long enough in fresh water to lose its silvery appearance, it is called a black-fish. After spawning it is a kelt or foul fish. The following facts with regard to the habits of the salmon, are from a work by the late Mr. H. C. Ffennel, Inspector of British Fisheries. Though they are the result of observations of the habits of the salmon in the rivers of Great Britain and Ireland* I ; 8 RIVER FISHERIES. they arc generally confirmatory of what has been related respecting the salmon in the rivers of Nova Scotia : — " 1. Salmon and grilse invariably spawn in fresh water if possible ; both the eggs and the young fry, whilst in the parr state, being destroyed by contact with salt water. " 2. The eggs are usually deposited on gravelly shallows, where they hatch in from 80 to 140 days, according to the temperature of the water. Eggs remaining unhatched beyond the latter period will seldom hatch at all, possibly from having been destroyed by the low temperature. " 3. The eggs deposited by the female will not hatch under any circum- stances unless vivified, after exclusion, by the milt of the mate ; and, at least up to the period of migration, there is no difference whatever in fry bred between salmon only, between grilse only, between salmon and grilse, between salmon and parr, or between grilse and parr. " 4. The fry remain one, two, and, in some cases three years in the rivers as parr before going down to the sea ; about half taking their depai*- ture at one year, nearly all the others at two years, and the remainder (which are exceptional) at three years old. " 5. All young salmon fry are marked with bluish bars on their sides until shortly before their migration, up to which period they are parrs ; they then invariably assume a more or less complete coating of silvery scales, and become sraolts — the bars, or parr marks, however, being still clearly discernible on rubbing off the new scales." A few observations on the food of the salmon will not be out of place in this brief account of this noble fish. The natural food of the young fish, in its native stream, consists no doubt of small insects, the larvae of flies, and the flics themselves that deposit their eggs in pools and ruiniing water to pass through the process of incubation. It is supposed that the feeding ground of the salmon at sea is not very remote from the mouth of the river at which it migrates. Regarding its food while at sea, the tint of its flesh, its superior flavor, and its wonderful growth, is owing to its feeding on the eggs of various echinodermata and Crustacea. Sir Humphrey Davy supposes the sand-eel to be one of its chief means of subsistence. It is certain, however, that it does not exclude small fish, such as capelin and smelt, from its bill of fare. It is supposed that the salmon also feeds on the spawn deposited l>y the alcwife, and that the preservation of the latter fish in our rivers is closely connected with the continuanco of the salmon. # ^vm 2d resoectinff A. O possible ; both destroyed by s, where they of the water. n hatch at all, r any circuin- mate ; and, at atever in fry )n and grilse, years in the I their depar- he remainder n their sides e parrs ; they iilvery scales, still clearly )t be out of iral food of Jt of small liat deposit the process md of the he river at > tint of its w'ing to its 'acea. Sir hief means ot exclude arc. It is itcd by the ir rivers is RIVER FISHES. 9 a i i The Sea Trout. — Salmo Canadensis. The sea trout which frequents our rivers had been iiuproperly described as the salmo trutta, or European species. Frank Forrester (Mr. Herbert) doubted whctlier it was not a grilse, or sahnon of the third year. Mr. Norris, who has written a valuable book on the fishes of the North American rivers, and on the art of taking them, has proved the sea-trout of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to bo the Salmo Canadensis of Colonel Hamilton Smith. Fresh from the sea, compared with a brook trout, the sea-trout has larger and more distinct scales ; the form is not so much compressed ; the markings on the back arc lighter, and not so vcrmiculatc in form, but resemble more the broken segments of a circle ; it has fewer spots, which are also less distinct. It is more slender until it reaches two poimds, a fish of seventeen inches (including the caudal), after it lias been some time in fresh water, weighing only a pound and three-quarters ; while a brook trout of the same length, in good condition, would weigh three-quarters of a pound more. They become more robust, however, as they increase in weight. In color, when fresh run from the sea, this fish is of a light bluish green on the back, light silvery gray on the sides, and brilliant white on the belly ; the ventrals and anal fin entirely white ; the pectorals brownish blue in front, and the posterior rays roseate white. The tail is quite forked in the young fish, as in all the salmonida3, but where fully grown it is sli ^htly lunate. The tide water mouths ^^ *\\o various rivers are the favorite resorts of this beautiful fish. In these waters he remains till August, sometimes running up the rivers with the tide a few miles, then again running seaward. A very gaudy fly will tempt him out of cover, in the thick tangled kelpy marine forests. He is taken in our tide waters from May till August, both in the Bay of Fundy and along our Atlantic sea-board, and at Capo Breton. After August he is found in the lakes and streams. In winter they are occasionally taken through the ice with bait, from one to twenty miles from the salt water, and they have been seen return- ing to the sea in March. W. C. Silver, Esq., of Halifax, who has studied their habits for years, and in waters nmning through his iii'i 10 RIVER FISHERIES. owp lands, is of opinion that they remain all winter in the fresh witer, leaving the tideway in August, that they rapidly change their color and shape in fresh water, approximate to the brook trout in both, but are always distinguishable. The weight of this fish goes as high as seven pounds ; their general average is about two pounds. The flavor of its flesli is thought to exceed salmon. The food of this sea-trout, when in the sea, consists of small fishes and Crustacea ; in fresh water he seeks the same food as his congeners. He is a much more voracious fish than the salmon, and is seldom found with an empty stomach. The rivers eastward from Halifax abound in this description of trout. They are frequently taken in nets and preserved in pickle. To the sportsman these rivers furnish capital fishing. One party of sportsman not very long since hired a schooner and sailed along the coast, stopping at the mouths of the rivers, where they found the sea-trout in great abundance. In Tangier River, three of the party caught twenty-one dozen in the space of three hours, frequently hooking two at a time. This occurred before Tangier became a gold-mining settlement ; but the river still abounds with these fine trout. The Smelt. — Osmerus Viridescens. This savoury little fish, though found in the greatest abundance in the smaller streams that flow into the sea, has never been deemed of sufficient worth as to become an article of exportation. They are very extensively used by the inhabitants who reside near their habitats, and are very generally sold by hawkers in the city of Halifax. It seems almost an offence to claim for the smelt a rclatiojiship with the elite family of the salmonida) ; nevertheless naturalists persist in calling it a salmon. The smelt is a beautiful, symmetrically formed, bright little fish, silvery steel above, with light greenish reflections ; sides silvery ; belly brilliantly white. They come up the river to spawn, as far as the head of the tide. When the ice disappears in the spring they ascend the small streams and rivers in large schules to spawn, and are taken in great quantities from the shores by means of dip-nets, or by weirs built of spruce boughs and twigs. In the month of May, just above the tide-water, immense schules of them are Wt ^mL.^m»m in the fresh •idly change the brook Jight of this ige is about eed salmon, its of small food as his salmon, and scription of 1 in pickle. One party and sailed ivhere they *iver, three ree hours, -e Tangier )unds with bundance 3ver been portation. side near ;he city of smelt a '^ertheless ittlc fish, silvery ; as far as ing they iwn, and dip-nets, lonth of lem are RIVER FISHES. 11 directed in their course so as to pass through a narrow opening, formed by piling stones in two oblique rows, nearly together at the upper ends. As the smelts rush through in a continuous stream, they are dipped up with scoop nets. The smelt may be caught with the hook ; and in Massachusetts, where the trout has been driven away by the hum of factories and water-wheels, it furnishes sport for the angler. M. H. Perlcy, in his remarks on the smelt, says : — "The writer has frequently taken the smelt with a small scarlet fly, while fishing for sea-trout in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and they would undonbteHlv furnish very pretty light sport, if other and nobler game did not exist in the same locality." It is in season during the winter months, when it is taken through holes in the ice. The smelt feeds principally on the shrimp. It is often used as bait for cod, and is sometimes spread upon the land as manure. It is unaccountable why it is not exported, as when spiced, or salted and dried in the sun, it might be shipped to any part of the globe. To those who cannot obtain the more delicious trout, & recipe for the best way of cooking them will be acceptable :— " After having drawn the entrails out by clipping them at the gills and vent with a pair of scissors, is to roll them in coarse corn-meal or grated cracker, and fry them in salad oil or fresh sweet lard. There should be sufficient lard or oil to keep the fish from the bottom of the pan. When served up, open a smelt while hot, and spread a little butter on the inside to melt ; pepper and salt it, and lay a piece of the fish on a slice of buttered bread, and take a mouthful of each at the same time." This is a sportman's recipe, and is worthy of a trial. The Striped Bass. — Labrax Lineatus. Although other species of the percidce, or perch family, are found in our rivers, the striped bass is the most important, not only from its excellence as an article of food, but from its large size, some- times obtaining a length of three feet. It is not abundant in Nova Scotia, and for this reason its preservation and increase should become a matter of solicitude by the promoters of our River Fisheries. Hf 1. lit 12 RIVER FISHERIES. P The bass is a salt water fish, but ascends tidal creeks and rivers to breed in the spring, and for shelter during the winter. Mr. Pcrlcy describes it as follows : — " The upper part of the boily is silvery brown ; lower part of sides and abdomen a beautiful clear silver color ; eight or more longitudinal black bands running the whole length of the fish, the lower ones terminating above the anal fin. Length, one to tliree feet. The body of the bass is cylin- drical and tapering, covered with large adhesive scales ; lateral line obvious, running through the fourth stripe, and nearly straight. Altogether it is very beautiful ; and besides being one of the most sporting of American game fish, it is excellent food, the flesh being very firm, white, and well flavored." Along the shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the bass make their appearance in large scluilcs, in the early part of September. They keep arotuid the islands, and between the outer bar and the beach of the lagoons, where they arc often taken in nets, and also at night with torch and spear. As the season advances, and the weather becomes colder, they penetrate into bays and arms of the sea, and ascend the rivers at some distance, where they spend the winter resting on the mud in a half torpid state. The bass which are brought to Halifax for sale are generally taken in the rivers or estuaries of the Bay of Fundy. Where the shad spawns is the natural feeding ground of the bass or rock-fish, and this capacious Bay is the famed rendezvous of the shad. The striped bass is called the rock-fish in the United States. It is abundant along the whole coast, from Georgia to the St. Croix. It is considered, as far as game qualities are concerned, the finest fish the American angler meets with south of the region of the salmon. Mr. Norris thus describes the motions of the rock-fish when hooked :— " The first dash of a rock-fish is terrific to a novice. Tliirty yards are frequently spun off the reel before a large fish can be checked. At the falls of the Potomac, or in the rapids of the Sus(iuehanna, his play is not less vigorous than a salmon ; his runs are much longer, and he frequently escapes by chafing or cutting the line or leader against the sharp edges of rocks, being assisted in his desperate struggles by the strong current. Still, though sturdy, he is a fair fighter, and where there are no such obstruc- tions, a gentle hand, a taut line, and a steady pull, secures him . " i ■msm RIVER FISHES. 13 !fs and rivers winter. Mr. i of sides and itudinal black linaf ing above bass is cybn- 1 b'ne obvious. Itogetber it is of American (lite, and well bass make September, ar and the s, and also Js, and the i-ms of the spend the Jass wliich 3 rivers or •'ns is the capacious tates. It 3t. Croix, the finest •n of the rock-fisli J'arils are At the lay is not fequently edges of It. Still. obstruc- Somc fine specimens of the bass of Nova Scotia have been exhibited in the Nova Scotian collection at the London and Dublin Exhibitions, and uncommonly fine ones were procured by Mr. Townsend for the Paris Exhibition collection. The Shad. — Alosa Sapidissima. The " king " of the herrings is rarely seen on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Occasionally it is taken in the nets that are set for salmon. Its favorite resort is in the muddy waters of the Bay of Fundy, where it attains its highest perfection. The body of the shad is deep and compressed. Its width across the body, from the commencement of the dorsal fin to the anal, is nearly equal to one-fifth its length. Its abdominal ridge is serrated throughoi/ ; and the wliole body is covered with large deciduous scales, except the head, which is naked. Its length varies from one to two feet, and its usual weight is from one to four pounds. It is said by the fishermen of the Bay of Fuudy that there are two species or varieties — one species, pui-sucd by dog-fith, sharks, and other fish of prey, appear in the Bay of Fundy about the month of June, never go into the fresh water, and are never found with spawn ; the other species, called river shad, on the contrary, arc usually replete with spawn, and are distinguished from the sea shad by their brightness of color. This opinion is not con- firmed by any description of the shad by naturalists ; they know of but one species. (Sec evidence before Fishery Committee — Journals 1845.) " They arrive," writes a reliable informant, " from the 20th June to the 10th or loth of July, and the fishing continues from four to eight weeks, when they leave the Cobequid Bay and the Basin of Minas, going down through the Gut, between Parrsborough and Blomidon." My informant entertains the opinion that the shad caught in June, July, and August, are the same that frequent the American coast early in the spring, in the bays and rivers of Virginia, later at New York, continuing along the coast of Maine and New Brunswick. He adds that they feed on a vegetable sub- stance which gi'ows along the shores ; on the flats they never take the bait ; and the farther east they are taken the better their quality. This notion of their southern origin seems to have been Illt'H 14 RIVER FISHERIES. ir accepted by Mr. Perley, whom I have quoted in the Descriptive Catalogue of Fishes; but, Mr. Norris, an American writer on Fishes, discards it. Mr. Norris, after referring to the theory, which had obtained general credence, remarks : — " It has since been pretty clearly ascertained that this is not the case ; and it is now thought, with much show of reason, that they do not wander far from the mouths of the bays and rivers from which they migrated the preceding summer or autumn. In more than one respect, (adds the same author,) there is a close analogy between the shad and the salmon ; both are anadromous fishes, changing their habitat annually from salt to fresh water to spawn ; both present the same phenomenon of never having any food — in whatever process of digestion — in their stomachs, after reach- ing fresh water ; and both are not only fish of extremely rapid growth in salt water, but present the same peculiarity of proportions, that is, a remarkably small head and deep fleshy body . " The shad ascend the rivers in the spring to deposit their spawn. In spawning they lose nearly half their weight ; they then find their way to the sea. On regaining the sea they undergo, in many instances, a change in color and general appearance, similar to that of the alewifc. Mr. Perley, who had carefully studied the habits of the fishes of the Bay of Fundy, was of opinion that they remained in the fresh water no longer than is necessary to deposit their ova, and then proceed up the Bay of Fundy to their favorite feeding grounds, there to fatten upon the shrimp and shad-worm, until they attain that degree of excellence which render them so much sought after. Because the shad is never found in fresh water with any food in its stomach or intestines, it is supposed that it retains animalcules and microscopic animals contained in the water as it passes through its gills in breathing, and appropriates such food to its sustenance. This rare fish is less plentiful than in former years. Sixty years ago, women and children, and even the house-dog, (in many instances an excellent fisherman,) could go at low water and catch as many as they could carry home. There were two ways of capturing them next in vogue : first, by spearing them in the holes or gullies made by the swift current on the sand flats ; second, by setting seines across the mouths of the creeks and rivers. Next were introduced the weirs built of strong stakes, interlaced with brush. The drift-net is the latest and best ▼» he Descriptive can writer on 3 theory, which is not the case ; r do not wander sy migrated the pect, (adds the id the salmon ; lly from salt to >f never having !hs, after reach- apid growth in 3ns, tJiat is, a their spawn. Jy then find fgo, in many aailar to that i the habits n that they y to deposit ^eir favorite shad-worm, er them so 'd in fresh oposed that led in the Ppropriates 3ixty years (in many skater and v'o ways of w in the md flats; 'eoks and 'g stakes, and best KIVER FISHES. 16 appliance for shad-fishing, and is adopted on both sides of the Bay. The drift-net allows the small fish to escape, which arc captured in large numbers in the weirs to the destruction of the fishery. These nets are 45 meshes deep, and many of them 300 fathoms long. On the Colchester side of the Bay there are about one hundred boats and nets. The shad arc caught in the night, as they will not mesh in the day time. The boats go out in the evening and return in the morning with from sixty or a hundred to ten or twelve hundred fish. The shad is of some importance as an export, although it cannot be ascertained what quantity is actually exported in each year. In 18(30 the census gives 7,049 barrels as the quantity cured in the Province, of which Colchester contributed 3,091 barrels ; Kings, 1,274 barrels ; Hants, 1078 barrels, and Cumberland Go2 barrels. The writer is unable to ascertain whether its increase is within the compass of human aid or foresight ; its habits being so little known, differing in many respects from those of the sahnonUliv, and from its congener the alcwife. The Alewipe or Gaspereau. — Alosa Tyrannm. This excellent fish, it is to be regretted, is fast disappearing in Nova Scotia. The mills erected on our numerous streams have either stopped his progress to the upper waters, which his instinct has taught him to choose for his spawning ground, or the saw-dust and litter from the mills has frightened him backwards in his course, and the process of procreation has thus been arrested. The usual length of the alcAvife is from 8 to 20 inches ; the back a 1 lue-grcen, approaching to purple ; sides silvery. The head dark gi-cen above, and the tip of t)ie lower jaw of the same color ; operclcs, yellow. The scales are so deciduous that they fall off in handling. In general appearance the fish is rounder and shorter than tlio herring ; the head shorter and smaller ; the belly strongly serrated, about thirty-five points from gill-ray to anus. Dr. Gilpin graphically describes these active fish, as he watches them moving in a multitudinous army quickly up-stream. They are running the rivers to roach the lakes to spawn. At some distance up, the river breaks over a smooth plane of slate stones too shallow for his depth. Arrived at this place, the gaspereau •ill 16 RIVER FISHERIES. P throws himself up as far as he can, and then commences a series of spasmodic flaps with his tail. Slowly and painfully he passes over and drops exhausted into the tranquil pool ahove. Utterly exhausted, they lie heads and tails in a confused mass ; presently recruiting, their heads pointing up stream, they again commence their march. In countless hordes they sweep through lonely, still waters, the home of the trout, cool and pellucid enough to tempt a weary way wanderer, but on and on his irresistible instinct drives him. A natural dam, some two or three feet elevation, and over which the waters fall with a perpendicular rush, now arrests his progress. He throws himself (no doubt with a vigorous sweep of tail) directly at it. Not above two and a half to three feet is his utmost range, the many failures he makes l)efore he drops into the pool above, attest. Dr. Gil})in, in a foot note, accords to it the power, like the trout, of running up perpoudicular sheets of water as high as six feet. lie has now gained his lake, often a very small one, in the heart of the forest, and perhaps six hundred feet elevation from high water mark. And now commences his brief courtship, for, unlike the lordly salmon who dallies luitil November, he has little time to delay. Altliuugh tiie salmon and trout are often seen spawning, no one has been known to have seen the gaspereau in tlie act of spawning. For this reason he is sujjposed to sjtawn in deep water, and the suppos^ition is strengthened from the knowledge of his love for deep lakes with clear sandy margins. As hatcliihg is a much shorter process than with the sahnojdda', (remarks Dr. Gilpin,) there seems to be less need of a current of aerated water constantly flowing over the eggs, and thus the deep waters of the lake may be chosen. The ascent to the lakes is made in the latter end of April or beginning of May. The moment the spawning is over, the instinct of the gaspereau teaclies him to return to salt water ; but tlierc seems to l)e some dilliculty in determining the exact time. Some observers put it at twenty-one days, in which time, from leaving the sea, the gaspereau has spawned and commenced his return, allowing that he has met with no obstruction. Others say that they have met them during July on the lakes ; and others, that they have seen them passing down in August. IJut all agree that the young fry go down to the sea in September and October, at which time they are over four inches in length. "»»■ l.WXH M RIVER FISHES. 17 nences a series fully he passes ibove. Utterly lass ; presently ;ain commence gli lonely, still ough to tempt instinct drives tion, and over low arrests his )roiis sweep of iree feet is his droi)s into the 3rds to it iiie lieets of water often a very hundred feet ices his brief til November, nd trout are avc seen the - is supposed :lhcned from tliers, that agree tliat October, at Unnerved by the exhausting toil of reproduction, by the absence of food, and perchance by the warming summer waters, he addresses himself to the perils and dangers of descent. Too poor for an object of capture, save for the greedy eel, or the hungry bear, he slips down unnoticed by man, where, a few weeks before, a whole population watched his ascent. Those which are seen in July, or passing down in August, we must consider fish that have left the sea late in May, or that are caught by the dry season, and go down during the August freshets. October seems to be the last date for even the fry to be seen in fresh water. The ascent to the lakes, and return to the deep water, have occupied some three months. The other nine months they are hid from us. They are taken in small numbers, generally with herring, sometimes with the mackerel, as late as the 24th November, on our coast, but they are only strag- glers ; the great body that swarmed our rivers must leave our coast to return in spring. They return either to deep soundings or to the south. After gaining the salt water the lean, weak fish rapidly recruit, become silvery, very fat, and a few individuals have a deep blue l)and of one inch and a quarter extending along the back. Our fishermen call them blue-backs, readily distinguish them, and maintain them to be a separate fish ; but this is only conjecture. As an article of food when eaten fresh, it is not held in great estimation. When sliglitly struck with salt and smoke-dried, it is called a " kiack," and is very palatable. Many are cured in this way about Lunenburg and the Atlantic sea-board. The Indians dry them in the sun about their wigwams, but the usual way is to salt them in barrels like herring;, and use them in each family for homo consumption. Their leanness makes them a good export for the West Indies, as the fat herring becomes completely decomposed into oil by the climate. The causes of the disappearance of the alewifo from many of our rivers has been adverted to. Dr. Gilpin states that all fish which perform annual migrations to spawn in fresh water, gra- dually desert cultivated countries. This, he intimates, may bo occasioned not by obstructions of mills and accumulation of saw- dust only, b 't by the bustle attending the several employments of the inhabitants who reside about the river. J3e the causes what they may, the fact is much to be deplored, and it may explain the 2 T 18 RIVER FISHERIES. assertion that in our large bays, in which numerous navigable rivers debouch, the mackerel and the cod have greatly diminished in abundance, and have changed their haunts to the shores and bays of the broad Gulf of St. Lawrence. By the Government returns for 1861, the total number cured is put down at 12,565 barrels. Since that date they are not returned separately, but classed with common herring. ■1 The Eel. — Anguilla Vulgaris. The eel, although in reality an excellent food-fish, is not much esteemed in Nova Scotia. It is very abundant in our rivers and estuaries. It is not, according to our definition, a river fish, *" as is generally supposed, it spawns in salt water, and migratcb to fresh water ; the very reverse of shad, herring, and salmon. It finds its way into many of the lakes, and will shift its quarters from one creek or lake to another, by crawling through the grass. Isaak Walton affirms that eels that are bred near to the sea, never return to the fresh water. Young eels may be found in myriads all along shore in tide-water streams, in the spring, by turning over a stone, when they shoot out and seek another hiding place. At this season of the year they are not larger than a darning needle, and quite transparent, showing their vital organs plainly. At this early period of their existence, or soon after, their migra- tion to fresh water streams and ponds commences. Those that are taken in the salt water descend the rivers in the fall. The eel is very voracious, feeding on aquatic insects, small fishes, and all dead animal substances that come in its way. It is caught in a variety of ways, but seldom with the hook and line, except when he brings the youthful angler to grief, twisting his line into a Gordian knot, that compels a resort to the jack-knife. In summer it is caught in long round Indian baskets, called eel-pots ; it is also taken by torch-light with the spear. In winter it is taken through holes in the ice by spearing it in the mud, where it there lies torpid. The eel, though of little repute in America, has always been greatly esteemed in Europe. It was held to be a great delicacy by the Romans, and graced their most notable feasts. Their marvel- lous fecundity caused them to be called the oifspring of Jove. In RIVER FISHES. 19 rous navigable atly diminished the shores and umber cured is •e not returned i li, is not mucli our rivers and iver fish, '" as i migratob to d salmon. It 't its quarters Ligh the grass, the sea, never lid in myriads g, by turning hiding place, an a darning rgans plainly. , their migra- liose that are The eel is shes, and all caught in a except when line into a In summer )ts ; it is also iken through it there lies always been t delicacy by heir marvol- )f Jove. In France, at the present day, they are largely propagated by tran- sporting the young eels in baskets filled with aquatic plants, to localities where it is designed to naturalize them. There are other species and varieties of fishes that abound in the lakes of Nova Scotia, that must have been included had the writer adopted for his pamphlet the more comprehensive title of Inland Fisheries ; but he has not intended his pamphlet to be a manual for the sportsman, to whom the lake fishes arc important ; indeed, he would not have ventured upon siich a task unless he were himself skilful in the use of the angle. The restriction to the fishes which frequent the rivers, meets the full design of the whole work — to treat upon the fisheries of Nova Scotia, as they affect the industry and wealth of the people ; and from a purely economic point of view. The salmon and the sea-trout offer, how- ever, the noblest sport to the disciples of Cotton and Walton. Among the fishes referred to as frequenting our numerous lakes, I might enumerate the common brook-trout, the salmo gloverii, a very beautiful dark brown trout, misnamed a grayling ; the salmo confinis, a large blackish fish found in our interior lakes, of coarse flesh, and not abundant. There are two species of the percidoe, and several species of the ct/prinidce or carp family, but none of the " white fishes," (as they are called by pisciculturists,) are esteemed where the trout can be obtained with but little difficulty. The treat is, however, fast disappearing from lakes near the metropolis, which formerly teemed with them. The trout seeker must now repair to more distant waters with any hope of success ; and the farmer or woodman who was wont to repair to the neighboring lake for his impromptu meal, no longer enjoys so cheap and rich a fare. But in the interior lakes trout are still abundant, and in many remote places leap and sparkle in the sunlight, and pursue their gambols unmolested by the sportsman ; startled only by some falling tree or loosened stone rudely plashing the glassy lake, or where their quiet retreat is invaded by the prow of the Indian's canoe. M, 1-if' 20 KIVER FISHERIES. CHAPTER n. ff" RIVERS. The want of topographical information relating to Nova Scotia, will render this chapter very imperfect in fulness of description, though in general correct. Haliburton's instructive history has been followed in the description of the rivers in the several coun- ties. To render full justice, however, to the beautiful rivers and picturesque streamlets of our country requires more than fidelity of outline, it requires the coup cCceil of the artist and the enthu- siastic lover of nature. Thirty years of progress must have produced many changes ; but the rivers that were familiar thirty years ago, still contain their delicious stores, though in dimhiished numbers. ': i THE ATLANTIC COAST. Commencing at St. Mary's Bay, the whole Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia is marked by the mouths of navigable rivers, extending to a greater or less distance into the interior. These rivers formerly contained the fishes that have been described in the preceding chapter, in the greatest abundance ; and were proper protection afforded to the procreative instinct of these denizens of our waters, they might still be retained in sufficient quantities for the wants of the inhabitants, if not to furnish an article of considerable impor- tance as an export. Flowing into VX. Mary's Bay is a river of considerable size, called the Sissiboo, which is navigable at a distance of four miles from its mouth. Thence about midway between Cape St. Mary's and Cape Fourchu, is Beaver River, connecting with Lake George, the second largest lake in the province. Next is Cheboguo River, east of Cape Fourchu, which expands at its mouth into the harbor of Yarmouth, and then Tusket River, which is one of the largest rivers in the Province. Salmon formerly resorted to the Tusket River in large numbers, but the erection of traps in the rapids above the tideway \ EIVERS. 21 > Nova Scotia, )f description, ^e history has several coun- iil rivers and than fidelity d the entliu- changes ; but X)ntaia their oast of Nova tending to a rs formerly 3 preceding ' protection our waters, he wants of ible impor- size, called es from its 3 and Capo the second 'St of Capo Yarmouth, srs in the 5r in large le tideway have well nigh destroyed the fishery. Alewives are caught in this river in considerable numbers, and a few shad are taken in season. Alewives were once so abundant that 2,000 barrels were taken every year. The main branch of the Tusket is called Salmon River. From the mouth of the Tusket River to the bridge, a distance of eight miles, the river is easily navigable. Three miles above the bridge it passes through Lake Vaughau, and then branches off both east and west. The latter has been explored in boats as far as four miles beyond the north-east boundary of Yarmouth, and thirty miles from the ocean. The north-east stream rises in the highlands lying between Annapolis, Liverpool, and Shelburne ; the western branch rises at no great distance from Sissiboo. Salmon River falls into the Tusket about a mile below the bridge. These streams often, in their course, expand into magnificent lakes, of which there arc not less than thirty or forty, many of them being nine or ten miles in length. In Slielburne County there are the Barrington, Clyde, Shelburne, or Roseway, and Jordan Rivers, of which the Clyde and Roseway are the most important. Those rivers all take their rise far in the interior, and debouch into spacious bays or harbors. The Rose- way or Shelburne River is very extensive, but interrupted by several rapids ; about twelve or fourteen miles from the town a chain of lake commences, which extends to tlic northwards, and reaches to within a short distance of those that feed the river Imbert, in the County of Annapolis ; the shores of the river and lakes once abounded with timber of oak and juniper, of the largest dimensions, and it exists still in sufficient abundance to enable the inhabitants to prosecute ship-building with great advantage. There are two large rivers in Queens County, the Liverpool and the Medway. The first of these is one of the largest in Nova Scotia, and is connected with numerous lakes, one of which. Lake Rossignol, is the most extensive in the Province. This magnificent lake is said to be thirty miles in length. The Medway is also a largo river, and receives the surplus waters of many considerable lakes. The fishery on the Liverpool river, before the erection of the numerous mills which now span the stream, was one of its prin- cipal attractions. The salmon fishery was so important that 2,000 barrels were taken in a single season ; and the alewives were so abundant that 3,000 barrels were sometimes taken for successive i! 22 RIVER FISHERIES. '^., seasons. The salmon fishery is now reduced to small dimensions, and the alewifc fishery is very greatly diminished. In 1860^ according to the census, the whole quantity of alewives cured in the year was only 458 barrels, and only 6 barrels of salmon. The great bulk of the salmon now taken is, however, exported fresh, packed in ice. Tlic river fisheries of the County of Lunenburg exceed those of any of the other of the western Counties. From the last census WG learn that Lunenburg cured 1,177 barrels of alewives, and 46 barrels of salmon, besides 2,738 smoked salmon. The principal rivers are the Lallave, Petite, and Gold Rivers. The entrance of the Lallave is very capacious, and the river is navigable for 15 miles. From this point, where there is an ancient bridge, and now the town of Bridgewater, it runs a northwesterly course for five miles, where it separates into two branches ; one of which runs in the direction of Annapolis thirty miles, and the other, passing through the settlement of New Germany, communicates with an extensive chain of lakes, and may be traced to the same spring that feeds the Gaspercaux river, that falls into the Basin of Minas. There are two water-falls on this river, one called Lallave falls, situated three niiles above the bridge, where tho body of water contained in the main river rushes, with inconceivable rapidity, over a precipice of twenty feet. The other, called the Indian falls, situated six miles higher on one of its branches, though discharging only half the quantity of water, present a cataract of much greater height and beauty. This river is the most remarkable in the Province for natural beauty. Its great width for some distance above its mouth, and the primeval character of the scenery on either side imparl to it a beauty the most enchanting. This river formerly abounded with cod, sturgeon, halibut, salmon, shad, alewives, herrings, &c., but the saw-mill, the scourge of the finny inhabitants of our streams, has almost exterminated the lordly salmon and the agile alewife. Gold River, a much smaller stream, is a favorite resort of the sportsman. This river takes its rise in the heights that divide the waters that fall into the Bay of Fundy, from those which run towards the Atlantic ; and after passing through the settlement of Sherbrookc, and spreading occa- sionally into lakes of various sizes, empties itself into Mahonc Bay, about six miles from the town of Chester. RIVERS. 28 all dimensions, ed. In 1860^ ^ives cured in salmon. The xported fresh, xceed those of iG last census wives, and 46 Tile principal e entrance of ^igable for 15 idge, and jiow )nrse for five k'liich runs in tlicr, passing atcs with an same spring 'in of Minas. iallave falls, 'dy of water ^io rapidity, Indian falls, discharging uch greater ^We in the no distance '' scenery on lit. salmon, 'i"ge of the inatod the 'h smaller ' takes its lio Bay of aJid after iing occa- lone Bay, Separated from Mahone Bay by a small peninsula, is the capa- cious Margaret's Bay, within the County of Halifax. Into this Bay flow several rivers that once abounded with salmon, trout, and alewives. The principal streams are Ingraham's River, Indian River, East River, Hosier's River, and Nine Mile River. Near the sources of these rivers are numerous and extensive lakes, many of them well stocked with trout. The gentlemen who compose the Society for the Protection of the Inland Fisheries, have, within two or three years past, adopted measures to arrest the decay of the fisheries in these rivers. They have employed parties to see that the law for preserving an unobstructed passage to the fish is observed, and with encouraging success. The warden for Marga- ret's Bay district, reports all the rivers clear, with the exception of Ingraham's River, where still, as formerly, great opposition is shown to the enforcement of the law ; in consequence whereof few if any fish were taken last season. Sackville River, flowing into Bedford Basin, is likely to prove a productive salmon river, if the intention of the society respecting it is fully carried out. This river, within view of the city of Halifax, had become wholly closed by mill-dams and other obstructions. • Between Halifax and Cape Canso there are several rivers, some of large size. To all these rivers salmon and alewives resort ; and sea trout are taken in season in large numbers. The first of note is the Lawrence River ; next the Musquodoboit, a fine river, rising in a locality producing oak and other timber, suitable for ship building, and for masts and spars. Beyond the Musquodoboit are Middle River, Liscomb River, and St. Mary's River, all of which rise far in the interior. St. Mary's River is navigable for eight or nine miles from its mouth, and for small vessels two miles further, where it is improved by extensive rapids. At this place (where the tide ceases to flow) is situated the village of Sherbrooke, ten miles above which the vivcr branches into two considerable streams, denominated the oast and west branch. Tiie former rises in the high lands between Pictou and Merigomish, and after traversing a superior tract of country, receives in its course the waters of the Antigonishe stream. The west branch rises in the mountainous County of Pictou, and runs a rapid course of nearly fifty miles before it unites with the river. " In former years," writes Hali- burton, " there was a most extensive salmon fishery on this river ; I I' lij I 24 RIVER FISHERIES. to secure the exclusive monopoly of which was probably the chief inducement to the late Jonathan Binney, Esq., and several other gentlemen of Halifax, to obtain a grant of 150,000 acres of land here, as early as 1705." This tract of land has since been distri- buted, in great part, to successive settlers, who have sought their fortunes in the more prosaic interests of farming and lumbering, and in consequence, St. Mary's River is in like manner with other rivers, denuded of her finny treasures. The quantity of river fish cured in the County of Guysboro' in 1860 was as follows : alewives, 2,700 barrels ; shad, 81 barrels ; salmon, 829 barrels. Between St. Mary's River and Cape Canso there is a considerable river, called Country Harbor River. The harbor is navigable for the largest ships more than ten miles above its entrance, and forms the most extensive inlet from Halifax to Canso. The town of Stormont is beautifully situated on its eastern side, about six miles from its mouth, where there is a capacious inlet. Numerous lakes occur at the head of this river abounding with trout, and surrounded by a tract of superior wood land. Crossing the entrance of Chedabucto Bay, we pursue the line of the Atlantic coast aroiuid the Island of Cape Breton. This Island does not possess many rivers, as much of the land, especially in the northern section, is elevated, and presents a bold rugged front to the sea. In the southern division the land is of moderate elevation, and is diversified with lakes and rivers. Half way between Isle Madame and Canso Strait lies the mouth of the River Inhabitants, in a recess of the coast termed the Basin of Inhabitants. The river descends in a parallel direction with the Strait of Canso fifteen miles, nearly equally dividing the tract of country between the Gulf Shore and the River St. Deny's, falling into the Bras d'Or Lake. About twenty miles east of River Inhabitants the Grand River empties itself into the sea on the southern coast. The upper waters of this river, in a north-easterly direction, approach the source of the Mire River, which debouches into Mire Bay on the extreme cast coast of the Island. Mire River is a remarkable river, resembling a long and narrow lake, prolonged into the sea. The part usually called Mire Lake, is eight miles in length, and half a mile wide. It is fed by Salmon River, a stream that takes its rise near the lakes that empty themselves in the direction of Grand River. Salmon and alewives are taken in considerable ; ««q«MPM m RIVERS. 25 ibably the chief d several other acres of laud ice been distri- ■c sought their "ti lumberiug, "cr with other ty of river fish ows : alewives, els. Betweeu Jerable river, gable for the and forms the n of Stormout lilcs from its Jakes occur ^n-ounded by c the liue of TJiis Island ■cially in the ^Gd front to to elevation, etween Isle ■nhabitants, iants. The t of Canso V '7 between 3 Bras d'Or tlie Grand The upper 'i'oacii tlio ay on the Jmarkable 3 the sea. »gth, and i»at takes •cction of siderable numbers in all these rivers, but are rapidly diminishing owing to the lawless practices that prevail in the capture of these fish. In Mire River, the Collector informs me, the unrestricted use of nets has almost exterminated the alewife. The only rivers of note in the northern division of the Island of Cape Breton are Middle River and Baddeck River, flowing into the Bras d'Or, and the Marguerite, which issues from Ainslie or Mar- guerite Lake, and runs into the Giilf of Saint Lawrence. The southwestern branch of the Marguerite flows from the lake. This lake is the largest body of fresh water in the Island, being twelve miles long and six broad. About eight miles from the sea the southwestern branch is met by the northeastern branch, descending in an opposite direction from the northern hills of the interior, flowing with a winding course through hills of woodland and glades of intervale, offering pleasing views of park-like scenery ; the culti- vated intervales adorned by graceful elms, appearing with striking effect at the various turns of the river. This l)ranch converges towards the sources of the Middle and Baddeck Rivers, wliich flow into the Bras d'Or. This fine river was once so famed for its salmon, that in the old charts it was styled Salmon River. Trout, salmon, and alewivcs are still abundant in the Marguerite. The Ainslie or Marguerite Lake, is a famous resort for trout ; and salmon are still taken in the Middle and Baddeck Rivers ; but the Collector at Baddeck writes that they are rapidly becoming exter- minated " in consequence of their being caught when coming up the rivers to spawn, and spears and nets being mostly used for tlieir capture." GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE. Tlic river last described flows into the Gulf on the western side of Capo Breton ; there are, besides, several rivers of considerable volume that indent the northern coast of Nova Scotia. Of these Poniket River, which runs into the harbor of the same name, and South, West, and Right's Rivers, running into Antigonishc harbor, arc in the County of Antigonishe. Next are Barney's River and French River, flowing into Merigomish Harbor, and East, Middle, and West Rivers, flowing into Pictou Harbor. River John is also in this County. The fisheries in these rivers are of little extent, being allowed to decline as tlie country has become settled. "TS «l li 11 26 RIVER FISHERIES. .^. All the rivers that have their outlet in the Gulf, west of Pictou, are short, and most of tliem rapid, varying in length from three to five miles, from the head of the tide to the base of the mountains from which they spring. After a rain the streams swell sometimes to a depth of from two to five feet, and after the rain ceases subside rapidly. There is no steady current of water supplied from distant lakes, and it becomes necessary, therefore, to preserve, with great care, all the water after the first rush of a freshet is past. For this reason little or no passage is afforded to fish who are seeking their spawning haunts. On some of these rivers there are a great number of mills, so that the complete destruction of the fisheries is certain unless the laws that are in force are allowed to interpose. The Cumberland Rivers flowing into the Gulf are, Waugli, Wallace, Pugwash, Philip, Shinimicas, LaPlanche, and Missiguish. The Missiguish is part of the northwest boundary of Cumberland, separating it from the Province of New Brunswick. River Philip is the most noted for its size as well as its fisheries. It is closely connected with the River Pugwash, both discharging their waters into one channel. About eighteen miles from its con- fluence with the latter, it is divided into two branches, one of which rises in West Chester mountain ; and the other from the vicinity of the Maccan. About a mile and a half above the head of the tide, it receives the waters of Black River, which is eighteen miles in lengih. The River Philip, though not navigal)le for any extent, is extremely beautiful, and is remarkable for its excellent salmon fishery, and the abundance and size of its trout. Alcwives and shad are also abundant, but very inferior to those of the Bay of Fundy. BAY OF F1J> OY. The Bay of Fundy Rivers are ib ose wliich flow into the Bay of Chicgnccto, and into Minas and Annapolis Basins. Cumberland Basin, the eastern arm of Chiegnecto Bay, receives the Hebert, Maccan, and Nappan Rivers ; Apple River flows into the Chiegnecto Channel ; Ratchford's River and Partridge River into the Minas Channel ; Minas Basin receives the Economy and Folly Rivers, the Chiganois, North, Halmon, Shubenacadio with its tributaries, Ken- netcook, Avon, Gaspcreaux, and Cornwallis. Annapolis River and Moose River flow into the Annapolis Basin. 5^ .V f-»f*t4 ■H<.-^Mf'P'a«tt>*^« ^est of Pictou, li from three to the mountains well sometimes '■ ceases subside 'd from distant 've, with great 3ast. For this seeking their arc a great f the fisheries 3 to interpose, "gh, Wallace, iguisli. Tlie Cumberland, ' its fisheries, discharging from its con- one of which l>e vicinity of ■ of tlie tide, en miles in ny extent, is 'ent salmon !c\vivcs and the Bay of 'i. tlio Bay of "nil)crland le Hcbert, 'hiegnocto tlie Minas divers, the '"'OS, Ken- River and f RIVERS. 27 The rivers in the Bay of Fundy are remarkable for the length of their tidal estuaries, which in most places form the only harbors. The principal fishery is the shad fishery ; salmon are taken in small numbers ; alewivcs are often taken in considerable quantity ; and the bass fishery is confined to these waters. Some description of the pi'iucipal fisheries on the Nova Scotian shore of the Bay of Fundy occurs in Mr. Perley's volume of reports. The County of Cumberland has long enjoyed a pre- eminence in the shad fishery. Some ten or twelve years ago the catch of shad in this County was larger than in recent years. Five to six thousand barrels were sometimes taken and cured in a single season. At first standing weirs were much used in the capture of shad ; but owing to the circumstance of large quan- tities of inferior and small fish being caught, the raising of the flats, and other undefinable causes, this mode has for some years been discontinued. There arc no weirs now used on the Nova Scotian side of Cumberland Bav. The common mode of fishing for shad is by stake nets on the mud flats. Each net is 12 fathoms long, from 28 to 40 inches deep, according to situation ; tlic mesh is from 4| to 5 inches. Shad have been taken here as early as the 8th of June ; but the fishery usually commences on the first of July and continues until the first of October. Mr. Pcrloy writes in 1851 :— '' From the Misaguasli to the LaPIanclie River:', there are 1 2 nets, which, on the average, take five barrels each during the season. From the LaPlanchc to Barron's Point there are GO nets, the average catch of whicli is ten barrels each annually. It was stated by all the fishermen that the fishing was falling off very much of late, and the average catch the last two seasons was only half of whicli it was seven years previously. This they attributed to the great increase of drift-nets used in the Bay by the inhabitants of New Brunswick ; observing that where the winds is so high that the boats cannot go out to drift, they always get twice as many as when the drifting is taking place." There are three distinct runs of fish during the season, the first and last being the best. Confirmatory of the fact stated in the description of the shad, the fishermen here say that it is very rare to find a shad with roe ; the shad-worm and shrimps arc frequently found in the stomachs of the shad, which leaves no doubt as to the nature of their food. t 28 BIVER FISHERIES. much finer than any othersTtl,! p ' """«'" '""•" »■■<> &tter Z u-d hero a. «-oU as ti^ZZet t' "'Z""^^- ^i.e dnCTu .mmorcs boats may be Teen , /T"" ""' ^''""s of Minud e -th the obb-tide, c/oX:z:TJr '"'''' '»-" "."«';' and to return with it to the rial f "''"^l^^ons, to meet the flood favorable tides caeh boat w^'lf "" *'™"='^ «"=y 'Started WW,' 'o.lOO fathoms of no "'CS '™™ '"" '" ^^^ ^"H wi Is ' mmatos in September. '""^ "ommenees i„ June Lnd ter irom Minudie do>™ tim „ . «;'-y «,ends as far I! Z S'lT^ f Pf «'•-. "'o ^-ad Bay become perfectly clear, a, d 'shat . '"'' ""^ ™'«'-= "f the ■101 thorn shore of tlie Bash, „f It- "''° '"" 'aken. On tlio yond, along the coast to Port o P ^^^^'^^^^oro' River, and ;^l'oIe distance there arc abo f . ^ "'"' ^"^ ^"^^"g ; in the GraJiain's Head and F ^ ^'^^"*>^ l^rush-weirs r i.o,- ^^v.au ana Jiconomv Pninf +i zi **^^"s, Uetwcen '"^0 au nhnost unbrolten TonM,, ' ""'' '"'"•'''"'"' four mile" ^I'aped, the ends of the «irs w, ^^ "' "««» weirs, ere c^t ^'■0 taken i„ Economy w'r '7 «''"'' otiicr. Many saCoL «ocodn,g the ,voigl/„f 4,t'.'', f^ "^« "f «mall sii, ra 1 "had hsinng ,s prosecuted in the ^t , "'" "umbers. '^= m-^rn and ascend to the S 1 ,'.'"'='""'-' ^'«'-' «1' which ofspawnin.r o„ h , '"'"^"acad o hltes f™. t . ::^;die"'T', '"""^- »™»'- 1 ^.^:'::i "•" »'-«^ "y »^i'o- "acad.e. .Salmon and bass are takci ,nf '^7 ^' """""^ "'« Shube- ^''Imd are talcen by drift-nets i,,' w"'" ''^ "" "'"""^ "l^uudant followed ate thlf''";"'"""'- >>'"<='' " l>og ''s t fa 'f. "'"'' n,i ,. ^'^•^^^ lim number of fi«i. i. • *= '^^ ^^"j 'ind is nn^ 11^ hshennen drift C,J f,^^'^^ 'oo few to be profita d opiugdown with the ebb, and rettS^, ''" •'" '^"P" "'""'Won, f ''" ''Oil' I'y "ight and by d'u- ,1„. '' *'"' ""^ 'food • thev ''' '' ''^'^'•^^'- At \Viiid«or the '/ , ^^ ^ "'S'''^' ^« '^^o the s],ad-worni " is ibu^d *^ RIVERS. 29 valuable shad e are fatter and Tiic drift-iiet is »res of JMinudie Jowii the Bay meet the flood, started. With shad, with 80 •^uiie and ter- i^cr, the shad waters of tlio '^Cii. On tiie fy begins at »' River, and >f twenty-one ^^'""g ; in the '• Between jt four miles 'i's, crescent ^any saJmon size, rarely locality are Qbers. J "i^ vvhich ^'c purpose cvcrie, tlie 4, y ^y stalce- ^'c SJiube- a'jiuidant. 'lo fisJn'ng "es until lid is not I'o/i table. iomidon, 'J; they muddy, t, as tile s ibund upon the mud flats, but the shad are supposed to feed chiefly on shrimps, which are of great abundance and of fine quality ; they arc often found hanging upon the shad nets, of large size, n arly as large as prawns. The shrimps leave the river in August, and the shad depart at the same time ; it is thence inferred that the shad follow the shrimps to some other locality. On the flats below Boot Island, in Windsor River, and thence down to Flat Island, there are standing nets in which shad are taken later in the season than by drifting. The quantity taken between the town of Windsor and Horton Bluff" is estimated at 1000 barrels annually. Salmon ascend the Avon and its tributaries in considerable numbers ; many of the smaller sizes arc taken in the shad-nets, but the larger fish break directly through, the thread not being sufficient to retain them. The spring shad do not go up the Avon to sf)awn, nor has any roe been found in the shad caught there. Great numbers of alewivcs every spring ascend the .tvon, the Horton, and Cornwallis Rivers, to spawn. Those taken in tiie Avon arc large but poor ; in the other rivers they arc much smaller, but thicker and fatter. In the weirs, on the flats below Windsor, small fish, called " shiners," arc frequently taken. These arc little fish, shaped like the alewifc, very silvery on the belly, and very fat ; they pre only used as a poii-fish, and are excellent when eaten fresh. Smelts ascend all the rivers in this locality at the close of the winter, in almost miraculous abundance. Bass were very plen- tiful formerly, but are seldom taken now, having been thinned off" by the weirs and other contrivances. Tons of eels may be taken at any time during the s'nson : a stream of eels, each as thick as a man's arm, has been se'^a t( ^ ?ss through a gap in a weir during half an hour. At Scotch Bay, tu ^lio south of Capo Split, the shad fishery ceases. Considerable (luuititics of shad are taken - n +i^" mud-flats at the upper extremity of tliis Bay. At this point oi tlio circuit of the Bay of Fundy, the geological character of the coast changes. The south shore consists chiefly of bold and rugged clilfs of trap rocks, and not a river debouches until wo reach the Annapolis Basin, into which the noble Annapoll? River flows out of ti»e valley on the opposite side of tlm mountain langt.. A rcfcrcnco to tho rivers flo\ ing I'jto Uio Annapolis Basin wil «i 30 RIVER FISHERIES. complete our description of the river fisheries in the Bay of Fundy. The principal fishery of the Annapolis Basin, it is well known, is the Digby herring fishery. This fishery I have described in the pamphlet on the " Shore and Deep Sea Fisheries." Salmon ascend the Annapolis rivers, although several of them are obstructed by dams ; shad are taken in the Basin in July ; and smelts are ex- ceedingly abundant in the spring. At Nictaux River, a tributary of the Annapolis river, so abundant were salmon thirty years ago that twenty or thirty could be taken in an afternoon. Besides .ne Annapolis and its branches, the spacious Basin receives the waters of Moose River, Bear River, and Allen's River, all of wliich might become, by needed attention to the removal of obstructions, salmon- yielding rivers of priceless value. i OBSTRUCTIONS IN RIVERS. 31 tlieBajofFundy. is well known, is described in the Salmon ascend re obstructed by 1 smelts are ex- 'iver, a tributary thirty years ago >n. Besides itie eives the waters of wliich might iictions, salmon- « CHAPTER m. OBSTRUCTIONS IN RIVERS — FISHERY PROTECTION SOCIETY- RELATING TO RIVER FISHERIES — PISH LADDERS. ■LAWS OBSTRUCTIONS IN RIVERS. This topic is the most important of all in treating of the River Fisheries. The obstructions to the preservation of River Fisheries are felt to be an evil of great magnitude in every civiUzed country, and are of a similar kind, viz., mill-dams without fish-ways, fixed engines for capturing fish, the use of the spear, and taking the fisli out of season. So rapid was the decline of the River Fisheries of Nova Scotia that the Legislature passed an act in the session of 1853 to arrest their destruction by stringent laws. This act contained more rigorous penalties ; established the system of close time ; and included the appointment of Wardens in every County to see that the provisions of this act were carried out ; to appoint deputies, and to institute a general oversight of the fisheries. i dvcular was sent to each County Warden in the following V jar y command of the Lieutenant - Governor, Sir Gaspard ^<1? larchant, to ascertain whether this act had effected a beneficial d r ^ e in the condition of the fisheries. It appears from these cicoalaio :liat in Halifax County out of twenty-seven rivers enu- merated only five were not totally obstructed, and in such a manner that unless in case of high water, fish, even of the smallest size, could not pass and repass. The Warden of Queens County stated that the fishery in Liverpool River was nearly destroyed. Hitherto the overseers of the River Fishery had been chiefly chosen from the mill-owners, whoso interest it was to keep the sluices in the dams closed up, in order to have more water for sawing. In the 13r -.ivLy ol' Colchester the streams that flow into the Gulf of Saint L^ rencG were obstructed with mill-dams, the proprietors of which 32 KIVER PISHERIES. fiya weirs obstructing*^ the fi', a^d " ''™^' "'^ ^«^don fouud Ku-orparfe were ef.onsivf^Tlr/""''' """ "' «'• Ma^ Pictou Comity tlie rivpt-^ ,. ^''S'"' 'n spearing saln.on t built eo.p,ote; across s^^^Tf ^'^ <"'«'".o«od "/" to Captain 'ort of Captain 't/ of Halifax, 'er his control the past year, 'i'"ff grounds. n Chearnley, Cumberland, that many 5me of these Wardens of * to be com- 'st desirable that a reliable report on the position and state of the other rivers of the Province should be obtained, to enable the Legislature to adopt complete and uniform regulations for the protection of the river fisheries of the whole Province, besides affording the House such information relative to tliis most valuable source of Provincial wealth as cannot be obtained in any other way, the Committee hope the Government may be able to secure the valuable services of Captain Chearnley until this most desirable information is obtained." The labours of Captain Chearnley were still confined to the County of Halifax, respecting which County he reports to the Hon. Provincial Secretary, February 7th, 1850. He refers to the abundant supply of codfish nearer to the coast, owing to the increased qiantity of bait, caused by the opening of the rivers ; and to the increase of mackerel from the same cause. At Tangier River, the head-waters were, in the spawning season, literally swarming with salmon and trout. Salmon and trout, wi.'ch were formerly abundant in this river, had, through excessive netting, nearly disappeared in 1852, and for years previously. This report contains some valuable hints for improving the laws for the regula- tion of the river fisheries. The solicitude which the Legislature had evinced during three successive years, seems now to have abated, since in the short space of two years the whole legislation respecting these fisheries and their supervision, seems to have been referred to the County Sessions. The following is the report of 1858 : — " The Committee on the Fisheries having carefully considered tlie subject referred to, beg leave to report as follows : They have examined tlie reports of the wardens of the river fisheries, and after mature deliberation they are of opinion that the annual grant to those officers of twenty-five pounds each from the public treasury, under Chap. 17 of the Acts of 1853, shall be dis- continued, and they therefore report a bill to discontinue such grant, and to authorize the Sessions in the several Counties to make regulations for the preservation of the river fisheries." The action of the Legislature seems to have created a general discouragement and apathy, and the prospect of a return to the old state of things, as the Sessions were well known to be either unwilling or incompetent to carry out the provisions of the law. The Society for the Protection of the Fisheries seems to have par- 36 RIVER FISHERIES. f inaction. '^ resuscitated ,„ Iggs, „„„ ^j^ ^^^^^™« d.'^el.a.-gc ofhis duties as Pi.|,o' Com^/ °'''''^' "^'«"S. "' the R'ver ,„ Cnpc Brcto,,, forwarded^ Comm,.s,oucr, tl,e Marguerite -ey t„o Earl of uJ,ra^t^^CTT''''°" '» «- E^eel- tl.at river, obstructed ly ,ve r SoM '""«""""'= ^onditiou of ™ "- «* "-apv 1.C re: t :- "re?;;;"''™""'- " '" «-- fully occupied oue.|,alf tl,e rivor JJZ '""' "''P"'-"' *<> '"- e several extended across tl,e 2\uV """ "'" '™'<"- i^« low out away portions i„ or L ' To ' J ',:",'"' °,''"*''"'*^ "^ '-•'/« ■'uml«r of ti.esc fi.l, ,ran, 1^1 T "'"' "'« canoes. T|,e t;-t,besidcs i,cing fis>.ed':::f ■::,»:/" '""r "^ '" ''^•"- 1.C r,vcr was greatly over-tlsi.ed r' " ""'''"'• '»""™'-' ;■' li.o Co,„,tj- of Inverness it tor^^f '-ogulations of Sessions' ' « '-'.-traps upwards iu ^ u t a ' f '" ""'" "" ""'""^ " after spawning, on their return 1^ I e sea '' T'' "" ^"^"""""^ l^ake Atnslie, I met traps with the wi .Itur, Z"' ''™ "'"^^ ''^'"'^ three were of sialics and brush Tl 1 r "P"'"'''- I'''" B'st wu,gs extending from ba k to d f ""^f, "'""'^ ^'o"-, any fish descending to escape this tra„ „,, ™"''' ""^ ""«'='■" ^"t constructed carefully and with much ^i'^'™'"'"^ "> '"»» l^ean "".sh and stakes, so'obs.rn ^ '" ' ^T , '^,"° "'"' ''""• -"^ » away. The si.xth, seventh, and ew'th w *"' " '""' '» ''c eut «;o^e I saw a man at work drivingtlrw, "°fl T P'"'""' ""d « i. The tunth, tenth, and eleventh, were abme '' "' '"^ ""^''^ch. ^> they were nearly „r ynifc fini,, ej T^e """" "'' ^"" '™'er; them evidently knew they we a-tinsi T "''" ''"' "' "■»* " and stockings in the hur^ of h sli" / ''"' "' ''" '"" '"» ^''"es the swift water below the lake and! ." *''""''' '""'"^ *"« at '■■ve^ having several channes;idlw;;'''f "" ""■»''^"' "^ "'» cad .be fish to two or more trap IZ ' '""'^^ °" «"'cr side to taken ui Lake Ainslie this seaso;, n . 7 «"^PC'-ea«x have been »-iient spawning gr„uurar;I„''r I'T "'' '•■'-" * be a le to return to the sea agai, It n, . ° """" ^'^"^^'^ Be*s prevontln, the return ^f tlCZf!;; ^ Trji "'fcSMtlil. 'led and became fter six years of gislatiire, during » i-ogarding tlie visiting, iu the tlie Marguerite ' to Ilis Excel- jJe condition of '«»• "Ingene- ii>poar to hu e ' ^vater is low, 'ff "i.y party to canoes. The mo to beh'eve "fair manner, "s of .Sessions t'le mouths of e gaspereaux o iwilos below rd. The first heavy stones, 3 difficult for to have been weir was of ad to be cut Gted, and at ^ 'ly ai)pi'oach. still water ; ^ at Work at 'ft Ilis shoes 'Voir was at ititJi of the thor side to have been icaeli the 'd scarcely sod weirs. Q sea, the OBSTRUCTIONS IN RIVEKS. 37 reversed weirs are said to destroy large quantities of fry on their descent to salt water from the spawning grounds." The foregoing facts arc on the testimony of Mr. Perley, which prove that the oversight of the fisheries by tho Quarter Sessions is ineffec- tual, for there .vas at this time a Fishery-warden for tho southwest l)ranch of the Marguerite, appointed by the Sessions. Mr. Perley remarks with truth, that instead of being paid he ought to have been punished for the non-performance of his duties. The letter concludes with expressing " the full hope that measures will be taken by tlie Government of Nova Scotia to preserve tho valuable fisheries of the River Marguerite, and punish the parties attempt- ing to destroy them." It is not improbable that the members of the Legislature were in some degree guided to their decision to discontinue the payment to wardens from the treasury, because of such neglect of duty as is here exposed. In tlie Journals of 18(]4, 1 find a valuable paper on the subject of our river fisheries, over the signature of Hon. A. G. Archiliald, who was then Chairman of the " Law Amendment Committee." it is concerning a bill sul)mitted to the Legislature with reference to the r'ver fisheries. It treats of the criminal neglect of the fisheries, and urges tlie employment of the most energetic means for their restoration and protection. It recommends the spreading broad-cast among the people such information as to the habits of the fish, and the necessity of protection, " as will enable them to appreciate the policy on which our legislation is founded." It suggests the adoption of ladders, such as were being used in Great Britain with success, and recommends that private parties should be encouraged to obtain possession of our rivers, with a view to experimcnthig in matters connected with tlie conservation of fish and the protection of the river fisheries. Tho Committee also advised the Government to otYer a prize for tho best essay on the habits and natural history of the fish resorting to our rivers, their protection, propagation, &c., and to publish and distribute the same extensively in the Province. This report will be found in extenso m the Appendix (No. 2.) In the following year (18(35) the suggestions of tho Committee respecting fish-ladders were taken up by the " Game and Fisheries Protection Society," when a model of the ladder was prepared and submitted to a Committee of the Legislature, who recommended "t.).*iil: 38 RIVER FISHERIES. that it be adopted, and a similar model sent to the Clerk of the Peace for each County or District in the Province, and that provi- sion be made in the law to make the use of such fish-ladde: imperative ; and that a penalty be enforced against any person taking any fish within them, or within a distance of sixty yards from them. It has been found that the particular ladder selected is not suited to every locality, and the Society at a recent meeting, on discussing the question of ladders, urged the necessity of obtaining more information concerning the various forms of ladders that have been found effectual in other countries where a diversity of topical diflficulties precludes the use of ladders of one description only. Under this section it will suffice to add, that the testimony con- cerning the continuance of obstructions in many rivers throughout the Province, obtained through " Official Circulars," referred to in the pamphlet on the " Shore and Deep Sea Fisheries," is conclu- sive of the necessity of the most stringent measures being still required to save our river fisheries from total destruction. FISHERY PROTECTION SOCIETY. A Society called the " Provincial Association for the Protection of the Inland Fisheries and Game of Nova Scotia," was founded in Halifax in 1853. This society was initiated in the samj) year that unusual interest was manifested by the Provincial Legislature in the subject of our river fisheries, which I have already referred to. The institution of this society has had a beneficial effect in urging upon our Legislature from time to time to adopt more active measures for the preservation of the inland fisheries. The early history of the society was marked with singular activity in carrying out its object ; and though it has suffered an interval of inactivity, it has again renewed its vigor, and has, within the last three years, without any legislative assistance, succeeded in restoring certain rivers in the Province, especially in the County of Halifax, to a hopeful condition. If the society languished, it was for want of funds to carry out its schemes. It has throughout enjoyed the knowledge and experience of a gentleman already referred to as its President, and has had other military gentlemen, and some of our most influential citizens as its members and managers. LAWS RELATING TO RIVER FISHERIES. 39 ''<^ Clerk of i!,e and tJiat provi- '"(^Ji fisJi-Iadde: 'ist any person of sixty yards selected is not it meeting, on ty of obtaining " Jaddors that a diversity of '^"cription only, cstiinony con- rs tluougliout J'cferred to in ^5 is conclu- 'S Joeing still ;ion. 3 Pi-oteetion 5 founded in »P year tJiat ?islaturc in I'eferred to. t in urging lore active Tiie early n caiTying inactivity, i'oe years, ig" certain ifax, to a ^vant of oyed the •od teas some of Among other efforts, the society has published valuable papers relating to the Inland Fisheries, for general circulation, and at convenient intervals has published a report of its labors. Finding that efforts of this kind were ineffectual in arresting the declension of the fisheries, and that in the community generally the most lamentable apathy existed, its managers resolved to appropriate its limited funds to the employment of overseers in rivers in the County of Halifax, to carry out the laws which the Sessions neglect to enforce. As the result of the activity and determination of these overseers, directed by the Council of the Society, the report of 18(55 shows that the fish-ways and mill-dams in Musquodoboit River were opened, and a large number of salmon had ascended the river ; on Cole Harbor and Lawrencetown Rivers, proper gates were made in the dams, and the run of fish was extensive ; Indian River had been ' ell attended to, and during the season very many fish ascended the waters. The report of the Society for 18G6 will be found in the Appendix (No. 3), which exhibits the improved condition of tlic principal rivers in the County of Halifax, effected wholly through the exertions of this Society. During the recent session of the Legislature, a deputation from the Society were granted a conference with the Fisheries Com- mittee, who at their instance, recommended to the House the appointment of an efTicient Inspector of Inland Fisheries for the whole Province. This suggestion, though acted upon by the House of Assembly, was defeated in the Council, who deferred the bill on the ground that the Inland Fisheries would in a short time be transferred to the control of the General Government of Canada. Extracts from the report of the Fisheries Committee, recommending the appointment of an Inspector, and eulogizing " the disinterested and iiseful efforts " of the Society, is produced in the Appen- dix (No. 4.) LAWS RELATING TO RIVER FISHERIES. The following clauses constitute an abridgement of the laws of Nova Scotia for regulating the River Fisheries : — " Any person taking salmon in fresli water westward of Halifax liarbor between tlio 31st day of July and the 1st of March, or in fresli water eastward of Halifax liarbor, or in the rivers of tlie Bay of Fundy or Cape 40 RIVER FISHERIES. 1^ Breton, between the lotli day of August and the 1st of March, is liable to a penalty of Forty Dollars. " Bag nets shall not be used in any river or harbor, nor within a mile from the mouth of any river under a penalty of Forty Dollars. "No nets shall be set or allowed to remain set between an hour before sunset on Saturday, and an hour after sunrise on Monday, under a penalty of Forty Dollars. " Any person spearing salmon or sweeping with a net therefor in water, is liable to a penalty of Forty Dollars. " Nets shall be placed only on one side of a river, shall not extend more than one-third across the same — shall not be i>laced nearer than an eighth of a mile to each other, nor nearer than an eighth of a mile to any dam. '* Every dam shall have a sutlicient fish-way. which shall be kept open during the months of IMarch, May, June, and July. The owner or occupier is liable to a penalty of Forty Dollars for every time he shall close such passage. '• The owner of a mill who, after September, 1?^G5, shall neglect or refuse to construct a iish-way, according to a pattern to be seen in the ofTice of the Clerk of the Peace in each County, is liable to a penalty of One Hundred Dollars^ and if within ten days aft(M' notice given he does not construct sue'' fish-way. he is liable to have the dam wholly prostrated." The foregoing clauses arc abridged from Chapter Oo, Rcvisea Statutes, which contains some additional provisions, defining the power of the Sessions and judicial proceedings in the event of violation of the laws. The last clause, which provides for the con- struction of a fish-ladder, is from a;i act passed in 18(35, which requires its introduction into all the rivers of tlic Province, where a third of the main channel is not left open. This clause was, however, repealed by act of the Legislature of 18iJ0, except as regards the County of Halifax, and the Clyde River, in tlie County of Shelburne. This act of 186(3 also conferred more unrestricted powers upon the Sessions throughout the Province, virtually ren- dering them independent of any control by the existing laws con- cerning the river fisheries. Judging from past legislation, and from the opinions of certain members of the Legislature, during the recent discussion of the bill which was presented by the Fisheries Committee, there is a prevailing desire to leave the control of the river fisheries to the County Sessions. Such supervision, facts have too clearly proved, is not efl'ectual to arrest their decline. '•wMMM March, is liable to FISH LADDERS. 41 '0'" within a mile i>Ilars. '» an hour before ' ""der u penalty (Jierefor in "ot extend more ' than an eighth 'e to any dam. J' he kept open vner or occupier ^'»all close such le^'lect or refuse t'le o/Roe of the f One Hundred t construct sufi- '■ ^^'>, Rovisea dofinijjg the tlic event of for the con- l^Oo, vvhicli • inco, whore clause was, i, 'j except as * tlie County "ii'ostricted 'tually ren- '' ■ ^aws con- of certain oil of the iiere is a ^es to tlie ^ y proved, f FISH LADDERS. It is well known, and has been ah-eady remarked in treating of the habits of fishes, that fish are endowed witii great power, which enables them to leap a p(M-pendicuhir height to overcome olistruc- tions in their way to the spawning ground. The sahiiou has been known to leap a perpendicular lieight of ten or twelve feet. When the obstruction is too high, and by repeated leaps they fail to sur- mount it, the fish fall away exhausted — perhaps discouraged — among the rocks, and become an easy prey to their enemies. In England and Scotland the decrease of salmon had l)ecome so alarming, owing in a great measure to obstructions in rivers, that remedies were devised to save the streams from total desertion ; one of which is the fish-ladder, which has been introduced into our Province with partial success. These ladders arc described as rendering tlie highest dams passable to the fish, and being simple in tlioii' construction, i)resent no obstruction wl' ch a fish of ordi- nary ambition would regard as anytliing. One kind is constructed like a Kimple stair, presenting a regular ascent by a series of steps. Another form, which is more generally adopted, is an inclined plane, with projecting sides, of a convenient height, to which at regular distances, cross pieces are attached at right angles, reaching rather more than hall-way across ; spaces, occurring alternately on either side, for tiio passage of the water, a serpentine direction is given to the stream, wdiich affords more scope to the fish's move- ment in his efforts to ascend. In the growing interest which attaches to the protection and culture of fisii both in Europe and America, the question of fish- ways is being thoroughly canvassed. The object sought to be attained is to combine the greatest effectiveness with the least cost. In some localities a wooden ladder is not of sufficient strength to resist the force of the water, especially after a freshet. A gentle- man who resides near one of our northern rivets has assured me that he has seen the cross-pieces of one of the ladders recently introduced by authority of the Legislature, fly into the air like an arrow, on tlie rush of the water at tiie freshet season. In such a locality it appears that nothing less durable than the more expensive ladder that is used in England will suffice to resist the r il 42 RIVER FISHERIES. .*!. impetuous current. The writer is indebted for a description oi the Enghsh ladder to papers and correspondence kindly furnished by Captain DeWinton, A. D. C, Private Secretary to Your Excellency. Of this information, I have before me an article from the new periodical entitled " Land and Water," by Mr. Frank Buckland, who succeeds the late Mr. Ffcnnel in the office of Inspector of the English River Fisheries ; and a private letter from that gen- tleman. The article in " Land and Water " is rendered more instructive by an admirable engraving of a fish-ladder, such as is used in England, " from which," Mr. Buckland remarks very truly, " more may be learned about a salmon ladder than by reading a dozen columns of print." The writer laments that all our books and treatises intended to excite a more general interest in the resources of our country, must of necessity lack the almost essential adjunct of diagrams and illustrations. To recur to the ladders, and to Mr. Buckland's descriptions and comments : — " Arriving at the foot of the weir, tlie fish liuiits up and clown the edge of it with his nose, till he finds the water coming down at the foot of the ladder. He immediately goes in through the gap into the first ehamber. then round the corner into the second, third, fourth, and so on until it arrives at the top opening of the ladder, whence it swims out into the nuun stream as easily as the cat goes in and out of the hole cut for her accommodation in the granary door. The walls of the ladder should be from eighteen to twenty inches high, and may be made of stone or wood, the cross-pieces, technically called the step-^, should he eighteen inches high, and are better made of cast-iron than anything else. Each chiunber shall be four fef>t square at least, and when there is one foot of water in the ladder the fish can go up with ease. The angle of the ladder, from the top of the weir to the water below, should be at the incline of not less than one in five — one in six or seven would be better. If it is steeper than this, ajid the run a long one, the fish may not be able to stem the torrent of water, and be able to get up. This fault is too often committed by engineer.^ when they erect salmon ladders in too upright a position." A detailed plan of the Government ladder used in Englaitd has been handed me by Captain DeWinton, from which 1 carefully note the dimensions of tlie several parts : — Thickness of side walls, 2 feet ; width of bed, 5 feet ; the cross-pieces extend to within I ^ ,' t'-'Jly, " more ■oading a dozen our books and "» the resources s^cntiul adjunct '"tldcrs, and to 1 down the cdgo t f'lo foot of tlw '» untiJ it arrives tlie main stream ■'•fcommodation '«'» t'ifedueen to '"' f'ross-pieces. »'istruciion is not foi'midable, though probalily not so well suited to those whore caiol'ully con- structed weirs or dams present a more insurmountable (iljstacle to the passage of fish. We cannot, and need not, introduce such expensive laddors as are erected in England ; but there is no doubt that much im|)rovc- mcnt might be made in the construction of our ladders with but little additional expense ; as well as the introduction of modifica- tions to suit viu-ious localities. Tiie following extract, from the act of ISG."), describes the ladder that is in use in certain ri\ors in Nova Scotia : — " Siicli lish-laddcr shall have a slope of not more lliaii one foot in seven; shall Iiavo an opening of not l»!ss than tln-ee feet in width at the top of the dum, and siiiiU be i^u phiced thai there shall at all tunes bo at leatit unc foot J !• ' 44 RIVER FISHERIES. in depth of water running over the mouth thereof; the bottom of such ladder to be water-tight and to be covered with stone, and at every six feet, pieces of wood or stone to be fastened at right angles to the sides thereof, and to be secured to ei'^h side alternately, so as to make the current of water flow from side to side, — the openings to be not less than one foot in width, and the pieces of wood or stone so jutting out from the sides to be not less than two feet in height ; the lower end of such fish-ladder to be secured to the bottom of the main channel of the river, or otherwise shall be conformable to the model of the fish-ladder now deposited in the otRce of the Provincial Secretary." If this ladder has any defect, as compared with the ladder used in England, it must be the want of a more eas^ ^jjiroach for the fish to the lower opening. This is a great desideratum, as the fish will beat about the foot of the ladder, vainly seeking ingress if the entrance is not sufficiently inviting. Before dismissing the subject of fish-ladders, I wdll add a descrip- tion of a Norway ladder, to which Capt. DeWinton lias directed my attention, invented by a Mr. Hotting, which is spoken of as second to none that have been projected ; and is noticeal)le from its practicability and cheapness. " There is no country perhaps in the world," remarks the writer who describes this ladder, " where nature has placed so many impediments in the way of the salmon, as it rc-asceiuls its native stream, in the shape of fosses, and rapids, ttc." This ladder is professed to be copied from the natural passages Avhich are discovered by the salmon in its instinctive tendency to ascend to the pure waters near a river's source. " Before proceeding to speak of my proposed salmon-ladder," says Mr. Hotting, " 1 will merely remark that whenever a passage can be made by means of mining, tfec., I think it is preferable. But in most cases mining is not feasible. My salmon ladder, then, consists of wooden troughs, and boxes alternately arranged. The topmost trough is so plac^-' -^s to receive the water from ihe crest of the fall, or else arranged so as to receive it directly from the river or lake some little distance above it. The course in each trough is even throughout, and is in one unbroken straight line. The troughs and boxes are made of three-inch plank ; and the coriicrs of the latter are bound with iron. Each trough is twelve feet long, three feet wide, and thrfc. feet. deoj). The boxes are eight feet long, six broad, and five deep. In order to retard the force of III A t FISH LADDERS. 45 lie bottom of such I at every six feet, the sides thereof, ie tlie current of than one foot in ' the sides to be fish-ladder to be f otherw'ise shall Jd in the office of le ladder used proacli for the ™, as the fish ingress if the add a descrip- Jias directed spokou of as Jable from its ofliaps in tlie 'oi-, "where tlic sahuon, fosses, and the natural insthictive 'f's source. ^Wer," says \ )assage can '- 0. But in i5'»5 consists •0 topmost rest of the »o river or trough is inc. Tlio corners *'olvo feet iiro eight force of water in the boxes, the incoming and outgoing troughs arc arranged so as not to be directly opposite to each other, but as nearly as possible in the opposite corners." Among the advantages which this ladder possesses, it is thought that the ctfoct of the force of the stream being broken by the boxes, will cause the current in the troughs to be retarded a little distance above whore they debouch into the box, by the resistance of the water in the box, and thus it will be easier for the salmon to ascend, and will contribute to the troughs being capable of receiving a greater inclination. Three feet in twelve is considered to be the right ii-.clination. The top- most trough, if above tlie fall, may be supplied with a trap-door to regulate the supply of water. The lowest trough must always deboucii into the river below the fall, in a direction exactly con- trary, or at all events at au angle to the current, and never in the same direction as the current. The nearer it is to the foot of the fall the better, and the more readily will the lish seek to run up to it. Another advantage ascribed to this ladder is that it can be easily moved, so that in case it has been set up in a place which is not favorable to the ascent of the tisli, it can be moved to a more likely spot with very little difficulty. ; 46 KIVER FISHERIES. CHAPTER IV. if ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF FISH. It is very generally supposed that if our rivers were freed from obstructions ; if the proper seasons for fishing were observed no destructive mode of capture were pursued ; and if the laws were universally respected, our rivers would teem with fish, so as to render artificial propagation wholly needless. This is an error. If all the ova deposited were impregnated, and allowed to arrive at maturity, the quantity of fish, it is true, would soon become prodigious. The late Mr. Ffennel, the Inspector of the British River Fisheries, demonstrated that this is not the case. " In the first place," lie states, "■ much of tlie ova is not impregnated ; another large proportion is lost, the fish fail to cover in the gravel, wlicn the ova are carried away by the current. Again such of the ova as germinated is attractive to trout and wild ducks which feed immensely upon it. So many accidents, too, befall the fry while moving through flood and field in their descent to the sea, and they meet with so miich voracity there, that a promising progeny of 10,000 is perhaps decimated, and redecimatcd almost to extermi- nation." * If this be true, which is supported by abundant testi- mony, the desirability of propagating fish, which is being so suc- cessfully pursued in Great Britain, France, United States, and in Canada, should be considered in Nova Scotia. It is to Count Von Golstcin, a Gorman naturalist, that the scien- tific world is indebted for this grand conception ; although the ancient Greeks and Romans, and even the Egyptians paid extraor- dinary attention to the breeding of fish. Von Golstein proved the truth of his discovery by a series of successful experiments. Another German naturalist, Jacobi by name, made, a few years later, similar experiments with a like result ; and going a stop further, he actually caused the milt to breed fish from the eggs of a dead female. At a later period, experiments were made in Scot- • Trout will pi\t Olio ttiiotlior; a trout of twolvo iucliea will eat ono of six and think nothing of It, and ttiis no matter huw well he is fed. — I «iii m immmmtt ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF FISH. 47 vcvQ freed fi-om Ji'O observed ; if ^"J if the laws with fish, so as J lis is an error, owed to arrive J soon become of the British '^f^- "In the impregnated ; in the gravel, in sucli of the Jks which feed the fry while ' sea, and they S l)rogcny of it to ex term i- •iindant testi- l^cing so suc- 'tates, and in lat the scien- ilthough the 'aiJ oxtraor- 1 proved the experiments. ^ ftjw years oiJig a step tlio eggs of iJo in Hcot- ' think notliing land and England with success. The discovery thus far was considered little more than a simple scientific experiment. It never entered the minds of savans, that the discovery was of prac- tical and commercial importance, instituting a new branch of commerce, which would add greatly to the national wealth, give employment to thousands, create an inexhaustible supply of cheap, nourishing, and wholesome provisions for all classes of the people, and be to rivers and waters, what agriculture is to land. For this glorious and simple idea, the world is indebted to two humble fish- ermen, named Gehiu and Remy, of an obscure village in the department of Vosges, in France. They conceived the idea from watching the trout during its period of spawning, and were incited to try tiie experiment because of the gradual decline of the valuable fisiieries which formed the principal support of the population. The first experiment was made in 1841, with triumphant success. This was followed up from year to year, until the attention of the .Vcademy of Paris was directed to their operations. TJic Academy, seeing at once the immense national importance of the two fisher- men's proceeding, hastened to call the attention of the Government to it. The Government, on its part, after making proper inquiries and finding all that was said was true, resolved, as was plainly its duty to do, to have the system applied to all the rivers in France, and especially to those in the poorer Provinces. Gehin and Remy were accordingly summoned to Paris, and taken at once into the employment of the Government at good salaries ; their duties l)eing first to stock with fish, by their system, such rivers as should Itc pointed out to them, and next to teach that system to the peasantry. In the course of a very short time, Messrs. Gehin and Remy, by the application of their system, succeeded in introducing several millions of trout into the rivers and streams of the Vosges, and stocked streams and rivers in every part of France. Gehin and Remy continued to make important improvements in their system, and an eminent French naturalist, M. Coste, devoted much labor in perfecting the system already invented. The publications of M. Coste have attained a wide celebrity amongst fish-breeders in Great Britain and United States. There now are numerous publications both in England and America which fully treat of the subject of fish breeding ; and it is now recognized as a "Wk.^ 48 RIVER FISHERIES. s> legitimate and profitable undertaking, and perfectly practical)le, with but little cost. Desirous to obtain a descriptibn of the most improved mode of. breeding fish, I requested Mr. Andrew Downs, before leavino- for the Paris Exhibition, to obtain for me the latest information upon the subject ; and, at the same time, both in England and France, to endeavour to get an insight into the practical operation of the system. Mr. Downs has brought out a valuable chart containing a detailed description of the mode of propagation in France, illus- trated by a great number of diagrams, in a progressive series, from the exi)ression of the ova to the perfectly formed fish, including a pictorial representation of the different implements that are used for fecundating the ova, conveying the ova from place to place, &c. The verbal description (which is a brief treatise on pisciculture), I have translated, and inserted it in the Appendix (No. f)). With this chart, and the information which Mr. Downs was privileged to obtain, from conversation with Mr. Duckland the Inspector of Britisli Fisheries, and other gentlemen of knowledge and expe- rience in pisciculture, he will be prepared to try liis success in stocking rivers in Nova Scotia, either for enterprising individuals or in conjunction with any Government officer who may superin- tend this department of our natural resources. The following extracts will show how pisciculture has succeeded in other countries besides France : — (^The River Tay in Scotland,') An article taken from tlie " Field," shows wluit proper protection and artificial breeding has done for one river in Scotland : — " What Stormantfield has done is this : It has from 300,000 ova each year, increased the rental of the Tay ten per cent. Before the experiment, the avera;j;e annual take of salmon and grilse was 70,000 ; it is now 80,000, and is still on the increase; 10,000 lish, the increase, are worth £3,000. When we consider the very small number of tish from which this great increase is derived, the result can be considered nothing short of wonderful. The number allowed to escape for reproduction in the Tay is calculated at 40,000. Of those only about twenty-five females are required to stock the Stormatitfield breeding-boxes. It must indeed be a small river in which you cannot capture 2o salmon, and these, if properly managed, can be made to produ(!(r 1(),000. This gives us some idea of the dormant wealth of our ealmon fisheries." del ini lei ii'.| pil bil cfJ bi T 'J'l'-S'I^VTSV-TT'WV'TO? tly practicable, I'ovcd mode of. )re Icavino- for jrmation iipon d and France, •eration of the art containing France, illus- vc series, from 1, including a that are used 3 to place, rotection and '00 ova each e experiment, ^ now 80,000, ordi £3,000. •Ii (his great >f wonderful, -alculated at to stock the laeed 200,000 ova in them. The consequence was that liie fry went down tlie fish-way, which had been built at the falls, and came back ngaiii tlie next year to their nanv(! waters. The tilth year after the river had Ix'i^n leased to tliem they cleared £2t).7()t) from I lie salmon they caiiglit — a sullicient proof that money can be made out o^' the fishery of almost any river well managed and preserved". — Report of Game and Fishery Protection Societi/. (Piscvniltiii'e in Canada.') "Our attention was ou Wednesday called to n subject of no small interest and importance, by a genilenuui who brought to our olliee a niiuiber of vei'v lively little animals, which he exhibili.'d in a glass jar p;irlially filled with water, where they disported themselves after a most frolicsome manner, and were evidently in the enjoyment of abundance of vitality and vigour Thi-.-«ve a transparent, jelly-like appearance, and the whole of their organization is extremely beautiful and delicate. So transparent is their structure that the heart and bloodvessels can be distinctly seen. Their budding gills and fins are of the most delicate and fragile texture, yet their motions are extremely quick. Altogether, they present a very curious and interesting study to the naturalist. ******* The subject is one of great importance, and one to which the attention of the Government «hould be dinicteil, either in taking up the matt<'r them- selves, or in aflbrding every encouragement and facility to enterprising individuals who, like ]\Ir. Wilmot, are prepared to turn their skill and experience in this direction, and thus render their countrymen a very important service." — Toronto Globe. The foregoing examples of suecessfiil piscieulture might be iiide finitely multiplied, as this interesting science has become as practical in its ap[)lication to national industry and wealth as the breeding of stock. And the breeding of fish might easily bo made as productive in money value as the breeding of the animals of the farm. It is estimated that 400 tons of salmon is equal in we'ight to l."),000 shce[), and in value to three times the number. The Tay yields 800,000 pounds of salmon, of the value of about ,£00.000 sterling. The yield of the Spey, a kindred river, is greater in weight than that of the mutton of several counties. In Canada, where the legislation of recent years has framed enlightened and energetic measures for the restoration of the river fisheries, exclusive i)rivileges are granted to private individuals who may be disposed to engage in the artificial propagation of fish ; the use of streams or portions of streams being secured to them by legal protection. It is to be liojjcd that the general laws which may be created for the regulation of the inland fisheries throughout the Domitiion of Canada will contain this provision for our benefit, in common with our fellow-Colonists ; and that it may stimulate enterprising Nova Scotians to a laudable zeal in embarking in so profitable an cmploy- m at so S( « ^w> ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF FISH. 51 uid, wliicli is, in I St six or .seven respects to the li grow, become | ' been attained, ig halchefl, the d the whole of I ) transparent is y seen. Their xtiire, yet tlieir cry curious and * * * the attention of 3 matter them- to enterj)nsing their sldll and rymen a very fo might be as become as vveulth as the isily be made nimals of the al in wel<,fht inibcr. The lie of about •ed river, is ountics. lias framed of tlie river individuals tion of fish ; ' to them by ! created for dominion of 'ninion with I'isiiig Nova an employ- ment. The experiment is attended with but little cost, and might at first be tried in the smaller streams, perhaps in a stream on some private estate. A writer on the breeding of trout, remarks; — " Those who are so fortunate as to have running water through tlieir grounds, may rear trout to be as Aimiliar and fearless as chickens. A few years since, in Dorchester, U. S., a gentleman had a large number in a brook flowing through his garden, tliat would come at his call to be fed, and manifested what seemed almost human consciousness. They were in the cool shadows, and at the sound of his voice the surface of the water would be agitated by the fmuy expectants, and when the food was thrown in, they would leap eagerly to catch it." It has l)een proved !)y actual test, that a trout will grow the hrst year from four to seven inches, and at the age of five years, if un- disturbed, will be from thirteen to fifteen inches long. It is seen from a perusal of the paper on pisciculture, in the Appendix, how easily the spawn of trout, after im[)regnation, may be conveyed from one place to another, and the brooks be stocked with healthy fry. A single extract will sulTicc to describe the interesting operation of trout raising : — " A writer in the New York Times gives an account of a visit to the trout premises of Seth Green, in Caledonia, Livingston County, N. Y., a few miles South of Uoehester. Mr. Green is an old angler — a man who has thrown a Hy eighty-four feet, at a State s[)ortsmen convention, — and so takes naturally to the business of breeding fish. He has been fortunaie in securing the Caledonia Creek, which is ih\ by mountain springs, never freezes, and is never affected by cither drought or ireshet. lie began operations in August, 1804. The writer says: — " ' Here, in the circuit of a few rods, are his hatching houses, his ponds for the infant trout, his preserves for dios«! of larger growtli, and his own residence. Hard l)y flows the creek, unchangeable in \olunie and tcm{)er- ature, and still furnishing the rarest sport for the lover of the angle. This creek is now in private hands, and only those who hold a Wcense, procured for a single day for a dollar, can fish in its waters. Time and care have increased the multitude of fish, and now a day's fishing in waters once well nigh exhausted brii\gs a sure reward of the pleasant toil. " 'T shall not attempt to deicribe the " miUAuft\ctory " or the " preserves " of Mr. Green in detail, but luuit content myself with a few_general remarks. HE II. 62 RirER FISHERIES. [ The hatching house is a small buiMiiig, roofed over and fdled with rows of shallow troiiglis, lined with j^ravel. Into these he places the ova of the trout, and over the spawn there constantly passes a fresh supply of water. In a few weeks the ova iiatch, and thousands of minute trout a))pear. These arc fed on boiled eggs reduced to fineness, lopi)ered milk, lic. and after a certain time removed to ponds in the 0[)en air, where they ai-e fed and grow apace. As they increase in size they are removed to other ponds or reservoirs. Mr. Green has ponds for the infants, ponds for the yearlings, and ponds for those of larger growth and matnrer years. In some of these ponds the "speckled beauties" are innumerable. Varying in weight from half a pound to two pounds, they dart through the wat(>r, disclose their variegated sides, and leap into the air in pursuit of food, in the very ccstacy of life. The older trout are fed on liver cut >ip fine. It is .1 rare spectacle to see them feeding. Cast a fcAV handfuls on * the cpiiet surface of the water. In a moment it is all alive with activity. The surface is lashed to a foam. The sparkling dro[)s lly in every direction, as the eager tish struggle and contend for the food which is so gratefully received by them. It makes one envious to look into these ponds and see the thousands of trout so carefully watched and guarded. Whatever may be their future, they are certain to be kejH away from the table for some time at least. Mr. Grer'n catchcft his trout in the open stream, and leaves these tendei'ly I'cared fish unmolested and unliarmed. Meantime his profits arise from the sale of young trout for stocking ponds. These he sells at $50 per thousand — rather a high price — and sends them safely in cans of his own devising to fill orders. The natural increase of trout is very great, and if the sj)awn and the young run no j)eril from their numerous enemies, the waters would be soon thick with li.>h. A two-year old trout will yield from 200 to 100 spawn ; a three-year old from 800 to 1200; and a four-year old I'rom 1200 to 2000. In the spawn beds the immature fish are exposed to the ravages of other fish, lo freshets, to the deposit of sand or saw dust, and a thousand other " natural ills." After the young fish are boin, they are the prey of piM'ine foes, are killed out of season, are poisoned by llii; outcome of factories, and lead generally a very uncertain existence, so that not more than ten [)er cent, reach maturity. Under the artificial system of I'earing, about y.") per cent, may lie saved. Yet calamities follow these. Only a few days since a hail storm heaped the shores of these Httle ponds Avith the cadavers of thousands of these small trout.' " Tlic writer, beforo coiicliidiut. The takiirg of fry, parr, and smoll. is prohibited ; and grilse or salmon under three pounds weigld, wlien taken in nets, are lo b- libiirated. Meshes of nets ut that the revenue should be augmented from a sovereignty in rivers as from a sovereignty in the lands through which they flow. lHi

!ctors or Overseers. — The appointment of Overseers in Canada is vested in the Commissioner of Crown Lands, This centralization system is vastly superior to ours, where the wardens are apywinted by the Sessions. l>ut even this system does not dispense witli the necessity of one active Supervisor of experience, and. if possible, of scientific knowledge, as reconunended l)y the Conunittee on the Fisheries in their Report to the Legislature. Fish-ladders. — As to fish-ladders, jNfr. Buckland has remarked concerning the United Kingdom: — "The great advantage of these salmon-ladders is, that they have overcome the great difficulty ■which formerly existed, namely, the non-interference with tho mil' power of the country, and at the same time allowing the - ' pass from the upper to tlie lower ])arts of the river." ,iavc not yet overcome this difficulty in Xova Scotia. There sth \ists. and will continue for some time to cmI>arrassour legislation, a con test in many localities between the mill interest and the comi)letc and successful restoration of our valuable rivers. It has been already i-emarked, that intelligent men who reside in our northern counties affirm that the application of the law to those rivers, owing rn laj dvi GENERAL REMARKS AND HINTS. 65 or of o\)ric- most c arc, • river risliccl proven ccklcss hat the ■ed the Fu-hing licn tbc iimuuity that of c i^hould rerciguty seers lu ds. This wardens docs not periencc, d i)y tiic aturc. rcmai'kcd re of these diPficnlty |t\i th'^ mil' . uivc Isti. ^ists. Ition, a coil le complete It has i)eeu vir nortlicrii livers, owing to the inequality iu tlio volume of water at various intervals, would compel them to stop tlieir mills wholly. On the Atlantic coast, too, there are said to be some impracticable localities. Hence the importance of an elTicient Inspector, who could examine these places, and report to tlie i)roper authorities. It would be impolitic to stir up a war between lish and lumber, becaiise both are necessary ; wc must build ships and houses, and we must obtain fish in plenty. We can do both. Propagation of Fim. — I have not discussed the question of accli- matising foreign species of fish, wliich mielit l)e aceoinidished with advantage to oiir fisheries ; but the subject of artificial propaL^ation has been considered at more IciiL^th tlian, in the estimation of many, it demands in the present condition of our fisheries. The unusual abundance of salmon the present season, owinir, it is believed, mainly to the excessive winter's rain tliat has swelled our rivers, will seem to strengllien tiic prejudice on tlie side of the sufficiency of natural increase. Tlie system of pi-ciculture, how- ever, judiciously prosecuted, would overcome the fluctuation which the natural sujjply suffers in successive years. It would render our annual rei urns a certain and an increasing quantity ; never, however, probal^ly, to reacli again tlie point where it was stipulated in the indentures of an ajiprentice that he should not be fed more than twice a week on salmon. One of the Reports of the Fishery Protection Society indulges, however, iu the following prediction : — " The time will soon arrive when the breeding of fish will employ as much capital and labour as the breeding of stock ; when the rivers of this Province will be estimated of more value than the lands they drain, and be as jealously guarded from injury as the dyk}s that protect the marshes of King's County." Statistics. — It is quite impossilde to ascertain the progress or •liu(!oftlie River Fisheries IVom the annual statistics. Even if me Trade Returns afforded a correct exhibit as to (piantity, their arrangement is such that data cannot be obtained concerning each description offish — alewives being classed with herring, shad with mackerel ana halibut, and salmon with trout. This is an oversight that must lie remedied, as each of the fisheries that arc thus grouped with others are of sullicient iin[)ortance to t)e kept ai)art. ■— in Ti i: .--.;jiap^^' ' ' 56 KIVEll FISHERIES. r If Out if thus separated, wc could not ascertain the catch of sahnon, .incc a hu-e jiroportion of tlic export of sahnon is previously imported fx-om different localities in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The only data that approximate to accuracy are the Census Returns. Taking the figures in the Census of 1851, ard com- pariii'v with the Census of 18(51, we find the followhig result:— Salmon cured in 18r,l, IGGD l)bls. : in 18(51, 24S1 hbls., and 2788 smoked salmon. Shad cured in 1851, 358l5 l.bls. ; in 18G1, 7049 bbls. Alewivcs cured in 1851, 5843 hbls. ; in 18<)1, 12,505 hbls. Witli respect to salmon and shad, tiic foi-egoing figures prove no more than that we have held our own ; because the home con- sumption has decreased, as it has been found iirolitablc to export them. With alewives, the statistics afford a more correct estimate, because they have never been largely consumed at home. R,:po)fation.—T\\ii statistics of exportation, as regards sahnon, may serve to show the general dcci'oase in the salmon fisheries of fne British Provinces, as all the salmon exported from Nova Scotia that arc not taken in its own river> are captured hi the Gulf of Sauit Lawrence or the Newfoundland and Labrador coast. In 180O the value of our total cxi)ort of salmon was estimated at 800,184 ; with slight variations, it decreased in 1805 to 802.117. From 1800 to 1805, the value of the exi)orts declined about 834,000. But while salmon to tlie amount of 802,117 were exi)orted in 1805, the imiKirts amoun'.ed to 842,588; estimating, therefore, their value as 820 to each bbl., it would make the v.rport of salmon caught in Nova Scotia to be 1,000 barrels— about one-half the whole (luanlity cured. Large numbers of salmon are exi)orted to the United States, fresh, packed in ice: and many thousands of pounds are put lip in tin cases, and exported under the name of " preserved salmon." The (piantity ol' shad and alewives exported cannot be arrived at, for the reason already stated. GENERAL REMARKS — CONCLUSION, Oi linon, iously reucc. >usus I com- ult:— i 2708 I, 71)40 5 bbls. :oYe no ic con- export jliuuvtc, salmon, levies of a Ir^cotia ol" Saint L8IJU the 14 ; with SCO to lit whilc SOi"), the value u;j;lil in jiiaulily ruitcd iiuls arc ivsL'i'ved uiuoi l»o fi CONCLUSION. The time and labor which have been expended on this pampldet, in endeavoring to depict the real condition of the River Fisheries of Nova Scotia, are not a tithe of wliat might profitably be devoted to the subject. The advocacy of the industrial interests of a country through the medium of the press, is within tiie legitimate province of wise government ; and the River Fisheries are especially entitled to such advocacy, because their decline is so commonly occasioned through ignorance of their value and the natural laws which ensure their preservation and increase. No country in the world, with the exception of Scotland, i)ossesses so many line salmon streams as docs Nova Scotia ; and the salmon amongst fishes, is as the ruby or the diamonc amongst the gems ; every well-inhabited salmon stream is a true Golconda. Unlike the mine, you cannot, even l)y countless drains ui)on it, if the laws of nature be observed, exhaust its riches. 1 cannot convey a more im- pressive idea of the value of the salmon rivers of Nova Scotia, than by inserting the following extracts, even though one of them may appear a little overdrawn, con.trasted with their greatest known productiveness. I would hail the day when our salmon rivers would realize a return of 82,700,000 per annum, 1)ut I wouhl have this wealth to be obtained fi'om an exportatioii of tens of thousands of barrels, and would have the poor man to enjoy tlie luxury of a salmon, at a price a little lieyond that he now pays for his halibut. '■ An arliclo appeared in one of our newspapers in wliieli the writer r-howeil the valne of .ritain. and wliat an iiu'rca?o of wealth might aeenic to this rrovinee, under |)roper management. Let lis prove this assertion more clearly. Sajipose that in the whole of the rivers ol' Ifitli/ax Coiiufij a/oitc tiiere are ahoiit 100 brc^eding li.-h, whioli, escaping not and spear, deposit their spawn in safety, an average of ahoat 1") lish for every salmon river. Now it has licen aseerlaiiied by Dr. Huck- land and others that every lish deposits about S.OOO to 10,000 ova each ; say that niiic-lonths are destroyed hy freshets, cnemiivs of llieir own kind, &e., leaving only 1000 saved from each ii.-h ; on their seeking the salt water, again destrnetion ensues, perhaps 'Jo per cent, on the whole is lost before they return to iho rivers. Slill the lOO iLsIi, aj'tor the destruction ^^ 58 RIVER FISHERIES. enuraerated above, give 300,000, which, at the absurdly low rate of 2?!. 6d. apiece, would make the handsome sum of $150,000 for this county alone. Takinc: this as the lowest avera;^e value of each county, we find the whole of the salmon rivers in this Province to be worth $2,700,000. And this is, after all, but a very low estimate, for with the necessary cai'C the numbers and consequently the value would be considerably increased. In Canada the 'Saguenay' and its tributaries are valued at $") 2,000 ; the ']Malbaie* and 'jMurray' River, at $7,aOU ; the 'Jaciues Cartier,' at $20,000. The ' Tartigo,' ' JManche,' ' Matanne,' and ' Chatte.' together $62,500. And many others might be enumerated in proof of the great value salmon rivers might become to that coinitry. Again, there are the trout and gaspe- reaux, the latter forming a large export article, as well as affording a means of subsistence to so many of the puoier iidiabitants throughout the Pro- vince, besides their young fry being the chief source of attraction to mackerel, codfish, itc, that seek our shores to prey upon them." "Under i)roiu'r management there i- not a strc^aui in the Province which might not, and would not. yield many tons of salmon and sea trout every year, and this not for a time, but for all time. A ton of salmon is worth* upon an average, $''i(>0, and the river yield of this noble fish miglit, in the rivers of Nova Scotia alone, be equal to at least 8100,000 per aimum. Nor would this be the only gain ; tiie miniber along our coasts and estuaries would go on increasing in the same proportion. It is easy to state this truth, it is easy also to i)rove it, both from facts and experience ; but the grand ditficulty is to make people in gtsneral feel it, and act accordingly. One can easily imderstand what would soon be the residt, were every cow and calf in the country shot down, either for their skin or out of pure love of destruction, wiieiiever one or the oilier could be got at. The sujiply of beef would spe(Hlily come to an end. and everybody would be r»ady to ex- ecrate the Avickedness and folly that brought about so great a calamity. lint in reality is the folly or the crime less because the creature destroyed lives in the water in-tead of upon the land? A dozen average salmon will bring as much money as an average cow, with this dilVerence. that the feed of the t'ltriner costs notliing, while that of the hitler comes to a fair sum of monev everv vear. There is not a river in Nova Scotia which, by uettini: moderately fair idav, would not yield diiriiii the sea-o?- at letist 500 W(dl grown tisli. which woiiW be cipial in value to about fifty cows, while the larger rivers would yield ten times the quantity. We can calculate the loss, and can show it upon jiaper. but still, unless we can bring home in some shape or other the reality ot' it to the under-iaiidings of the dwellers by these rivers, they will be likelv to nav little atleiitiou to it." Amongst the oiicaiics ol' the Kihuoii, next to the obstructive c s Ir rn I' tl a: sa ail its th ill' f 2p. 6(1. ty alone, le whole (1 this is, numbers 1 Can.ida :M!ilbaie' 30. The )0. And ion rivers nd gaspe- if a moans L the Pro- raction to nee which rout every n is worth, inrlit, in tl^e )t'r annum, id estuaries o state this 2C ; but the L(H'ordinve le supply of •»ady i«» ex- a ealamity. •0 destroyed s!\liuon will lat the feed air sum ol . by ;j;etting i,lKM•i(•s DepMrdiient in Caiiaila, tlius describes the nithless butchery of this iiiotle of capturing the salmon : — " The practice of eapturin<^ salmon hy toreh-lii!;lil and spcais is juslly held to be mo.st pernicious. Km|(loy<'d, as it ;dmo-;| invarialily is, at a litiie when the waters of each river arc; lowi's: and clcarr-i, — \vliil->t llir -ahmm are baulked at tlie base of steep falls, aw ail in^f tlic next frcslirl, and con- gregate during sultry niglils near tin,' nioiillis of liiilr rivuli'l , v wonndi'd lih, there |ieridi in embrvo from ten to thirty, forty, fifty — even a- lii'.di .a- ixly, thou-aiid-i. Spawnei- and ine-ller- both sull'er. I- it, then. po--ihle to ex- aggerate the ruinous con-ecpiences of -ueh imjir-ell. in hi*- work on ihe .-ijlmon. in Hilj-tanc<; wiitcn: "Any while ol'ject [ilaced in ihe track of the fi-h. irre-pc-ctive of its capiurintr jjower. will drive tlic sahnon away," I Ijuse talcd that tlie tlirowinu' of saw-du^t. Ac, ii.io the river-, of f'miada, in illeiral : but in Canada, as in Nova .-^colia, fi:ic i Jicf-. and i]xvel, and )no class, mis with- ■dust and •-netting. GEXEHAL KEMARKS—COXCLirsiOX. fj] secunng an um,Uorn,,,tccl |™«,„.c lb., the fi ,, il^t r ,' u IS recommo.idcd tl.at tlie stream sl,n„l,l "'"'Til >t- It j^a., tmu«,as gathered .t::;;::;;;;::;:;^::':;'- hmitcd amount of fish only tint if ,nn,, . powo... T„o,.c is little aoi; t,',: ' .' irt ^-^ 'rr;-"- ope,,„„ the rive,.s of Halifax c„„„ty, have c.ltilt; •;,,': orUiiiaty run of alewives and salmon this .o.so,, ■ , presence of an unusnal immhcr „f .,1, , ,• ' '""-'' "'" bo referred to these oec,;;; t s ' ^IXT"" ''",','" soe ty, I „oed cite ,„t one instanee. An old i„l«hi,,,„ „ x,- Mile R,v-er relates that some twelve veurs „..„ he nev-,- r I 'l any year to obtain an ahun.lant ^ui.niv oH I No '" mills ereeted on the river, than the H^^A^^J'uTZ^Z ™ years .n,ce the river has heeu o,,L,ed, he has a-a !„^ favored with a sullieieney of alewives, and , few sal, : ^n .■osults mus eertainly serve to dissipate the prej h ,.2' ". son,e mnuls against this soeietj- ; and ' should o f ...creased support, so that its operations n.ay he ex.e d a i ";;:ro?z'^o:;;;r "^ -'- -^^^^^ --" -^-^ ^-idr'an-l'V'"' i ^""''"''°™''<'" "^ "'« <^anadus, .New llrnns- «.ck and Nova Seotm, the fisheries are eonsi..,ied ,o , pnl e v.Il he .,ven to the protection and dev,,I„nn,enl of the Uivr F.S er.es of IJritish Xorth A...eriea. The assin daiio.. f , . relal.ng the... will he o..e of the ,„„st delieato tasks th,. . ,' .ont W.11 have to ....dertake, a..d will i,. all p.-ohahility he"s I, ■^.the^repert ol a speeial eon.missio,., as was adopted in .;,'ea. The i,.e.-eased i'aeilities for tra..spo,-t whiel. the I„„,.reol.,„ial I alway w.ll secu-e for the Ma,-iti.,.e l',-ovin,:es n.nst largely assi .. tl,e co.n.nere,al develop...e„t of the U.ver Fisheries ol Xova -cot . fsahnon ean he p.v.pagated a.id taken in Xova .Seotia wiih l.^sh .tato w.ll l.nd a ready ma.kel Iron. Mont.-eal to DeU^oit, a.,d 62 RIVER FISHERIES. even beyond, while cured salmon will find their way to profitable markets in the far-west. Whotlicr the rivers of Nova Scotia are to become an increasing source of piscatory wealth, or arc to be deserted by its finny in- habitants, so that the presence of the salmon, tiie trout, the siiad, and the alewife, in countless numbers, will constitute only tales of past times, will be rendered no longer doubtful, if there be united the intelligent co-operation of the people throughout the counties witli the 1)0 wer that devises the necessary laws for the conserva- tion of the fisheries. The present is a crisis in the history of the Kiver Fisheries of British North America. If they are allowed to enioy means and efforts for their preservation, that are periodical only, revival must soon yield to retrogression ; but if wise and en- ergetic measures are adopted by Parliament, commensurate with their importance as a source of national wealth, nothing that has been predicted concerning their cumulative fertility can possibly be unfulfilled. rofitable 3rcasing nny iii- le sliad, talos of e united counties onserva- y of tiio owed to eriodical and cn- atc with that has (ssibly be APPENDIX, It m^ APPENDIX. (No. I.) ANSWERS OF CAPTAIN CIIEARNLEY, Before a Comnnttee of the House of AssenM,, in March, lHo4. 1- The fish that resort to our rivers to *mwn ..m • « i *, ::n;,;::';,ir "'""™"™"^' '='- '-- ■■ "-> '■•*'.« »-- 4. To my k„o„.l„lgc ll,o,-c is no ditttrenc, i„ ,1,,.. l,„l,iu of s„ln,o„. o. S„l,non H C.CI .!,<= d.allo,v >val..,.. „, ,|,„ |,„,J,, „,■ ,,,,,, ,„ ,,^. .he,r s,,aw„, and are fonnd brooding in ,ril.„„„.v s„-oan,. Tl,i fl'. generally doposits ,ts spawn in gravoliy and sandv l,„l. 0. .Saw-d„4 is believed to be injnrious lo salmon, and in s|,awn!n.> il,oy , arjably avoM ,.. U is considered so dcs.rnclive. Il.at in Scotland t^ill a e, by la«, eonrpelled to carry it off by sboots, so tl,a, no sa«-d„st is allowed ,0 enter a r.ver where (isl, resort ; all writers agree en this „oi,:^ '. 1 he lull-danrs and other obstr„eli„„s on the rivers of Nova Seotia have senonsly n«„*red with the qnantlty of sahnon resorting toonr rivers' 8. I IS essentta thai a free passage in ascending and descendin- the nvers. shoul be atlbrded to the tish, and any plan whirl, will all„w°sne tmrnterrnplcl passage will be sulllcien. to be inserted in a tnill-datn Among others the following plans have been found efllTtual, viz. No 1 - A double inclined plane, at a,i obtuse angle, with about one fool of wa'ter .'^^ 66 RIVER FISHERIES. running over it, with proper breaks to produce a serpentine course. No. 2. — A sufficient opening or aperture, made in tlie bottom of the dam> with a breakwater situated about ten feet above the sluice, with side pieces to prevent tlie aperture being closed. 9. An ob?truction of two or three feet may not interfere with the ascent of salmon, provided there is a sufficient volume of water, and if there is a sufficiency of water, or a gradually inclined plane with convenient resting places, salmon may ascend to a still greater h(Mght. 10. I consider that nets and wiers at the mouth of our rivers and dams, in the upper parts, are obstructions, and destructive to the run, and conse- quently diminish the quantity of the fish. 11. If any river spanned by a number of dams, in which fish- ways could not be made without great damage to mill property, be exempt from the existing law, the fishery of that river will be totally destroyed. It is for your Honorable House to consider the propriety or impropriety of such exemption 12. Spearing is decidedly injurious and destructive, and I beg again to refer you to the revised act previously referred to. 13. The food of salmon in the salt water is the sand eel and caplin, and in fresh water they feed on flies, worms, grubs, &c. 15. Occasionally salmon remain in the rivers all winter. This is caused by debility, and in the spring they are found in an exhausted state. h (No. 11) REPORT FROM LAW AMENDMENT COMMITTEE. The committee to whom was referred the bill in reference to the River Fisheries, beg leave to report the same with some amendments, with their recommendation to the favorable consideration of the House. The importance of protecting fish, resorting to rivers to spawn, is entirely underrated in this Province. Large numbers of our people look upon any interference with their mills, or with the privilege of taking in any quantities they may choose the fish which Providence sends to their doors, as arbitrary and tyrannical ; and their sympathies are more apt to cluster round the violators of the fishery laAvs than to be on the side of the officers charged with enforcing their provisions. They do not perceive that obstructions placed in the way of the fish resorting to the spawning grounds, or any considerable catch of fish while ArrENDix. 67 ourse. ; clam» I side ascent ire is a resting 1 damp, I conse- sh-ways ipt from 1. It is of such again to id caplin, This is ited state. the River ,vith their is entirely lupon any 1 quantities doors, as [to cluster Ihe officers If the fish I fish while there, or on their way, involves the destruction of the myriiuls to s|)nng from the spawn of the M\ obstructed or destroyed, and tends to cxliii<^iiish the entire race. The fisheries of salmon and alewlvcs conducted on our coasts arc a lucrative branch of Provincial industry, which year by year is increasing in value and importance, and depends entirely npi»n (he extent of protection afforded to the fish in the nurseries in wliich lliey are spawned and l)rcd ; and no policy can be more short-sij^liied tlian that which alhiws those invaluable resources to be sacrificed forever to tiie temporary <'(tnvenience of the mill-owner, or to the cupidity of tlie inhabitants of the margins of our rivers. The countries of the old world deplore with unfeigned regret the; destruc- tion which has fallen on many of their fisheries, wliich a little care inigiit have preserved; and Great Brit:iin is now following in the wake of France and other continent.'d countries of Europe in endeavoring to restore, at enormous expense, salmon and other lisheries in rivers which neglect and mismanagement had destroyed as nurseries. In our own [irovince the names of many of our rivers, where a salmon in now rarely if ever seen, are a standing memorial of the consecpiences re.-ulting from negli ct (jf the provisions requisite to sustain this iini)ortant branening in the dam at this river, but owing to the unusually high freshets which '.e fur the ijT to our wul their ibutc the it at the interests. irman. D GAME has been •lear, with opposition i the most ritringent een taken i.s regards a rock to AO further J inci'ease he Grand the upper ted about lish were IS ailected. opening in lels which AITENDIX. m I Pier, ,„„1 llhiklll I, '""■'' '"K I" "I""- II M.«rs. «et „„„. ,:'-;:";,:";;""•■■' "-'"■■■■; - "0,,. i,„.,.n, -!-"■« of a „,., , ,, ;„ '"',"■ '"■"""'•"' "■ "■■■ 'i-' ■■'"■' ■■n'«.-l a bein,, .c, every ot,; TT ""T '" ''■"'"'■'" "'""■'••■■"■•■• "- '"•'' coa^ei,,., J,;: 'f,,, ;;^;,;;" ;f''" -p -ry „,., ti„. for tl,i, river. „ale,l ,1,,, „ , , ■''"''• "''I"""""' ''->' ""' •'^'*i""'' an .-neira-iea. „,lioer, """*"' '' ''""' '-' - '' "•"<>> "■here tl,e „,, ""'''''''''''■ ■•«■'■"' •■>I'I"™- l„ be al Iterae', r.,„-l< .hro,:, ,;',:■■ ':;:;::, ■ ' -■' 'i-^-" i- p™ii«i...., ,';; /((''A' Salmon liicrr. Pr<';:ft,f *■:-':!:: '?: ""t*"-.""^ ^■■-- '- """-" ■^'^«'. .-«n. ,n ll,e fi.ll. (.n.leav,.naj „, f,„.ee ,|„ar „,,y up to ,_* 70 RIVER FISHj:RIES. McKenzie's Brook, to Governor's Lake. Formerly they were enabled to ^scenil the brook, which is now totally obstructed by fallen timber. The Council beg to state that a small outlay would effect the necessary clearance. In conclusion, your committee beg to state tiieir conviction that, although the Society has not been idle, but little can be effected in carrying out a proper supervision of the Inland Fisheries, unless an independent and salaried otlicer be appointed by the Provincial Goveri-inent, as in Canada. The difficulties of prosecution, owing to the local partialities of both witnesses and magistrates, would then be overcome, whilst tie judgment and advice of such an executive, with regard to the placing of efficient fish- ladders, under the various peculiarities of river banks and mill-dams, would be considered decisive in overcoming all obstructions. ft (No. IV.) EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF FISHEVUES COMMITTEE OF HOUSK OF ASSEMBLY, 1867. The committee on the subject of the fisheries beg to report as follows : They havo had before; thei'i various petitions asking for further innend- ments in tlie law rt;lative to the protection of tiie river fisheries. The conunittee regret having to report that, notwithstaniling the successive h'gislation of many years on this important subject, the wanton and unwise destruction of the various kinds lish frequviutuig the rivers of this rrovinee, has hitherto been but little or none checked. The adoption of a particular kind of ladder in the year 18(5;"), to aflord a [>assage for salmon and other valuable llsh over mill-dams, has not been attended with the desired and anticipated results. Owing to the peculiari- ties of the diil'orcnt rivers and dams, it is quite evident that no one particular kind III' (isli-way will suit each. Feeling the great importance to the present, and particularly to the future, interest of this province, of the successful |)rotection of our river fisheries, upon which tln^ continuance and prosperity of our deep sea fisheries largely depend, the committee have ln\ited from "the Ii\land Fisheries and (Tame Proleclion Society," and from other sources whence useful information might likely be obtained, such suggotions as inlglit lead to more successful legislation on this subject. Tlit'y have de<'ided that the want of success in the eiforts hillierto made by the legislature to protect these nurseries of one of the first -r-iK-rsLz-jzr- ■rrj:::z:r^ APPENDIX. 71 bllows : the wiinlon rivers of iidoril a lot been )eouli!U'i- artu'iilar to tlio of the liuuanoe li'c have ly." anil )l)l;ui\cil, oil this hillifdo I till', lirst resources of the province, is not so much attributable to defective legislation as to failure on the part of those entrusted with carrying such legislation into effect to do their duty. While many of the Courts of Sessions never fail to make due provision and regulations as required by law for the protc ;tion of the river tisheries' there are different counties in which little or no interest is taken in the subject, and consequently the law remains inoperative in those counties. In order, therefore, to obviate the two main and perliaps only difficulties I'lat have hitherto baflled the intention of the legislature to protect these fisheries, viz., in the first place the want of such means of alfording practicable fish passages over the various milUf'-ims and other artificial 11 obstructions, according to the peculiarities of si.ch obstructions, without damage to private interests; and in the second place, the indifference and omission on the part of many of our Courts of Sessions to put the law into effective operation, the committee reconuiiend the appointment of a chief inspector of the river fisheries of the province, whose duty it shall be to from time to time examine the different rivers frequented by fish, and see that the best means for the protection of such fish are adopted, and also to see that none of the Courts of Sessions omit to make the necessary provi- sions and regulations, and to ofter them suggestions on the subject. ****** The subject of the obstruction of the passage of fish in the Slnibcnacadie river, Ijy the canal locks thereon, which was on former occasions under tiic consideration of the committee, was again brought under iheif consideration by the petition of a number of the inl'ibitants of the County of Hants. The committee beg to recommend the passage of a law, providing for the removal of these obstructions. They have also consid.'iv d ih(. petition of William Krosser, of Kciiipt- villc, in the County of Yarn.outi., asking to be reimbursed in the amount of certain expenses to which he had been subjected in connection with prosecuiions in which h ; was engaged, as one of the wardens of river fisheries of that county; and recommend, that, if the Court of Sessions of ^aid County do not, .at its next sitting, provide for such r<'imbur,-enieMt, the Judge presiding at the next term of the Supreme Court for that county, after such sitting of the Court of Session-, do amerce the county in such sum as said .ludge may consider the said William Krosser entitled to. The commitlee cannot close their report without expressing their athnira- tion of the disinlerofed and usei'ul efibrts, involving iniuli outlay of both time and money, on the part of the a-soeiation in this Troviiiee caUed "The Inland Fisheries and (iaine P.'-otection Society," in carrying out the laudable objects of the society, and from whom, as already stated, valuable, suggestions have been received by this committee. 72 Rn'ER FISHERIES. (No. V.) PISCICULTURE. riscI(Miltinx' is the art of L-tockiiiir iho ■waters with their iniiuhilants, of multijilyiiig, of ix'rfeoting, and of aceliinating the fishes whidi mtvc for the food of man. The end smiglit is attained 1)y natural means and ))}' aitiilcial means. Althongli hoth these proeesses are ai)idi('able to all fishes, the lirsl are more partienlarly confined to those called while fishes, such as the Cai'p, the Roach, the Perch, &c. ; and tlie second for Tronts, and the species of that family. All waters do not suit all kinds. Those which are rai>id, clear, cold ; which (low or repose over a sandy or i-ocky bottom, and whose tem[)cr."iture at tli(,' greatest warmth does not exceed Ki *et at tiie suitabh' lime the artilieial l)reeding beds {Ics frai/cns arlijicidles) upon which we wish to allract tlir fi-hes, so as to render more easy the gathering th(> ova they will dcpo-ii; and to obtain fr-lics when incubation is near. Altiiough thc-^e period- vary according to climates, nevertheless one can establi-h one general rule : i'rom October to January for trout.s, .«almon. ami common eel-|)out ; in Februai'y and ]\Iarcli forlheitike; in April and May for the barlicl. the i)ream, the sandre. the conmion grayling; and from June 'o the (-nd of August for car|)s. lincli, and cluili:. Whatever the .-pecies, oije cannot operate witli sueros if either from the male or the female the milt or spawn (/c.s jiroiiuifs id i/ciii y((fiiiii) are not perfect and iiealtliy. Whil-l the ova are enclosed in tlie ti>-ue of ilie ovary, nnd forni in the alidomen two lai-ge masses every attempt lu accelerate the laying would be fruitless ; their expulsion i- not possible until they are liberated in the cavitv of the bcdlv. This detachment, which i- n si-in of niaturition. I- known from the exte- rior i'V perceivable signs. >o a.- lo render unnecessary the Dpeiiing of (he ftfhfs. The (^ircumfereuce (A ijie uiii.s i.4 red, swolkn, nnd protruding. Jn many cuhcs the ova. fallen by th'n own w« igjit, are thci' compacted. The I iliints, of e for the 1 means. ive more \vp, the s of that ar, cold : ilicrature ivourable IS, which ho?e tcm- ily Carp, kiiith he , and tlie 1. po as to liJicU'lles) easy the Incubation crtlieless 'or trouls. uiko; in laiavlnig ; from the |) are not lie ovary, liccclerale iliey are I lie oxte- ■ -• of the ling. In h1."' The AFPEXniX. ':\ belly is sofr, and yield-^ n^adily to pressure, and irai'cnl lliaii opaque, and have a i>ilimy coating tlial does imiI wliiten in eontiicl wiili tli< water. The changed ova have a doubtful riiit, are ■omclimes totally or partially opaipie ; at other tiaios. witli an exlremi> tran-parency, tlify have a central core of greater or less size, according to the condeiHatiou of their conl(!nts. and the mucous coat whicli envelopes them is gcnerallv scions. and discolours and renders turliiil the w;iler in llie, v(^~seI. 'I'o attempt f|lpundatioii with ova which [iresent such characteristics would be lo-t labour. In tie male the readiness for rejiroduction shews itself bv the ,-ume e.v- terior signs, only the anal protuberance is less ))roniineiit. and tlie bellv le-- extendeil than in the female. If the se('(l i> ripe, with flight friction along the ide~. the struggles of the animal will cau-^e its evaeiiaiiou ; it is in ;.:ood condition if it has the color, the consisleni't! and Ihiidity of ereain. The niiit, whieh is oblaiiHiil liy means of ,-li'oiig pres^ni'e, whieh issu"s in ihiek drops, is diHicult to diluti' in the water, and then is of yellowish oi- reddi,-li tint, lias less prolific virtue and .«hould never lie used except i n the al mih of the other. To nceom|)lish (piickly and with sncee.-s artificial i'eemidallon. regaid must be had to the size, of the fishes ; it i< al-o ni'Cf>-sary to consider wlieihei' the ova which it is inlended to imi>regiiate are Wvi^ or allached to Ibreign bodies (the ditference in the way in which thev are placed being a very important one in the modi; of operatioaj ; ii is nece>«ary, l;t-l of all. what- ever the sriecies, to [dace tliem in two Inlis of water — lie' mali's in one, the i'emales in the other. This la-l juvcaution taken, and afti'r having provided a vessel of earth oi' j)orc(daiii. or wood or tin, i'v:e„ with, a large and flat botiom, and iiaving lillcd it half lull, or only one-lhird full, with pure and limpid water, liie temperature — suppo-ing it is iiiteiiili'poiid to the la.'ad, and the riiihl (o the i, II. When long as iiece«snry for lie' complete e\aciialion of tl uva. Ii 74 KIVER FISHERIES. happens sometimes tliat the first attempt is without results, from the violent struggles of the animal preventing the passage of the ova ; but some moments suffice generally for this spasmodic condition to cease, and the organs, recovering their submission, the laying can then be forced. After this first operation, they change the water in the vessel if, during the operation, it has been soiled by the mucous matter or the discharges of the female. They now seize a male, when they extract by the same process some drops of milt, and in order that the impregnating molecules may be scattered uniformly everywhere in the vessel, they pi'oduce a slight agitation of the water and the ova, either with the hand, or with the tail of the fish, which they still hold. About one minute of cessation renders impregnation complete. They afterwards wash the ova, renewing many times the water of the vessel which contains them. If their incubation should be not far from the place where these operations are carried on, they transport them without delay, so as they can jjlace them in the apparatus whither they are to go ; if, on the contrary, the distance is such as to occupy many hours, they take them dry, in layers one above the other, in a box of wood, or of tin, pierced with holes, between moss, and grass slightly moist. Packed up in this manner, they arrive safely to their destination, and with less loss than if they were left in the water. All the operations of impregnation, if the fishes are of small size, can be peribrnied by one person only ; but with fi.-hes of one to three pounds, they retiuiro the help of an assistant, when the additional work consists in holding the tail of the patient, to prevent its struggles. An assistant, and sometimes two, are necessary for fishes of six pound weight, and above. The operator who promotes the expulsion of tiie ova, cannot do more than the compressing with his two hands — which he moves from the head towards the aims — the sides of the female. A firsi assi.stant holds her above the vessel by the gills, while a second seizes the tail firmly, to prevent any sudden movement. A fenuile trout or salmon produces annually a thousand eggs per pound) though it is not rare, among some species, to meet with subjects of largo size wliicli furnish from ten to twenty thousand. In these cases, inslcad of milting at one time all the ova, it is preferable to distribule lli'.'m in distinct vases, in lots of from three to five thousand, and to make impregnations of less (luaiitity. It occurs in such species a.-- the cari), the perch, tiie gudgeon, itc. ; wluM the ova adhere to foreign bodies upon which they fall, they adopt means n little differtnt ; a bucket of convenieni size, containing water at a temperature of 1(! to 20 degrees, a(|uatic plants, or little bunches (jf hcatii, or twigs, or the beard of certain shrubs, are tlien necc-sary ; and three persons ought to unite together in the operation. One of the operators ) \, lai'ge I < '11(1 of (istiiict ions of Igeon, adopt icr at lluatii, three ll'.'ltOI'S ) APPENDIX. 75 seizes the female, and by the process indicated before, relieves licr of a part of the ova ; at the same time a second takes the male, when he expresses a little of the milt, during which a third receives the two substances upon tufts of grass ; then taking bunches of heath and (lipping tliem in the bucket, assisting the intermixture by agitating gently the tufts, and moving them about, the eggs fix themselves everywhere. Here, impregnations are necessarily partial. When a tuft is sulliciently stored with the ova, after remaining a minute or two, we. renioTC it temporarily to another vessel; then the water which has served for the first impregnation being removed, we take a second tuft, upon which we make again to fall the ova and milt ; thus in succession, until our stock of fishes is exhausted. For these species, the impregnations require more care ; if they are not well d(me, the result will not repay the labour that is bc.-towfd ; it is preferable in certain cases to collect the ova upon artificial brccding-bt'ils, (in cases where suitable places do not occur in the streams or ba>iiis where the fish resort), prepared and placed beforehand in convenient pluces. The brccding-bedu may vary in their dimchsions, their form and structure. The most simple are those which are constructed witli four laths or poles of 1^ to 2 metres long, whereof we nuike a frame, on wiiicli we fasten parallel to one of the sides, and at equal distances, live or >\s. other poles. Tufts of grass or roots, bunches of heath or brusiiwood, |)la<'ed close together and compacted, when attached to the tnnisver.-e jioles complete these implements. One can be constructed of a very simple kind with grassy turf or sod-;, somewhat thick, which are iilaccd .-ide liy .-ide, or with acpiatic plants lifted up with the .-oil that contains them, and then grouped ii\ low wooden tubs. It is about a month before the expected periud of Jayiii;.s that these breeding-beds ought to be deposited. "We set theui, geneiiilly, in places rather shallow, on shore< of gentle declivity, in place.-, exposed lo tlji; sun, and in an ol)lique or horizontal ptjsition, according as the localities reijuire- A biUla.-t of stOiie serves to secure tiiem. Whenever we proceed to procure ova, it is nt;ce-sary lo kii.iw wliellier they are f"ee or adherent, to have them site beyond cau-^e^ of destruction which, in their nature, occasion the lo-- of two-thirds. We spejil; lieiv (A ])l;icing them in particular contiivances, win re a >electio!i ''an he made. Those in the composition of which intermixture forms a large pari, -honld be rigorously rejected, if we do not wish to hazanl a serious nii-i ul'iihuion. A success, warranted Ijv the experience of many year-, has c.'iii-<;d 'jeiu ndly lo lie adopted, tor the inculi.'Uinti of salmonid;i . tli'- :ipparalu- wh'ili M. Co.-le lias invented. This apjiaratus i- coni[io-ed of tray-, oi' troughs of earthenware, df I.") ceiiiimetre- long by !'< wide and 10 deep, in which in •G RIVER FISTIERIE fitted ;i ^'oreon intended to receive tlie ova. a screen or sieve of wliieh the bai's, formed of rods of glass, are held on either side by a very small plate of leaottom. support the screens placed one above the otlier. upon which at high water are the ova, instead of ftiacing them, as Jacobi did, upon a bed of gravel, with wliiidi he had furnished the box. Stakes driven in the ground, on a floating frame, serve to secure this chest, which should jiresent one of its ends to the current, if it is moderate; one of its angles, if the current is too strong. In the absence of contrivanc<'s of ibis kind, by a mode which is perfectly ?afe. one can procui-e the developement of the ova of trout, grayling, salmon, &c., in little natural brooks, with gravelly bottom, under circum- stances in wliii'h (hey will be safe from all accident, and where the water is ncille-i" very di'e[) nor very rapid, neiiher too cold nor too warm. The teniperatiu'o most suitable for the incubation of ova of these species, in whatever place they are deposited, is that which, offering the least variation, remains between six to ten degrees above zero. In any cn: e. the ova should never be .abandoned to risk, in an open river, or ii; a lake. To withdraw from them the care which they claim, would 111 lo expose fhf'm to failure. These precautions consist in keeping them cle.an. by removing with a brush the sediment whii'h the water, not being lilti'red, deposits in abundance, and all the small juiuatic aninuds. which di-turb tlicm by pimclin-ing them; not to leave them liraped up. but to (Iraiu Ibem out carefully, at least every two days, with the help of a pineei -, the while or unhealthy ova. These ova. being di-;ea>ed. become the seat of a para-^ite growth, whii'h injures tin.' other.-, when it is neglected to remove ihem. The adherent ova reijuire to be protecied as much and more than tla; free ova ; for. be-ide-i a orowd of miiu.ite animals, all fishes, even those that { V AITEXDIX. 77 Im npoii IV t'liiini. liter, not fuiliuids. lip, but ll]) oi' !l 'Jflci'lctl |li;ui the l)M> tll!\t 1 have produt'tMl them, ni.-h upon thcin for food. We t-lieUcr thuiu from their voracity l»y enclosin<:; the bodies on wiiich tliey are al[;u'h(Ml, nut in troujrlis, b\it in olieftts us those of Jaeobi or M. Coste, and bcttei-, in baskets of willow or strips of wood, which are placed in the open water. If these are for ova for which i.-olation is necessary, floats of cork, suited to the baskets, or l(j the boxes in which thay are placed, keep them on the surface of the water; if, on the contrary, they do not succeed except at certain depths and in the current, ballastings of stone serve as sinkers to attach to the bottom of the baskets or cages which contain them. However, the temperatiu'e ,'Ught to guide one here, in the choice of places wliire the machine should be put. The medium cold temi)eratures which are favorable to the developement of trout and salmon, are unknown to the summer llshes. The ova of the latter do not succeed except in tfm[)erate waters; thus it is necessary tliat from 12 to 1.5 degrees be t'ouiid i'ov chub and perch ; 20 or less for carp, and from '20 to 2o for tench. The ova, after their expidsion, and an incubatiun of some hours, should undergo modiiications, which are apparent as well ujxmi tho.-c whicii have received the iuHuence of the seminal iluid, as upon ilm.-e which h:i\t,' not received it. All, without exception, when they are not the seat of unmis- takeable disease, become more transparent. At the same time, tlieiv; is seen to ajipear upon a portion of the surface of the globule inside, in the niiddh; of a heap of little drops of oil, a small circular whi(i.-h .-pc"!, which was supjjosed, erroneously, to be the sign of impregnation. In the siunmer llshes, an hour or two suffices for this spot, which represents the germ, to appear; whilst eight to ten are neces-ary for the ^almonid.e. If the egg is barren, it remains in some sort motionless, and coniinu(.'S so lor some time, but with the surface impaired, up to the time of developement ; it goes through important changes if, on the contrary, the egg is im])regnated. Now, in efl'i'ct, the germ is seen to sink down, to dimini,-h in den-ity, Ijul at the same tiuie to enlarge and transform itself into a iihn or membrane. Its exi)ansion increasing more and more, it invades a third part, the half, at least, the whole of the int(M-i(n- circumi'erence of the egg, which iiresenls now in one place the apiiearance of a hole. At tiie same time the embryo becomes visible in the form of a whitish line taking in a (juarler of tiie circumference of the egg. Diu'iug this first period of developement, it is necessary to giiard against subjecting the ova to freipuMit handling, or of transporting them to a distance ; one ought, on the contrary, to leave them wholly at rest, and not to make them utidergo any other displactemem than we cannot avoid in removing, with tiie pineeri?, the dead ones, which are recognized liy their opaipie white color. At a later (teriod, when tlie forms of the young li,-h are bi'ing well delineated, and penetrate through the external membrane ; 78 RIVER FISHERIES. when their eyes appear as two blackish spots, any motion or disturbance which is ffiv(!n to them is not attended with, the .same danger. One can now, if it is necessary to cleanse the contrivances, remove them from the water, and transport them from one screen to another, either by pouring them directly, or by means of a little shovel, or a curved pipe. If it is necessary to carry them to a distance, it is also this stage of dcvelopement that should be chosen. They can now, without very much loss, bear a journey of ten, fifteen, and even twenty days. To transport to long distances, and above all when they have cold to con- tend with, it is necessary to enclose them in a second box more spacious, where the ova are ranged in beds between moss or soft atpiatic jdants, and the sj)a('e between the two boxes filled up with moss perfectly dry, bran, saw-dust, liay, or any other substance which protects from the severity of the cold. After unpacking them, the ova, restored to natural action, pursue their devdopement, and are .soon hatched. The [)eviod of change is very diflTerent according to the species and the degree of temperature of the surrounding medium. In normal and ordi- nary conditions, some, as the carp, the barbel, the tench, &c., hatch after a week or two of incubation ; others, as the pike, the common grayling, about the twentieth day ; yet others, as trout and salmon, do not attain their com- plete dcvelopement until the end of two and sometimes three months. After birth the young do not exhibit the same instinct. White fishes for the most part wander, dispersing almost immediately in the water, by their littleness and vivacity eluding the most watchful care that can be given. It is not so with the salmonida;. These, on issuing from the egg, bear an enormou.s umbilical vesicle which condemns them to inaction, and renders them incapable of escaping by flight, from the voracity of their enemies. The agency of man ought here to invervene, .and this can be done in an effectual way, by keeping their valuable species a yet longer time in the ap- paratus. But they should be absolutely at rest, sheltered from intense light, and without attempting to feed them, for the reason, that during one month after their birth, the aliment contained in their enormous abdominal sac suffices for their wants. When they have almost lost their umbilical vesicle, or when their vesi- cle is completely absorbed towards the end of the fifth or sixth week, their appetite being awakened, they can be removed from the troughs either to put them into more spacious receptacles, provided with shelter, or places of re- treat (cachcfh's en potterie) where they can be fed, by giving them, in small quantities, two or three times each day, raw meat or liver minced, pounded, and reduced to a sort of paste ; or, what is preferable, to throw it into the open water, in ponds, in brooks, &c., when we have previously cleared them from every hurtful animal. By this means we do away with the more ) A w APPENDIX. 79 i periencc prove, that fh .1 k "^ "■''"° "'"^ ''»>= >>"■" ''""'I'"'', e^- can be carried verv m-ont A\^, • • "^ ^ *'"'"' '^^'^''^■'^' 'hey - or .ree ..^^t ::;::::.::7^.^::;: jr^ir ^'^""^^ ^ or three hours, or of crating it by makin" u ff , "• ""'^ '"' These glass jars, which can b^tran!^^' ^^i.^ ,.t\f ^^^ ^^ '' "'^• n^ents, can be increased in nun^ber a cordin' 'a i " """^"'■^■ about five or six hundred youn. fish X " V , ^'TT'^ '" "''"^' ' considerable s,ze can be also conveyed by this Among species much esteemed, and which mnv I.p . and full moon of April and Mv at ho ^^ u" '^ ""'^ ''^' ^'^^^ ""''' «.. w . ^ ^^' ^^ *"^ embouchures of rivers wboro tho current turns, in a condition for stockin- to whi.v. • , baskets ff,P Koff^ f 1.. 1 . ^ ' "* "'^^' '" compactly woven then tn ^ u ^^''^' '' '''''"^ ^^*h «^^^ ^■■"^n «•• thick paper and then filled, wuhout being heaped up, with long straw well mitoned to canrec7'^'''f ""' '^^"^''^ ^''''''' '^^^^ ^-^^^s thus pre arc ^ can receive two and sometimes three pounds of mantee, that is to Ly f om Such is in substance, and as far as confined limits allow of, a description of the usual method to which pisciculture owes its uncjuestio^ed success. z. gp:rbe, Preparatevn- au College do France. r 8(1 RIVER FISHEKIES. SOCIETY FOR THE TROTECTION OF GAME AND THE INLAND FISHERIES. (;0L0> "CL CJIKARNLKV. ilitc |lrtsibtul : CAITAI^ UAEDY, HA. CouiuU : COJ.()iM:I- ]!L HNAI5Y, U. E., J. II. DUVAI!, T. F. KMCiUT, W. M. IIARIUNGTON, l.IEUX. WILLIAMS, 2iKl liatt. llh K. O. R.. F. H. D. VKITIl, W. A. JOHNSTON, Hon. Lt'giil Advi-cr, F. W. ilLAlKLOCK, GEOROE riEKS, CHARLES ALLEN, J. COSTLEY. CAITAIX C. L'ESTRANGE, R A., Hon. Secretary, W A. SILVER, Hon, Trtasurer. ^' THE \