DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

NORTH SHORE OF THE RIVER ST. LAWRENCE, FROM QUEBEC
TO BERSIMIS.
QUEBEC AND MONTMORENCY DIVISION.
Overseer L. P. Huot's division comprises the Island of Orleans and that part of
the north shore of the River St. Lawrence extending from Chateau Richer to St.
Joachim. An improvement in the value of the fisheries of this distriot as compared
with last year is reported. Salmon yielded about an average catch. Eels and shad
were on the decline. The latter especially is reported a complete failure; not only
in this district, but everywhere else. As anticipated in last year's report, bar fishing
has greatly improved. Pickerel and smelts have also considerably increased.
"Orleans fi.hermen now realize that too-closely set fisheries are injurious, and some of
them will consequently abandon fishing. All the fish from this division are sold in
the Quebec markets and vicinity; t'he total value is given at $20,867, an increase of
$6,355 over the previous year.
3IURRAY BAY DIVISION.
Overseer U Bliereur's division extends from River du Gouffre to River aux
Canards including Coudres Island. The catch of salmon is reported as
inferior to that ot 18S'T; the samo may be said of eels, but sardines show a fair increase.
The fisheries of Coudres Island caught 135 porpoises, yielding 4,500 gallons
of oil which sold for 48 cents a gallon; the skins fetch about $6 each, although for
uniformity they are put down at $4 in the statistics, Mr. Bhereur reports no infractions
to the fishery laws. The total value of the fisheries of this division is about
the same as last year. Wardens Ant. Etlion, 11. Coté and E. Martin, report a deficit
n the yield of trout and eels. Warden &mard made no report.
SAGUENAY DIVISION.
Overseer L. N. Catellier, who has charge of the Sagueney district says, considering
that there were five salmon stands less than in 187, the catch shows a fair increase.
The river guardians report them well stocked with breding fish, as many as L21
being counted on the spawning grounds of the Ste. Marguerite alone. Salmon appeared
about the end of May, but the best fishing occurred from 10th to 25th June.
This explains why anglers had such poor sport on the Ste. Marguerite. They only
arrived in July, while the fish ascended to the head waters early, while the waters
were very high. The decrease in other kinds of fish is explained by the fact that the
fishermen paid little attention to fishing, setting only a few brush weirs to secure
food for their own use. The total value of the fisheries in the above district is set
down at $11,i72.
LAKE ST. JOHN DIVISION.
The services of Wardens Bilodeau, Poivin and Maltais, who had charge of these
waters, having been dispensed with, the value of the fisheries of this division is only
estimated. The Government of the Province of Quebec leases and has assumed
control of the inland waters of this division and attends to their protection.
FROM QUEBEC TO UPPER OTTAWA.
RIOHELIEU COUNTY DIVISION.
Overseer Felix Latraverse, who has charge of this division, reports a falling off
in the catch, due, no doubt, to the fact that fishing was not so general as before.
Shad declined one-third, and eels one-half. Maskinonge and pike were abundant.
Overseer J. F. Picotin, who has charge of the St. Francis River, reports that
fishing for soft fishduring the spring season was better than ever, but that eel
fishing was a partial failure, on account of a high freshet destroying the eel weirs
early in the season. A few salmon were caught during the construction of the
'weirs. No violations of the law are reported from this district.