DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

53
the high freshet this fall, arid which was immediately rebuilt, has given perfect
satisfaction up to the present time. In addition to this report I have forwarded
some statements which have been given me by prominent persons here, who give
the most satisfactory accounts of the successes which have been felt by fishermen in
the maintenance of the salmon fisheries on the Mirainiohi waters from the work
done at this hatchery.
This and other information which I have received from various sources, leada
me to believe that the salmon are increasing in satisfactory numbers.
ISAAC SFIAESGREEN,
Officer in charge Mramichi hatchery.
7.—RlST1GOUOff HATCHERY.
PROVINCE OF QUEBEC.
Report of the Officer in charge of the Ristigouche Hatchery for 1888.
I beg herewith to submit my annual report on the management of the Risti.
gouche Hatchery for the past year.
In the fall of 1887, 1,900,000 eggs were deposited iii the hatching troughs, from
which 1,720,000 fry, and 50,000 eyed eggs were turne1 out. The fry were successfully
planted in the following rivers :—
Kedgowiek River 400,000
lJpsalquisch do 200,000
Nipisiguit do ... . iso ooo
Matapedia do 300,000
Jecquet do ..... so,oo
Main Ristigouche, from hatchery to mouth of Kedgewiok. 620,000
Total 1,720000
The Eyed Eggs for Miramiclii and Fry for Nipisiguit.
The 50,000 eyed eggs were conveyed to the Miramichi establishment in the
latter part of April. The fry were distributed In the usual manner, the greater por..
tion being towed in cribs far up the river, cans being used when the fry had to be
conveyed over the railways. The work of distributing began 15th June and ended
15th July, and was performed without any loss occurring worthy of mention.
The 150,000 fry carried to the Nipisiguit River were planted in very fine condi.
tion. J. Do Wolf Spurr, Esq., and other anglers that were on the river at the time,
saw the fish before they were planted.
Angling on the Nipisiguit at that time was proving very satisfactory. Mr.
Kinnear, a lessee at Pavineau Falls, some ten miles from the mouth of the river, had
already landed several fine salmon that day, and strongly expressed his belief that
many of the fiMh he caught were of the Ristigouche family of salmon, a they were
larger, and differently shaped from those of the Nipisiguit salmon. He felt certain
they were from the fry that were brought over some years previous from the Risti.
gouche Hatchery.
Supply of Parent Salmon.
I regret being unable to report a larger supply of fish for the stocking of the
hatchery this season. Owing to the unusual lateness of the spring and tue very high
freshets extending until the 15th of June, the first run of salmon had entered, and
passed up the river, before it was possible to set the nets out, or get the reservoir in
working condition.