269

[Verso]

[here?] they that with [?] dips
of the small hoop nets [?] the
canoe, from 3 or 4 to a dozen
fish could be taken at once.
Black bass could be caught
from the shore almost anywhere
with the hook & Line by the dozens.
These fish were not then pro-
tected in any way; it was kill
and slaughter as men liked.
Now what is the result? I have
not visited Napanee since 1838
to remain in it, beyond a few minutes
till Wednesday last, when I [acutness?]
the old fishing grounds of my youth,
making enquiries regarding fish etc.
and was more than astonished
to learn that, no one knew
of Pickerel, Sucker, or Bass being
in the river for many rivers back.
All these fish had disappeared; the
result of ruthless, barbarous destruction
of these fish in former days when in
the act of spawning. “The Goose that
laid the Golden Egg had been killed
and now the smallest remnant of
these poor fish, yet found in other
parts of the Bay of Quinte (where
another “close season” is set [apart?]
[?] [?] at this extermination) in

[Recto]

243

are actually thought to be wholly destroyed.
The Greedy fishermen uses every
protest, by misstatement of facts, by
signing petitions for political motions,
and by violating the fishing laws
in order that, he may gratify his
greed and avarice: And unless
the Fisheries Department at the
present day is determined to
be firm in upholding proper
“close seasons” by which the reduced
number of fish yet remaining
in our waters shall be protected
from molestation, or destruction
during their spawning time, the
waters of Ontario, and of the
other provinces likewise will
be wholly denuded of their
Pickerel wealth.

I am SIr
Yours Obdly
Sam Wilmot

[Verso]

[here?] they that with [?] dips
of the small hoop nets [?] the
canoe, from 3 or 4 to a dozen
fish could be taken at once.
Black bass could be caught
from the shore almost anywhere
with the hook & Line by the dozens.
These fish were not then pro-
tected in any way; it was kill
and slaughter as men liked.
Now what is the result? I have
not visited Napanee since 1838
to remain in it, beyond a few minutes
till Wednesday last, when I [acutness?]
the old fishing grounds of my youth,
making enquiries regarding fish etc.
and was more than astonished
to learn that, no one knew
of Pickerel, Sucker, or Bass being
in the river for many rivers back.
All these fish had disappeared; the
result of ruthless, barbarous destruction
of these fish in former days when in
the act of spawning. “The Goose that
laid the Golden Egg had been killed
and now the smallest remnant of
these poor fish, yet found in other
parts of the Bay of Quinte (where
another “close season” is set [apart?]
[?] [?] at this extermination) in

[Recto]
are actually thought to be wholly destroyed. The Greedy fishermen were very dishonest (?), by misstatement of facts, by signing petitions for political motions, and by violating the fishing laws in order that, he may gratify his greed and avarice: And unless the Fisheries Department at the present day is determined to be firm in upholding proper “close seasons” by which the ledurerd number of fish yet remaining in our waters shall be protected from molestation or destruction during their spawning time, the waters of Ontario, and of the other provinces likewise will be wholly denuded of the Pickerel wealth.