Michel LEMAY dit LE POUDRIER
AN EEL FISHERMAN

"MICHEL LEMAY NO LONGER SUFFERED FROM WANDER-LUST. NOW HE STAYED HOME TO ENGAGE IN HIS FAVORITE PASTIME--EEL FISHING. THIS SPORT STARTED IN 1666 AS A MEANS OF EARNING SOME EXTRA MONEY. AT FIRST HE FISHED WITH NETS OFF THE POINTE-SAINT-CROIX. LATER, WHEN THE SPORT BECAME A BUSINESS, HE WOULD BUILD WEIRS, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIDAL EBB AND FLOOD, IN ORDER TO TRAP THE WRIGLEY CREATURES. IT WAS NOT BY CHANCE THAT, WHEN SEIGNEUR CHARTIER OFFERED MICHEL A CONCESSION IN LOTBINIERE, HE INCLUDED FISHING RIGHTS IN THE RIVER IN EXCHANGE FOR "SIXTEENTH PART OF HIS CATCH, SALTED AND CONDITIONED." IN 1722, BACQUEVILLE DE LA POTHERIE WROTE THAT ON A SINGLE TIDE ONE COULD LAND AS MANY AS 3000 EELS. NOW THAT IS GOOD FISHING INDEED! LEMAY WOULD PUT THE FISH IN HOLDING TANKS, THEN SALT THEM DOWN IN BARRELS OF 500 EELS EACH. IN A GOOD SEASON, THE CATCH WOULD AMOUNT TO 60-70,000 EELS. THIS "FRUIT OF THE SEA" WAS SOLD FOR 25 TO 30 LIVRES A BARREL. IN 1679, JEAN LEMOYNE DELIVERED TO THE LEMAY FAMILY, "A WINDMILL WITH ALL THE PARTS, READY TO GRIND WHEAT INTO FLOUR." PRICE: 80 LIVRES, OR 3 LIVRES PER HUNDRED EELS."

SOURCE: OUR FRENCH-CANADIAN ANCESTORS BY THOMAS J. LAFOREST, VOLUME II



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