Restigouche River
Restigouche River | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Canada |
Cities | Matapédia, Quebec, Campbellton, New Brunswick |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Confluence of Little Main Restigouche River and Kedgwick River |
• coordinates | 47°39′52″N 67°29′28″W / 47.66444°N 67.49111°W |
• elevation | 118 m (387 ft) |
New-Brunswick: Walker Brook, Black Brook, Upsalquitch River, Wyers Brook, Cheuters Brook, Lower Grindstone Brook, Lower Two Brooks, Upper Two Brooks, Upper Thorn Point Brook, White Brook, Stillwater Brook, Hailes Brook, Five Finger Brook, Lower Four Mile Brook, Jardine Brook, Boston Brook, Little Main Restigouche River . |
The Restigouche River[1] (French: Rivière Ristigouche)[1] is a river that flows across the northwestern part of the province of New Brunswick and the southeastern part of Quebec.
The river flows in a northeasterly direction from its source in the
Located mostly in New Brunswick, the river forms the inter-provincial boundary between the two provinces from its confluence with the Patapédia River to its mouth at
The
The Royal Canadian Navy has named two warships after this river: HMCS Restigouche (H00) and HMCS Restigouche (DDE 257).
The source of Restigouche River is located at the confluence of the Little Main Restigouche River and Kedgwick River. This confluence is located:
- 11.2 kilometres (7.0 mi) West of the village center of Kedgwick, New Brunswick;
- 20.7 kilometres (12.9 mi) South of the confluence of the Patapédia River, which is located at the border between Quebec and New Brunswick;
- 74.4 kilometres (46.2 mi) Southwest of Campbellton, New Brunswick, crossing the Restigouche River.
From the confluence of the Little Main Restigouche River and Kedgwick River (in New Brunswick), the Restigouche river flows on 140.5 kilometres (87.3 mi) up to the confluence, distributed according to the following segments:
Higher Courses of the Restigouche River (upstream of the Kedgwick River)(segment of 31.4 kilometres (19.5 mi))
- 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) to the Northeast, forming a curve to the Northwest, to the Soldiers Creek (from the east);
- 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi) North, in a curve to the East, until UpperDowns Gulch (from the southwest);
- 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) to the Northeast, to Tracy Brook (from the West);
- 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the Southeast until Haffords Brook (from the South);
- 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) Eastward, forming a curve oriented toward the southeast until Stillwater Brook (from the east);
- 10.8 kilometres (6.7 mi) North, to the confluence of the Patapedia River (from the West) which forms the boundary between the Quebec and New Brunswick.
Middle course of the river (upstream of the
From the confluence of the
- 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) to the northeast, to the stream of Wild Chalet (from the north or from the Quebec);
- 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) eastward, forming a detour to the north, up to the limit of Eldon Parish, New Brunswick;
- 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi) to the northeast, forming a wide curve towards the north, to Marshall Brook (from the Northwest or the Quebec);
- 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the east, then north, until Fergunson stream (from the north or from the Quebec);
- 5.2 kilometres (3.2 mi) to the Southeast, to Ruisseau du Pin Rouge (from the north or from the Quebec);
- 5.9 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the southeast, to the limit of township of Matapedia (Quebec);
- 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) eastward until Cheuters Brook (from the southeast, either (New Brunswick);
- 8.3 kilometres (5.2 mi) to the northeast, into Stream Rocks String (from the north or from the Quebec);
- 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) to the Northeast, to Brandy Creek (from the north or from the Quebec);
- 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) to the South-East, to the Upsalquitch River (from the south or from the New Brunswick).
Lower course of the river (segment of 59.1 kilometres (36.7 mi))
From the confluence of the Upsalquitch, the Restigouche river flows:
- 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) north, in a curve to the east, until Rafting Ground Brook (from the East or from the New Brunswick);
- 8.0 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the West, then North, to the confluence of the Matapedia River (from the West);
- 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) to the Northeast, up to the railway bridge Canadian National Railway;
- 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) to the Northeast, up to the highway bridge (route 11) running on Bell Island (New Brunswick);
- 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) to Northeast, up to the limit of the Eldon Parish, New Brunswick;
- 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) to Northeast, the northern limit of the Addington Parish, New Brunswick (New Brunswick) up to the beginning of Archipelago confluence of the Restigouche river;
- 8.6 kilometres (5.3 mi) Eastward up to the eastern limit of the archipelago (New Brunswick);
- 6.0 kilometres (3.7 mi) Eastward up to the bridge connecting Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec to Campbellton (New Brunswick), or the "Road Gaspé Highway";
- 12.2 kilometres (7.6 mi) to Northeast, up to the height of "Pointe a la Garde" (Quebec) and Dalhousie Junction (New Brunswick);
- 16.6 kilometres (10.3 mi) to Northeast, crossing the Escuminac Bay up to the height of Pointe Miguasha (Quebec) and Dalhousie (New Brunswick).
History
The name Restigouche may have been derived from the
Home to the
The establishment of the colony of
Salmon fishing
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2013) |
The river is a destination for Atlantic salmon fishing. Fly fishing/angling has become a significant source of revenue for many outfitters in the region and a 55-kilometre (34 mi) of the Restigouche has been designated part of the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.
According to Restigouche Lodge between 15,000 and 25,000 salmon enter the Restigouche each year, which attracts anglers from all over the world. While many Atlantic salmon are reluctant to strike, the Restigouche variety are aggressive, and once hooked, they fight hard and are highly acrobatic.
The Restigouche River is known for its exclusivity, clear water and large Atlantic salmon. Fish over 40 pounds (18 kg) pounds are landed somewhere on the Restigouche every year; salmon weights in the high 20-to-30-pound (9.1 to 13.6 kg) range are considered common. Early spring through the end of June is the best time for catching these salmon.
]
Part of the draw for salmon fishing on rivers in New Brunswick and Quebec is its exclusivity - the provincial government's Department of Natural Resources auctions fishing leases for physical sections of the river and riverbed to the highest bidder. Many private fishing lodges have been established on the Restigouche which are owned and operated by major corporations and the wealthy. Such leases are time-limited and, for the best fishing pools, can reportedly run into the millions of dollars for fishing rights lasting for only a few years. Leaseholders must obey all provincial conservation laws by hiring their own fish wardens to patrol each leased section of the river and all persons sanctioned by a particular leaseholder to fish in a lease must hold a provincial angling license. The general public are permitted a right of navigation on the river, as per Canada's Navigable Waters Protection Act; however, they are not permitted to drop anchor in, or cause any disturbance to the river bottom, and are not permitted to fish in a particular lease area.[citation needed]
New Brunswick's wealthy
The Canadian business elite outside of the
The designation of a 55-kilometre (34 mi) stretch of the Upper Restigouche as a Heritage River in 1998 was not the first attempt to preserve this area. Early issues with over-fishing by new arrivals to the area led to the implementation, in 1824, of one of the earliest examples of conservation laws in North America.[6] This culminated in the implementation of the Fisheries Act in 1858 and "opened the door for private hunting and fishing clubs by granting them fishing leases …."[6] The efforts of conservationists continue today with groups such as the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.[7] This group claims that only 1 percent of the Restigouche watershed is protected from development.[8]
The Ristigouche
The Ristigouche and its Salmon Fishing With a Chapter on Angling Literature is a limited-edition book about the Restigouche River, written by Dean Sage and published by David Douglas in Edinburgh in 1888. It is notable for containing a portfolio of 16 etchings and engravings and numerous page decorations, depicting various aspects of the river by notable artists of the day including
External links
See also
- List of rivers of New Brunswick
- List of rivers of Quebec
- Gulf of St. Lawrence
- Escuminac River (Quebec), a watercourse
- Rivière du Loup (Restigouche), a watercourse
- Matapedia River, a watercourse
- Patapédia River, a watercourse
- Upsalquitch River, a watercourse
- Kedgwick River, a watercourse
- Little Main Restigouche River
References
- ^ a b "Names of pan-Canadian significance". Geographical Names Board of Canada. 25 March 2009.
- ^ http://www.elements.nb.ca/Theme/estuaries/mike/lushington.htm Éléments, Online environmental magazine
- ^ Listuguj, Mikmaq Online
- ISBN 0-7715-9754-1.
- ^ "Our Water –Restigouche River Lodge | an Atlantic Salmon Fly Fishing Lodge".
- ^ a b "CHRS - Upper Restigouche River - Fact Sheet". www.chrs.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03.
- ^ Protecting the Restigouche, CPAWS-NB
- ^ "Restigouche – CPAWS New Brunswick".
- ^ Fine Books and Manuscripts New York 20 Jun 2007. "Lot 5068 SAGE, DEAN. 1841-1902". Bonhams. Bonhams. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
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