They had a very clear idea of their rights.  Nairne’s grant conferred upon him those of fishing and hunting.  But the inhabitants declared that when land was once granted, the seigneur lost all control over the adjoining waters.  Nairne wished, for instance, to prohibit the spearing of salmon at night by the Canadians, with the aid of torches or lanterns.  But they had never been hampered by such restrictions and, when Nairne tried to check them, they said that they would not be hindered.  It was in vain that he said “I had rather have no power at all and no seigneurie at all [than] not to be able to keep up the rights of it.”  When, in 1797, he ordered one Joseph Villeneuve to cease the “flambeau” fishing at night, the fellow “roared and bellowed” and set him at defiance; no less than twenty companions joined him in the fishing.  They would acknowledge no law nor restraint and seem to have had force majeure on their side.  It was not until long after that the legislature at Quebec passed strict laws regulating the modes of fishing.

Whatever the limitations on the seigneur’s authority he had the undoubted right of control over fishing in rivers and lakes until the adjacent lands were conceded to occupiers.  It was important, therefore, not to grant lands which carried with them the best fishing and Nairne’s ardent friend Gilchrist kept exhorting him from Scotland on this point.  “There is no place ...  I would so willingly and happily pass life in,” he wrote, in 1775, “as in your Neighbourhood and often have I been seized with the memory of your easy and uncontrolled way of rising, lying, dancing, drinking, &c., at your habitation....  One hope ...  I wish to be well founded and that is that your Stewart, Factor or Attorney, has not conceded any lands with the River in front from the Rapides du Vieux Moulin.  If otherwise, you have lost more than the profits [which] all above Brassar’s will yield in our lifetime.  The fishing in that part of the River is alone worth crossing the Atlantic.”

Over trade Nairne and Fraser tried to exercise some real control.  Their grants gave them no right to trade with the Indians and in reality no authority over trade.  But they were guardians of the law and took steps to check traders from violating it.  One Brassard, who lived up the Murray River, seems to have been a frequent offender.  It was easy to debauch the Indians with drink and then to get their furs for very little and the seigneurs needed always to be alert.  In 1778 we find Malcolm Fraser making with one Hugh Blackburn a bargain which outlines what the seigneurs tried to do in regard to trade.  Blackburn binds himself in the sum of L200 to obey certain restrictions:  he will not attempt to debauch the Indians belonging to the King’s Posts; in no circumstances will he sell them liquor; nor will he sell liquor on credit to anyone.  He will obey the lawful orders of Nairne and Fraser relative to the carrying on of his trade; he will pay his debts, and will make others pay what they owe him, refusing them credit if accounts are not paid within six months.  In consideration of these pledges by Blackburn Fraser guarantees his credit with the Quebec merchants.  The difficulty in regard to trade with the Indians settled itself by the tragic remedy of their gradual extinction.  In 1800 Nairne says that the Micmacs, once a great nuisance, are now rarely seen.