By the mid-nineteenth century, the inland fishery was not just a food source but a leisure pursuit for residents to enjoy.

he growth of New Brunswick's population and industry by the 1840s resulted in a change of lifestyle for some of its residents. To that point, a survivalist mentality had prevailed and the province's natural resources were seen from a purely utilitarian point of view and were considered an inexhaustible source of sustenance. After 1840, continued immigration and development was encouraged, but outside commentators now extolled the virtues of New Brunswick's scenery as much as the value of its shipbuilding or lumber industries.

The inland or non-tidal fishery was a good example of this change. While many residents saw this resource primarily in terms of food, some began to take to the rivers and lakes as a recreational pursuit. Overfishing, especially with nets, continued and remained a problem into the twentieth century but the use of the rod and reel marked a shift in the way this resource was harvested. It suggested a world with more leisure time and, perhaps, the beginnings of an appreciation for fishing for its own sake.