r te éammonneah of Massachusetts

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he Ok REPORT

SEX 4 UPON THE

ALEWIFE FISHERIES OF
: MASSACHUSETTS

Division or FIsHEeRizs anD GAME

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

 

BOSTON

WRIGHT & POTTER FRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS
32 DERNE STREET
1921

 

 

 

 

 
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New York
State College of Agriculture
At Cornell University
Ithaca, N. Y.

 

Library
Cornell University Library

TT
Che Commonwealth of Massachusetts

A REPORT

UPON THE

ALEWIFE FISHERIES OF
MASSACHUSETTS»

0.4. Becoine

 

} 3S” pp-

DIvIsIoN oF FISHERIES AND GAME

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

 

BOSTON

WRIGHT & POTTER PRINTING CO., STATE PRINTERS
32 DERNE STREET
1921
REPORT UPON THE ALEWIFE FISHERIES
OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Part I.

 

INTRODUCTION.

An important part of the work of a progtessive State fish
and game commission is the investigation of natural resources
for the purpose of determining proper and effective methods
of conserving these valuable assets for the benefit of the public.
For the past fifteen years the Massachusetts Division of Fish-
eries and Game has been investigating such economic prob-
lems, one of which, the alewife fishery, furnishes an excellent
illustration of the practical value of biological study in the
preservation of a commercial fishery.

Importance. —Since the disappearance of the shad, the ale-
wife, or branch herring (Pomolobus pseudoharengus), the most
abundant food fish inhabiting the rivers of the Atlantic coast,
has become commercially the most valuable anadromous fish
in Massachusetts. Ever since the landing of the Pilgrims,
when the alewife provided the most readily available source of
food for the early inhabitants of New England, it has been
closely related to the prosperity of the shore towns, where it
has always been held as a public asset. The successful re-es-
tablishment of this depleted fishery would benefit the shore
towns directly, and indirectly would prove of even greater value
to the fisheries as a whole.

The alewife is of value as food, as bait, and as a food sup-
ply for other salt and fresh-water fish. Either fresh or cured,
it forms an excellent and inexpensive article of diet. Because
of its abundance and comparative cheapness, it is satisfactory
as bait, and recently its scales have become of commercial
value. In the fresh-water ponds, which serve as spawning
grounds, the young alewives furnish a by no means insignifi-
6

cant source of food for the predacious fresh-water species such
as bass, perch and pickerel. Of greater importance is the at-
traction they offer to pollock, bluefish, squeteague and other
marine food fishes which come to our shores to prey upon the
young alewives when they descend the coastal streams. The
simultaneous decline of the alewife and shore fisheries suggests
that there is a direct relation between the two, and that the
success of the fishing towns along the coast in a considerable
measure is dependent upon the flourishing condition of the
alewife fishery.

Results. — The investigation has.shown the present impov-
erished condition ,of the fishery, the causes contributing to its
decline, and has brought out certain points in the life history
and habits of the alewife which furnish a basis for establishing
cultural methods. These remedial measures are based upon
a thorough and judicious consideration of the facts disclosed
by a study of the natural history of the alewife, a survey of
the streams up which alewives once ran, and a review of the.
statistical records of each fishery. If this program is followed
and the present faulty methods of operating the fishery are
eliminated, the alewife industry of Massachusetts is capable
of substantial development.

The requisite steps in the reconstruction work are: —

(1) An unobstructed and uncontaminated passageway from
salt water to the spawning grounds.

(2) Artificial restocking of depleted streams and the creation
of new fisheries in favorable localities.

(3) Adequate and efficient methods of regulating the fishery.

Presentation. — The aim of this report is to present to the
general public, more especially the residents of the shore towns,
general information concerning the present condition, history
and possibility of development of the alewife fishery. Harmful
practices of various kinds have been uncovered, and responsi-
bility for these conditions has been squarely and openly placed
where it belongs.

The first part of the report considers general topics, such as:
(1) The natural history; (2) the fishery; (3) the causes of
decline; and (4) remedial measures. The second part contains
a description of the individual alewife streams, arranged in
geographical order, with specific recommendations for their
7
development. The length of this report does not permit the
publication of many interesting details concerning the various
fisheries, complete records of which are on file with the Divi-
sion of Fisheries and Game.

Acknowledgments. —The greater part of the statistical and
survey work was conducted in a most capable manner by Mr.
Roy 8. Corwin, to whom special commendation is due for his
excellent and accurate descriptions of the numerous streams
and fisheries. The observations on the spawning and artificial
propagation of the alewife were made in 1919 and 1920 by Mr.
J. A. Kitson. Our sincere thanks are due to the many holders
of the alewife privileges, both past and present, and to alewife
dealers, for their ready co-operation, with few exceptions, in
furnishing reliable information as to the yield, methods of oper-
ation and history of the fisheries. We are also deeply in-
debted to town officials, particularly to town clerks and mem-
bers of herring committees, for their courtesy in furnishing
valuable records.

Methods of Investigation. — The work consisted of three
parts: (1) a survey of the coastal streams; (2) a statistical
study of fishing methods; and (3) an investigation of the life
history and habits of the alewife.

The survey comprised a biological examination and personal
inspection of each stream, with maps and descriptions of all
important features. Special emphasis was placed on the condi-
tion and accessibility of the spawning grounds, the location of
dams, presence or absence of fishways, the volume of water in
the stream, and possible sources of pollution, both trade waste
and sewage. The life history and habits were observed at the
spring runs, on the spawning grounds and during artificial.
hatching.

The various methods of operating the fishery under town
control were studied from the standpoint of efficiency and the
resulting effect upon general conditions in the different streams.
The testimony of members of herring committees, operators of
fisheries, fish dealers and townspeople interested in the fisheries,,
was taken, and the town records were examined for local regu-
lations. Statistics, both past and present, were gathered from
all available sources, including town documents, fish committee
reports and various legislative enactments.
NATURAL HISTORY.

Species. —The herrings, Clupeide, are characterized by an
oblong body, absence of the lateral line, and by cycloid scales.
While the majority of the numerous herring species are con-
fined to the ocean, some ascend the coastal rivers for the pur-
pose of spawning. In the latter class is the alewife (Pomolobus
pseudoharengus), which is reported by Bean (1) as landlocked
in the lakes of New York. In Massachusetts waters the prin-
cipal allied species capable of being confused with the alewife
are the adult and young of both the sea herring (Clupea
harengus) and the glut herring (Pomolobus estivalis), and the
young menhaden (Brevoortia tyrranus).

Names. — The scientific name of the alewife is Pomolobus
pseudoharengus (Wilson), although the term Clupea venialis was
used by McDonald in 1880, and Alosa tyrranus and Clupea
tyrranus by Lyman in 1872. The common names of this spe-
cies are branch herring; spring herring; alewife in New England,
with the modifications of ellwife or ellvhop on the Connecticut
River; big-eyed or wall-eyed herring on the Albemarle River;
grey back, to distinguish it from the blueback, blackback or
glut herring; and gaspereau and kyack in Canada.

Description. — The alewife in general conforms closely to the
herring type, but is characterized by a grayish blue back, white
silvery sides, fairly deep body, strongly serrated abdomen
and large eyes. In Massachusetts the adults range in size
from 8.5 to 13 inches, the average being 10.58 inches. Three
and four year old fish, and possibly even two, may ascend the
same stream, causing marked variation in the different schools,
as is indicated by the following measurements from ten
streams: —

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenerts in Incuss.
Sex. Number.
Smallest. | Largest. | Average.
Male, j 634 8.50 12.00 10.29
Fomale: ‘ 636 9.50 13.00 10.88
Total, : 1,270 8.50 13.00 10.58

 

 

 

 

 

 
9

Although the difference in the size of fish at various periods
of the spring run is a matter of comment among the fishermen,
our measurements, confined to a limited period on Monument
River, Bournedale, show only a slight difference.

 

 

 

 

Mates. FEMALES. Toran.
Date.
Length Length Length
Number. (Inches). Number. (Inches). Number. (Inches).
May 14, 1920, : 43 10.71 57 10.92 100 10.83
May 20, 1920, é 3 100 10.41 100 11.04 200 10.73

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The variation in the different streams is somewhat more
striking.

 

 

 

 

 

LenetH in IncHEs.
STREAM, Date.

Males. Females. fe

Females.
Mashpee River, ; . | May 18, 1920 10.00 10.59 59
Herring River, Harwich, . . | May 11, 1920 10.28 10.97 69
Agawam River, . | May 19, 1920 10.19 10.76 57
Mattapoisett River, : ‘ . | May 19, 1920 10.51 11.03 52
Red Brook, Cataumet, . . | May 18, 1920 9.89 10.70 81
Monument River, . . | May 20, 1920 10.41 11.04 63

 

 

 

 

 

 

The males are smaller and weigh less than the females, and
during the breeding season the different contour of the females
makes separation easy. In 1,270 measurements the males
averaged 10.29 inches compared with 10.88 inches for the
females, a difference of 0.59 of an inch in favor of the latter.
Approximately 92 per cent of the fish ran as follows: males,
from 9.5 to 11 inches; females, 10 to 11.5 inches.

There is some danger of confusion with the glut herring, which
also enters the coastal streams for spawning, but at a slightly
later date than the true alewife. According to Smith (4) its
spawning takes place nearer the sea. Although superficially the
alewife and glut herring resemble each other, the black lining
of the body cavity in the latter makes differentiation easy. A
close observer will note that externally the alewife is deeper,
10

has more elevated fins, larger eyes, and a lighter colored back
than the glut herring.

Distribution. — The alewife is common along the Atlantic
coast from Canada to North Carolina. In Massachusetts.
practically all the coastal streams were formerly frequented by
this fish, but as a result of the activities of man, it has been
exterminated in many localities.

REPRODUCTION.

At the approach of the spawning season the alewife ascends.
the tidal streams in order to deposit its spawn in fresh water,
a process which has become a part of the life cycle of anad-
romous fish, and for which no satisfactory explanation has ever
been offered.

Sexes. — The ratio of males and females in the spring run
varies considerably, first one sex and then the other predomi-
nating. On the spawning grounds the usual combination is 5 to
6 males to 1 female, although schools of 10 to 25 males may
be seen following 1 or 2 females. Apparently the males greatly
predominate in the late runs. On June 23, 1919, as high as
95 per cent males were obtained in Monument River, and 98
per cent on the spawning grounds of Great Herring Pond.
Observations in May, 1920, gave the following proportion of
males and females during the spring run: —

 

 

 

 

 

Per Cent.
STRBAM. Date.
Males. Females.

Mashpee River, -| May 18 53.0 47.0
Herring River, Harwich, . | May 12 51.5 48.5
Agawam River, : . | May 19 35.9 64.1
Monument River, . one rae ae

May 20 41.5 58.5
Mattapoisett River, . , -| May 17 44.5 55.5
Red Brook, Cataumet, . ‘ j a - | May 18 56.0 44.0

 

 

 

 

 

Eggs. — The eggs, averaging zc of an inch in diameter,
when deposited sink to the bottom where they adhere to
stones, gravel, coarse sand, logs and other material. This ad-.
11

hesive quality, since it causes massing together, furnishes one
of the difficulties of artificial hatching. Microscopically the
eggs appear as dense opaque spheres filled with yolk granules.
They approximate the size of white perch eggs, numbering
from 60 to 100,000 per female. When collected for hatching,
after adhesion and clumping have stopped, the eggs are firm,
hard and of a light coffee color.

Spawning Habits. — The majority of females when running
up stream contain unripe eggs, while the greater part of the
males appear ripe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mauss (Per Cent). Fremaes (PER Cent).
STREAM. 1920.
Ripe. ae Unripe. || Ripe. oe Unripe.
Mashpee River, . | May 18 100 2 94 4
Herring River, Harwich, .}| May 11 91 7 2 6 46 48
Agawam River, . | May 26 92 5 3 6 82 12
May 14 83 12 5 4 77 19
Monument River,

May 20 78 12 10 15 69 16
Mattapoisett River, . . | May 19 93 5 2 15 79 6
Red Brook, Cataumet, .| May 18 97 3 7 66 27

Average, s. od 90.6 6.3 3.1 7.8 | 73.3 | 18.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temperature conditions being favorable, the eggs rapidly
ripen when the fish reaches the spawning grounds. During the
act of spawning the alewives swim in small schools around the
edges of the pond, one female accompanied by several males.
When the eggs are deposited they are immediately covered
with the milt by the closely following males. During this
schooling or mating process the fish dart hither and thither
over the sandy shoals, frequently breaking the surface of the
water by their energetic rushing. Apparently no distinction is
made as to the time of depositing the spawn, which is accom-
plished both by day and night. Our observations suggest that
the greater part is accomplished during the day, whereas Prince
(5) finds that in Canada on moonlight nights the shallow waters
present a much disturbed appearance, owing to the energetic
movements of mating fish. After spawning, the alewives remain
a variable time in the pond, and then return to salt water.
12

Spawning Grounds. — In Massachusetts the fresh-water ponds
which form the headwaters of the coastal streams furnish the
spawning grounds. ‘Two classes are found: (1) the ordinary
tributary tidal stream, with one or more fresh-water ponds
at its source at a variable distance from the ocean, and (2)
the fresh or brackish shore pond (Fig. 1) separated from
the salt water by a narrow sand beach through which there
is a shifting natural opening or an artificial channel. The
ponds of Martha’s Vineyard belong to the latter type, and the
alewives enter directly from the salt water through temporary
openings.

Spawning Season.— The spawning season varies slightly
from year to year, the approach of the alewives to the shores
being regulated chiefly by temperature. According to the
United States Bureau of Fisheries records the alewife is seen in
the Potomac River by March 4, but in New Brunswick does
not enter the St. John River until May 10, although present
in the Bay of Fundy in April. The first fish appear earlier in
certain streams. In Massachusetts the greater part of the run
occurs between the middle of April and the first of June. In
some streams the first fish come as early as the last week in
March, and in others are still running by the last of June. In
1920 the run started as follows: March 20, Mattapoisett River;
April 1, Agawam River, Herring River, Wellfleet, Bass River;
April 10, Herring River, Harwich; April 15, Mashpee River;
May 1, Monument River and Stony Brook, Brewster.

Temperature and Spawning. — Temperature is the most im-
portant factor in regulating the spawning season from the ap-
pearance of the adult alewives off the coast to the development
of the young. A certain minimum is necessary to permit the
spawning to take place, and above 55° F. the development of
the egg becomes more rapid in direct proportion’ with the in-
crease in temperature, until the maximum is attained — about
70° F. The 1920 temperature of Nye’s Pond, a spring-fed
body of water where alewives naturally spawn, is given in the
following table. The first alewives came May 10, and were
descending as late as August 20.
13

 

 

 

Average Tem-
WEEK ENDING — perature of Water
(Degrees F.).
March 6, : 36.8
March 13, . 38.0
March 20, ¢ é ‘ 43.0
March 27, : é 49.5
April 3, > et say Ce we oi 49.6
April 10, nn 2 “ j . ‘ I 46.9
April 17, . i % : @ “ ‘ 3 e 48.0
April 24, . ‘4 r ‘ ‘ ‘ ’ ; ‘ ‘ 50.1
May 1, : 3 . < 5 - ‘ i 51.6
May 8, 7 % . 5 : ‘ q 52.3
May 15, a ‘ . : . ‘ 55.8
May 22, = is é . ‘ 57.3
May 29, ‘ ‘ A i 56.1
June 6, z 3 62.5.
June 13, . ‘ 61.6
June 20, z : ‘ 61.3
June 27, Z 64.4
July 3, ‘ 3 67.2
July 10, F i 5 7 r 67.4
July 17, 2 5 67.6
July 24, i 3 i 68.3 -
July 31, 4 ‘ 66.4

 

 

 

Development. — When the eggs are deposited on the natural
beds they are at once covered with milt, which the male scatters
by thrashing his tail. The eggs then adhere to the suitable
objects on the bottom in such a way that it is impossible to
gather any appreciable quantity for hatching purposes. On
“stripping” the fish for artificial fertilization the eggs adhere
to each other and form masses until “hardened” by frequent
washings.

The period of time which it takes artificially fertilized eggs
to hatch at 72° F. ranges from forty-eight to ninety-six hours.
The first lot of 8 ounces was placed at the Sandwich Hatchery
June 25, 1919, and in forty-eight hours one-half had hatched,
80 per cent of the eggs proving fertile. In the surface water
were thousands of tiny alewives with food sacs, nearly trans-
14

parent in appearance, and with tails resembling fine silk
threads. The tiny creatures, about one-fifth of an inch in
length (5 millimeters), wiggled through the water with sur-
prising activity. The eyes in both the egg and the hatched
fish were but faintly visible. At the end of ninety-six hours
their size had increased considerably, the outline of the yolk
sac and body was plainly marked, and the eyes showed prom-
inently. By this time all the eggs had hatched. In cold water
the period of development is retarded proportionately to the
lowering of the temperature. As the eggs require such a short
time for hatching, the young fry are soon present in abundance
on the spawning grounds.

According to Prince (5) the young alewife reaches three-fifths
of an inch (15 millimeters) at the end of the first month, when
it becomes a slim, translucent creature with a broad tail and
relatively large pre-anal fin, more closely resembling a sand eel
than an alewife. Some ten days later, when measuring 16.5
millimeters, the young fish is more slender, the tail has become
more spatulated, the dorsal fin is more prominent, and the
head is short and blunt, with a relatively large eye. At the
size of 14 inches (30 millimeters), the young alewife assumes
more nearly the appearance of the adult, with a large rounded
head, relatively large eye, and shortened body. When 13
inches (35 millimeters) long, the appearance is practically the
same, with the exception of the lengthened translucent body
and the appearance of the serrations of the middle abdominal
scales, — a characteristic of the adult.

The young alewives attain the approximate length of 2 to 4
inches by fall, when they descend from the breeding grounds
to the ocean, unless their journey is prevented by artificial
obstructions. Young alewives have been seen as early as June
18 passing down stream to the ocean, but the majority do not
start on the journey until the first of September, or later. At
Cornelius Island, Rhode Island, Tracey (6) records specimens
measuring 13 inches which were taken in a seine on Aug. 8,
1908. Bean (1) states that specimens taken in Great South
Bay, Long Island, on this date, ranged from 2 to 32 inches,
and in September, from 2 to 43 inches.

In late summer young alewives of various lengths school on _
15

the spawning ponds, their size depending upon: (1) geographi-
cal location, spawning taking place earlier in southern waters;
(2) time of spawning, eggs from the first run hatching almost
two months earlier than those of the last; (8) temperature,
abundance of food supply, size of spawning ponds, and length
of time before the return to salt water. Their subsequent
rate of growth is largely a matter of conjecture, since they are
not seen again until they return as adult fish to the parent
stream for spawning.

Food. — In salt water, the food of the alewife and other her-
ring consists mostly of small plankton forms, such as diatoms,
alge, small crustaceans, and other minute animals and plants.
Instances have been cited where alewives have risen to the
artificial fly, and where they have been taken with small eels
as bait; but, as a rule, in passing to the spawning grounds
alewives take little or no food. The young feed on the fresh-
water plankton forms so abundant in the spawning ponds, and
with increasing size enlarge the scope of their dietary.

Enemies. — Among the natural enemies which attack both
young and adult are man, predacious fish, birds, disease, pollu-
tion and changes in environment. As soon as the eggs are de-
posited the uphill struggle for existence begins. Following the
spawning alewives come a procession of white and yellow perch,
suckers and minnows, eagerly devouring the ripe spawn, —a
procedure which occurs in every pond inhabited by these
species. Individually, suckers appear the most destructive,
yellow perch next and white perch the least.

As the young alewives increase in size they serve as food for
the larger fresh-water fishes such as perch, bass and pickerel,
and when they descend to the ocean their arrival is often an-
ticipated by numerous salt-water species which lie in wait at
the mouths of the coastal rivers. In the fall of 1915, in Aga-
wam River, a school of white perch was observed eagerly feed-
ing upon young alewives as they descended the stream. The
Joss from birds such as herons, terns and other fish-eating
species is an indeterminable but probably a negligible factor.

Both the young and old fish are susceptible to bacterial and
parasitic diseases, concerning which little is known at the pres-
ent time. The older fish have a lowered vitality after spawn-
16

ing, and in their weakened condition are less able to withstand
attacks of fungus and similar fresh-water affections.

In the ponds both young and old alewives are subjected to
changes in food supply, oxygen content of the water, tempera-
ture and weather conditions. ‘The artificial changes in the
rivers, streams and ponds resulting from the influence of trade
waste pollution plays an appreciable but as yet indeterminable
part in their life history and habits.

MicRatIon.

Little is known of the history of the alewife after it descends
as a small fish to the ocean. Exactly where it goes and what
happens in the interval before its return is unknown, although
it probably frequents deep water. Even the extensive studies
of the habits and migrations of the sea herring, especially on
the Scottish coast and in the North Sea, have thrown little
light on this phase of the existence of the closely related alewife.

The fresh-water cycle of the alewife’s life is better known.
It approaches the coast at a definite period in the spring, mak-
ing its appearance in the vicinity of the Carolinas as early as
March, and later reaching the northern rivers. This sequence
does not prove a definite northward movement, but it indicates
that its annual migration is largely governed by the tempera-
ture of the water.

After spawning the adult fish returns to salt water in a lean,
emaciated condition. Whether these fish spawn but once or
continue to spawn annually has not been determined. The
experience of commercial observers indicates that they probably
spawn but once. If the same fish spawned repeatedly the
fishery would enlarge beyond our most favorable dreams, and
fluctuations in the annual catch would not exist.

Ascending Streams. — Current appears to be the stimulating
factor in the ascent of streams. In a rapid. flow, progress is
almost continuous, but in more quiet waters, such as pools or
eddies, for no apparent reason, the fish may remain in one local-
ity, darting forward, falling back, shifting position, or lying
quietly in the stream, but making no appreciable headway.
Then one fish, usually a female, takes the lead, closely followed
by several males, the entire school trailing along behind, and
17

the process is repeated in another place. If the water forms
an eddy, the alewives swim in circles, apparently unable to
differentiate the back flow from that of the main stream, up
which they may show a reluctance to ascend.

Alewives ascend in schools of five to ten, unless the run is
especially heavy, when a steady procession is formed. In
ascending falls some time is usually spent in manceuvering for
the start. A quick dart forward directly into the current, with
a wriggling movement, shoots the fish rapidly along until the
first obstacle is reached, when it leaps into the air, returning
to the water once more for another short dash and a second
rise, if further obstructions are present. Thus, in passing a
series of abrupt rises in a natural stream, or in a straight-run
fishway, the alewife by a quick, powerful start makes a series
of rapid flights alternately through the air and water until it
reaches the calm water at the top. Many are unsuccessful,
and are swept downstream, where they begin the ascent once
more. In such locations a heavy run is a beautiful sight, with
the silvery white of the leaping fish projected against the darker
background of the stream.

The exact height over which an alewife can leap is not known,
but it is probably in the neighborhood of 2 to 23 feet. The
1-foot rise used in our standard fishways is readily and easily
taken by the adults. The facilities afforded for a run, strength
of current and volume of flow determine the height which may
be surmounted.

Exactly how much aid in passing over obstacles is furnished
by the serrated ventral scales is problematical. The fish fre-
quently turn slightly on one side and wriggle over obstacles,
especially in shallow water, clinging and even progressing
against tremendous odds.

Descending Streams. — When leaving the spawning grounds
the adult fish pass through an interesting procedure. One
school of fifty fish was observed to swim in circles, gradually
approaching the opening to the stream. Suddenly, for no ap-
parent reason, they darted back into the deeper waters of the
pond, and, after repeating the advancing process, approached
a little nearer to the outlet. Again they made a sudden retreat
and a still nearer approach, and finally, after innumerable ap-
18

proaches and retreats covering a period of many hours, one
fish, more bold than the rest, dared to enter the outlet, and
after it trailed the entire school. Several days are consumed in
passing down stream, the exact period of time depending upon
the length of the river.

Parent Stream Theory. — From observations in handling local
alewife fisheries the “parent stream theory” has been evolved.
Briefly, the theory is that the young alewives descending from
a particular pond and stream return as adult fish to the same
stream for spawning, thus establishing a continuous chain.
There are good reasons to consider this theory favorably. Prac-
tical demonstration has shown that fisheries have been created
in streams which had no alewives by the simple expedient of
placing spawning alewives in the headwaters. The offspring
returned as adult fish to the same spawning grounds, thus
establishing a fishery. Similarly, depleted fisheries have been
re-established. Experience has likewise shown that a poor year,
when but few alewives reach the spawning grounds, is followed
at a stated interval by a corresponding lean year. From such
observations we can accept the “parent stream theory” as the
best working hypothesis available.

Among the specific illustrations of the return of alewives to
the parent stream may be mentioned the following: —

(1) According to the United States Bureau of Fisheries, sev-
eral hundred spawning alewives were placed in Keene’s Pond
which had an outlet into Calais River, Maine. The young
were noted in large numbers in the pond, and on the fourth
year large numbers of adult fish returned for spawning to the
Keene’s Pond stream, where no alewives had even been seen
before.

(2) Lyman (3) reports the establishment of a fishery in four
years in a similar manner at Plymouth.

(3) Mr. George M. Besse of Wareham obtained results in
three years in Little Mill Pond and in Five Mile Pond, and a
remarkable increase in the fishery was obtained in Mattapoisett
River in 1920 by allowing all fish to reach the spawning grounds
in 1917.

This theory has been accepted as the basis of our future work
in the development of the alewife fishery, and we can conf-
19

dently state that any stream with available spawning grounds
may be given a commercial fishery by removing all obstructions
to the free passage of alewives, and by placing a sufficient
number of mature fish in the headwaters.

Influence of Natural Conditions. — The life history and habits
of the alewife are markedly influenced by environment, espe-
cially during migration and spawning. Wind and tide affect
their entrance and progress up streams, by shifting the sandy
openings to the brackish water ponds near the coast, and
changing the mouths of the streams. As a rule, alewives fol-
low the greatest flow, —an important fact to take into con-
sideration in the location of fishways.

Judging from the fact that fresh water evidently attracts
anadromous fish in the spawning season, apparently the mineral
content of the water has an important influence upon the
migration of fish. If such is the case, chemical pollution from
manufacturing plants may be a more serious problem than
is commonly considered. Alewives ordinarily show a tendency
to avoid the dark, but on the Agawam River they pass for
50 feet through an unlighted fishway. However, it is advisable
whenever possible to have open fishways. Temperature and
food supply also are important factors governing the movements
of old and young.

THE FISHERY.

Commercially the alewife is valuable both for food and for
bait. Its abundance and comparative cheapness renders it of
the utmost importance to the Massachusetts shore towns.
Smith (4) states that in 1896 nearly 150,000,000 were sold in
fourteen States, in addition to large quantities given away at
the shore, and that over 2,500 persons were engaged in the ale-
wife fisheries, besides many thousands of people who operated
apparatus in which alewives constituted an important part of
the catch. At that time Maryland, North Carolina and Vir-
ginia were the leading alewife States, although important fish-
eries also existed in Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massa-
chusetts, New York and New Jersey.

In Massachusetts there are two types of alewife fisheries, the
natural and the artificial, both of which have been developed
under town control.
20

NATURAL FISHERIES.

In early days nearly every coast town possessed one or
more natural streams upon which fisheries were soon established
under town management, and in a few cases by private indi-
viduals. Unless the fishery was completely ruined, its opera-
tion was conducted in one or a combination of four ways: (1)
free; (2) town-operated; (3) leased; and (4) privately owned.

Free. — The free alewife fisheries are the poorest producers,
in some cases because the fishery is valueless, in others because
the fishery is free. As the name implies, it gives any inhabitant
of the town the privilege of catching alewives subject only to
general regulations in regard to time, manner and place of
capture. In most cases these regulations either do not exist
or are not enforced. Usually the town is completely indifferent
to the welfare of the fishery, and in maintaining it, follows the
lines of least resistance.

Town-operated. —In a few cases the fishery is operated di-
rectly by the town, and the upkeep of the stream as well as
the cost of catching is carried by the town as a straight busi-
ness venture. Our observations indicate that this method has
given uniformly poor results because of the inability of the
town officials to run a commercial fishery as economically as a
private business.

Leased. — Most fisheries are leased, %.e., sold to the highest
bidder at public auction. As a rule, this method of handling
the fishery when properly regulated is more successful than the
first two, but careless town management favors the exploita-
tion of the fishery by the purchaser, and an unscrupulous or
ignorant purchaser can readily ruin any alewife stream under
the elastic regulations ordinarily in force. Carefully regulated,
the lease system may become of great benefit to the alewife
fishery. All fisheries are not leased under the same regulations.
Nearly every town has special rules regarding the length of
lease, the days for catching, and the privileges granted to towns-
people for obtaining alewives. The method of sale differs, the
price depending upon the success of the fishery and the expense
of its operation. The fisheries may be leased as follows: —

(1) Long Lease. — Mill River, Sandwich, furnishes an exam-
21

ple of the long lease of a natural alewife stream by legislative
act. During this nominally private ownership, even less care
has been taken of the fishery than if it had remained the prop-
erty of the town. Leasing natural fisheries for too long periods
without specific regulations works against their best interests.

(2) One-year Lease. — The popular and almost universal
practice of leasing from year to year prevails in most towns, the
privilege being sold annually at town meeting. This method
has proved a most pernicious influence in the decline of many
fisheries by encouraging their exploitation by the temporary
purchaser.

(3) One to Five Year Lease. — Certain towns give longer
leases, which, however, never exceed five years. The three-year
period is next in popularity to the one-year lease, but rarely
two, and occasionally five, are given. As a rule, these longer
leases form breaks in a succession of single-year leases, but of
late they have become more common, and several towns have
permanently lengthened their one-year leases to the decided
improvement of the fishery. In our opinion a five-year period
should be the minimum time, if the future welfare of the fishery
is to be considered. The two best alewife fisheries in Massa-
chusetts — Herring River, Harwich, and Agawam River — have
had the five-year system, the former since 1884, when it suc-
ceeded the three-year period, and the latter 1914 to 1919. In
some instances the term of lease is determined at town meeting;
in others the power to determine the time is conferred upon the
herring committee or selectmen.

(4) Percentage Lease. —'Temporarily fisheries have been sold
on a percentage basis, the purchaser furnishing to the town a
certain percentage of the gross catch, after complying with cer-
tain stipulations regarding the sale to townspeople.

(5) Cranberry Leases. — In a few streams — e.g., Fresh Brook,
Plymouth — the fishery is purchased by the owners of cranberry
bogs along its course, to enable them to control the water with-
out outside interference.

(6) Non-operating Leases. — Occasionally fisheries are leased
and not operated, the alewives being given free passage to the
ponds for the purpose of developing the fishery, thus establish-
ing a closed season.
22

(7) Seining Privileges. —On North, Bass and Taunton rivers
privileges of seining alewives are sold under various restrictions
as to time, place and apparatus. The number of privileges
varies, depending upon the size of the river and the number
of riparian towns.

ARTIFICIAL FISHERIES.

Alewife fisheries have been artificially created m streams or
ponds where no alewives were previously found by the simple
expedient of connecting these ponds by canals either directly
with the salt water, as on Martha’s Vineyard, or through
coastal streams, as in the case of Nine Mile Pond Stream in
Barnstable, thus affording accessible spawning grounds.

Many natural alewife fisheries have been aided artificially
by extra canals, ditches and sluiceways constructed for the pur-
pose of facilitating fishing methods, and of increasing the de-
creasing supply in the coastal streams. Outlets which have
become closed through natural changes have been artificially
opened, and the fish permitted once more to frequent their old
spawning grounds. In certain instances the headwaters of one
stream have been joined to another by an artificial ditch, e.g.,
Snipatuit Pond and Mattapoisett River, John’s Pond and
Quashnet River, Long Pond and Herring River (Fig. 2).

On Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard the simple procedure
of opening the brackish water ponds to the ocean by cutting
short ditches through the sandy beach has been followed (Fig.
1). Owing to the shifting sand these ditches require reopening
nearly every year. The alewife industries on Nantucket and
Martha’s Vineyard are good illustrations of the ability of man
to create successful fisheries artificially. Since but few streams
are found on these islands, the important fishing centers are
located in the large ponds near the salt water. The artificial or
partly artificial fisheries in Massachusetts naturally fall into
three groups: —

Town-managed. — Very few artificial fisheries are now oper-
ated for the public, because the majority have been developed
under long-term leases.

Privately owned. — More often these fisheries are owned out-
right by the individual or corporation who first acquired through
 

 

 

 

Fia. 1. — Outlet to ocean, Squibnocket Pond, Martha's Vineyard.

 

 

 

 

 

Fic. 2. — Wooden runway at outlet, Long Pond, Harwich.
23

legislative action the right to create the fishery, ¢.g., Nine Mile
Pond Stream in Barnstable, and Childs River in Falmouth.
Leased. — Under the Acts of 1869 the Fish and Game Com-
missioners were given the privilege of leasing the great ponds
for a suitable period of time, for the purpose of cultivating use-
ful food fish. The system of leasing shore ponds for maximum
periods of twenty years by incorporated companies for the pur-
pose of establishing alewife fisheries has been popular on Mar-
tha’s Vineyard, and special privileges have been given by the
towns in which these ponds are located. The important fish-
eries on Martha’s Vineyard, e¢.g., the Mattakessett Creeks at
Edgartown, and Tisbury Great Pond at West Tisbury, have
operated under such special legislative acts. These semi-private
fisheries have reached a most successful state of development.

Mertnops or CaTcHINe.

The method of catching alewives are comparatively simple,
but there are numerous modifications to meet the particular
needs and diversified natural conditions of the individual
streams. Originally all fisheries were free to the public, and
every householder was given the time-honored privilege of
obtaining alewives in whatever manner and at whatever times
he desired. Later, when the towns first exercised their control
over the alewife fisheries, certain places were designated by law
as locations where alewives could be taken, and fishing was for-
bidden elsewhere on the streams. The catching places have
been developed by building locks and pens in which the ale-
wives on stated days are seined or dipped as they pass up
stream.

Implements. — Dip or scoop nets, traps or weirs, and seines
are the principle implements for catching alewives. The fish are
taken with dip nets in narrow parts of the stream, in specially
constructed places (Fig. 4) and from seines or traps in which
they have been caught. The scoop or dip net has a circular
opening from 1 to 2 feet in diameter, and a handle from 5 to 7
feet in length. It is used to dip out alewives at the catching
places. Along the Atlantic coast alewives are taken in pound
nets, gill nets, seines, fyke nets, traps and dip nets.
24

All sorts of netting contrivances ranging from small fyke nets
to miniature fish traps are set in the streams. At the entrance
of Town Brook, Plymouth, an almost perfect fish weir except
for absence of a leader is used. The size of the stream in gen-
eral regulates the size of the trap. Before the alewives reach
the rivers in the spring they are taken in the salt-water traps
with other fish, sometimes in appreciable numbers, much to
the disgust of the holders of the fishing privileges on the streams.
If these traps are situated at or near the outlets of alewife
streams in such manner as to obstruct the run, their presence
constitutes a menace to the fishery.

On Taunton and North rivers, seining privileges are sold by
the various towns to the highest bidder, under various stipula-
tions as to size of seines, location and time of operating. On
the Taunton River thirteen seining privileges are divided among
the riparian towns, but in most cases permission is given the
purchaser to operate at any point on the river. In recent

years the value of these privileges has seriously declined, and - - -

at present several are not in use. An important part of the
voluminous legislation on Taunton River alewife fishery is con-
cerned with restrictions as to the maximum length of seine,
time of purchase, selection of locations, and establishment of
prohibited areas.

This method of capture employs the common drag seine,
which is played out from the stern of a skiff with one end at-
tached to the shore. After the seine has been set, the skiff is
swung back to shore, which explains the legal restriction that
the length of the seine should not reach across the stream.
The seine is then pulled upon the shore, and the fish removed.

Foreign Methods. —In Scotland the sea herring is taken by
seining and by drift or set gill netting, each method having its
own advocates. The success of either evidently depends upon
the locality and the conditions under which it is used. The
purse seine has the advantage of being used without a landing
place, and does not interfere with other nets, allowing a larger
catch with fewer nets. Usually these seines are 150 to 180
yards long and 20 fathoms deep, and are operated from the
boats with crews ot four men each. A mesh of 33 to 35 per
yard is said to capture small unsalable fish. The drift nets
25

with a 31 to 34 mesh per yard float in the water near the sur-
face, while the set nets are anchored at the bottom.

Screen. —The simplest method of catching is to place a
screen across the main stream to prevent the passage of the
alewives, and to dip them when they congregate in sufficient
numbers. During the days on which fishing is not permitted
the screen is lifted, and the fish are allowed a free run to the
spawning grounds.

Regulation of Water Flow. — An ingenious means of regulat-
ing the water flow at the catching station on the Agawam
River prevents the alewives from ascending above a certain
point on the catching days. The greater volume of water passes
over the south dam, forming the main stream, and the catching
pool, where the fish are taken with dip nets. From this stream
a fishway, part of which is underground, after a course of 100
yards, leads into the mill pond. At the dam the gates are so
arranged that the men operating the fishery can regulate the
flow of water to fill the catching pool to the proper height
during the fishing days. Just below the fish house, which is
located over the stream, is a gate which is regulated by the
herring committee. This gate when down forms a temporary
dam which raises the height of the water in the catching pool
so that the fish can ascend a 2-foot rise from the catching
basin into a second pool connected with the fishway. When
the gate is removed during the fishing days the water in the
pool is lowered to such an extent that there is an insurmount-
able fall of 3 to 33 feet at the upper end of the catching pool.

False Channel. — At Herring River, Wellfleet, on catching
days, the alewives run into a false channel, the main stream
being closed by a gate. The false channel, a deep horseshoe
bend shut off from the main stream at its upper and lower
ends by a screen and gate, is closed three days a week to give
the alewives free passage to the pond for spawning, and opened
for catching the remaining four.

Weirs. — Primitive brush weirs were used by the early colo-
nists. Twine traps in the form of fykes and weirs are now used
at times.

Stone Driveways. —In Parker River the alewives were form-
erly taken by the simple procedure of constructing a V-shaped
26

wall of rocks in the stream, the apex pointing up stream. At
the apex was placed a set net, 18 to 20 feet long, into which
the fish were driven from the stream below.

Fish House Passageway.— On Monument River, Bournedale,
the fish are taken as they pass through a narrow runway be-
neath the fish house, the catcher dipping them directly into
barrels or upon the wooden floor.

Catching Basins. — At Herring River, Harwich, the alewives
are allowed to collect in a large basin or pool, the upper end of
which is closed by a gate to prevent their passage up stream.
From this pool the fish are removed by seining.

Seine Trap. — At Edgartown Great Pond and Mattakessett
Creeks alewives are caught, as they enter the pond, in a trap
set at night in Cracketuxet Cove (Fig. 3). Two seines are used
to separate the runs of the two previous nights. The fish
which have been in the trap longest are taken first, and are
hauled in seines upon the beach. Wagons are backed. into the
water, and the fish transferred from the seines with dip nets..
Provision is made for a free passage during non-fishing days,
and for the exit of the alewives which have spawned by bending
to one side an end of the seine trap.

In the brackish water ponds and large rivers the fish are
usually taken by seining (Fig. 3). At Hummock Pond, Nan-
tucket, the curious procedure is followed of raking the fish upon
the shore with wooden rakes as they crowd into the opening
through the beach between the pond and the ocean. In Madde-
quet Ditch, Nantucket, a large dip net 4 feet in diameter and
8 to 9 feet long, subconical in shape, is placed longitudinally
in the stream, and raised by means of a large handle.

MARKETING.

Alewives are marketed for food or bait either fresh, in cold
storage or salted. The salted fish are shipped in barrels or,
more rarely, packed in cases. By special care in curing
and packing it is conceivable that choice brands with suit-
able trade names might be developed. Massachusetts ale-
wives, although some are used for home consumption, are
mostly shipped to the West Indies. The market for fresh ale-
 

 

 

 

Fic. 3. — Seining alewives, Mattakessett Creeks, Edgartown.

 

 

 

Fic. 4. — Catching alewives at Barker’s River, Pembroke.
27

wives requires greater development, and the possibilities of
canning the young for sardines and of utilizing the roe should
also be considered.

Food Value. — The value of the alewife as a food is becoming
more and more appreciated. In spite of its numerous bones it
is a delicious fresh table fish and a nutritious food, easily pre-
served. Its proteid and fat content ranks well with our other
food fishes. Milroy (7), in studying the food value of the sea
herring, found that the total proteid and fat percentage at the
spawning season was slightly in favor of the full and lowest
in the spent fish. The alewives are taken when full of spawn.
Nevertheless, outside of local home consumption the amount
of alewives eaten fresh is comparatively small, since for ship-
ment the fish is better marketed cured.

Salting. —In all curing or preserving operations the first
essentials for the production of a first-class food are good fresh
fish, care in handling and transporting, cleanliness and protec-
tion from weather conditions. The fish should be salted when
fresh. Cleaning is advantageous, as it does away with the
blood and those parts most liable to early decomposition, and
gives the brine a better chance to penetrate. The extent of
cleaning, if it is done at all, varies with the locality. There
is little need of sorting, as the alewives run a fairly uniform
size. No special standard is followed as to the amount of salt
which is necessary for preserving since it depends upon the
condition of the fish and their destination. Fat fish require
more salt than lean, and cleaned fish less than those salted
whole. Alewives sent to tropical countries, and those to be
kept for long periods, should receive more salt. The fish are
salted in layers in barrels and kegs, after they have been pickled
in brine. The maximum weight of an alewife is one-half pound,
the average ranging between one-third and two-fifths of a
pound.

A Rhode Island method of curing is to place the alewives in
the strongest possible brine for twenty-four to forty-eight
hours, when they are turned over and stirred, with repetition
of the process every two days. After one week they are packed
as closely as possible in strongly made barrels, about 2 bushels
of salt being used per barrel.
28

In the method used by Mr. George M. Besse of Wareham
the undressed alewives are first covered completely with salt
on the floor of the catching house, and then packed in a barrel
in the bottom of which 2 inches of salt and an equal quantity
of water have been placed. The alewives are placed in tiers
with alternating layers of salt, and the barrel is filled half full
of water. The fish remain in this “pickle” for about one month,
when they are ready for dry salting, which consists in packing
them in layers of “fine coarse” salt. Jn this form they are
ready for the market.

Smoking. —In curing the alewives by smoking, the fish are
removed from the brine, strung on sticks passed through the
eye sockets, and then are suspended in suitable houses where
they are dried and smoked. Later they are packed in boxes for
the market or shipped in bulk. On Cape Cod it is not uncom-
mon to see the picturesque sight of smoked alewives suspended
in rows.

Price. —In the early runs good prices are received for the
fresh alewives as bait. Prices fluctuate from year to year.
Smith (4) quotes the price of 1.1 cents per pound in 1880; 0.9
in 1888; and 0.7 in 1896. In 1902 it averaged $3.75 per barrel,
salted, and had so increased according to the May 26, 1919,
issue of the “Fishing Gazette,” that in 1917 alewives were sell-
ing at $6 per barrel at St. John, N. B., as compared with $4
the previous year. In 1920 prices ranged from $6'to $8 per
barrel, salted, and $3 per hundred pounds fresh, while at the
streams the freshly caught fish were sold from 50 cents to $2
per hundred count.

Scales. — In 1919 a new impetus was given the industry by
the utilization of the scales for a secret commercial process
concerning which it is impossible to obtain authentic informa~
tion. Rumor is current that the iridescent coloring material
of the scales is utilized in the manufacture of artificial pearls.
Be that as it may, the firm of Petro & Finkelstein, at Hyannis,
purchased quantities of scales during 1919 and 1920, and Mr.
F. O. Proctor of Gloucester was carrying on an extensive busi-
ness at Onset in 1920. The white lower scales only are taken
and sell at 50 to 60 cents per pound, or higher, while the scalers
receive a minimum of 10 cents per pound. At Herring River,
29

Harwich, twelve to fifteen women were engaged in the process
of scaling the fish on May 11, 1920. It is estimated that 3 to
4 pounds of scales may be obtained from 1 barrel of alewives.
The high value of the scales is shown by the great increase in
the sale price of the Agawam River fishery which rose from
$1,255 in 1919 to $11,000 in 1920. Whether this mushroom in-
dustry is a transient or permanent affair remains to be demon-
strated. At any rate, it has markedly enhanced the value of
the alewife fishery.

STATISTICS.

Since exact statistics are impossible to obtain because certain
operators feel that business secrets will be revealed if they
report the amount of their catch, our production figures are
but approximately correct. However, more accurate figures
have been obtained from the annual sale of fishing privileges,
as ordinarily these are a matter of town record.

Comparing recent with past years only two natural streams
have maintained a high standard of production, — Agawam
River, Wareham, and Herring River, Harwich. Among the
artificial fisheries, Mattakessett Creeks and Tisbury Great Pond
have yielded excellent returns. Two of the best natural streams
— Monument River and Mattapoisett River —of late years
have given inferior production, and require more careful regu-
lation by their respective towns.

The streams north of Boston have shown the greatest de-
crease, since at present with the exception of the few alewives
taken at Essex River and Weymouth Back River there is not
a fishery in operation north of North River. Of the large rivers
the famous fishery of the Merrimack has disappeared in the
same manner as the earlier Charles, Mystic, Neponset and
Connecticut River fisheries, while that of the Taunton has
seriously declined.

Revenue. — The only accurate method at our disposal for
determining the past condition of the fishery is a comparison of
the revenues received by the towns from the leased streams.
Even these figures are unsatisfactory, as they indicate the
popular estimate of the worth of the fishery rather than its
productive value, and only nine streams have consecutive rec-
ords of the yield from leasing or town operating.
30

Herring River, Harwich, has shown increasing receipts. Aga-
wam River since 1865 has brought an average return of $655.47,
the highest net receipt being $1,352.50 in 1892, and the lowest,
$55 in 1911. Both fisheries have maintained a high level, as
did Monument River until 1912, when the construction of the
Cape Cod Canal caused a most serious decline. In Jones River,
between 1874 and 1913, the average revenue was $31.64, the
highest being $101 in 1877 and 1881, and the lowest $12.33 in
1913, or, roughly, 12 per cent of the maximum. In North River
the two seining privileges of Marshfield, which for the thirty
years previous to 1900 averaged $34.85, from 1900 to 1912
brought an average of $3.40, or about 10 per cent of their
former value.

Previous to 1875 the thirteen seining privileges in the Taun-
ton River could not be sold legally for less than $100 apiece,
and under sharp competition always sold at a high premium.
At this date, owing to the scarcity of fish, a law was passed
which allowed the various cities and towns to sell the fishery
privileges at any price. During the past decade the three

fishing privileges of the city of Taunton have sold for $5 apiece.

Average Annual Revenue to Towns from Alewife Fisheries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SrrREAM. 1870-79. | 1880-89. 1890-99. 1900-09. 1910-19.

Agawam River, . s . $591 60 $539 20 | $1,124 90 $427 25 | $1,064 00
Bass River, . 677 12 330 04 178 55 346 78 312 65
Herring River, Harwich, . 349 00 401 00 558 00 645 00 1,107 50
Herring River, Wellfleet, . 59 25 289 37 642 71 389 64 8600
Mattapoisett River, ‘ 621 25 350 54 394 81 129 13 -!

Monument River, a c : 91 99 633 42 477 96 961 65
Sa eae (seining permits, Marsh- 68 27 64 96 25 81 519 410
Taunton River (city of Taunton sein- - 112 50 56 78 18 00
Rho Plymouth, 4 11 37 34 82 76 94 29 63 139 09

1 Deficit.

Production. — The accompanying table gives the approxi-
mate production for 1912, and the revenue derived by the towns
from the various Massachusetts streams and ponds which at
31

one time possessed an alewife fishery. From the information
acquired through the survey, the possible normal production
and fair revenue to the town, if each fishery were successfully
operated, has been estimated. The yield for 1912 amounted
to 16,236 barrels, and the revenue derived by the towns to

$4,370.

The greatest production was at the Mattakessett

Creeks, with $100 rental, and the highest rental $516, at Monu-
ment River, with one-half as large a catch, — an interesting
comment on the proper revenue received by our shore towns.

 

 

Possible

 

F Possi
FISHERY. Type. Produc Produ eae Annual,
Barrels. Barr els. to Town. | + Town.
Acushnet River, Public, - - -
Agawam River, Leased, 1,250 3,000 $1,050 $1,500
Bass River, Seining privileges, 700 2,500 800 | , 1,250
Bound Brook, Cohasset, Public, - 100 - 50
Cape Pond, Rockport, Public, - - -
Charles River, Public, - - -
Chathamport Alewife Brook, Private, - - -
Chebacco Brook, Essex, Leased, - 300 - 150
Childs River, Private, 90 500 - 250
Cole’s River, Leased, - 100 - 50
Coonamessett River, Public and leased, 600 2,500 500 1,250
Danvers River, Public, - - -
East Falmouth Herring River, | Private, - - -
Eel River, Leased, - - -
Falmouth Ponds (Fresh, Little, | Public, 100 500 - 250
Tres Hebe, Pigment Leased, - 200 25 100
Great Pond, Eastham, y Leased, 20 200 - 100
Herring River, Eastham, Public, - - - -
Herring River, Harwich, Leased, 1,500 3,000 700 1,500
Herring River, Wellfleet, Leased, 290 600 25 300
Ipswich River, Public, - 400 - 200
Island Creek, Duxbury, Public, - 200 - 100
Jones River, ‘ 7 -. | Leased, -1 1,000 -4 500
Lee's River, . Public, - - -
Long Pond and Parker River, Private, 100 | - 200 -
Marston’s Mills Herring River, | Leased, & 600 - 300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Closed season.
32

 

 

 

Possible Possible
Pe toon, | fi | ee tte
s.| Hon a to Town. | t5 Town.
Martha’s Vineyard Ponds: —
Black Point, Long lease, - - - $100
Chilmark, Long lease, . 130 600 = $00
Edgartown Great Pond and | Long lease, . 3,000 5,000 100 2,500
oa a Long lease, . = = =
Job’s Neck, Long lease, . - - -
Kaleb’s, Long lease, - - - - -
Lagoon, Long lease, - - - = a
Oyster, Long lease, - 5 200 25 100
Pecha, Long lease, . - 300 - 150
Sengatocket and Trap, Long lease, . - 400 - 200
Squibnocket: —
(a) Sqinbaocket Herring | Leased, 125 400 - 200
(b) Gay Head Herring Creek, | Leased, 266 2,000 21 1,000
Tashmoo, Public, 400 2,000 - 1,000
Tisbury Great, Long lease, . 85C 2,000 125 1,000
Mashpee River, . Public, 300 1,000 125 500
Mattapoisett River, Town-operated 325 3,000 -1 1,500
Merrimack River, Mee - - =
Mill River, Sandwich, Long lease, 75 500 - 250
Monument River, Leased, 1,500 3,000 516 1,500
Mystic River, Leased, - 500 - 250
Nantucket Ponds (Hummock, | Public, 65 2,000 - 1,000
Long Pond and Maddequet
Nenaghet Hee eee Leased, 200] 2,000 73 | 1,000
Neponset River, Public, - - - -
Nine Mile Pond and Centreville | Private and 125 506 = =
Neri River Public,” 250} — 2,500 -| 1,230
Palmer’s River, Leased, - 2,500 - 1,250
Parker River, Public, - 100 - 50
Paskamansett River, . Public, - 300 - 150
Quashnet River, Pnvate, 25 25 -
Red Brook, Cataumet, Leased, 60 500 25 250
Red Brook, Wareham, Private, | 800 x
Rowley River, ¥ Public, = = iS
Santuit River, . Public, 50 600 - 300
Saugus River, Public, - 500 a 250
Scusset River, Public, = ek =

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Deficit.

* Unknown.
33

 

 

 

 

Possible .
1912. Possible
Produc- nual | 1912. | Annual
FIsHERY. Type. Gonin Produc- | Revenue R
tion in | to Town. Crean.
Barrels. Barrels, to Town.
Sippican River, Public, - 100 - $50
South River, Publie, - 100 - 50
Sparrow Pond, Orleans, Public, - 400 - 200
Stony Brook, Brewster, Leased, 225 2,000 $60 1,000
Swan Pond, Dennis, Leased, - = -
Taunton River (except Ne- | Seining privileges, 3,500 7,000 8¢ 3,500
masket).
Town Brook, Plymouth, - | Leased, 30 500 10 250
Wankinco River, Public, - 200 - 100
Weir River, Public, - - -
Westport River, . Public, - - 400 - 200
Weweantit River, Public, 30 200 8 100
Weymouth Back River, Leased, 50 500 - 250
Weymouth Fore River, Public, - - -
Total, 16,236 60,525 $4,370 | $29,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statistics of United States Bureau of Fisheries. — According to
Smith (4) the alewife fishery statistics for Massachusetts in
1896 were as follows: —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traps. Seines. ie. Nene Shore. | Boats. | ' Total.
Other.
Number of men, : 5 223 5 121 46 - 388
Apparatus: —
Number, . 1 45 10 121 - 88 265
Value, $150 $3,075 $120 $193 | $12,958 | $2,974 $19,470
Number of fish, 2,564,587 | 4,949,106 | 18,000 | 2,514,233 = — [10,045,926
Number of pounds, 1,331,202 | 2,629,525 | 10,125 | 1,385,637 - - | 5,356,489
Value of fish, $9,842 $23,440 $180 | $11,662 - = $45,124
Propvction.
YEAR.
Pounds. Value.
1880, 38,751,059 $35,802
1888, 6,291,931 83,530
1898, 2,535,201 31,288
1902, 3,413,350 40,979
1908, 4,062,000 45,000

 

 

 

 
34

History AND LEGISLATION.

Early colonial records refer to the alewife as providing food
for the first inhabitants of New England, and from the time
when Samoset first taught the Pilgrims the method of fertiliz-
ing corn fields, this fish has had a considerable influence on the
welfare of the country. Then the supply of fish was greatly in
excess of the needs of the population, and every inhabitant
who was a householder had the right of free fishing and fowling
in any great ponds, bays, coves and rivers, as far as the sea
ebbed and flowed. MHigginson’s “New Englands Plantation”
mentions, in 1630, “Also here is abundance of herring”’ in the
waters of New England, and Thomas Morton in his “New
English Canaan,” in 1632, remarks, “of herring there is a
great store, fat and fair, and to my mind as good as any I have
seen, and these may be preserved and made a good commodity
at the Canaries.”’

Generally the alewife fisheries have passed through three
periods, — development, state of maximum productivity and
decline. From humble -beginnings the fisheries became impor-
tant public assets fostered by the shore towns. The period. of
transient prosperity was ordinarily followed by a decline in the
natural supply, particularly on the more thickly settled streams,
which was noticed as early as 1815. According to the records
of The Colonial Society of Massachusetts: —

In the year 1730, the inhabitants (Plymouth) were ordered not to take
more than four barrels each, a large individual supply indeed, compared
with the present period (1815), when it is difficult for a householder to
obtain two hundred alewives, seldom so many.

In spite of the attention given to the alewife fishery, this
decline was permitted to extend until, in but few instances the
old prosperous conditions have been maintained.

Our forefathers were not slow to recognize the importance
of the alewife, and for its protection early passed many legisla-
tive acts, which best illustrate the history of the fishery. For
the most part these laws were local and especially adapted to
the needs of the individual fisheries. The first fishery law,
known as the Plymouth Colony Fish Law, was enacted in
35

1623 for the protection of the alewife. In 1682 further legisla-
tion was enacted, and in 1709 and 1727 an act was passed and
amended for the prevention of all obstructions to the passage
of fish in rivers, except mill dams. Failure to enforce these acts
and the increasing number of dams, resulted in 1741 in an act
which provided that a sufficient passageway be made through
or around each dam from the first day of April to the last day
of May annually, or in certain rivers for a period not exceeding
sixty days as designated; that the owners of the dams be re-
quired to give a sufficient water flow for the young to pass down;
and that the cost of installing fishways in dams erected before
1709 be borne by the towns, and the future maintenance by
the owner of the dam. One or more persons were to be ap-
pointed at the annual town meeting to see that the passageways
were opened according to law, and to regulate the taking of
fish. Persons were forbidden to catch alewives in other manner
than prescribed by the town, under a penalty of ten shillings
for each offence.

In 1743 an additional act provided that upon the petition
of a dam owner the court should appoint a committee of three
disinterested persons to inspect the dam, determine exactly
what kind of a fishway was necessary, and what regulations
should be enforced concerning it. Their decision when accepted
by the court was adjudged the lawful rule for that stream,
although aggrieved parties had the right of appeal, and could
ask a second inspection by the court. In 1745 the mill owners
by means of political pressure, obtained a provision abolishing
fishways, provided the fish did not pass up stream in sufficient
numbers to be of greater benefit than the damage from loss of
water power due to the opening of the dam. The acceptance
of a report of a committee appointed by the courts freed the
owner of the dam from all obligations to make or keep open
any passageway. It was also stipulated that no dam owner
should be liable to any penalty for not keeping open a passage-
way through his dam in rivers or streams where no salmon,
shad or alewives were found.

Subsequent legislation for the most part has been purely
local in character, and extremely voluminous. Even at the
present day the alewife streams are carrying the burden of much
36

antiquated legislation, e.g., the Taunton River fishery, which is
operating under a law passed in 1855. The non-enforcement
or subsequent modification of these laws in the interests of
private individuals brought about the decline of the alewife
fishery. Sufficiently good legislation was enacted for nearly.
every alewife stream, which, if properly enforced, would have
preserved the fishery.

Since the provisions of the numerous laws enacted for the
individual fisheries have many points in common, a summary
of a few of the more important will suffice.

Establishment. — The first legislative act established or cre-
ated a particular fishery by law, and placed the necessary re-
sponsibility upon the town, individual or corporation control-
ling the same.

Obstructions. — The general principle that alewives should |

have free passage up to the spawning grounds has been the
keystone of all legislation. Various efforts have been made to
provide all dams with suitable passageways for the fish.

(1) During a period of sixty days, usually between definite
dates, which varied as to the locality, stream and time of run,
an open passageway was required.

(2) Ordinarily any passageway sufficient for the fish was
deemed satisfactory, and the owner could either bring the
stream down to its natural level by removing the flashboards,
or construct a fishway of sufficient size to permit the passage of
the fish. In a few cases a passageway of definite size and flow
of water was required, e.g., Beaver Brook, a tributary of the
Merrimack, where a fishway not less than 6 feet wide, in which
the water should not be less than 6 inches deep, was ordered.

(3) The cost of installment and maintenance was borne gen-
erally by the dam owner, although sometimes by the town.

(4) In some cases provision was made for a passageway for
the young alewives returning to salt water in the fall.

(5) Penalties of varying severity for obstructing the passage
of fish were enacted.

(6) Power was given to the selectmen or herring committee
to remove all obstructions of any nature at the expense either
of the owner or of the town.

Herring Committee. — The early laws provided for the ap-
37

pointment or election of one or more fish wardens for their
enforcement. As time passed, the duties of the fish wardens
were taken over by a herring committee elected at the annual
town meeting. These men, varying in number from 3 to 9, had
complete charge of the fishery, the town having previously
designated the manner in which the fishery should be disposed
of. They determined the time, place and manner of taking
the fish, operated the fishery if run by the town, leased it to
the highest bidder, drafted regulations, posted notices, and
removed all obstructions, having the right to cross the property
of any person in the performance of their duties. When several
towns were concerned with one fishery, a joint committee com-
prising members from each of. the towns performed these duties.
Some received a suitable salary, others a nominal sum, and
still others no compensation whatever for their labors, Their
powers were great, and the success or failure of the fishery in-
variably depended upon their judgment. Failure to appoint
fish wardens or a committee sometimes rendered the town liable
to a fine. Special wardens and inspectors for the enforcement
of the laws were appointed by the committee from time to time.

Catching Days. — Usually there were three fishing days a
week, although the period for catching alewives varied from one
to six days. All sorts of combinations have been devised, ordi-
narily the first part of the week being devoted to catching. The
days have been grouped, alternated and variously separated.
Every day in the week except Sunday has been used. In some
instances, catching days in several towns on one stream have
so overlapped as to cause an almost continuous open season.
The starting time was either sunrise, sunset or midnight.

Season. — The season for catching alewives ranged from the
middle of March to the middle of June, usually being about
sixty days, from April 1 to June 1. The capture of alewives
out of season was prohibited by law, with numerous penalties.
At sundry times closed seasons were declared by certain towns,
and fishing prohibited for a brief period of one to three years,
for the purpose of replenishing the fishery.

Locality. — Fishing was ordinarily limited to certain locali-
ties, which were selected by the herring committee, and at
which the catching stations were located. Seining permits gave
38

a wider range, but were usually restricted to a definite station.
Fishing was prohibited in other parts of the stream except
those designated by the committee. Special provision was made
to prevent fishing within a certain distance of any fishway, or
on the large rivers near the entrance of tributary streams up
which alewives ran. Not infrequently, no regulations were
made governing the fishing which was carried on at any point.

Seining. — Permits were sold for seining on the larger streams,
which required both the selection of a definite station and
certain specifications regarding the maximum length of net,
regulated usually in respect to the width of the stream.

Indians. — In a few instances, as at Bournedale and Mash-
pee, special provision was made for the Indians. At the
Bournedale fishery the head of every family of the Herring
Pond Indians was entitled to one barrel free.

Pollution. — In a very few cases specific reference was made
to the prohibition of trade waste pollution.

Penalties. — All sorts of fines and penalties are to be found,
ranging from a few dollars up to a maximum of fifty, with for-
feiture of apparatus. Numerous provisions for obtaining this
fine, and its subsequent disposal to county, individual informant
or otherwise, were included. The different infringements of the
laws called forth a variety of penalties.

Public Rights and Sale. — Originally all the fisheries were free
to the public. With the few exceptions of artificially created
private fisheries, and the Weymouth fishery, which was sold by
the town to the Weymouth Iron Company, the fishery was
operated or leased by the town. The public rights were satis-
fied by the requirement that a certain number of fish be sup-
plied each household head, or that each householder, by
seasonable application at the place of capture within a specified
time, had the privilege of purchasing several hundred alewives
at the price of 16 to 25 cents per hundred. At Weymouth the
purchaser of the fishery, if unable to furnish alewives at this
price, was subject to a fine of $5. Provision was sometimes
made for supplying the needy poor and widows, free of charge,
with a certain number of alewives. In the early days, when
the fisheries were operated by the town for the direct benefit
of the townspeople, men were appointed to catch the alewives
39

and sell them at a moderate sum. Provisions for the sale of
the privilege were made at town meeting or at such time and
under such regulations as the herring committee might decide,
and the money accruing therefrom was turned into the town
treasury.

Torching. — Torching of alewives was prohibited in 1819 on
the Monument River, and in 1840 on Weymouth Fore River.

Restocking. — In streams with impassable dams, provision was
made for carting a minimum number of mature alewives to the
spawning grounds, and in this way a fishery was maintained at
Weymouth Back River, Smelt Brook, Jones River, Kingston,
and Town Brook, Plymouth. In 1881 the selectmen of Pem-
broke were required to deposit alive and in good condition, not
less than 10,000 alewives, annually, in the Indian Ponds, the
expense to be shared by all the towns on the North River.

In the following table the dates of legislation on certain im-
portant topics have been recorded for the individual streams: —
40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 9981 - - - - - - - - - - ost | gost J’ °° 8 8 tt ear Jegy
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PI8I
9081 9081 | 908T 908t | 908T ;
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ssl gost | 19st L¥8I | 281
L¥81 Av8t | LST 9¢8I | 928T : :
- - = = es 8641 = 8641 | 8621 - 8641 | 8621 | S6ZT | ° : os TOATY Jyessoursu00c,
- eget - - 2881 - esgt | 28st - 2881 - 2881 - eest |* tt st 8 QAR 88,09)
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FisHERY.

1890
1895
1910
1801

1855
1863

1900

1863

1884
1855
1801
1874

1900

1783
1896
1855

1801

1896
1857
1855

1856

1881
1855

1783
1881
1857

1847

1783
1856
1881
1857
1857
1885
1848
1839
1840
1855
1847
1801

(a) Squibnocket Herring Creek,
(b) Gay Head Herring Creek,

Tashmoo,

Edgartown Great Pond and Mattakessett Creeks,

Sengatocket and Trap, .
Tisbury Great,

Mashpee River,

Farm,

Job’s Neck,
Kaleb’s, .
Oyster,

Pocha,
Squibnocket: —

 

Martha’s Vineyard Ponds — Concluded.
43

 

 

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44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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46

THE CAUSES OF DECLINE.

While in some streams the alewife fishery has held its own,
or even improved; it has diminished in others to such an ex-
tent that we can accept the general statement that there has
been a serious decline. With the increasing prices and the de-
velopment of artificial fisheries, production statistics give but a
partial view of the situation, which can be obtained only by an
intimate knowledge of each stream. The harmful effect of this
decline upon the shore fisheries has already been explained, and
few more convincing arguments can be advanced in favor of
replenishing all possible alewife streams than its influence upon
the future welfare of the shore fisheries of Massachusetts.

The causes which have contributed to this condition are so
numerous and so complex that the separate influence of each
cannot be absolutely determined. Both natural and artificial
changes have brought about this decline, although the latter
are by far the more destructive. Four prominent causes are:
(1) destruction of the spawning grounds; (2) obstructions
which prevent the alewives from passing to the spawning
grounds; (3) pollution of streams; and (4) overfishing, the
result of unwise regulation.

DESTRUCTION OF SPAWNING GROUNDS.

Many alewife streams which once were important can never
be restocked because their former spawning grounds are no
longer available. Among the various upheavals resulting from
natural causes may be mentioned the lessened volume of water
as a result of extensive deforestation, changes in the location
and form of the outlet, and lowering of the water level in the
ponds, The extensive cutting of forest land has altered the
water flow in certain streams. Forests act as huge absorbent
blankets, which catch and retain the rainfall. Without this
protection the rainfall passes quickly into the streams causing
soil erosions and heavy freshets, and streams in which alewives
once could easily ascend to the headwaters become difficult of
access. The lowering of the water level through natural agen-
cies, of less frequency than artificial means, may result in a
new outlet or a permanent closure.
47

Permanent damage has resulted from the taking of spawning
ponds for water supplies and diverting or screening the original
outflow. The formeg prosperity and number of the alewife
streams can never be regained, since the extent of the artifi-
cially created spawning grounds can in no measure compensate
for the great loss of natural territory taken for water supplies.
The constant use of the water either so reduces the level that it
will not flow out through its former outlet in sufficient quantity
to allow alewives to enter the pond, —e.g., Wenham Lake and
Cape Pond, — or reduces it to such an extent that during the
period of low water in the fall the young alewives are unable to
leave the pond, as at Great Quitticas Pond. To avoid the
serious nuisance of dying fish clogging the water mains it has
been customary to screen the outlets in the spring to prevent
the entrance of fish.

Geographically the greatest damage has occurred north of
Plymouth, as can be seen by the accompanying list of streams
wholly or partly ruined by the use of the spawning grounds
for water supplies.

 

 

 

SpawNInG GROUND. River. Water Supply.
Suntaug Lake, 5 Ipswich, . | Peabody.
Wenham Lake, Miles (Ipswich), . | Salem.
Cape Pond, 3 Mill, . | Rockport.
Lake Quannapowitt, Saugus, . | Lynn.
Accord Pond, Weir, . | Hingham and Hull.
Lily Pond, : Bound, . | Cohasset.
Ponds on First Herring Brook, North, . | Scituate.
Silver Lake, Jones, . . | Kingston.
Great South Pond, Eel, . | Plymouth.
Great Quitticas Pond, Nemasket, . | New Bedford.
Assawompsett Pond, Nemasket, . | New Bedford.
Acushnet Reservoir, Acushnet, . . | New Bedford.

 

 

 

 

Naturally, the question of a good water supply is far more
important than the existence of an alewife fishery. It is inevi-
table that other ponds, such as Chebacco Lake, Essex, may
later be taken for this purpose. In most of these cases it is
utterly impossible to restore the alewife fishery, although in
48

some places, e.g., Assawompsett Pond, it has not been seriously
impaired. While we deplore the injury to the fishery, we must
consider the problem from a broad point of view, and remember
that these ponds have been put to a more universal use.

OBSTRUCTIONS.

The first step in the development of a fishery is the removal
of all obstructions in order to give free passage to the spawning
grounds. Natural changes may alter the course of flow, as
the change in the outlet of North River by the gale of 1898.
Less extensive changes, mostly artificial, have occurred in other
streams, which have had more or less effect upon the migra-
tion of the alewife. Natural or artificial falls, dams, unless
equipped with fishways, and material of various kinds prevent
or make difficult the passage of alewives.

Materia’. — Wire or wooden fences, rubbish and old ruins
which have been placed or have fallen into the stream are the
most common form of artificial obstructions, e.g., Chebacco
Brook (Fig. 8). Luxuriant vegetation may completely or par-
tially choke a stream, e.g., wild rice in Herring River, Wellfleet
(Fig. 6). In certain localities the natural bed of the stream
has been so altered by dredging or narrowing that the incline
has become too steep and the flow too rapid for the easy pas-
sage of the fish. Narrowing the stream by drainpipes of in-
sufficient diameter for the volume of flow may bring about
well-nigh impassable conditions. The private screening of any
alewife stream for duck raising or other purpose should not
be permitted unless sufficient space is left for the passage of
the fish.

Dams. — Dams are the inevitable result of the inroads of
colonization following the waterways. In former days water
power was even a greater necessity than in the present era of
coal, gas and electricity. As manufacturing became of greater
moment more power was required, and eventually numerous ‘
dams were erected on the streams of Massachusetts. Following
the early settlements the coastal streams were first affected,
and in the old laws can be traced the inevitable conflict between
fishery and manufacturing interests, with the balance of power
resting with the latter.
 

 

 

Fic. 5. — Flooded cranberry bogs, Mattapoisett River.

 

 

Fic. 6. — Obstruction with wild rice, Herring River, Wellfleet.
 

 

 

 

I'tc._7. — Neglected herring diteh, Marston’s Mills Herring River.

 

 

 

Itc. 8. — Obstructing material in Chebaceco Brook, Essex River.
49

The mere presence of dams is not dangerous. Only when
they are unequipped with fishways, or are not opened during
the spring run, do they become a menace. Properly supplied
with adequate passageways, dams would never have exerted
a pernicious influence upon the alewife fishery. In nearly all
instances the laws contained specific provisions for fishways in
dams, but frequently these provisions were modified or repealed
through the influence of the mill owners.

Dams have proved injurious to the alewife fishery by the
direct obstruction of the passage of the fish to the spawning
grounds, even when the gates are raised at certain seasons, for
the reason that the sill of the dam, the lowest point to which
the water may be lowered, is too high above the natural level
of the stream, thus rendering difficult or preventing the advance
of the alewives. This latter condition is especially prevalent in
the small cranberry dams, which the owners usually open dur-
ing the spawning season to permit the run of alewives.

The return of the young alewives to salt water in the fall
presents a separate problem. At this season there is a minimum
flow of water, scarcely sufficient for power or other mill pur-
poses, and little water passes over the spillways. The young
alewives following the main flow of water are carried into the
flumes and through the mills, where according to general
opinion, they are destroyed in the turbine water wheels. As
yet no experiments have been made to determine the per cent
of fish destroyed in passing through different types of water
wheels, but until more definite information is forthcoming the
best policy is to screen the flumes and furnish a passageway
down stream at a minimum expense of water.

Impassable dams have undoubtedly been the immediate cause
of the decline of many fisheries, and a direct relation can be
shown between the number of impassable dams on a stream
and the condition of the fishery, ¢.g., Indian Head River, Mer-
rimack River, Ipswich River, Weweantit River and Acushnet
River. The old laws regarding dams were well adapted for the
protection of the fishery, the decline of which was not due to
a lack of good laws, but rather to the non-enforcement of exist-
ing legislation. The only remedy for an obstructing dam is
the installation of a passable fishway, with which every dam
50

upon alewife streams, unless opened regularly during the spring,
shculd be equipped. At the present time too few dams are
equipped with adequate fishways.

Cranberry Bogs. — A water supply is essential for the suc-
cessful operation of the cranberry industry, and in southern
Massachusetts numerous bogs are found along the alewife
streams. Cranberry bogs are designated as dry or wet. In the
former the water is pumped from a pond or reservoir upon the
bog, where it is held until released to drain back into the pond.
In the latter the bog is flooded by damming the stream which
runs through it (Fig. 5). Little damage results from the dry
bog, except for an infinitesimal amount of chemical pollution
from spraying, the lowering of the water level in the pond, and,
where the intake is not screened, the destruction of a few small
fish. The wet bog, however, has become a serious menace to
the alewife fishery, causing either partial or complete ruin in
certain fisheries, e.g., Marston’s Mills Herring River. The
interests of the fishery and the cranberry industry are diametri-
cally opposed. In the welfare of the latter the course of the
natural stream is changed, channels made, water diverted by
ditching, and dams erected for reservoirs or for flooding the
bogs. Properly regulated, these changes could be accom-
plished without material damage to the fishery, but improp-
erly controlled they have resulted in serious effects. The
cranberry industry affects the alewife fishery in the following
ways: —

(1) The small dams are usually not equipped with fishways,
and the owners are supposed to raise the sluiceboards during the
annual run. However, at certain times the owners may find it
expedient for the welfare of the bogs to have the water remain
for a longer period, thus blocking or retarding the progress of
the fish, although ordinarily there is little need of water over
the bogs at the time of the spring run.

_ (2) The course of the stream occasionally is changed by
ditches and canals, which are inferior to the natural channels.

(3) The young alewives descending to salt water are some-
times stranded by the temporary flooding of the bogs during
the early fall, a condition which may be avoided by the use of
screens or by careful flooding of the bogs.
ol

The neglect of the town officials to force the cranberry bog
owners to respect the rights of the alewife fishery has been the
principal cause of the depletion of certain streams. The cran-
berry interests have been considered more important and more
worthy of encouragement, since they yielded a greater revenue
in the form of taxes.

The Marston’s Mills Herring River may be cited as a con-
crete example of such neglect. This stream, once possessing a
fair alewife fishery, capable of producing 500 to 600 barrels an-
nually, to-day yields scarcely anything. The water is used for
flooding cranberry bogs which line its course, and in its upper
part a small pond has been raised by flowage to serve as a large
artificial reservoir. Since the dam at this point unequipped
with a fishway made the stream impassable, an unsuccessful at-
‘tempt was made some years ago to provide access for the ale-
wives to the spawning grounds in Cotuit Pond by an artificial
waterway (Fig. 7). In 1913 the ditch was dry, and no ale-
wives could or had passed through it for some time. The in-
evitable result was the ruin of the fishery because the fish could
not get to the spawning grounds.

The fishery was established in 1843 by an act which provided
that the selectmen of Barnstable should prescribe the manner,
time and place for taking fish, regulate the course of the stream,
remove obstructions, and determine the dates between which all
dam owners should keep open a passageway for a period of
sixty days. This law was amended in 1851, so that a committee
was annually appointed and vested with the above powers,
while dam owners were required to keep a free passageway for
thirty days. Thus the entire regulation of the fishery and
responsibility for its welfare rested on the town officials.

The attitude of the town officials was but the reflection of the
indifference of the majority of the people who did not care
whether the fishery existed or not. Because of its depleted con-
dition and the lack of encouragement on the part of the town
officials no one had purchased the fishery since 1903. In 1913
the selectmen were of the opinion that it would be poor judg-
ment to interfere with the cranberry industry for the sake of a
fishery which would bring practically no revenue to the town,
whereas the cranberry bogs yielded an appreciable amount in
52

taxes. For that reason the town officials have never compelled
the cranberry bog owners to construct fishways or open sluice-
ways, assuming, in view of the large taxable property, that
their goodwill and influence would be more profitable than any
direct value resulting from the fishery.

In its effect upon the shore fisheries the alewife is more im-
portant than its mere revenue to the town, and such a policy is
extremely nearsighted, particularly since the fishery could have
been preserved without injury to the cranberry interests if the
town had not been negligent in its duty. Barnstable is not the
only truant in this respect. Many other towns equally culpable
should be sternly brought to realize the importance of the nat-
ural asset which they are foolishly wasting.

The cranberry interests and the alewife fishery are not abso-
lutely incompatible. They can both exist without injury to
each other if proper safeguards are taken. Conscientious over-
sight on the part of town officials and the whole-hearted co-op-
eration of the cranberry bog owners are the only requirements.
This co-operation does not mean the mere purchasing and nom-
inal operation of the fishing right by the cranberry companies
to avoid interference, as in Fresh Pond Stream, Plymouth, but
the assumption of an active interest in the welfare of the fish-
ery. The fishery interests can be safeguarded if the cranberry
bog owners install suitable fishways or open the sluiceways at
the proper times. Judgment in the location of ditches, dams,
screens and other improvements, and co-operation in aiding the
alewives in reaching the spawning grounds, is justly expected
from cranberry producers.

PoLiution.

Of the various problems confronting our fisheries the one
which most demands immediate attention is water po!lution.
If allowed to increase, it means the serious depletion and even
ruin of a great part of our inland and coastal fisheries, and the
longer it remains unregulated the more difficult will become its
ultimate control. Already it has made such inroads in our
natural water resources that it is questionable whether many
heavily polluted streams can ever be restored.

Sources. — Two kinds of pollution affect fish life, sewage and
53

trade wastes. Sewage enters the streams from private toilets
and cesspools, and in the form of effluents from municipal sys-
tems. Owing to its prominence as a public health factor, meth-
ods of disposal have been devised by which it will be eventually
fully controlled. If unregulated it damages water supplies and
manufacturing interests, endangers public health through the
contamination of edible shellfish, and is injurious to fish and
fish environment. In 1920, after a thorough investigation,
the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made a report
(House, No. 1115), with recommendations for improving pollu-
tion conditions in the Taunton River and its tributaries.

Trade wastes include all forms of waste material from indus-
trial sources. Fish preservation is chiefly concerned with this
important type of pollution, which, in addition to rendering
water unfit for drinking, bathing and for use in certain indus-
tries, directly and indirectly destroys fish life.

Effect. — Pollution may produce one or more of the following
direct effects upon alewives: injury causing death or predis-
position to disease, reduction of the oxygen supply in the water,
rendering the fish unfit for food and driving them away from
the streams. Indirectly it may cause the destruction of eggs
and young, reduction of the spawning grounds, changes in bot-
tom and vegetation, and limitation of the food supply.

Adult fish doubtless can stand a much greater amount of pol-
lution than is ordinarily believed, and require a considerable
quantity of concentrated pollution to kill in large numbers.
Even in these cases it is difficult to prove cause and effect, as
the damage is largely done by transitory pollution of varying
strength and quantity. Little if any pollution occurs in the
spawning grounds, and the susceptible young fish can be de-
stroyed only as they pass down stream to the salt water.

Changes in the physical characteristics of a stream, in food
forms, vegetation, oxygen content of the water, and other en-
vironmental conditions indirectly affect the fish life. Since
slight changes in the water influence the movements of fish,
the entrance of chemicals into the streams may have a marked
effect upon the migration of the alewife.

Sewage. — Owing to the scattered nature of sewage pollution
in the smaller streams its effect may be disregarded, but in the
54

larger rivers, such as the Taunton and the Merrimack, which
receive a liberal amount, together with trade-waste pollution,
it has a most disastrous effect. Unfortunately, in these cases
we cannot accurately determine the relative influence of each.
The following rivers receive an appreciable amount of sewage:
Merrimack, Ipswich, Danvers, Saugus, Mystic, Charles, Ne-
ponset, Weymouth Fore, Weymouth Back, Acushnet, Taunton
and its tributaries.

Trade Wastes. — Among the injurious trade wastes entering
our alewife streams are acids, alkalies and miscellaneous chem-
icals from nail and iron works, rubber factories, wool-scouring
establishments, bleacheries, laundries, dye works, leather fac-
tories, etc. Sulphuric acid, which is extensively used in the
scaling process of the nail factories and iron works, in the rubber
factories, and in wool-scouring establishments, causes the death
of fish in a dilution of 1 part in 160,000, and interferes with
their migration in far weaker dilutions. On Jones River an
instance is reported where alewives held in a fish trap were
killed by the waste discharge of the nail factories. The waste
products of bleacheries, laundries and some manufacturing
plants contain appreciable quantities of alkalies. Previous to
the installation of filter beds and an alkali reclaiming machine
at the New Bedford and Agawam Finishing Company on the
Agawam River, East Wareham, dead alewives and shad were
not infrequently found (Fig. 9). The company has established
a method of removing alkalies from the waste products at a
substantial saving. By means of settling basins and filter
beds the waste products gradually enter the river in a less
harmful form as a dark-brown liquid, which flows along the
right bank 125 feet before mingling thoroughly with the stream
(Fig. 10). During a run of alewives the fish were observed,
upon reaching this material, to swerve to the opposite bank of
the stream as if the substance were distasteful to them, but it
did not seriously interfere with their spring run. Results have
proved fairly satisfactory as long as this system has been ad-
hered to.

The waste products of woolen mills, which contain a mixture
of dyestuffs and chemicals, are the most numerous forms of
pollution. The extent of injury from this type, although con-
 

 

 

 

Fie. 9. — Shad killed by trade waste pollution in Agawam River before installa-
tion of filter beds.

 

 

 

Fic. 10. — Charcoal screen and filter beds of New Bedford and Agawam
Finishing Company, on Agawam River.
55

siderable, depending upon the quantity of material, has never
been completely determined. In the case of dyes the actual
effect is by no means as bad as the appearance. Except in a
few isolated cases saw mills do not permit their sawdust to
enter the streams. The injurious effect of sawdust upon trout
is well known. Hot water entering the stream in concentrated
amounts quickly kills fish. Brook trout transferred from water
at 55° F. to 85° F. die in two and one-half minutes. Chemicals
used for spraying cranberry bogs are sometimes carried into
the streams in drawing off the bogs, but ordinarily in such small
amounts as to cause no harm. Arsenate of lead in a dilution
of 1 part to 40,000 is toxic for trout in twelve hours.

The following coastal streams receive more or less trade-waste
pollution: Acushnet, Charles, Danvers, Eel, Indian Head,
Ipswich, Jones, Mystic, Nemasket, Neponset, Parker, Saugus,
Taunton, Town Brook (Plymouth), Weir, Weweantit, Wey-
mouth Fore and Back rivers.

UNWISE REGULATION.

The principal cause of the decline of the alewife fishery has
been overfishing as a result of unwise regulation. Unless a
reasonable number of adult alewives are permitted to reach
the spawning grounds the destruction of any fishery is inevi-
table. Almost universally overfishing has been brought about
by faulty methods of regulating the industry through town
control, — a sad commentary on our lack of foresight.

Free Fishing. —The streams where the public is given the
privilege of free-for-all fishing under various obscure regula-
tions, most of which are seldom enforced, have become the
poorest producers, and at the present time are the least valu-
able, although some offer possibilities for re-establishment.
Laxity in town oversight and apathetic indifference on the part
of the townspeople have brought about this state of affairs.
Wise regulations are either not made, or, if enacted, are not
enforced to insure the success of the fishery. People catch the
alewives when and where they please, and the fishery passes
from bad to worse because of unrestricted methods of fishing.

Town-operated. — Fisheries directly operated by the town are
unsuccessful. Theoretically this method of control is ideal;
56

practically it is unsatisfactory because of lax management, town
politics, unnecessary expense in hiring labor for nominal jobs
such as patrolling streams, and inability to market the catch
to the best advantage. The cost of maintenance is excessive,
and the fish are not sufficiently protected from overfishing.
Almost the same lack of judgment in making regulations and
lack of initiative in their enforcement is found as under a, free
fishing régime. If a town fishery could be placed on the same
basis as a private enterprise it would undoubtedly prove a suc-
cess, but such a situation can never occur as long as there
exists a lack of personal incentive among the men hired to op-
erate it.

Mattapoisett River is here cited as an example of an unsuc-
cessful town-operated fishery, not because it is worse than others,
but because it so well illustrates the effect of town control upon
one of the best natural’ alewife streams. The fishery is con-
trolled by three towns, — Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett,
subdivisions of the old town of Rochester. When Marion and
Mattapoisett separated from Rochester, the alewife fishery
rights of each in the Mattapoisett River were maintained. The
fishery has been operated by the three towns, and the profits
or losses have been proportioned according to the amount of
taxable property in each town. Of recent years, instead of
being an asset it has become an expense, since between 1908
and 1917 deficits rather than profits have resulted in a fishery
which between 1861 and 1912 gave an average annual return
of $825.67.

The decline of this fishery, which is strikingly shown by the.
following table, may be attributed to three causes, all of which
might have been prevented by intelligent supervision: (1) so
many fish were taken from the stream that insufficient numbers
reached the spawning grounds; (2) the stream was allowed to
become impeded by cranberry bogs and obstructions; (3) the
expense of labor and materials in operating the herring weirs
was unnecessarily high: —
57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yoans. Benes eeganren || een
1866-70, $7,186 92 * 73,094 30 $4,092 62
1871-75, 6,367 58 3,175 48 3,192 10
1876-80, 5,198 72 2,337 83 2,855 89
1881-85, 3,069 16 2,464 98 604 18
1886-90, 4,400 91 1,855 25 2,545 66
1891-95, 4,971 63 2,131 29 2,841 34
1896-1900, 1,301 99 1,233 19 68 80
1901-05, 2,846 58 2,411 16 435 42
1906-10, 4,196 89 3,408 57 788 32
1911-15, 432 65 1,336 68 904 031
1917-22, 525 00 -2 525 00

1 Deficit. 2 Leased.

Leased. —The popular and easy

expedient of leasing the

fishery from year to year to the highest bidder has placed a
premium upon its exploitation and has directly encouraged
overfishing. Naturally the purchaser, uncertain of obtaining
the fishery for the following years, would severely drain its re-
sources. Yet this method of operation has been used by the
majority of towns for years, merely because it had become a
custom and was the easiest way of dismissing the problem.
' The minimum period of a lease should be five years, a method
of procedure which has been adopted only by a few towns in
recent years.

Sale. — Where fisheries have been artificially created by pri-
vate companies under legislative acts the town has no powers.
In cases such as Weymouth, where the town had sold its fishery,
its responsibility did not cease, and it should have made the
Weymouth Iron Company fulfill the provisions stipulated in
the sale until it was again acquired by the town.

Joint Fisheries. — Where several towns are interested in the
same fishery it is usually regulated by a joint committee. Com-
promises resulting from conflicting interests have not always
worked for the best interests of the fishery, for example, by
increasing the number of fishing days on a river, thus giving
the alewives practically no free time to reach their spawning
grounds.
08

Herring Inspectors. — The fishery is regulated by the herring
committee or inspectors annually appointed by the town. Not
infrequently this office, especially if salaried, becomes involved
in town politics, and the administration of the fishery becomes
a political shuttlecock. Provided men who understand the
needs of the fishery are elected and its welfare is put beyond
petty local jealousies, this method of administration is the best
which town control can offer.

Laws. — Laws have accelerated the decline of the alewife
fishery by non-existence when necessary, harmful provisions,
and, most important of all, by their non-enforcement. In addi-
tion to voluminous legislative acts there exist still greater quan-
tities of town regulations, showing the influence of town politics
and reflecting the varying condition of the fishery. In these
laws may be traced the development of certain ideas for its
administration. The most prevalent erroneous idea is that
restriction alone is sufficient to preserve a fishery, and people
have failed to see that restrictive laws, unless combined with
constructive legislation, are valueless. The principal criticism
of the present laws, in addition to their antiquated provisions,
is their lack of uniformity. In place of the voluminous local
legislation a few simple general laws capable of local modifica-
tions would aid greatly in the re-establishment of the fishery.

Town Responsibility. — The present method of town control
is directly responsible for overfishing. The fishery, a town-
regulated affair, has declined as a result of the evil practices
which have grown up under this system. In many instances
the attitude and ability of the town to manage a fishery is
hopeless, and some method should be devised to force such
careless and incompetent towns to conduct their fishery in a
legitimate manner.

REMEDIAL MEASURES.

This investigation of the Massachusetts alewife fishery has
shown its present condition, the causes contributing to its de-
cline, and has brought out certain points in the life history and
habits of the alewife, which furnish a basis for establishing
cultural methods.

The requisite steps in this reconstruction work are: —
59

(1) An unobstructed and uncontaminated passageway from
salt water to the spawning grounds.

(2) Artificial restocking of depleted streams, and the creation
of new fisheries in favorable localities.

(3) Adequate and efficient methods of regulating the fishery.

Necessarily these steps will require time for completion, par-
ticularly in the enactment of careful legislation, and will demand.
the co-operation of all persons interested in the welfare of the
fisheries. By this report the Division of Fisheries and Game
has fulfilled its duty by showing the immediate need, and
pointing out the way of reform. It has already helped, and
will go still farther in assisting the towns to remove obstruc-
tions to the passage of fish in streams, and in restocking the
‘spawning grounds. But the regulation of the fishery must
come through the General Court and through the action of the
individual towns in the form of efficient legislation. Without
co-operation upon the part of the coastal communities all cul-
tural efforts for its restoration are useless. To this end the
shore towns should be thoroughly aroused to a sense of their
responsibility for the protection of the alewife.

The first step in the reconstruction of the alewife fishery is
the removal of existing obstructions, to make a clear passage-
way for alewives. The removal of obstructing material offers
little difficulty beyond ordinary care on the part of the persons
in charge of the fishery in keeping the stream clear. Two con-
ditions present difficult problems: (1) impassable dams, and
(2) pollution. The first and more important has been met by
installing workable fishways; the latter is still under considera-
tion.

FISHWAYS.

The fishway problem has been and always will be a difficult
one to solve satisfactorily. So far a perfect fishway for ale-
wives and shad has never been made, although all manner of
designs are on the market. The reason why any single type is
not uniformly successful is that in each case it must be adapted
to.the locality where installed, since different situations demand
different kinds of fishways to meet their requirements.

Requirements. —'The requirements for a successful fishway
are: (1) easy and rapid passage for a species of fish, with uni-
60

form flow of water, gradual ascent and absence of high barriers;
(2) a minimum sacrifice of water in the interest of the dam
owners; (3) an entrance into which the fish are readily directed;
(4) a firm, solid construction, resistant to freshets, or one which
may readily be removed when not in use.

Existing Types.— There are three kinds of fishways in use on
the alewife streams at present, each of which has several modi-
fications: —

(1) Natural Stream.—The most successful type is not, strictly
speaking, a true fishway, but merely a small side stream of
gradual slope, connecting the pond with the main stream below.
Projecting rocks, or even concrete bars (Fig. 11), help to check
the current, and afford resting places for the alewives in their
forward progress. This type is the most easily surmounted of
all, but has the drawbacks of excessive waste of water, impossi-
bility of installation in many locations, and difficulty in directing
the fish into its entrance, since alewives follow the greatest flow
of water, and therefore tend to pass up the main stream to
pocket at the foot of the dam unless directed by a screen or
barrier into the smaller stream.

(2) Pool.— This form consists of a series of pools with a
1-foot drop in the level between each pool. It is usually
of wood, concrete or stone construction, the number and size
of the pools varying with the height of the dam. The old
Lawrence fishway on the Merrimack River was of this type.
Wherever this type of fishway is installed, its size, shape and
length must be altered to correspond to the physical ae
ments of the dam.

(3) Inclined Plane. — Various types of inclined plane fish-
ways are in use, the most important being the Brackett..
These fishways consist of a long, narrow box inclined at an
angle equivalent to a 1-foot rise for every 10 feet, with vari-
ous arrangements to check the flow of water and to afford rest-
ing pockets for the alewives. This type is the most popular
form on our alewife streams, and seems especially suited for
small dams, owing to the convenience of installation and its
cheapness. Though occasionally of cement, as on Red Brook,
it is usually of wooden construction. The most primitive
yet effective type is made by placing, 1-foot cross boards per-
 

 

 

 

Fic. 11. — Stone fishway with concrete baffles, Nemasket River.

 

 

 

Fira. 12. — Standard straight-run fishway of concrete, Stanley Iron
Works, Bridgewater.
61

pendicularly or at an acute angle at 3-foot intervals along
the slope. Water flowing down the incline on striking these
projections rises in wave-like crests. The alewives take these
steps in a continuous passage by a series of rapid jumps.
This fishway is satisfactory, provided that it is not too long,
and that the slope is no greater than 1 to 10. Another
type has the crosspieces alternately set at an acute angle to the
sides, thus retarding the sweep of the water. The Brackett
fishway is more satisfactory, as it affords resting places for
the fish, and insures easy progress. There are numerous
fishways on the market labeled with the inventors’ names,
all of which under certain conditions are more or less suc-
cessful.

Installation. — The chief point to remember is that it is not
the type of fishway, but the way in which it is installed which
determines its success or failure, since each dam presents cer-
tain peculiarities which necessitate individual treatment. In
installing a fishway the following conditions must be con-
sidered: —

(1) Water Flow. — Provision for a constant flow of water,
irrespective of variations in the level of the pond, can be made
by (1) an adjustable upper section of the fishway to correspond
to the water level, (2) a gate situated at the lowest probable
water line; and (3) several gates at different levels.

(2) Entrance. — Instinctively the fish follow the greatest flow
of water, usually up the main stream to the dam. Therefore
either the entrance must be directly beneath the dam, where
the fish will naturally swing into it, or there must be some
means of directing them. Screening the stream with an iron
grating is a successful though expensive method. A submerged
stone barrier leading to the fishway entrance has proved at
times effective.

(3) Construction. —The nature of the soil and height of the
dam largely influence the difficulty and expense of construction,
necessitating a careful survey before exact plans are submitted.

(4) Destruction. — Destruction of a fishway by spring floods
may be partially avoided by (1) building a concrete structure;
(2) locating the fishway where it is subject to the least damage;
and (3) having part or all removable when not in use.
62

Standard Fishways. — A successful fishway which will take
all species of anadromous fish has never been invented. In our
work two types of fishways have been designed, which have
proved highly satisfactory for the alewife streams and are
adaptable to a variety of conditions. The accompanying illus-
trations (Figs. 12, 13, 14) indicate the details of these types,
which have been developed by R. Loring Hayward, consulting
engineer for the Division of Fisheries and Game and which are
designated as the David and the straight-run fishways. No claim
is made that these are the long-sought universal fishwavys, or
that they are suited for other species of fish. We know that
they are successful for alewives, and that their simple design
makes them well adapted to Massachusetts streams.

The David fishway (Fig. 14) may be either of concrete or
wooden construction. With its sloping bottom and irregular
baffles it resembles the Brackett type, but possesses the addi-
tional qualifications of frequent rest pockets and a steady, uni-
form flow of water which is controlled by the upper gate. Al-
though more expensive than the second standard type, it can
be advantageously installed in a limited space over an irregular
course.

The straight run fishway (Figs. 12, 13) is especially adapted
for low dams where the contour of the stream bed affords a
gradual fall. This primitive form of fishway more nearly re-
sembles a natural swift flowing broken stream, and possesses the
advantage of stimulating the rapid ascent of the alewives. _

Chapter 365, Acts of 1904, requires that dam owners shall, at.
the request of the Division of Fisheries and Game, which fur-
nishes complete plans and specifications for every fishway, in-
stall suitable fishways at their own expense, and keep them open
at specified times, under penalty of a fine of $50 per day for
non-compliance. Only through this law can the Division exert
direct influence upon the rehabilitation of the alewife fishery.
In spite of the difficulty in obtaining the willing co-operation of
the dam owners, who naturally object to the expense of con-
struction, the work of installing fishways is steadily progressing,
and it is hoped that eventually all of the potentially productive
streams will be completely equipped.
 

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63 :

In 1918, 1919 and 1920 satisfactory fishways of the standard
types have been installed at the dam locations of the Connecti-
- cut Mills, East Taunton, the Stanley Works, West Bridgewater,
the Jenkins Leatherboard Company, Bridgewater, the Essex
Mills, Lawrence, the Carver Cotton Gin Company of East
Bridgewater, and the Ipswich Mills of Ipswich. Plans calling
for the construction of like fishways, with some minor modifi-
cations, have been submitted for installation in the near future
to the Easton Investment Company of West Bridgewater, the
Locks and Canals Company of Lowell, and Mr. Benjamin
Cummings of South Dartmouth.

Screens. — Of equal importance is the preservation from de-
struction of the young alewives by water wheels as they descend
the streams in the fall. Suitable provision other than through
the sluiceway of the mill should be made at each dam for the
passage of the small fish down stream. In certain cases where
large quantities of water are used this is a serious problem,
owing to the fact that the water, during the fall, is too low to
run over the spillway. In such instances the fishway should be
kept open either continually or intermittently, so that the
young alewives may have a passageway without a surplus
waste of water. To prevent the young fish from following the
greater flow, and passing into the sluiceway of the mill where
‘they may be injured and probably destroyed in numbers, the
mill companies should be required to install screens.

POLLUTION.

With the continuous growth of towns and cities, unless better
methods of disposal are devised, and more stringent regulations
enforced, the amount of water pollution is inevitably bound to
increase. Since the alewife streams form part of this general
problem, similar methods of treatment are necessary. The
pollution question is so important, difficult and complex in its
inevitable conflict with large manufacturing interests that to
dismiss it in the few words necessitated by the limited scope of
this paper seems most inadequate.

It is generally acknowledged that pollution destroys or in-
jures fish life. Nevertheless, the immediate and ultimate effects
64

of the various kinds of pollution must be studied before we
shall be in a position to determine the exact amount an alewife
can survive immediately or over a long period of time. The
effect of severe recent or transitory pollution in flagrant cases
is conspicuously indicated by the presence of dead or dying fish.
Yet unappreciable continuous pollution may be fully as harm-
ful, due to the. cumulative effect over a long period.

The following tentative plan of approaching the pollution
problem has been adhered to. It deals with local conditions
in a fishing and manufacturing state where the pollution evil
which vitally affects the future of valuable fisheries is closely
linked with the manufacturing interests, —a situation which
renders especially difficult the application of remedial measures.
Educational propaganda is under way, but no effort as yet has
been made to use extreme legal measures in forcing the elimina-
tion of individual cases.

Education. — The financial antagonism of the manufacturing
interests, both owners and employees, must be overcome, and
indifferent public opinion aroused by a campaign of education.

The evil effects of pollution can be presented to the public by.

lectures and newspaper articles; to the owners, by personal
interviews and correspondence.

Survey. — Every source of pollution will be recorded, and the
co-operation of the owner in its removal requested.

Disposal of Waste. — Through the expert advice of the State
Department of Public Health, means of waste disposal at the
least possible expense to the manufacturers are recommended.

Utihzation of Waste. —'The manufacturers are shown how
they can utilize their own waste products to best advantage,
and thereby reduce or completely eliminate the expense of
maintaining a disposal system.

Legal Action. — As an extreme measure, if the owner refuses
to co-operate, legal action for the elimination of pollution, as
provided for under the present laws, may be instituted. Laws
must be carefully drawn and sufficiently broad in their enforce-
ment to facilitate the handling of difficult cases of transitory
pollution, or where polluting material is surreptitiously emptied
into a stream under pretense of a nominally operating disposal
system.
EE | Aa eee ee an Sea ey ene ne wk ee eT eee ee are Te te

65

Stocking Meruops.

All stocking methods are based upon the Parent Stream
Theory, which presupposes that the young alewives return as
mature fish to the same waters where they were hatched. De-
pleted streams can be restored and new fisheries created by
stocking, through the introduction of young alewives into the
headwaters, which may be accomplished in two ways: (1)
transplanting mature, ripe alewives to the spawning ponds;
and (2) planting artificially hatched fry.

Until the first step, a free and unobstructed passageway, is
accomplished, restocking the spawning grounds of depleted
streams is a waste of time. Its success has been demonstrated
in the case of the artificial fisheries which have been created
by connecting fresh-water ponds with salt water, and by
stocking them with adult alewives, and the maintenance of the
fishery in streams such as Town Brook, Plymouth, and Smelt
Brook, Kingston, where impassable dams exist, by placing a
certain number of alewives each year in the headwaters.

Mature Alewives. — The yield of certain depleted streams has
been greatly increased by transplanting into their headwaters
spawning alewives from productive streams. It is sure, prac-
tical, and at the present time the only certain step for restock-
ing unobstructed streams. It possesses the great objection of
expense in catching and transporting the adult fish. Possibly
small alewives could be seined in the late summer and similarly
transported at a less cost.

This method of re-establishing depleted fisheries involves the
successful transportation of the adult fish for various distances.
The alewife is a delicate fish to transplant, resembling in this
respect the white perch. If sufficient care be taken they may
be transported successfully, but any lack of judgment is likely
to have disastrous results. Four factors influence the outcome,
—temperature, distance, number of alewives per can, and
aération. Hot weather renders transportation more difficult.
The alewives are more likely to die on long journeys, and the
amount of direct aération and that obtained indirectly by jolt-
ing of the vehicle determines their survival. The selection of
the proper number per can is also very important. The de-
66

tailed results of fifteen tests in transporting alewives in 10-
gallon cans in a Ford car by one man are shown in the follow-
ing table. Alewives can be carried a maximum distance of 48
miles, provided they receive proper aération, are not over-
crowded, and the temperature is not too high. The effect of
temperature is shown by 17 per cent success at 81° F., as
compared with 100 per cent at 65° F., in transporting alewives
from Bournedale to Hingham. The result of overcrowding
with 15, instead of 6, per can is shown by 27 per cent success,
and lack of aération, by 14 per cent. ;

Results with larger quantities, when large cans and a truck
were used by the fish salvage crew in transplanting alewives
from Bournedale to Long Pond, were less satisfactory, owing
to the difficulty in aérating large numbers of cans, and to the
warm weather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maxi-
Dis- Time | Number} 7. mum
es Date |egnie") alr | Sea [AC weap Ate
of Air.
Follin’s Pond to Marston’s | May 12 15 1 15 4 68 27
Reamedaie to Sandwich, May 13 5 y 7 - 68 100
Bournedale to Hingham, . | May 14 48 3 5 9 65 100
piney to Little Herring | May 13 7 % 5 2 68 100
Bournedale to East Sand- | May 18 8 K 8 76 87
Bournedale to East Sand-| May19| 8 a an si | 100
Bournedale to East Sand- | May 20 8 % 5 - 76 100
Bournedale to East Sand- | May 20 8 % < 76 100
Bournedale to East Sand- | May 21 8 % 5 80 100
Bournedale to East Sand- | May 21 8 4% 6 80 100
Bournedale to East Sand- | May 26 8 % 6 54 100
Bournedale to Hingham, | May 21| 48 3 6 10 80 17
Bournedale to Mattapoisett, | May 19 22 1 7 81 14
Nonlaninet Woes, || : : eho.
Bournedale to Long Pond, | June 9 7 % 5 4 68 100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artificial Hatching. — The ideal method of propagation would
be to plant artificially hatched alewives, and sufficient prelim-
inary work has been carried out along this line to indicate that
commercial hatching is feasible.
67

(1) Ripe Fish. — The principal obstacle in artificial hatching
is obtaining ripe fish for stripping. It is impracticable to obtain
the fish in their journey up stream, since the ratio of males to
females is large, and practically all the eggs are “green” at this
time.

Holding the alewives in pockets until ripe on their way up
stream offers a possible solution of this difficulty. Tests at
East Sandwich indicate that confinement in small pools is un-
satisfactory, as the eggs did not ripen and the fish eventually
died from fungus. Fifty alewives taken at the Bournedale
Stream between May 18 and 21, 1920, were held in a pool 8
by 50 feet in size, with wooden sides and sand bottom, in 1
foot of water, flowing 2,000 gallons per hour. The water came
from a pond where alewives spawned naturally, and was of the
same character as in the stream up which they normally ran.
By June 9 all were dead, and no eggs had ripened.

Seining the fish on the spawning grounds seemed the logical
method of approach. The ratio of male and female necessitates
handling large numbers of superfluous males, as well as many
unripe females. However, with labor and patience a sufficient
quantity of eggs may be secured.

(2) Protection of Spawn. — The possibility of protecting the
spawn from the depredations of other fish by screening the
spawning beds was considered, but the uncertainty of when
and where the spawning would take place, and the fact that
the fish which prey upon the eggs follow in schools close behind |
the alewives, rendered this idea impracticable.

(3) Hatching. — When seined the fish are stripped by the
usual method. After fertilization, owing to their adherent
nature, the eggs mass together, but this may be obviated by
constant stirring and by changing the water every five minutes
until they “harden.” Hatching takes place at 72° F. in forty-
eight to ninety-six hours in open MacDonald hatching jars.
The eggs at first adhere to each other, but later they separate.
The fry, which have the appearance of fine transparent threads
attached to a relatively large yolk sac, can be held only for a
short time in tanks before planting.

(4) Planting. — The advantage of artificial hatching over
natural spawning is the protection of the egg from the inroads
68

of suckers and white and yellow perch, which frequent the
spawning grounds. For protection from these fish the fry
should be liberated over a wide territory.

In spite of the great difficulty in obtaining the ripe fish, the
artificial hatching of alewives is a practical procedure, but the
beneficial effects of planting the fry cannot be demonstrated for
several years.

REGULATION OF FISHERY.

The third important step in preserving the fishery is the
proper legal regulation which will allow cultural and protective
measures to achieve the best results. In place of the present
voluminous special legislation, a few simple, readily enforced
general laws, capable of local modification, should prove of
great benefit in developing the alewife fishery.

The best method of operating the fishery would be a central
board of control, with local representation, which would have
adequate powers to enforce the laws, ‘delegate authority, and
regulate each individual fishery in the interests of the whole.
Thus each fishery would be freed from local disputes and irre-
sponsible manipulation.

Against this ideal method of regulation stands the desire of
the coastal towns to control their respective fisheries, and for
the sake of expediency an attempt at restoration must first be
made under a system of town control, whereby each town is
given charge of the fisheries within its bounds, subject to a
definite policy of management defined in a comprehensive State
law. In this way each town will be given the detailed manage-
ment of the local needs of the fishery, but will be held strictly
accountable by law for its proper regulation. The welfare of
the fishery is the concern of the State, and no town has the
moral right to squander an asset which has been intrusted to
its care. Delinquent towns should be rigidly brought to ac-
count and made to take proper care of their fisheries. The
Division of Fisheries and Game stands ready to advise and
assist the towns in every way possible, but has no power in the
local regulation of the fisheries. It can co-operate in fishway
installation, and through stocking, but unless better town regu-
lation is given, any work of this nature will be without avail.

To insure the correct regulation of the alewife fishery, all
69

existing laws must be replaced by a general law which, in addi-
tion to compulsory oversight by the State, will embrace the
following provisions: —

Lease. — The fishery should be leased to private individuals.
A long-term lease, not less than five years, is necessary, since
the short-term lease places a premium upon exploitation. The .
longer period will encourage a purchaser to safeguard the fish-
ery in all ways.

Closed Seasons. — Closed seasons are beneficial only when
they are used to supplement and protect constructive cultural
work. A closed season is of direct benefit to the alewife fishery
when the alewives are given a chance to spawn in large numbers,
thus supplying a natural means of stocking. In all cases of,
depletion at least a three-year period should be exacted, and
the necessity of a further closed season determined by the
results obtained, especially in cases where stocking operations
have been simultaneously carried on. In fairly prosperous
fisheries the one-year closed season alternating with the five-
year lease should prove a good prophylactic measure for insur-
ing the welfare of the fishery.

A partially closed season may be imposed by allowing the
first part of the alewife run to reach the spawning grounds
unmolested, before any fishing is commenced, thus insuring an
appreciable amount of good-quality spawn being deposited by
large first-run fish. The success of such a provision would
depend upon the knowledge, judgment and care exercised by
the herring committee in determining the proper run of fish
before fishing was permitted. Owing to the higher prices re-
ceived for early fish, this method will scarcely appeal to the
fishing ‘interests.

Season. — The length of the season should be the same
throughout the State, and not exceed a maximum of sixty days.
The exact dates for the commencement of fishing should be
determined for each individual stream.

Fishing Days. —The time of catching should not exceed
three consecutive days per week. Any combination may be
selected, but the period from sunrise Tuesday to sunset Thurs-
day is recommended as giving the best opportunity for preparing
and disposing of the catch.
70

Fishing Places. — To insure easy enforcement of the law,
fishing should be conducted at definite places. Suitable equip-
ment in the form of buildings, catching basins, etc., should be
provided at these carefully selected sites. Only in exceptional
instances should more than one catching place be allowed per
town, viz., seining privileges on the larger rivers.

Methods of Capture.— The methods of fishing should be
clearly and definitely stated. The length and size of mesh for
seines should be regulated.

Uniform Sale. — The method of conducting the sale of the
alewife fishery leases should be uniform as regards time of sale,
submitting of bids, awarding of contracts, payment, forfeiture
and all other provisions. A minimum price should be set for
each fishery.

Herring Committee. — A committee of three members should
be chosen for a three-year period by each town, not by reason
of their political influence, but because of their knowledge and
interest in the fishery, and their business ability. They should
receive suitable compensation for their services, and should be
given absolute power in handling the local fishery. The mem-
bers of the committee or its officially appointed deputies should
be given the right to arrest law violators, remove all obstruc-
tions of whatever nature to the passing of fish in the stream,
regulate the flow of water through fishways, screen flumes, select
fishing places, name the opening date for fishing, determine the
method of catching, and decide the amount and price of ale-
wives furnished to the inhabitants.

SUMMARY.

The following points have been considered in the first part
of this report: —

(1) The valuable alewife fishery has declined because of un-
wise legislation, overfishing and obstructed streams.

(2) A study of the life history and habits of the alewife has
indicated the proper methods of checking this decline.

(3) Experimental constructive work in providing unob-
structed passageways to the spawning grounds, and in restock-
ing depleted streams, has so far given excellent results.
71

(4) A satisfactory type of fishway for alewives has been
designed.

(5) Depleted streams can be restocked and new fisheries de-
veloped by transplanting spawning alewives.

(6) Alewives can be successfully hatched artificially.

(7) Efficient laws are necessary for the proper uniform regu-
lation of the fishery.
72

Part II.

THE SURVEY.

In this part of the report a brief description of each alewife
stream is given, and the practical methods for the restoration
of the fishery are presented, for the purpose of stimulating
local interest. For convenience the streams are arranged in
geographical order from north to south. Owing to limited
space, only the salient facts concerning the present and past
conditions of the fishery are considered. Certain parts of this
information may meet with the disapproval of persons finan-
cially interested in undertakings which might be adversely
affected by the suggested methods of solving these problems,
but we believe that a clean-cut, impartial presentation of the
existing conditions, together with just criticism of present evils,
is the right policy. The sources of pollution and the principal
laws regulating the fisheries, which are given elsewhere, are
omitted.

In the following table are given, in alphabetical order, the
various alewife fisheries, classified in respect to their present
value and potential possibilities for development: —

 

 

 

 

Present
Value in || Possrpinirres ror DEVELOP-
Per MENT.
FisHERY. Type. Cent of
Former
joe None. | Poor. | Fair. | Good.
Acushnet River, . ‘ . | Public, . é x -
Agawam River, -. ‘i . | Leased, s 7 100 - x
Back River, Duxbury, . | Public, . ‘ ‘ x
Bass River, ‘ Fi . | Seining privileges, 40 x
Bound Brook, Cohasset, . | Public, . x
Cape Pond, Rockport, Public, . ‘i x =
Charles River, ; Public, - 7 x
Chathamport Alewife | Private, . x x =
Brook. :
Chebacco Brook, Essex, Leased, . ‘ ‘ < x
Childs River, c Private,. . 50 x =
Cole’s River, . . | Leased, 3 i x as

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
73

 

 

 

 

Present
ee in || PossrpitiTies FoR DEVELOP-
‘er
FIsHERY. Type. Cent of
Former
deacon, | None. | Poor. | Fair. | Good.
Coonamessett River, Public and leased, . 60 = x
Danvers River, Public, x
East Falmouth, Herring | Private, - DS
River.
Eel River, Leased, x
Falmouth Ponds: —
Fresh, Public, 50 x
Little, Public, 50 - x
Oyster, Public, 50 xX
Salt, Public, 50 xX
Wing’s, Public, 30 x
Fresh Brook, Plymouth, ‘ Leased, xX
Great Pond, Eastham, Leased, 75 xX
Herring River, Eastham, Public, xX
Herring River, Harwich, Leased, 100 x
Herring River, Wellfleet, Leased, 25 x
Ipswich River, Public, x
Island Creek, Duxbury, Public, XxX
Jones River: —
Smelt Brook, Leased, 25 x
Stony Brook, Leased, 25 xX
Long Pond and Parker | Private, 80 x
River.
Marston's Mills Herring | Leased, x
iver.
Martha’s Vineyard Ponds: —
Black Point, Long lease, x
Chilmark, Long lease, 20 xX
Edgartown Great Pond | Long lease, 100 x
and Mattakessett Creeks.
Farm, Long lease, : x
Job’s Neck, Long lease, p<
Kaleb’s, Long lease, - x
Lagoon, Long lease, x -
Oyster, Long lease, 20 x
Pocha, Long lease, 25 xX
Sengatocket and Trap, Long lease, x
Squibnocket: —
a) Squibnocket Her- | Leased, 60 x
ring Creek. |
_ (b) Gay Head Herring | Leased, 80 x
Creek.
Tashmoo, Public, 40 x
Tisbury Great, Long lease, 160 x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
74

 

 

 

 

Value th PossrBruities FOR DEVELOP-
er MENT.
FisHERY. Type. cae of
Pe None. | Poor. | Fair. | Good.
Mashpee River, Public, is 40 = = xX
Mattapoisett River, Town-operated and 30 x
Merrimack River, Pubic. : ‘ x
Mill River, Sandwich, Long lease, ; x
Monument River, Leased, ‘ 40 x
Mystic River, Leased, ; x
Nantucket Ponds: —
Hummock, Public, . ‘ 20 x
Long Pond and Madde- | Public, 75 x
wee : fe . | Publie, : x -
Sachacha, Public, z x -
Neponset River, Public, ‘ x -
Nine Mile Pond and Centre- | Private, . x
kun Seining, F 15 -
Barker’s River, Public, j 40 x
Indian Head River, Public, Z x
First Herring Brook, Leased, 9 - x
Second Herring Brook, | Public, ” - x :
Third Herring Brook, Public, ‘ = x
Palmer's River, Leased, : - x
Parker River, Public, - x
Paskamansett River, . Public, : : x
; Quashnet River, Public, : xX
Red Brook, Cataumet, Leased, 80 x
Red Brook, Wareham, Private, . 5 100 x
Rowley River, Public, : x
Santuit River, Public, i 50 x
Saugus River, Public, : x
Scusset River, Public, xX
Sippican River, Public, 7 xX
South River, Public, 5 x
Sparrow Pond, Orleans, Public, ‘ Be
Stony Brook, Brewster, Leased, : 75 . “ x
Swan Pond, Dennis, Leased, ‘ xX
Taunton River: —
Assonet River, Seining, . } 3 ag
Cook’s Pond Brook, Public, i x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
75

 

 

 

 

Frese PossIBILITIES FOR DEV ELOP-
FISHERY. Type. Cent of ce
Former
nes. None. | Poor. | Fair. | Good.
Taunton River— Concluded.
Littleworth Brook, . | Public, . F x =
Mill River, . | Public, . x a -
Nemasket River, Leased, é 50 = x
Quequechan River, Public, " x
Salisbury Plain River, Public, : x < -
Satucket River, Public, 3 = x
Segreganset River, Public, ‘ x
Town River, Public, ‘ x
Three Mile River, Public, x
Two Mile River, Public, ele x =
Town Brook, Plymouth, Leased, : 75 = x
Wankinco River, é Public, . i x
Weir River, — Public, : x
Westport River, Public, . Z a x
Weweantit River, Public, . : x -
Weymouth Back River, Leased, ‘ 30 x -
Weymouth Fore River, Publie, . x -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merrimack River.

The Merrimack River, with its tributaries, forms the princi-
pal drainage system of northeastern Massachusetts. The
greater part of its course lies in New Hampshire, and of that
portion in Massachusetts, the lower part is tidal water. At
the present time dams, sewage and trade-waste pollution render
it unfit for the passage of salmon, shad and alewives, which
formerly frequented the river in great abundance. In Massa-
chusetts the two principal obstructions have been the dams at
Lawrence and Lowell, both of which were equipped formerly
with fishways in the form of parallel lines of tanks.

Subsequent to 1876 a serious decline occurred in this public
fishery, in spite of voluminous legislative enactments, and, at
the present time, with the exception of seining at the mouth,
the Merrimack River furnishes no alewife fishery. The causes
bringing about this condition were the practically impassable
76

dams at Lawrence and’ Lowell, and the great quantities of
pollution which rendered the stream uninhabitable for fish.

Under present conditions the alewife fishery of the Merrimack
River is an affair of the past. The numerous industrial enter-
prises situated along its banks, with their attending pollution
and dams, and the fact that a large portion of the river, on
which are located its most favorable spawning grounds, lies
without the bounds of the State, present a serious problem.
However, many tributaries are connected with ponds which
might serve as satisfactory spawning grounds. It is possible,
with the co-operation of New Hampshire in excluding as much
pollution as possible, and by erecting fishways where necessary,
that the fishery may be revived. The installation of the new
fishways at Lawrence and at Lowell are the first attempts made
toward the solution of this most difficult problem.

Parker RIvEr.

Parker River pursues a winding course for 15 or 20 miles
from its source in Boxford to Plum Island Sound. The impor-
tant ponds connected with this stream are Rock, Pentucket,
Crane and Baldpate, the last forming the headwaters of Penn
Brook, which, with Mill River and Beaver Brook, form its
principal tributaries. Chiefly used for industrial purposes, the
river is obstructed by several dams, and is somewhat polluted.
At least five dams at some time have prevented the passage
of alewives to Pentucket, Rock and Baldpate ponds, the natural
spawning grounds, and three, located at the Byfield Woolen
Mill, Byfield Snuff Factory No. 5, and the Pearson Tobacco
Company, now offer complete obstruction, while the outlet of
Pentucket Pond, the first logical spawning ground, is closed by
an embankment and gate. The dams at Glen Mill and at two
sawmills for a number of years have prevented alewives from
ascending Mill River.

The public alewife fishery has decreased to such an extent
that not over 25 barrels are obtained annually. Forty years
ago alewives were taken in considerable numbers below the
Glen Mills dam, and shipped to Gloucester for bait.

In spite of numerous good early laws, the fishery in Parker
River has been ruined, primarily through obstruction by dams
77

without fishways, —a condition due to the laxity in law en-
forcement on the part of the town of Newbury. Considering
its present unproductive status, and the several impassable
dams on the river, reclamation of this fishery, though possible,
does not present the attractive opportunities offered by many
other streams.

Row.ey River.

Rowley River, formed by the junction of Bull and Muddy
brooks, flows through the town of Rowley to Plum Island
Sound. On a branch of Bull Brook is located the pumping
station and reservoir of the Ipswich Water Works, which would
not interfere in any way with an alewife fishery. Just above
the pumping station on Bull Brook is the only evidence of
artificial obstruction, — the remains of an ancient sawmill dam.
The stream bed is rocky, and in some places has a fall of 25
feet in 200 yards. The fishery has always been public, and a
few alewives are occasionally seen as far up as the Water
Works, but the absence of a suitable pond for spawning renders
impossible the maintenance of a successful commercial fishery.

Ipswicu River.

The Ipswich River has its origin at the junction of Lubber
and Maple Meadow brooks, Wilmington, and flows in a north-
easterly direction for 20 miles to Plum Island Sound, receiving
many tributaries. Formerly there was a greater flow of water
in the river, several tributary ponds now being used as water
supplies.

Among these is Great Pond or Forest Lake, taken as a water
supply for Danvers in 1876, which is connected with the Ips-
wich River by a stream 1} miles long, upon which a fishery
was maintained until about 1880 by the town of Middleton.
Humphrey’s Pond Brook, which flows from Suntaug Lake, a
water supply for Peabody, also empties into the Ipswich River.
It is obstructed by two dams, at Phelps’ Mills and at the Sun-
taug Lake Outlet. Although fishways were located at these
points thirty-five years ago, but few alewives came up the
stream. Pritchard’s Pond is connected with Ipswich River
through Howlett’s and Mile brooks, on both of which are
sawmill dams, Here a public fishery was established in 1803,
78

by the town of Topsfield, but no alewives have entered Pritch-
ard’s Pond for over fifty years.

Miles River, a southern branch of Ipswich River, rises in
Wenham Lake, and flows northerly for 53 miles. The greater
part of the alewives which formerly came up Ipswich River
used Wenham Lake as a spawning ground. Since this body of
water has been taken as a water supply by Salem, so much
water has been withdrawn that the natural outlet has been dry
for the last twenty years.

The main river is tidal as far as the Ipswich Upper Mills,
now the property of the Ipswich Mills Company, where a
dilapidated fishway which had been installed for over twenty
years was entirely destroyed in 1916.

One and one-half miles up the river the old Norwood Mill
dam, now owned by Mr. W. F. Barrett, and farther up stream
the Willowdale dam, the property of Mr. C. G. Rice, totally
obstruct the passage of fish. At South Middleton is an unused
dam with raised gates, which affords an unobstructed passage.

At present there is no alewife fishery in the Ipswich River
and no alewives have been observed up the river for nearly
twenty years. Formerly the town of Ipswich sold the privilege
of seining alewives for a nominal fee, and at one time thousands
of barrels were taken just above Choate bridge and shipped,
salted, to the West Indies. The first law concerning the fishery
was passed in 1788, and was followed by voluminous legislation
concerning the towns of Ipswich, Hamilton, Topsfield, Reading,
Danvers and Middleton. Fishways were required by law in
1821, 1825 and 1829, with definite specifications as to construc-
tion and size.

The causes which have brought about the decline of the
fishery in order of their importance, are: (1) the utilization of
the spawning grounds for water supplies; (2) the obstruction
of the stream by dams without fishways; (3) the trade-waste
pollution; and (4) the diminution of the quantity of water in
the river and its tributaries.

It is doubtful whether the alewife fishery in Ipswich River
can ever assume its former commercial value, since the more
important spawning grounds have been taken for water sup-
plies. However, opportunity is still offered for the creation of
79

a valuable fishery by removing the obstructions in the river
so that the alewives may have a clear passageway to Pritchard’s
Pond, and other minor bodies of water, which would serve as
spawning grounds. The first step in this direction is the instal-
lation of suitable fishways, which was undertaken in 1920 by
the Division of Fisheries and Game, beginning with the lowest
dam at the Ipswich Mills, where a new fishway has been
installed. Similar plans are to be submitted for the dams at
Norwood Mills and at Willowdale. These fishways not only
are essential for restoring the alewife fishery, but will prove of
great benefit to all kinds of fishing.

CuEeBacco Brook AND Essex RIver.

Chebacco Brook, sometimes called Mill River, rises in Che-
bacco Lake, and flows for 6 miles through the town of Essex
to empty into the Essex River. Low dams and accumulations
of old timber and débris, as well as thick grass, choke the
brook, which varies from 1 to 4 feet in width, and renders
difficult the passage of fish. In 1913 the low dam at the plant
of the Gloucester Branch of the Bay State Street Railway
Company had been in part removed to allow the alewives to
pass up stream. This company relies upon the brook to con-
dense steam, and empties into it hot water which, in appreciable
quantities, is injurious to fish life. The fishery, established in
1879 by the town of Essex, in former days produced annually
500 to 600 barrels, and the privilege has been sold for as high
as $600. It still exists, but in such a diminished state that
the town does not sell or even issue permits to take alewives.
Ordinarily it has been sold at public auction each year, with
the provision that a certain number of alewives be allowed to
pass to the spawning grounds. A profitable fishery could be
re-established by stocking Chebacco Lake with spawning ale-
wives after the obstructions were removed, necessary fishways
installed and pollution eliminated. However, if Chebacco Lake
ever were used as a water supply the fishery could no longer
exist.
Care Ponp Broox anp Mit River.

Cape Pond, which forms the headwaters of Cape Pond Brook,
has been used since 1894 as a water supply for the town of
Rockport. Cape Pond Brook is an intermittent stream, flowing
in a westerly direction for 5 miles to empty into Mill River, a
salt-water arm of the Annisquam River. The brook is ordi-
narily 4 to 5 feet wide, but when the level of the water in the
pond has been lowered, its upper channel becomes dry. Since
the old and young alewives imprisoned in the pond by the low
water during the summer and fall by dying polluted the water,
a dam was constructed below the outlet on Cape Pond Brook
to prevent their entrance.

A public fishery, established in 1816 by Gloucester by placing
a number of spawning alewives in Cape Pond, was permanently
abandoned in 1894 when Rockport took Cape Pond as a water
supply.

In spite of its natural advantages, which offer excellent op-
portunities, the fishery can never be re-established as long as
Cape Pond is used as a water supply.

Danvers RIVER.

Danvers River, including Porter’s, Crane’s and Waters’
rivers, in the towns of Beverly, Danvers and Salem, is formed
by North and Proctor’s rivers, Goldthwaite and Tapley
brooks, and receives as tributaries Beaver, Crane and Frost
Fish brooks. The river is obstructed by tide gates, and is
polluted by the waste products discharged chiefly from leather
factories.

Although alewives were formerly caught at Sydney’s Pond
on Tapley Brook, in Crane’s River, and near the Peabody In-
stitute, the stream affords no present-day fishery, and within
the memory of the present generation, only a few alewives have
been taken. At the present time the fishery has passed be-
yond the possibility of reclamation, since all possible spawning
grounds on its course are used as water supplies, and the minor
streams serve mostly as channels for manufacturing wastes.
81

Sauaus RIveEr.

Saugus River takes its origin in Quannapowitt Lake, Wake-
field, and flows southeasterly to Lynn Harbor, forming several
artificial ponds in its course. Used chiefly for industrial pur-
poses, it is obstructed by dams, and is somewhat polluted.
Flax Pond Brook, from Flax Pond and Lake Wyoma, joins the
Saugus River 1 mile above its entrance into Lynn Harbor. At
the outlet from Flax Pond are two board dams with gates, 8
and 18 inches in size, respectively. At its entrance into Saugus
River at low tide the stream flows down an incline forming a
miniature cascade of 2 to 3 feet, but at high tide the passage
of alewives is not impeded.

At the present time there are three obstructions to the pas-
sage of fish on this stream,—one at the dam of the Lynn
Water Works at Montrose; a second at Pranker’s Pond, the
10-foot dam of the United States Worsted Company; and an-
other in the form of a 13-foot dam on the former Wallace Nut-
ting property, now owned by the Cellugraph Engineering Cor-
poration of Boston. As far as the last two mentioned dams are
concerned, that at Pranker’s Pond is at present equipped with
a fishway in a very bad state of repair, while that of the Cellu-
graph Engineering Corporation is practically entirely destroyed.

Years ago, when there existed an unobstructed water route
to Quannapowitt Lake, the Saugus River supported a flourish-
ing fishery. The Flax Pond fishery, also, was fairly profitable,
but since 1905 no alewives have entered the pond. Alewives
at present come up the river as far as Pranker’s Pond, but
none ascend to the headwaters in Lake Quannapowitt.

If alewives are once more permitted to run up to the head-
waters of Saugus River and to Flax Pond, and the amount of
pollution entering the river and its tributaries is curtailed, a
great step will have been taken toward restoring this fishery.
The dam of the Lynn Water Works at Montrose need cause
no concern for the present, since the rights of flowage of the
city of Lynn over adjoining meadows above it are not operative
from April 1 to October 20, which necessitates the gate being

left open during that time. It is expected, with the co-opera-
82

tion of the United States Worsted Company and the Cellu-
graph Engineering Corporation, that their present dilapidated
wooden fishways will shortly be replaced with modern struc-
tures.

Mystic River.

The Mystic River is tidal as far as the locks at West Med-
ford, which point it is almost impossible for alewives to pass
even at high tide, so that few fish reach the Mystic Lakes for
spawning. Between the Mystic Lakes is a dam equipped with a
wooden Brackett fishway of little use, since the water level is
not sufficiently high to afford flowage. Above the Mystic
Lakes the Aberjona River is polluted north of Winchester from
several sources, and obstructed by the dam at Whitney’s Mill
Pond, an elaborate concrete structure in the form of a semi-
circle. When sufficient water is flowing over this dam, alewives
should be able to surmount it. About three-quarters of a mile
below Mystic Lakes is a tributary stream 20 feet wide and 3
to 4 feet deep, known as Alewife Brook or Little River. This
once connected Spy Pond, Arlington, with the Mystic River,
but now drains only a small pond separated from Spy Pond
by a road embankment which effectually prevents the passage
of alewives into Spy Pond.

According to Holmes (2) the privilege of taking fish was given
in 1633-34 by the General Court to Governor Winthrop and
Matthew Craddock at the weir “at Mysticke,” situated where
High Street, Medford, now crosses the river. Two other weirs
were subsequently erected, and large quantities have been taken
from the Mystic River in past years, e.g., a single haul of 50,000
at Medford, in April, 1844.

Although no alewives are taken in the Mystic River at the
present time, the fishery may once again be brought to a state
of real productivity by providing suitable passageways at the
dams at West Medford and between the Mystic Lakes, thus
opening the Mystic Lakes for spawning grounds; also, in the
same way, by making Spy Pond available, proportionately
greater benefits may be derived.
83

CHARLES RIVER.

The Charles River, one of the largest streams in eastern
Massachusetts, has its origin in Cedar Swamp Pond, Milford,
and follows a winding course to its final destination, Boston
Harbor, forming on its way various artificial ponds at North
Bellingham and West Medway, and Populatic Pond. It is a
rather sluggish stream of considerable width, especially in the
lower part of its course, which until the erection of the Charles
River Dam, was a tidal estuary.

Although shad and alewives were both originally found in
the stream, its fishery was among the first in Massachusetts
to become extinct.

Its decline has been due indirectly to the influence of cities
along its banks, the various changes made in the lower portion
of its course, pollution from manufacturing concerns, and ob-
struction by dams. The possibility of restoring this fishery is
remote, since the Charles River Basin, with its deep water and
steep sides, does not offer a suitable spawning ground, and the
progress of the alewives up stream is barred by a series of
dams beginning with Watertown.

NEPONSET RIVER.

The Neponset River rises in Neponset Reservoir, Foxborough,
and passes through a succession of six artificial ponds before
reaching Boston Harbor. Below Bird’s Pond the river becomes
badly polluted by excessive trade wastes. This condition has
for a number of years been a perplexing problem for the State,
and numerous efforts have been made to decrease the amount
of pollution entering this stream. At one time there was a
fishery of some importance for shad and alewives, but, owing
to obstructions and foul condition of the water, none can exist

at present.

Weymouts Fore River anp Monatiquor Broox.
Weymouth Fore River rises in Great Pond and flows through
East Braintree into Hingham Bay. It receives as tributaries
Monatiquot Brook, which runs from Cranberry Pond, Brain-
84

tree, and Longmeadow Brook, from Porter’s Pond in Holbrook
and Randolph.

There is no alewife fishery on Weymouth Fore River at the
present time, although in former days the fish evidently as-
cended to Great Pond for spawning. Opportunities for devel-
oping a commercial fishery are not especially attractive.

Weymoutu Back RIvEr.

Weymouth Back River has its origin in Great Pond, Wey-
mouth, which is connected with Whitman Pond by Mill River,
thus affording the use of both ponds as spawning grounds.
There are practically no obstructions between Great and Whit-
man ponds, but at the outlet of the latter is the high dam of
the Weymouth Iron Company, which absolutely bars the pas-
sage of alewives. From Whitman Pond the stream pursues a
swift, unmolested course to Hingham Bay. .

The fishery, created in 1801, is interesting from the fact that
it was sold outright in 1846 by legislative act to the Weymouth
Tron Company for a sum of money, the interest on which at 6
per cent was equivalent to the average yearly income from the
fishery for the previous thirty years, and was subject to certain
specifications regarding the sale of fish to householders of Wey-
mouth. The interest on this sum was expended annually for the
support of the local schools. Under present circumstances it is
necessary to carry alewives over the dam at Whitman Pond,
a specified number being deposited in the pond in this fashion
each year for spawning purposes. The remainder of the catch,
after the townspeople receive their share, is sold by the lessee.

The fishery may be developed to best advantage by the
erection of a fishway at the Whitman Pond Dam, although,
owing to the extreme height and difficulty of installation, the
initial cost would be great. The present method of carrying
the spawning fish over the dam to the pond each year is un-
satisfactory because of the annual expense, the small number
transferred, and the failure of the lessee to transport the mini-
mum specified number. This fishery, which has once more re-
verted to town control, should be more extensively developed as
a public asset.
85

Weir River.

Weir River, which passes for 7 miles through the town of
Hingham into an arm of Hingham Bay, rises in Beechwood
River, into which flow tributary streams from Accord Pond,
Cushing Pond and Fulling Mill Pond. The principal obstruc-
tions are the 8-foot dam at the ice pond above the outlet of
Weir River, the ruins of a factory with two closed flumes at
Nantasket Junction, and two dams at Triphammer Pond. Ac-
cord Pond and Fulling Mill Pond now form a part of the Hing-
ham and Hull water supply, with the result that their natural
outlets are dry most of the year, while Cushing Pond has an
impassable dam. .

The public fishery, established in 1805, no longer exists; an
occasional alewife being taken in the lower part of the river
with the smelt, which run up the stream to spawn below the
dam at the railroad station. The early obstruction by dams,
rather than the utilization of the spawning grounds as a water
supply, was the primary cause of its decline. Owing to the
fact that the headwaters of the Weir River and former spawn-
ing grounds are used as water supplies, any attempt to re-es-
tablish this fishery at present would be futile.

GuLF River anD BounpD Brook.

Bound Brook rises in Lily Pond and pursues a winding course
of 3% miles to Cohasset Harbor via Gulf River. Lily Pond
supplies the best spawning ground, although there are also
three mill ponds of 4 to 5 acres.

Near the mouth of the river is a dam with an automatic
tide gate through which alewives can pass. At the head of
tidewater at North Scituate is Lincoln’s Grist Mill Dam,
equipped with a poorly designed concrete fishway, constructed
in 1913 by the town of Cohasset, up which it is impossible for
any fish to ascend.

The two other dams are without fishways, but there has
been a general understanding that the mill owners would open
their respective dams whenever it should be necessary to allow
the alewives to pass. However, the failure of alewives to sur-
mount the lowest dam rendered this agreement futile.
86

There have been frequent and well-meaning attempts during
the past fifty years to establish a run of alewives in. this
stream, but without any notable success. Mature fish from
Weymouth were placed in Lily Pond, but obstructions were
not removed in spite of the manifest impossibility of maintain-
ing a fishery if the fish were not permitted to run up stream.
Had the town attended to the matter of fishways at the vari-
ous dams, a good fishery might undoubtedly have been estab-
lished. As it stands, no privilege to catch the alewives has
ever been sold, and the town has never received revenue from
this source. The fact that Lily Pond is used as a water supply
makes difficult the reclamation of the fishery, since the level
of the water may be so lowered in the summer as to prevent
the passage of the young alewives out of the pond. However,
the artificial ponds on the stream may be used for spawning
grounds.

The successful re-establishment of this fishery requires a free
and unobstructed passage for the alewives to spawning grounds.
Satisfactory fishways should be installed by the town at the
Lincoln’s Mill Dam, and other dams, unless the owners agree
to lower the stream to its natural bed during the spring run.
The use of Lily Pond as a water supply renders problematical
its value as a spawning ground, and the limited area of the
artificial ponds on the stream will not support an extensive
fishery.

Norru River.

North River, formed by the junction of Indian Head River
and Barker’s River, flows northeasterly through the towns of
Marshfield, Pembroke, Hanover and Scituate, receiving as
tributaries First, Second and Third Herring brooks, and Smelt
Brook. The stream, used chiefly for power, is polluted by tack
and rubber factories on its tributaries. The present outlet to
Massachusetts Bay was formed during the gale of 1898, 3 miles
to the north of the old opening.

First Herring Brook. — This tributary stream forms in its
course two ponds, the lower of which serves as the water supply
for Scituate. Although established in 1818, and subject to
lease by the town of Scituate, there has never been an organized
87

fishery on the stream, though alewives were fairly numerous
previous to 1900.

Second Herring Brook. — This brook has its origin in Tor-
rey’s Pond, Norwell, and flows in a southerly direction for 13
miles. There are no fishways at the dams at Torrey’s or
Turner’s ponds, but in the latter case this omission was sanc-
tioned by a town law. Previous to 1898 alewives were reported
spawning in abundance in the still water and ditches, but
changes made in the channel of the river so increased the tide
that these spawning grounds were destroyed. A few fish are
still taken below the Turner Dam.

Third Herring Brook. — This stream rises in Jacob’s Pond
near Assinippi, and flows southeasterly for 3 miles, forming a
series of four artificial ponds.

Indian Head River. — This stream, with its tributaries, com-
prises the headwaters of North River. It is used chiefly for
industrial purposes, is obstructed by dams, and receives trade
wastes from various tack and rubber factories. At South
Hanover it receives Indian Head Brook, which has its origin
in Indian Head Pond, connected with Maquan Pond, and in
its course of 3 miles through cranberry bogs, with their partial
obstructions, has a permanent barrier at Hanson, on the site
of the mill dam built by Captain Nathaniel Thomas in 1694.

Just below the junction of Drinkwater River and French
Brook are four dams without fishways: at the National Fire-
works plant, the tack factories of E. Phillips & Son, and the
property of W. C. Waterman & Co., all four of which permit
trade wastes to enter the stream.

Barker’s River. — Barker’s River, which joins Indian Head
River to form the North River, rises in Furnace Pond, which,
in turn, is connected with Great and Little Sandy ponds. Be-
low Furnace Pond the river is not obstructed, is 8 to 10 feet
wide, and flows through a large area of cranberry bogs. Fish-
ways are located just below Furnace Pend and at Chalmer’s
Upper Pond, but are no longer needed, as during the spring
run all the dams on the stream are opened.

At Pembroke is located the public herring weir, comprising
a fish trap, box, bridge, fish house and dam. Here the inhab-
itants of the town of Pembroke are permitted to take fish with
88

dip nets from sunrise Tuesday to sunset Friday each week.
On Pudding Brook, a tributary, is a small pond with concrete
dam, at North Pembroke. Nine or teri years ago alewives
also ran up this stream.

Since 1898 the practice of seining alewives at the mouth of
the river has been practically abandoned, owing to the rapid
flow of water through the new opening. The greater part of
the fishing is now carried on in the tributary streams. For-
merly ten permits to seine alewives were offered for sale at
prices ranging from $75 to $80 apiece by the towns along the
river, in the proportion of Marshfield four, Pembroke two,
Norwell two, and Scituate two; but in 1913 only two were
sold. As illustrative of their depreciation in value it may be
stated that the average price of the Marshfield privilege for
‘thirty years previous to 1900 was $34.85, and from 1900 to
1912 has been $3.40.

For years there has been no alewife fishery in Indian Head
River, owing to pollution and to at least four dams which pre-
vent the passage of fish. An unsuccessful attempt was made
years ago to establish a fishery on Indian Head Brook. No
alewives have been seen in Indian Head Pond for seventy-five
years, although they come each year in small numbers as far
as the dam at Clapp’s Rubber Factory.

The alewife fishery on Barker’s River is the traditional and
sacred possession of the town of Pembroke. The doctrine that
there was a herring right before a mill right has prevailed, and
to-day the alewives run unmolested, except on four days each
week, from the waters of Massachusetts Bay to Furnace Pond.
Previous to 1910 mill owners and cranberry growers were al-
lowed to keep closed dams and establish fishways, but, owing
to the fact that the quantity of alewives was decreasing, it was
decreed that the dams must be opened. Two towns, Pembroke
and Hanson, are interested in Pembroke Weir, and hire men
to do the catching, selling the product in the proportion of
200 herring to each male inhabitant at the rate of 25 cents
per hundred. Curiously, Pembroke widows get 100 gratis, but
must pay 25 cents for the second hundred, whereas Hanson
widows pay the full rate of 25 cents per hundred. It is stated
that years ago the revenue from this fishing was sufficient to
89 ?

pay the poll tax of every taxable person in Pembroke. In recent
years the revenue has little more than paid for the expense of
catching the alewives.

Recommendations. — The success of the fishery in North
River depends directly upon conditions in Barker’s River.
Free access to the spawning grounds is now given, and the only
drawback is the fact that the fish are subjected to pollution
from Indian Head River before they ascend Barker River.
Special care should be taken to insure the proper number of
alewives reaching the spawning grounds.

The three Herring brooks present chiefly the problem of ob-
structions, and offer possibilities only of small fisheries. Little
can be done with the First Herring Brook, since its headwaters
serve as a water supply for Scituate. The installation of fish-
ways, in two dams would permit of alewives ascending Second
Herring Brook, while, in order to open Third Herring Brook,
the construction of four fishways will be necessary.

In order to revive the alewife fishing in Indian Head River
it will first be necessary to install a series of fishways in the
dams owned by the Clapp Rubber Company, the Waterman
Company, E. Phillips & Son, and in the dam at the old Thomas
Mill. Then, if the further steps of stocking Indian Head Pond
‘and eliminating present pollution are taken, the outlook for a
successful fishery will be promising.

SoutH River.

Since the gale of 1898 South River joins North River, with
its outlet about 24 to 3 miles north of its former location. The
river itself is a natural stream from 9 to 10 miles long, and is
used for power and for flooding cranberry bogs.

The obstructions to the passage of alewives are the dilapi-
dated dam at Marshfield Village, Chandler’s Millpond Dam
and a varied number of small dams, sluiceways and other ac-
cessories in the cranberry bogs of northwest Duxbury.

The alewives entering South River are known as “late her-
ring” or “ditch herring” because they do not seek a pond for
spawning purposes, but swarm in the creeks and ditches, —a
habit of the glut herring. There has never been any seining
90

or systematic catching, and no alewives have ever been able
to get past the dam at Marshfield Village.

Little opportunity is offered for immediate improvement,
owing to the numerous cranberry bogs on its upper branches,
lack of suitable spawning grounds, and the presence of at least
two dams in Marshfield, which prevent the passage of alewives.
A limited development is possible by equipping these dams
with fishways, and thus provide better spawning grounds.

Istanp CREEK.

Island Creek rises in Island Creek Pond, Duxbury, and flows
south for 14 miles to Kingston Bay. It is from 6 to 8 feet
wide, and forms a small millpond about: halfway along its
course. Fifteen years ago the fishway at this dam was de-
stroyed and has never been replaced. Alewives ascend the
stream as far as this dam, where a few are taken each year,
and some are carried over it to the millpond, thus maintaining
the fishery. In 1912, 200 were placed in the millpond, and in
1913 about 2,000 alewives were caught out of the brook. The
fishery has always been public, except at one period when the
privilege was sold to the owners of the dam.

Island Creek offers a favorable opportunity for rehabilitation
of a small fishery by establishing a fishway at the millpond,
and clearing a passageway to Island Creek Pond, so that the
alewives may reach the headwaters for spawning.

Back RIvER.

Back River, a small stream passing near the village of Dux-
bury, forms a small ice pond before it empties into Duxbury
Bay. Alewives run up this river, but no definite fishery is car-
ried on. The limited area of spawning grounds prohibits the
possibility of establishing a fishery of any importance.

JONES RIVER.

Jones River flows from Silver Lake to Kingston Bay over a
9 to 10 mile course, and in its lower part is navigable for small
crafts for 25 miles. As tributaries it receives Smelt, Furnace,
Stony, Crossman’s and Jones River brooks. Two dams obstruct
91

the passage of alewives, —the first at Hurd’s Tack Factory
and the second a mile above this point.

On Furnace Brook is McLaughlin’s Pond, a spawning ground
where an old tack factory was formerly located. Part of the
land in this vicinity is used for cranberry bogs. Crossman’s
Brook has no obstructions, while both Howard and Pine brooks,
two tributaries of Jones River Brook, are crossed by a road and
dam.

Stony Brook. — Stony Brook has its source in Blackwater
Pond, in Kingston, and flows for 14 miles southeasterly into
Jones River. The brook, which is from 8 to 10 feet wide, is
used principally for power, is obstructed by dams, and receives
trade wastes in the form of vitriol. The public fishery on Stony
Brook was established in 1802. A certain number of alewives
are transported by the purchaser of the fishing rights over the
dams at the tack factory of H. C. Cole, and the foundry of
C. Drew, where there are no fishways.

Smelt Brook. — Smelt Brook, a 23 mile stream connecting
Smelt Pond and Jones River, is from 4 to 8 feet wide, and is
used chiefly for power. One-half mile above its outlet it forms
Russell’s Pond, where is located an impassable dam at the nail
factory of Cobb & Drew.

The alewives are taken in a trap situated below the nail
factory by a catcher appointed by the Kingston Fish Commit-
tee. Ten thousand are annually required to be placed above
the dam, and the remainder are sold at 25 cents per hundred
to the inhabitants of Kingston, —a practice which has been
carried on for sixty years. Owing to the poor results of fishing
in recent years it has been impossible to place regularly the
required number on spawning grounds. Possible reasons for
the present scarcity are the difficulty the young experience in
leaving the millpond, and the trade-waste pollution from the
nail factory. :

Fishery. — In the early days considerable interest was shown
by the town of Kingston in the welfare of its several herring
streams. Records show that in 1872 and 1873 the town of
Kingston deposited 3,000 alewives in Silver Lake, but for years
this body of water has been used for a water supply. In 1894
there was a temporary awakening after a long period of leth-
92

argy. A special committee was formed to sell the fishery under
a one-year lease, and after paying operating expenses, to turn
any surplus into the town treasury. Two privileges were sold,
one on Smelt Brook, and one at the Hurd Factory on Jones
River. Up to 1909, in view of the decline of the fishery, no
sale was made. Since then attempts have been made to put
all the fish possible over the dams for spawning, and in 1913
an appropriation of $100 was made by the town to encourage
the building of fishways. Alewives which at present ascend
Jones River spawn either in Crossman’s Pond or in the small
ponds such as McLaughlin’s on Furnace Brook.

Recommendations. — The alewife fishery of Jones River may
be restored to its former value if fishways are installed at the
two dams on the main river, and at the dams on Smelt, Fur-
nace and Stony brooks. Provision should be made for dispos-
ing of trade waste from the factories in other manner than by
emptying it into the stream. The town of Kingston had the
right idea in declaring a closed season in 1909, but its benefi-
cial effects were not permanent because suitable fishways were
not provided at the above-mentioned dams.

The fishery on Smelt Brook particularly may be increased in
value by providing a suitable fishway at Russell’s Pond, by
preventing the entrance of polluting material, and by enforcing
a closed season of five years, during which the fish would be
allowed free and unmolested passage to the spawning grounds.

Town Brook.

Town Brook, Plymouth, rises in Billington Sea, and flows
13 miles to Plymouth Harbor. It is used chiefly for power and
for carrying away trade waste from the mills and factories,
and rubbish from the private residences along its course. Be-
tween Billington Sea and Plymouth Harbor are eight dams and
factories. :

Alewives are taken in a trap at its entrance into Plymouth
Harbor. The spawning grounds are in Billington Sea and in
Little Pond, with which the former is connected. The numer-
ous dams without fishways upon Town Brook make necessary
the annual transfer of 4,000 alewives to the spawning grounds
in Billington Sea by the purchaser of the fishery.
93

If it were not for the large number of dams which obstruct
the passage of the alewives to the spawning grounds, Town
Brook would prove an ideal alewife stream. Dams are so
numerous that the establishment of fishways would prove an
expensive undertaking. The fishery may be maintained in its
present proportions if the town takes suitable precaution to
place annually the proper number of alewives in the spawning
grounds.

Ere. River.

Eel River, which enters the southern end of Plymouth Har-
bor, formerly had its source in Great South Pond, which has
been used as a water supply by Plymouth since 1855, but since
1903 no water has flowed through the connecting ditch. The
stream is badly polluted with manufacturing wastes, lined with
cranberry bogs in its upper part, and obstructed by several im-
passable dams, the first of which is located below the rubber
factory of the Boston Woven Hose and Rubber Company.
Alewives are reported to have ascended the stream to this dam.

The storim of 1898 closed its Plymouth Harbor outlet, and
the stream broke through into Cape Cod Bay, where it contin-
ued to discharge until 1903, when it was restored to its natural
course. The closing of the mouth of the stream for four suc-
cessive years is thought to have ruined the fishery.

Eel River will never again be suitable for an alewife fishery,
as its original spawning grounds are now a water supply, and
too many obstructing dams and too much trade-waste pollu-
tion are present.

Fresu Brook.

Fresh Brook takes its origin in Fresh Pond, Manomet, and
flows for 2 miles into Cape Cod Bay. It is used chiefly for
flooding cranberry bogs. Since 1880 Fresh Brook has ceased
to be a productive alewife stream, and at present is leased by
the cranberry growers to control the water, although a few
alewives are still placed in Fresh Pond.

This stream will always yield a nominal revenue, since the
cranberry companies will purchase the fishery in order to con-
trol the water. Owing to its close proximity to the ocean, and
its natural advantages, it would be possible to establish a con-
siderable alewife fishery, if it were not for conflict with cran-
berry interests.
94

Scusset RIvEr.

In 1854 an alewife fishery was established in Scusset River,
Sandwich, a small stream entering Cape Cod Bay, but ap-
parently did not exist for long. The Cape Cod Canal now
passes along the course of this stream.

Mit RIver.

Mill River flows a distance of 13 miles from the Shawme
Ponds to Cape Cod Bay, passing through the village of Sand-
wich. At the upper pond is an 8-foot dam, and an impassable
fishway about 30 feet in length. At the lower pond is situated
a dam equipped with a dilapidated fishway, which was installed
about 1904.

In 1904 this fishery was leased by legislative act to Nye and
Howland for ten years. For several years the Gloucester Fish
Company had charge of the stream, and later it was sold to Mr.
A. K. Crocker, who has taken but little care of the fishery. The
best catch ever taken was 35 barrels. Of late, only a few ale-
wives have run up the stream. In 1919 a legislative act re-
stored this fishery to the public.

To re-establish this fishery alewives must have free access
to the upper pond, the only suitable spawning ground, since
the natural conditions of the lower pond are less favorable,
and it contains numerous pickerel. To accomplish this purpose,
fishways must be installed at the two dams. If controlled
by the town, a five-year lease is recommended, provided that
proper regulations are made for the maintenance of fishways,
and that a goodly number of fish are permitted to reach the
ponds for spawning. By stocking the Upper Shawme Pond
with spawning alewives, and maintaining a closed season for
a period of five years after the installation of these fishways,
the re-establishment of the fishery will be hastened.

Stony Brook.

Mill Creek or Stony Brook, Brewster, flows from three mill
ponds into Cape Cod Bay. Although formerly utilized for
power, its principal use at present is the flooding of cranberry
95

bogs. The catching place is located at West Brewster, where
the stream is directed through two boarded passages about
13 feet wide. Near the fish house are the ruins of an old mill
‘dam.

The fishery has been at a low ebb for several years. Previous
to 1903 the alewife fishery was in the hands of a fish committee
elected by the town, which appointed a catcher whose duty it
was to furnish each family with one-eighth of a barrel of
alewives. The catch between 1900 and 1910 averaged about
225 barrels, and between 1911 and 1920, 200 barrels. In 1915
it was leased for a period of five years for $500.

The fishery enjoys several natural advantages, as the ponds
furnish an excellent place for spawning, and the cranberry
bogs do not offer any serious obstructions. As long as the
passageway up to the pond is kept clear, five-year leases
given, and the proper allotment of alewives allowed to reach
the mill ponds, there is no reason why the fishery should not
continue as productive as in former days.

Ber’s River or Herrine River.

This stream connects Herring Pond, Eastham, with Cape
Cod Bay. Alewives have been caught, but no regular fishery
has ever been established, since the exposed outlet on the tidal
flats prevents its ever becoming of any importance.

GREAT Ponp (EAsTHAM).

Great Pond, Eastham, is connected with Cape Cod Bay
through a smaller pond by a narrow artificial ditch frequently
overgrown with vegetation. At the beach is located a passage-
way lined with timber to high water.

The fishery, which was established in 1879 by opening
Great Pond to Cape Cod Bay, has been conducted under a
system of five-year leases with no restrictions as to the manner
of taking the fish. The average catch is 20 barrels per year.
The stream possesses unsuitable conditions for an alewife
fishery, as the presence of extensive tidal flats at the outlet is
not conducive to the entrance of alewives. In order to make
the fishery even a moderate success, it will be necessary to
96

construct a better outlet, and clear the ditch of obstructions,
the maintenance of which would require annual expenditures.
A more satisfactory fishery might be instituted by connecting
Great Pond with an arm of Nauset Harbor, where the tides
would not interfere with the outlet.

Herrine River (WELLFLEET).

Herring River rises in a chain of ponds in the eastern part
of the town of Wellfleet, and after a winding 4-mile course
between the sand hills, finally empties into Wellfleet Bay.
Originally its source was Herring and Higgins ponds, but in
1893 a sluiceway was cut between Higgins and Gull ponds,
which increased the spawning grounds some 90 acres.

The partial obstructions in 1920 were the abundant growth
of wild rice, the passageway under the King’s Highway, and
the large dike at the outlet, which at low tide allows the
fresh water to escape into the harbor through an automatic
gate. In spite of the swift current during the spring, when the
gate is open, the alewives do not seem to experience much
trouble in passing through the narrow sluiceway.

The fishery, located at Bound Brook Island, is sold each
year at public auction to the highest bidder, although in 1911
the stream was leased for the first time for a three-year period.
The Freeman family established the fishery by digging a
ditch to Herring Pond, and subsequently, about 1700, gave it
to the town of Wellfleet. The years 1888 to 1898 were most
lucrative, and in 1893 the high price of $1,035 was paid for
the fishery, as compared with $25 in 1911.

This decline has been largely due to the one-year lease
system, which has placed a premium upon its exploitation,
and to lack of interest on the part of the town officials. There
are no real obstructions present to prevent the alewives having
free access to excellent spawning. grounds, provided the gate
in the dike is tended regularly, What the fishery needs most
is careful supervision, freedom from town politics, and a greater
number of alewives permitted to reach the spawning grounds.
SPARROW Ponp (ORLEANS).

A small stream now connects Sparrow Pond, Orleans, with
Pleasant Bay. The original natural outlet by which alewives
once ascended to the pond was closed by a private company in
order to make them enter by way of an artificial ditch connect-
ing the pond with Pleasant Bay. After the disbanding of this
company the fishery received no attention until 1918, when it
was taken over by the town of Orleans.

In order to develop a public fishery, as conditions existed in
1919, the stream will require widening, clearing of débris,
more gradual slope, and regulation of the water flow during
the runs of both adult and young fish.

CHATHAMPORT ALEWIFE BROOK.

A small brook lined with cranberry bogs connects Smith’s
Pond and Rvyder’s Cove. It can never be developed beyond
the point of supporting a small private fishery.

Herrinc River (HaArwicH).

Herring River originally had its headwaters in Hinckley’s
Pond, through which it is now connected by an artificial
ditch with Long Pond. The stream flows from 5 to 6 miles
to Nantucket Sound, and varies from 8 to 15 feet in width.
Although formerly used for power, it is now utilized for flooding
cranberry bogs. Between North Harwich and Hinckley’s Pond
there are seven dams connected with cranberry interests.
Just above the old catching place at North Harwich there is
a concrete dam equipped with an excellent fishway. The
fishways on the other obstructing dams are less satisfactory,
especially the uppermost, a concrete dam of 6 to 7 feet in
height, where the level of the flume is higher than the bed of
the stream. Where the fishways are not installed, the cranberry.
bog owners open the flumes to allow the passage of the ale-
wives. There has been considerable controversy between the
cranberry bog owners at the west and east ends of Long Pond
over the question of the proper level of the water in Long
Pond, which is influenced by the adjustment of the outlet by
the Harwich Herring Committee.
98

Herring River is one of the few streams which show a
prosperous fishery as a result of proper care. It is a striking
example of the efficiency of the long-term lease, and demon-
strates that the existence of cranberry bogs is not incompatible
with a successful alewife fishery. In 1912 between 1,200 and
1,300 barrels were taken, —a fair average for the last few
years, although in an exceptionally good year as high as 3,700
barrels may be seined in the catching pool below the first
fishway. Formerly fisheries were also maintained on the trib-
utaries, Coy Brook and White Pond Brook. As a result of
careful town management the fishery has been maintained at
a high level, through the constant watchfulness on the part of
the local committee and the district deputy of the Division
of Fisheries and Game in seeing that no obstructions have been
permitted to exist on the stream during the spring run. Its
future success depends upon the continued exercise of this
care.

Swan Ponp (DENNIS).

The fishery in Swan Pond River, Dennis, receives but little
attention from the town, which permits fishing with dip nets.
It has yielded the nominal income of $5 per year, and offers
practically no opportunity for development.

Bass River.

Bass River rises in Follin’s and Mill ponds, and after a
course of 5 miles between the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth
empties into Nantucket Sound. The river is tidal as far as
Follin’s Pond. It receives tributaries from Dinah’s, Baker’s
and Turtle’s ponds, and is unobstructed, although formerly
there was a dam between Mill Pond and Follin’s Pond.

The Bass River fishery has gradually been depleted through
exploitation and faulty regulation, although the existing regu-
lations, if observed, should have sufficient influence to safe-
guard the fishery. Sixteen permits to catch fish on different
parts of the stream are sold to inhabitants of Dennis and
Yarmouth, with the restriction that the seines must not ex-
ceed 200 yards, and that fishing should be conducted only
on four days a week, from May 1 to June 16.
99

The alewife fishery in Bass River has great possibilities,
and its natural facilities are such as to enable it to exist in
spite of poorly enforced regulations. The only way this
fishery may be developed is by preventing overfishing through
the enforcement of correct restrictions, and by allowing a
larger number of alewives to reach the spawning grounds.

Lone Ponp anp ParRKER RIVER.

Long Pond, near South Yarmouth Village, is connected with
Swan Pond by an unobstructed artificial canal about half a
mile long. The outlet from Swan Pond is Parker River,
which empties into Nantucket Sound.

About 50 to 100 barrels are obtained annually with seines
in Swan Pond. The fishery was established by legislative
act as a private enterprise by the Long Pond Fishing Company
of Yarmouth, in 1842. Any inhabitant of the town had the
privilege of becoming a member of the corporation. Since
the fishery is private, it cannot be developed for the benefit
of the public.

CENTREVILLE River anp Nine Mize Ponp.

Centreville River in the town of Barnstable is a Y-shaped
tidal stream, one arm extending toward Osterville, the other
toward Centreville. An artificial brook 1 mile long and 2 to
3 feet wide runs from Nine Mile or Great Pond to Centreville
River by way of Long Pond. Dams at Long Pond and at
Nine Mile Pond regulate the flow of water. Nine Mile Pond,
a shallow body of water not over 15 feet deep, is largely
dependent upon rainfall and surface drainage for its water
supply. The drawing of water from the pond has caused
considerable dissatisfaction among the cottagers, who naturally
are in favor of discontinuing the fishery, which is controlled by
a company incorporated in 1860. The stream formerly yielded
200 to 300 barrels per year, and between 1908 to 1910 an
average of 150 barrels, but since 1910 it has been irregularly
operated. ,

Nine Mile Pond is capable of maintaining a fair fishery.
It is a private enterprise, and its future welfare rests entirely
in the hands of its owners.
Marston’s Mitts Herrine RIveEr.

This stream, 23 miles in length, has its source in Cotuit
Pond, Barnstable, and its outlet into Great Bay, Osterville
Harbor. The water, formerly used for mill purposes, is now
used for flooding cranberry bogs. Muddy Pond, through
which the waters of Cotuit Pond pass, has been increased by
flowage so that a considerable area of bog can be flooded.
Some years ago an artificial passageway for the alewives
around the obstructing dams was dug, but in 1913 no water
entered the abandoned ditch (Fig. 7). Along the stream
are several cranberry bogs, where the use of the water has
necessitated the construction of numerous dams, only one of
which seriously prevents the passage of alewives.

The decline of the fishery is best shown by the amount of
money which has been paid for the catching privilege. From
1875 to 1877, $55 was received annually; from 1886 to 1890,
$15; from 1890 to 1896, $10; and since 1896 nothing. The
fishery is not sold at the present time, for the reason that it
is worthless.

The owners of the cranberry bogs have built dams and
maintained other obstructions without constructing suitable
passageways for alewives, although special local laws forbidding
this practice were in existence. Owing to lack of encourage-
ment from town officials no one will buy the fishery, which
has never yielded enough to guarantee any large expense for
its:maintenance. It is entirely feasible to restore the fishery
if the alewives are allowed free passage to Cotuit Pond, and
more interest is taken by the town.

Masurre River.

Mashpee River flows from Mashpee Pond to Popponesset
Bay, a distance of 45 miles away. It averages from 4 to 6
feet in width, and is used chiefly for flooding cranberry bogs.
Just below Mashpee Pond is a small millpond, the dam of
which is equipped with a fishway. :

The Mashpee River fishery is peculiar in that it once be-
longed to an Indian colony. In 1801 and 1803 the town was
given the power of regulating the fishery, which has always
101

been public. Of recent years the annual catch has run from
300 to 500 barrels. Any inhabitant has the right to catch as
many as he desires, and the greater part are salted for home
consumption. Fishing is allowed after May 1 below Asher’s
Cartway, and above the road at the millpond on any week
day.

The stream is of potential value, and under a properly
regulated lease system should produce a good revenue to the
town.

SANTUIT RIVER.

Santuit River, sometimes known as Cotuit River, flows
from Santuit Pond over a 3-mile course to Popponesset Bay.
It varies from 5 to 11 feet in width, is chiefly utilized for
flooding cranberry bogs, and is obstructed by several mill
dams, fences and débris. All the dams are provided with
fishways, theoretically giving an unimpeded passage to the
alewives.

In 1913 the fishway at the southern outlet of the pond was
in good condition, but submerged beneath the surface of the
water. Of the other fishways on the cranberry bogs one was
in poor condition, one was raised completely out of the water,
and a third was in good repair.

Alewives are reported to run in considerable numbers,
although there is no regular fishery. The river is fished, for
the most part, by near-by residents, and probably the annual
catch has never exceeded 100 barrels. While numerous fish-
ways are in evidence, it is doubtful whether they are at all
efficient, and the problem of developing this fishery depends
upon the installation and care of suitable fishways, and the
clearing of the stream to guarantee the alewives an unob-
structed passage; also the several outlets from Santuit Pond
should be screened to prevent the destruction of young ale-
wives on the cranberry bogs.

QuASHNET RIVER.
Quashnet River, Mashpee, originally had its source in a
swamp one-eighth of a mile east of John’s Pond. In order to
provide more water for the cranberry bogs, which eventually
102

lined the whole course of the stream, a ditch was dug to
John’s Pond.

It is not known exactly when alewives first began to run
up the stream. Probably the fish which entered John’s Pond
via Childs River returned to the ocean by the new route.
Owing to the fact that the stream is entirely in the hands of
the cranberry bog owners, and the fishery is artificial, further
development is impossible.

East Fatmoutu, Herrine RIver.

In an attempt to establish a herring fishery a ditch was
dug from Bourne’s Pond to Ashumet Pond in 1863 by a cor-
poration known as the East Falmouth Herring River Company,
but the venture proved unsuccessful, as Ashumet Pond was not
of a sufficiently high level to insure a flow of water.

CuHILps RIVER.

Childs River passes from John’s Pond to Waquoit Bay.
The stream, 3 to 4 miles long, is now used to flood cranberry
bogs, and is obstructed by a number of dams. The outlet of
John’s Pond is a boarded passageway controlled by flashboards.
Below the pond the stream is little more than an artificial
ditch lined with cranberry bogs. At the head of the Gona
cranberry bog is an impassable fishway. Below this point
there are nine cranberry bogs, and eight embankments, all
but one of which are equipped with wooden flumes. A second
fishway is situated at the last cranberry bog. Near Waquoit
Village is the fish house and a third fishway. The alewife
fishery in Childs River was started as a private enterprise by
the Waquoit Herring River Company, and reached the maxi-
mum production of 180 barrels in 1872. The average catch
is from 80 to 100 barrels. A larger fishery could have been
maintained if it had not been for the cranberry bogs. Its
future depends upon the maintenance of a suitable passage by
the owners of the bogs from the salt water to John’s Pond.
103

CooNAMESSETT RIVER.

Coonamessett River, or Dexter’s River, flows from Coonames-
sett Pond to Great Pond, and thence into Vineyard Sound.
There are two fishing places, — one in East Falmouth, and the
other near the pond. Below Coonamessett Pond is a timbered
channel 3 feet in width. At the upper fish house is a dam
below which the stream passes through 150 acres of cranberry
bogs, where it is crossed by nine embankments before it
finally passes into a series of five ponds.

In 1906 alewives were plentiful in Coonamessett River,
and a 300-yard ditch was dug to allow the fish to reach Coona-
messett Pond. The fishery, the most important in Falmouth,
is of considerable importance, as the stream is naturally adapted
for alewives, and Coonamessett Pond provides an excellent
spawning ground. The inevitable conflict with the cranberry
industry cannot be remedied except by requiring the bog
owners to maintain competent passageways for the fish.

Fatmouty Ponps.

Oyster Pond. — Oyster Pond, a large brackish water pond,
is situated in the southeastern part of the town. The outlet
passes through a thatch meadow and under the road and
railroad tracks to empty into Vineyard Sound by a wooden
flume. Its fishery is public, and each inhabitant is entitled to
a share which he may dispose of as he sees fit. It is common
practice for a local dealer to buy as many of the shares as
possible. Only on few occasions has the town otherwise dis-
posed of the fishery.

Salt Pond. —Salt Pond is situated to the east of Oyster
Pond, and is separated from Vineyard Sound by a road. The
outlet is an excavated stream 4 to 5 feet wide. The fishery
is similar to that of Oyster Pond.

Fresh Pond. — Fresh Pond is situated to the east of Salt
Pond, and is connected with Vineyard Sound by a stream
8 to 10 feet wide. The outlet is natural, but requires frequent
clearing. :
104

Little Pond. — Little Pond, situated to the east of Falmouth
Heights, is connected with the ocean by a boarded outlet
through which the fish pass into the pond.

Wing’s Pond. —A small stream rises in Wing’s Pond, or
Herring Pond, at North Falmouth, and flows about 1 mile to
Buzzard’s Bay. The catching place, situated halfway down
the stream, consists of a board passageway 1 foot wide. The
fishery, of little value, is public, and a few alewives are taken
by local residents.

Rep Brook (CATAUMET).

Red Brook has its source in a swamp in Cataumet, and its
outlet in Red Brook Harbor. Its upper waters are used for:
flooding cranberry bogs, and it has one dam, equipped with
a new concrete fishway, up which alewives experience little
difficulty in passing. The fishery was established in 1900 by
the town of Bourne, and the privilege has sold for from $6
to $41. The average annual catch from 1909 to 1911 ranged
from 50 to 60 barrels. Though possessing limited spawning
grounds, with proper care this fishery may be made even more
productive than it is at present.

Monument RIver.

Monument River, or Herring River, Bourne, has been
absorbed by the Cape Cod Canal. The stream, which has its
origin in Little and Great Herring ponds, now is accessible to
alewives from both Buzzard’s Bay and Cape Cod Bay.

Between Little Herring and Great Herring ponds, beautiful
and attractive spawning grounds, the stream passes through
a region of cranberry bogs and over a concrete dam with a
small fishway. Just below Great Herring Pond is situated the
catching house. At Bournedale are two small artificial ponds.
The sluiceway of the lower dam is now open and the pond
drained, while the upper is provided with a fishway. At the
outlet of the stream into the canal is a cement fishway, but the
incline is so steep and the whirl of water so great that the ale-
wives, except at high tide, find difficulty in ascending. In
places the steep slope of the stream makes difficult the ascent,.
105

with the result that the fish arrive at the ponds in an exhausted
condition.

The stream once yielded as high as 5,000 barrels per season,
and maintained an average of 1,500 until 1912, when the
fishery was seriously affected by the dredging of the canal,
which changed the location of its outlet. The stream has
never recovered from the effect of this change, and during the
last few years it has yielded only a small per cent of its former
production. The average receipts from the sale of the privilege
for the seventeen years between 1895 and 1912 has been
$787.93, the highest price, $1,843.55, having been paid in 1893.

This naturally productive stream has been heavily taxed by
the one-year lease system, and has passed through a precarious
stage of its existence during the dredging of the Cape Cod
Canal. If the town of Bourne will ease the abrupt slope in
certain parts of the stream, correct the defects in the present
fishway, declare an immediate closed season in order to allow
-a good supply of alewives to reach the spawning grounds, and
then lease the fishery for five-year periods, it can be brought
back to its former position as one of the most productive
streams in Massachusetts.

Agawam River.

Agawam River, or Half Way Pond Stream, has its origin
in Half Way Pond, and flows through Wareham and Plymouth
for 9 miles into Buzzard’s Bay. It is used for power and
flooding cranberry bogs, receiving as a tributary Maple Spring
Brook from Spectacle Pond, and forming in its course Glen
and Agawam ponds. The stream formerly received the un-
treated trade waste of the New Bedford and Agawam Finishing
Company, but in 1910 filter beds and an alkali reclaiming
plant were installed, and the waste has since been treated
before being emptied. However, the situation is not as satis-
factory as if none entered the stream.

The fish house is located at the lower end of Agawam
Pond, on one arm of the Y formed by the stream from the
two spillways. A 100-yard fishway, part of which is under-
ground, leads to the millpond, passing over a 16-foot dam
106

with numerous 6-inch baffles. At the southern spillway the
gates are so arranged that the person in charge of the fishway
can regulate the flow of water for the catching pool.

At Glen Pond the stream separates into two branches which
enter the northeastern end of Agawam Pond. The western
branch is used principally for cranberry bogs, and the eastern,
or main stream, is blocked by a dam and spillway at the
lower end of Glen Pond. A fishway in the form of a ditch 2
to 3 feet wide permits the alewives to pass into this pond. A
recently constructed dam below Glen Pond is opened during
the spring run. The majority of the alewives spawn in Glen
Pond, and a small number in Spectacle Pond, which is con-
nected with Agawam Mill Pond.

Alewives are taken at East Wareham with dip nets, the
catch ranging from 500 to 3,000 barrels. The fishery is sold
at public auction, subject to certain restrictions, under the
direction of a joint committee from the towns of Plymouth
and Wareham. A few shad are taken each year and placed.
in the Agawam .Mill Pond, this being one of the very few
instances of an existing shad-fishery. Between 1865 and 1913,
a period of forty-nine years, the income from the fishery
totaled $32,118.02, or an average of $655.47 per year, reaching
the highest in 1892, when $1,352.50 was received by Wareham,
the lowest in 1911, when only $55 was paid.

The stream is a valuable asset to Wareham and Plymouth.
In spite of numerous local controversies with the conflicting
cranberry interests the towns have taken good care of the
fishery, and if the lessees see that the proper number of spawn-
ing alewives reach the spawning grounds, and the town con-
tinues its present oversight, the fishery should maintain its
normal output. The future of the industry and the extent
of its development depend wholly upon continued judicious
methods of handling by the local authorities.

Rep Brook (WAREHAM).

Red Brook, so called from the fact that the stream is colored
by deposits of iron ore, runs from White Island Pond to
Buttermilk Bay. Between White Island Pond, Bartlett’s
107

Pond and its outlet it is lined with numerous cranberry bogs,
and obstructed by several small dams.

Red Brook is controlled by, and has been in the possession
of, the Lyman family for about fifty years. Since 1917 Mr.
George Besse has been endeavoring to develop this fishery.

WankInco RIVER.

Wankinco River has its origin in East Head Pond, and
empties into Agawam River at Wareham. Passing through
cranberry country, it is obstructed by a great number of
small dams, and forms Tihonet Pond and a millpond at
Parker’s Mill.

At present practically no fishery exists. It is possible for
alewives to pass to Parker’s Mill Pond and Tihonet Pond, but
it is impossible for them to reach East Head Pond for spawning.
By using Tihonet Pond as a spawning ground, a limited fishery
might be established.

WeEWEANTIT RIVER.

Weweantit River has its source in Wenham Pond, and
flows south for 14 miles to empty into Buzzard’s Bay. The
stream is largely used for water power to operate saw and
grist mills, and for flooding cranberry bogs. It is slightly
polluted with sawdust and trade waste from the factories at
South Wareham and Tremont. Below Wenham and Bartlett’s
ponds the stream is obstructed by numerous cranberry bog
and mill-pond dams, which render it absolutely impossible
for alewives to ascend. Fifty years ago alewives ran up
Sampson’s Brook, a tributary, which now drains Federal Pond,
a reservoir for cranberry bogs, and receives the overflow from
Sampson’s Pond. The fishways on the dams at Tremont and
South Wareham are obstructed, and practically useless.

Formerly abundant, the alewives ceased to run to the
spawning grounds in Wenham Pond and Sampson’s Pond when
the dam of the Tremont Nail Company was installed, some
eighty years ago. Since 1874 the receipts from the sale of the
Weweantit Alewife Fishery have varied: from 33 cents to $21,
the ten years previous, to 1912 showing an average of $8. The
obstructing dams at Tremont and South Wareham, and the
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cranberry interests at the headwaters with numerous smal]
dams, embankments and other obstructions, practically preclude
a successful fishery.

Srppican RIver.

The Sippican River, which connects Leonard’s Pond with
Weweantit River, after a 9 or 10 mile course, is used for water
power and cranberry bogs. Below the dam at Leonard’s Pond
the stream flows for some distance between stone walls, and
later forms Hathaway’s Pond, below which Doggett’s Brook
enters.

The fishery, which was established in 1808 by the town
of Rochester, has never been extensively operated, and the
brook is almost entirely given over to cranberry culture. If
alewives were permitted to reach Hathaway’s and Leonard’s
ponds for spawning, the fishery might become of some value
to the local community.

MatraporseTT RIver.

This river, which has been the outlet of Snipatuit Pond ever
since an artificial channel was established, about 1755, flows
southerly for 10 miles to Mattapoisett Harbor. It varies
from 10 to 30 feet in width, and is used for flooding cranberry
bogs and for mill purposes. It flows over five dams and
through cranberry bogs to the “Upper Herring Weir,’ at
the North Rochester Road, below which it continues through
swamp and woodland to the old dam at the “Middle Herring”
or “Church’s Weir.” Then it passes southerly through similar
country until it forms the millpond at Tinkham Lane, whence
it crosses the Fairhaven and Mattapoisett Road at the location
of the “Lower Herring Weir,” and flows through cleared
meadow land to Mattapoisett Harbor.

The fishery is controlled by three towns, — Rochester,
Marion and Mattapoisett, — which were originally part of the
old town of Rochester. Previous to 1917 it had always been
operated by these towns, and the profits or losses had been
apportioned according to the amount of taxable property in
each, with the result described in the first section of this
report. The natural abundance of fish in the stream is shown
LUY

by the average yearly income to the towns of $825.67 between
1860 and 1912.

The failure of this alewife stream, one of the best in the
Commonwealth, from 1900 to 1917, is explained by ill-advised
and expensive methods of handling, which resulted in an in-
sufficient number of alewives reaching the spawning grounds,
due either to overfishing or to temporary obstructions. Al-
ready, under a five-year lease, the fishery has shown evidence
of recuperation, and by careful regulation should soon approach
its maximum production.

ACUSHNET RIVER.

The Acushnet River has its source in Roaring and Squinn
brooks, at the upper part of the Acushnet Reservoir, a water
supply for New Bedford. From this artificial reservoir, created
in 1869, the stream flows southerly through wooded and swamp
land, forming millponds at the site of the old White Cotton
Factory and at the Acushnet Sawmill, where fishways no
longer exist.

Below Acushnet Village the channel of the river is enclosed
within stone walls, soon becomes tidal, and is lined with an
almost unbroken chain of sources of trade-waste pollution
from New Bedford, and, to a lesser extent, from Fairhaven.

The alewife fishery was established in 1863, subject to the
rights of the city of New Bedford, which controls the head-
waters as a water supply, but few alewives run up Acushnet
River.

Unless the Acushnet Reservoir is given up as a water supply
the fishery can never attain any proportions, owing to a lack
of adequate spawning grounds. Under existing conditions,
with several dams unprovided with fishways, and the stream
largely polluted with factory wastes, the fishery is hardly
worth reclaiming.

PASKAMANSETT RIVER.

This stream forms at the Plainville Road, Turney’s Sawmill
Pond, and at North Dartmouth, Smith’s Mill Pond, and
then flows through swamp and wooded land to the concrete
dam at Russell’s Mills. The lower part, known as Slocum’s
110

River, is tidal as far as Russell’s Mills. No fishways are
present at these three dams.

Twenty-five years ago there was a fair public fishery here,
and alewives were taken from a platform by the townspeople:
of Dartmouth with scoop nets, but the annual yield in recent
years has not been over 5 barrels. Until the construction
of the Russell’s Mills Dam in 1912 a few alewives came up
the river as far as Smith’s Mills. By erecting proper fish-
ways over the dams at Russell’s Mills and Smith’s Mills, thus
allowing the fish to pass up to Smith’s Pond for spawning,
it would be possible to benefit general fishing conditions, and
to establish a fair alewife fishery. As a first step plans have
been submitted and negotiations are now under way for the
installation of a fishway at Russell’s Mills.

Westport RIVER.

The east branch of the Westport River is formed by the
union of Shingle Island and Copecut rivers. At Westport
Factory is located Lake Woquochoke, an artificial pond on
which is situated a cotton and twine mill. One mile below,
the river is joined by its main tributary, the Bread and Cheese
Brook. Brightman’s Mill Pond is located at the head of
Westport, below which the river is tidal. In 1910 the town
of Westport installed there an ineffective wooden fishway of
faulty slope, carrying only a small body of water, and with
an unsatisfactory entrance. The alewife fishery in Westport
River could be developed if good fishways were placed at
Brightman’s Pond and Lake Woquochoke, and proper regula-
tions were enforced by the town.

Coue’s River.

Cole’s River, Swansea, is obstructed by three dams without
fishways, which practically form insurmountable _ barriers.
The privilege of seining alewives has always been sold by the
town of Swansea at public auction. Formerly there was a fair
catch, but the fishery has so declined that in recent years the
catcher has not been able to get enough to sell.

It is doubtful whether the fishery can be restored to its
111

original proportions. If proper fishways were provided and
obstructions conscientiously removed, a closed season for a
number of years instituted, and stocking operations under-
taken, the fishery might approach a normal status.

Lre’s RIveEr.

Lee’s River is little more than an arm of Mount Hope Bay,
in which a few alewives are occasionally taken. Owing to
lack of spawning ponds the fishery never has been and never
will be of any importance.

PaLMer’s RIver.

Palmer’s River rises in Rehoboth and flows in a southerly
direction through the town of Swansea, forming the Shad
Factory Reservoir, and across the Rhode Island line. The
stream, now used as a water supply, was formerly used for
power. The 8-foot dam at the Shad Factory, controlled by
the Warren and Bristol Water Works, is provided with a
satisfactory straight run fishway.

Three fishing privileges were sold on Palmer’s River by
Rehoboth, but in 1911 this town agreed not to sell them,
and the holder of the Swansea privileges agreed not to exercise
his right, so that there has been practically a closed season on
Palmer’s River. In spite of this policy, though some ale-
wives are taken by the public, the closed season has not pro-
duced the expected results. Previous to 1911, with the decline
of the fishery, the total yield for these three privileges dropped
from $350 to $35 or $40.

Shad were plentiful in Palmer’s River until trap fishing
commenced in Rhode Island waters above Kelley’s bridge.
Trap fishing in the lower part of Palmer’s River began in the
late 70’s and early 80’s, and with the exception of one year,
1911, no shad except a few stragglers have been seen up the
river for thirty years.

The Palmer’s River fishery, which was once of considerable
importance, is a striking illustration of the effect of overfishing
as a result of lack of uniform regulation on the part of two
States. The fish were taken in Rhode Island every day before
112

they reached the river, and in Massachusetts waters on the
fishing days, thus destroying too many spawning fish. This
circumstance, together with the method of annually selling the
privileges to the highest bidder, rendered the decline of the
fishery inevitable. The co-operation on the part of Rhode
Island by forbidding in 1913 the setting of seines, traps or nets
previous to March, between the Massachusetts line and the
point where the river empties into Narragansett Bay, augurs
well for the future, and there is no reason why, with proper
regulation, Palmer’s River may not again support a valuable
fishery.

TauNntToN RIvER.

If it were not for the vast amount of pollution in its waters,
the Taunton River with its many branches and ponds would
support extensive alewife and shad fisheries. The tributary
streams will here be treated as individual units, and the
fishery in each considered separately, beginning with the
headwaters.

The Taunton River is used for power, and to a limited
extent for navigation. Upon it and its tributaries are situated
numerous dams and obstructions, some of which are provided
with fishways. It is polluted by wastes from numerous fac-
tories and by the sewage of towns and cities along its course.
At East Taunton the old Brackett fishway, at the important
Connecticut Mills Dam, the lowest in the river, was replaced
in 1918 by a new fishway of the David type.

The fishery has been carried on ever since the settlers first
took up their homes along its banks. Thirteen privileges to
seine herring were distributed among the towns and cities on
the main river. Taunton received three, Raynham two,
Dighton two, Somerset two, Berkley two, Freetown one, and
Fall River one. Although all the privileges were generally
purchased each year, only seven or eight were actually used.
The purchaser of a privilege was not restricted to a definite
locality, but could seine on any part of the river. It is said
that there are only seven or eight sites along the river where
seining is practicable, which, to some extent, explains the
113

low prices at which these privileges have been sold, as riparian
owners of favorable seining places have been in a position to
throttle competition.

The prices paid for these seining privileges has generally
declined. The Dighton privileges which formerly sold for
$400 to $500 now each sell for from $10 to $20. In 1913 the
three Taunton privileges which in 1899 cost $45 were sold for
$10 apiece. The city of Fall River in 1880 sold its privilege
for $103; in 1884 for $50; in 1906 for $7.50; and in 1909 for
$21. Since 1909 the privilege has not been sold.

The shad, once present in numbers, is now commercially
extinct. In 1906, 2,100 shad were caught in one place by Mr.
Goff, whereas in 1913 only 500 were taken at- both seining
places. The alewife fishery, one of the greatest and most fa-
mous in the country, is seriously impaired. To check this de-
cline prompt action is necessary. An excellent fishway has
been installed at East Taunton, which will give a clear passage-
way up to the various tributaries. The success of the Taunton
River fishery chiefly depends upon the opening of the tributary
streams and the extension of the spawning grounds. Pollution
is a serious handicap which must be overcome. The present
methods of fishing, whereby alewives are taken by various
towns, both in the main river and tributary streams, are
detrimental to the best interests of the fishery, as an in-
sufficient number reach the spawning grounds. By pooling
the interests of the whole river, and by the judicious use of
closed seasons, the fishery once more may be restored. The
Division of Fisheries and Game is endeavoring, through the
installation of practical fishways on the upper branches, to
open up former spawning grounds, such as Robbins, Monpon-
set and Nippenicket ponds, which in recent years have been
inaccessible to the alewives.

Salisbury Plain River. — This Bridgewater stream, 14 to 15
miles long, enters the Taunton River by way of the Matfield
River. It is obstructed by two dams, and receives trade-waste
pollution from its tributaries. Although at one time it pos-
sessed a fishery of some little importance, the present general
conditions, and lack of adequate spawning grounds, preclude
the possibility of its re-establishment.
114

Satucket River and Monponset Brook.—Satucket River,
which takes its origin in Monponset Pond, joins Salisbury
Plain River to form the Matfield River, which is the upper
part of the Taunton River proper. The first part of its course,
between Monponset and Robbins ponds, is through a region
of cranberry bogs, on the site of the original Stump Pond.
The river is used for water power, and receives factory wastes.
At the outlet of Robbins Pond is a cobblestone embankment,
and at the lower part of the river is situated the Carver Cotton
Gin Company, with a high impassable dam, now equipped with
a David fishway.

At the present time there is no fishery in the Satucket
River, as until 1920 the alewives were unable to get to Robbins
and Monponset ponds for spawning. Formerly numbers of
alewives passed up this river, and a shad weir was once located:
on the Matfield River.

By the establishment of fishways and the affording of free
passageway to Robbins and Monponset ponds the available
spawning grounds for Taunton River would be increased, a
fair fishery in Satucket River would be established, and the
fresh-water fishing in the ponds would. be helped by provision
of a source of fish food in the form of young alewives; also
the run of white perch would be permitted. By the establish-
ment of a concrete fishway in 1919 at the Jenkins Company
dam it was made possible for alewives to pass up to the dam
of the Carver Cotton Gin Company, where a fishway was
installed in 1920. Restocking of the ponds with adult alewives,
and proper enforcement of closed seasons, will be necessary to
obtain appreciable results within the next few years.

Town River. — Town River, sometimes known as Titicut
River, has its origin in Nippenicket Pond, and flows for 7
miles to join the Matfield River. It is extensively used for
water power by several mills in the towns of West Bridgewater
and Bridgewater. At West Bridgewater is situated the di-
lapidated dam of the Easton Investment Company; at Bridge-
water the dam of the Stanley Iron Works; and below the
junction of the Matfield and Town rivers, in Paper Mill
Village, the Jenkins Leatherboard Company. At the two
latter dams standard fishways, designed by the Division of
Fisheries and Game, have been installed.
115

There is no fishery on Town River, since there have been
no fishways since 1888, when the old ones at Pratt’s Dam and
at the Stanley Iron Works were carried away by a. freshet.

By the installation of one more fishway, at the dam of
the Easton Investment Company, Nippenicket Pond may be
used as a spawning ground, and the fishery may once more be
revived. Plans for a simple fishway have already been sub-
mitted to the owners of this dam. The stocking of Nippenicket
Pond will accelerate the re-establishment of the fishery.

Nemasket River and Assawompsett Brook.— Nemasket River
takes its origin in Assawompsett Pond, and flows through
Middleborough to empty into the Taunton River. It receives
waste from several factories, sewage from the town of Middle-
borough, and, in addition to the dams at the outlet of As-
sawompsett Pond, is blocked by two main dams, which are
provided with more or less adequate fishways.

At Starr Mills, north of the village of Middleborough, the
fishway is in the form of a natural stream of a gradual rise,
equipped with stone projections to enable the alewives to
pass up against the current. At the Wareham Street Dam,
where the water is used for power by the Middleboro Electric
Light Company, there are three outlets, — one a sluiceway to
the Electric Light Company, the second the main overflow,
and the third the present cement and stone fishway which has
a good flow of water, and in most respects is satisfactory.
Unfortunately, owing to an inadequate screen, the fish are
attracted by the* greater volume of water, and pass by the
fishway entrance to eventually find themselves in a blind
pocket under the dam. If the stream were properly screened,
and the fishway properly cared for by the town, there is no
reason why it would not be entirely satisfactory for the passage
of alewives. Since the water does not pass over the spillway
at this dam in the fall there is no provision for the young ale-
wives to pass down stream, except through the turbine wheel.

A public fishery was established in 1792, and alewives are
now taken at the fishway at Starr Mill. The custom of the
town is to sell the privilege for periods of one year, but in
1913 it was sold for three years for $235. In recent years the
production has markedly diminished, the catch for the past
few years having hardly averaged 150 barrels.
116

The alewife fishery of Nemasket River has always been
intimately connected with town affairs, having been a most
important factor in its early development. Neglect in keeping
fishways in proper shape, permitting pollution such as sewage
and manufacturing wastes to enter the stream, and the illogical
method: of leasing the fishery for a one-year period, have all
been contributory factors in its decline. However, it might still
be made an extremely valuable asset to the town of Middle-
borough, if more attention were given to its regulation.

Litileworth Brook. — Littleworth Brook, a small tributary,
forms Bear Hole and King’s Furnace ponds. Records do not
show that alewives ever came up this stream in any numbers.

Two Mile River.— Two Mile River, or Raynham Brook,
which rises in Gushee Pond, is obstructed by six dams. There
has never been a fishery here, and the presence of numerous
dams renders the establishment of any difficult.

Mill River. — Mill River, formed by the union of Canoe
River and Mulberry Brook, passes through Winneconet Pond
and Sabatia Lake to empty into Taunton River. Since it is
badly polluted by manufacturing wastes and obstructed by
dams, the re-establishment of the old fishery is an impos-
sibility.

Three Mile River.— Three Mile River, formed by the
union of Wading and Rumford rivers, enters the Taunton
River near North Dighton. It is used chiefly for power, is
obstructed by several dams, and is badly polluted with trade
wastes, which render the re-establishment of @ fishery extremely
remote.

Assonet River. — Assonet River, which forms a broad, deep
arm of the lower Taunton, is obstructed by six dams. Al-
though not operated, the fishery is normally controlled by
the Assonet Fishing Company, established in 1860. Permits
are given by Freetown to catch the few stray alewives which
come up Assonet River each spring.

By installing fishways, prohibiting pollution, and stocking
the headwaters, a fishery might be established with considerable
difficulty.

Segreganset River. — This river, obstructed by four dams, has
never supported a fishery, and offers no opportunity for one.
117

Quequechan River. — This stream, which is used for power
and for steam condensing by numerous Fall River mills, is
obstructed by several dams. It has its primary source in
Watuppa Pond, and secondarily rises in Stafford, Savoy and
Devol ponds, by way of Sucker Brook. It never had and
never can maintain an alewife fishery.

Cook’s Pond Brook. — The outlet of Cook’s Pond, a largely
underground stream, is used for steam condensing, is obstructed
by dams and reservoirs, and receives pollution in the form of
hot water and waste materials from the mills. It can never
support an alewife fishery.

THe ALEWIFE FISHERIES OF NANTUCKET.

The absence of streams on Nantucket confines the alewife
fishery to brackish ponds which lie near the ocean. At the
east end of the island is Sachacha Pond, a large body of water
separated from the ocean by a narrow stretch of sandy beach,
through which it occasionally receives salt water. On the
south side of the island are Miacomet and Hummock ponds,
which are opened to the sea each year by cutting a ditch
through the beach. The outlets so made remain open for
about a week or ten days, and then close naturally, often pre-
venting young alewives from returning to the salt water. The
main fishery of the island is conducted by the town at Long
Pond, which is connected by a ditch with Maddequet Harbor.
The greater portion of the fish from these ponds are utilized
for home consumption, although a few are shipped to market.

Sachacha Pond. — Sachacha Pond, on the eastern end of the
Island of Nantucket, is about 150 acres in area, and separated
from the ocean by a sand beach. Very rarely the ocean
breaks through and establishes an outlet which remains open
for weeks or months. However, no outlet has been made
since 1902, and naturally no alewives have entered during this
period, although the water has remained brackish because
the salt water occasionally comes over the beach at high tide.

If a proper entrance were dug annually an excellent fishery
would ultimately result, but the expense of maintaining this
opening seems prohibitive.
118

Miacomet Pond.— This long narrow pond of about 60
acres is situated on the south shores of the island, with its
southern end separated from the ocean by a sandy beach.
This pond is sometimes opened in the spring, but practically
no alewives are taken, although a limited fishery might be
maintained.

Hummock Pond. — Hummock Pond, a narrow elongated
pond of 150 acres, situated at the western end of the island,
is separated from the sea at its southern end by a sandy
beach.

The public fishery, established in 1876, is reported to have
produced at one time 100 barrels annually, but of late years
it has become a matter of minor importance.

Hummock Pond perhaps offers a better opportunity than
Miacomet or Sachacha Ponds, but to obtain permanent
results an opening to the ocean should be made regularly
each spring.

Long Pond and Maddequet Ditch.— On the western end of
the island, and connected with Maddequet Harbor by Mad-
dequet Ditch, an artificial canal about 1 mile in length, es-
tablished in 1830, is Long Pond, a body of water about 2
miles long, and from one-sixteenth to one-quarter of a mile
in width. At high tide the water in Maddequet Ditch is
brackish as far as Long Pond. The outflowing stream, which
passes through marsh land, has a fairly strong current.

This locality furnishes the only real source of alewives on
Nantucket, producing an annual catch of from 70 to 100
barrels. Each year the town appropriates $150 for its main-
tenance.

If judiciously managed, Maddequet Ditch and Long Pond
should produce several hundred barrels of alewives per year.
Natural conditions do not permit the creation of a fishery of
such proportions as the Edgartown Great Pond on Martha’s
Vineyard, but the fishery in this locality can be made of value
to Nantucket. The essential requisites are the maintenance
of a suitable passageway for the fish from the salt water to the
pond, proper regulation of catching in order to permit enough
to ascend the stream for spawning, and rigid enforcement of
laws governing public fishing.
119

THe ALEWIFE FisHerres or MartTua’s VINEYARD.

The alewife fisheries of Martha’s Vineyard assume an im-
portant commercial aspect and well illustrate the ability of
man to create a successful and lucrative fishery. Fishing is
conducted exclusively in the brackish shore ponds, since there
are but few streams upon the island. These ponds are con-
nected with the ocean by artificial openings at the proper time
in the spring and fall, thus permitting adult fish to enter for
spawning and the young to return to salt water in the fall.
Alewives are taken by seining in these ponds, and the fisheries
are controlled under long-term leases by various private com-
panies, usually composed of riparian owners.

EpGarTOWN GREAT Ponp anD MaTTAKESSETT CREEKS.

Edgartown Great Pond, a large brackish water pond situated
just west of Katama Bay, is separated from the ocean by a
sandy beach. From the eastern end of the pond an artificial
ditch about 1 mile in length, and from 12 to 15 feet wide,
connects it with Mattakessett Bay, an arm of Katama Bay.
The old creek, which was first dug in 1786, °is farther south
than the present one of 1889, which lies in a more direct line.
The fish are caught at the outlet in Cracketuxet Cove with a
seine trap. On certain days, and on Saturday nights, during
the fishing period a passage is maintained for the entrance of
alewives into the pond, and for the exit of such alewives as
have spawned. This is accomplished by the simple procedure
of one side of the seine trap being bent in such manner that a
passageway about the width of the creek is left.

The greatest catch recorded was made in 1913, amounting
to 3,000 barrels, the average running about 1,800 barrels.
The average rental to the town for the past thirty years has
been $110.

In the year 1728 the riparian owners, on condition of digging
and keeping a creek connecting Great Pond and Katama Bay,
were given the sole privilege of taking fish. In 1783 an act
was passed incorporating the proprietors of Mattakessett
Creeks into a body politic by the name of the Proprietors of
Mattakessett Creeks. In 1889 the new company which dug
120

the present creek was incorporated for the purpose of main-
taining the alewife fishery. Various local disputes have arisen
over this so-called monopoly. The summer people dislike the
poor hook and line fishing resulting from the seining operations,
and the local fishermen resent being forbidden to seine or set
eel pots.

The proprietors of the new Mattakessett Creeks operate the
alewife fishery in a systematic and economical manner, giving
employment in their operations to some half dozen men.
The profits of the company are reported to yield a large per cent
on the investment of the families interested in the fishery.
However, this company now enjoys a monopoly of the alewife
privileges, as well as of the perch and eel fisheries, paying
therefor the paltry sum of $100 annually. The Division of
Fisheries and Game, while approving of the efficient handling
of this fishery, believes that at least 10 per cent of the value
of the annual catch would more nearly represent a fair rental
for this valuable privilege.

Kaleb’s Pond. — Kaleb’s Pond is a small body of water of
about 35 acres, situated on Chappaquiddick Island, and con-
nected with the headwaters of Katama Bay by an artificial
ditch. The Kaleb Pond Company, incorporated by legislative
act in 1857, was dissolved in 1873, and since then nothing
has been done in the way of fish propagation, the dike having
been washed away in 1900. Although the volume of water is
small, with proper care and repairs upon the dike the pond
might maintain a paying fishery.

Pocha Pond. — Pocha Pond, a shallow body of water about
80 acres in area on Chappaquiddick Island, has an artificial
outlet to Cape Poge. At the present time there is no fishery
of any account here. The present company, reorganized in
1912, operates under the original charter of 1848, its members
having acquired shares by bequest or inheritance. The fishery
paid well until within the last eight years, most of the catch
being disposed of to vessels for bait. The development of the
pond for shooting is also a project of this company.

Sengatocket Pond. — This large salt-water pond, sometimes
known as Anthier’s Pond, is situated between Oak Bluffs
and Edgartown, and is connected with Vineyard Sound by an
121

opening about 165 feet wide. At the southeast corner it
receives water from Trap’s Pond through Manada Creek. The
fishery was established as a private enterprise in 1840 by the
Trap Pond Fishing Company. Serious consideration should
be given to the proposition of closing the present opening
of Sengatocket Pond and connecting Trap’s Pond with Eel
Pond, .thus forming an outlet for Sengatocket Pond through
Trap’s and Eel ponds into Edgartown Harbor. In this way
a more valuable fishery would be created, and a fresh-water
pond for ducks and geese would be provided. This work
could be done by the town, after compensating the present
members of the company, in order that it may be developed
for the benefit of the public, and leased for five-year periods
by the town. In this way a fishery which in the hands of
private individuals has become of little importance may be
developed for the benefit of the public. Objection to such a
plan may be made by summer residents who use Sengatocket
Pond as a harbor; by fishermen because of the destruction
of a small quahaug fishery; and by farmers because of their
being deprived of a source of seaweed for fertilizer.

Trap’s Pond and Manada Creek. — Trap’s Pond, Edgartown,
is connected with Sengatocket Pond by a ditch known as
Manada Creek, and receives a small stream from Lily Pond.
A few alewives enter for spawning, but the Trap’s Creek
Fishing Company does not bother with this small fishery,
confining its efforts to catching white perch.

Job’s Neck Pond.—Job’s Neck Pond is a natural pond
approximately 90 acres in area, connected with Great Pond,
Edgartown, by an artificial ditch. The fishery is privately
controlled by riparian owners, who are lessees of Great Pond,
and is of little interest, except inasmuch as it is connected
with the fishery in Great Pond.

Oyster Pond. — This natural body of water is about three-
quarters of a mile west of Job’s Neck Pond, Edgartown.
Two ditches are cut annually through a stretch of low sandy
beach to allow the alewives to enter, thereby lowering con-
siderably the surface level of the pond. Formerly 50 or 60
barrels were caught yearly, but lately the catch has not been
more than 5 or 6 barrels. The lessees, who pay $25 a year to
122

the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, have never engaged very
extensively in the alewife fishery. The pond itself is not well
adapted for a fishery, because the opening through the beach
exists only for a few days after being cleared.

Farm Pond. — Farm Pond, 30 acres in area, is situated in
Oak Bluffs, and empties into Vineyard Sound by an artificial
creek. The pond is divided by the road from Edgartown to
Oak Bluffs into two sections, connected by small channels.
This fishery was organized in 1856 by the Farm Pond Fishing
Company, which was dissolved in 1884. It is improbable that
a fishery of any importance has ever been conducted.

Lagoon Pond. — Lagoon Pond, lying between Tisbury and
Oak Bluffs, is about 23 miles in length, and one-half to three-
quarters of a mile wide. Fresh water enters the pond from
springs at the upper end, while at the lower it is connected
with Vineyard Haven Harbor. A private fishery was es-
tablished in 1857, when the Lagoon Pond Company was
given the privilege of building a dam across the pond at Long
Point. At the present time no fishing exists.

Tashmoo Lake. —'Tashmoo Lake, or Chappaquonsett Pond,
is a body of water of 13 miles in length, situated to the west
of Vineyard Haven in the town of Tisbury, and connected with
Vineyard Sound by a stream which passes through marsh
and meadow land. At the outlet into Vineyard Sound bulk-
heads have been erected for the purpose of preventing the
sand from closing the mouth of the creek. The fishery, es-
tablished in 1847, is conducted by a herring committee from
the town of Tisbury, the alewives being seined at night.

This alewife fishery formerly flourished, and more fishing
vessels were baited at Vineyard Haven than in Edgartown.
In the palmy days there were some 155 houses on the beach
near the outlet for the accommodation of persons who desired
to share in the catch. At the time of dividing the catch the
men on the beach each received a share, and those who had
done the catching obtained a double portion.

There is no reason why this fishery should have declined
to its present extent if operations had been carried on in a
conservative manner, and nothing seriously interferes with its
being brought back to its former condition.
123

Tisbury Great Pond.— Tisbury Great Pond, or Newton
Pond, a large body of water situated in West Tisbury and
Chilmark, is separated from the ocean by a narrow sand
beach. At the north it receives Tisquam River and three
other tributary brooks, and on the west is connected with
Black Point Pond by an old ditch and a small stream.

The fishery for white perch and alewives forms a source of
considerable profit to the private company which leases the
pond, the yield in alewives averaging about 1,200 barrels.
The pond was first leased as a private fishery to the Tisbury
Lessees Company, composed of owners of land around the
Tisbury Great Pond, by an act of the Legislature in 1869,
and, in spite of considerable local opposition, has been re-
leased at various intervals. On April 13, 1914, the Board of
Commissioners on Fisheries and Game was authorized, under
chapter 529 of the Acts of 1910, to lease it, with the right
to cultivate fishes in Tisbury Great Pond, provided that the
public would not be denied the right of hook and line fishing,
and that the towns of West Tisbury and Chilmark would con-
trol and regulate the taking of eels, clams, quahaugs and scal-
lops. The lease was granted for three years at the rate of $125
per year, under chapter 529, Acts of 1910, in 1914, the money
being divided between the towns of Tisbury and Chilmark.

Private ownership has proved the most successful means of
operating this fishery, but the nominal rental of $125 is a
small return for such a valuable public asset, and should be
considerably increased.

Black Point Pond. — Black Point Pond, Chilmark, was
formerly connected with Tisbury Great Pond by a wide,
natural stream which has been narrowed to 6 feet in width
and 14 feet in depth. On the west side a ditch leads into
Quinnances Cove, which in turn is connected with Chilmark
Pond by a second small ditch. The fishery was leased in
1898, and the pond is largely held for white perch and for
duck shooting, for twenty years, on the payment of $100
annually. Since 1899 the lessees have opened the ditch but
once. It was the bona fide intention of the lessees to have a
fishery in the pond, but the pond proved so full of vegetation’
that seining was impossible.
124

Chilmark Pond. — Chilmark Pond is situated in the southern
part of Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. It is a natural
pond fed by brooks from the western side, and is connected
with the ocean at variable times by an artificial opening.
On the east side it is connected by a narrow stream with
Quinnances Cove. The opening to the ocean is generally dug
about the 25th of April, and thereafter whenever the pond is
high enough ‘to drain the meadows without great expense,
the pond being important inasmuch as it provides hay and
duck shooting as well as fishing.

The fishery, established in 1850, is controlled by the lessees
of Chilmark Pond. The principal catch is white perch, but
some alewives are also taken. Of late the fishing has fallen off.

Squibnocket Pond and Herring Creek. — Squibnocket Pond,
near Gay Head, is connected with the ocean by an artificial
stream, Squibnocket Herring Creek, at its southeastern end.
The sand shifts so that it is necessary to dig out the creek
each year in order to allow the alewives to enter the pond.
The fishery, established as a private fishery in.1855, is leased
by the town of Chilmark, for five-year periods.

Gay Head Herring Creek.— Gay Head Herring Creek, an
artificial stream with its origin in Squibnocket Porid, flows
for a short distance through marsh land, and then through a
concrete flume into Menemsha Pond. In Menemsha Pond,
between the entrance of Gay Head Herring Creek and
Menemsha Creek, are six fish traps directly in the course of
alewives passing to the spawning grounds in Squibnocket
Pond. In 1913, because of the large schools of alewives,
permits were obtained from the Chilmark selectmen to set
the traps on the southern side of Menemsha Pond, which is
in the town of Chilmark. Although the entire course of the
Gay Head Herring Creek lies in the town of Gay Head, the
course of the alewives through Menemsha Pond lies in Chil-
mark waters. The presence of these traps has caused con-
siderable ill feeling between the towns of Chilmark and Gay
Head, which can be adjusted only by a compromise as to the
location of the traps.

Some believe that the Indians dug the ditch through which
the water flows from Squibnocket Pond to Menemsha Pond,
125

while others testify that Gay Head Herring Creek was dug by
natives of Chilmark about two hundred years ago. The fishery
was created by law with similar privileges as for the district
of Mashpee, and provisions for leasing were made. In the
early days this fishery was probably limited in extent. For
many years previous to the excavation of Menemsha Creek
by the State, Gay Head Herring Creek lay idle, filled with
vegetation, rocks and soil which had slumped down from the
hillside. With the opening of Menemsha Pond to the tide-
water, the possibility of a large alewife fishery in Gay Head
Creek became apparent, and a five-year lease was obtained
in 1906.

The fishery has been unsatisfactory for the reason that the
lessees of the herring fishery are not required to keep it in good
condition.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

1. Bean, T. H. The Fishes of New York. Bulletin, No. 60, Museum
of State of New York.

2. Hoimes, J. A. The Ancient Fish Weir on the Mentomy River. Pro-
ceedings of Cambridge Historical Society, 1910.

3. Lyman, T. Description of Restocking of Eel River, Town Brook,
Plymouth, in 1865. United States Fish Commission Report, 1874,
Part 2, p. 61.

4. Surru, H. M. Notes on the Extent and Condition of the Alewife
Fisheries of the United States in 1896. United States Fish Com-
mission Report, 1898, p. 31.

5. Prince, E. E. The Eggs and Early Life History of the Herring, Gas-
pereau, Shad and Other Chipeoids. Thirty-ninth Annual Report,
Department of Marine and Fisheries, Canada, 1907, pp. 95-110.

6. H.C. Tracy. Annotated List of Fishes known to inhabit the Waters
of Rhode Island. Fortieth Annual Report, Rhode Island Commis-
sioners of Inland Fisheries, 1909. '

7. Muroy, T. H. The Food Value of the Herring. Twenty-fifth Annual
Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 1906, Part II.
 

 

INDEX

 

 
Acids,

Acknowledgments,

Acushnet River,

Agawam River,

Alkalies,

Alosa tyrranus,

Anthier’s Pond,

Artificial fisheries,

Leased,

Privately owned,

Town managed,
Ascent of streams,
Assawompsett Brook,
Assawompsett Pond,
Assonet River,

Back River, Duxbury,

Barker’s River, .

Barnstable,

Bass River,

Bee’s River, Eastham,

Bibliography,

Big-eyed herring,

Black Point Pond,

Bound Brook,

Brackett fishway,

Branch herring,

Brevoortia tyrranus,

Cape Pond, :

Cape Pond Brook,

Catching days, .

Catching methods,
Catching basins, .
False channel,

+ Fish house passageway,
Foreign methods,
Implements,
Regulation of water flow,
Screen,

Seine trap,

Stone driveways,

Weirs,

Centreville River,

Charles River, é

Chathamport Alewife Brook,

Chebacco Brook, .

Chebacco Lake, . :

INDEX.

PAGE
54

‘ 7

49, 54,55, 109

9-12, 21, 30, 105, 106
; 55

8

120

22, 23

4 23
22

22

16

115

48

116

23-26, 70
26

25

26

24

23

25

25

26

25, 26

‘ 25
z 99
54, 55, 83
97

48,79

47
130

Chemical pollution,
Childs River,
Chilmark Pond,
Closed seasons, .
Clupea harengus,
Clupea tyrranus,
Clupea venialis, . ‘
Cole’s River, . j ‘ : %
Cook’s Pond Brook,
Coonamessett River,
Cotuit Pond,
Cranberry bogs,
Curing,
Dams,
Danvers River, .
David fishway,
Decline of fishery,
Descent of streams, F
Destruction of spawning grounds, ,
Dip nets,
Dyestuffs, ,
East Falmouth Herring River,
Edgartown Great Pond,
Eel River,
Eggs,
Ellwhop,
Ellwife,
Enemies,
Essex River,
Falmouth Ponds, ,
Farm Pond, Oak Bluffs,
Females, proportion of,
First Herring Brook,
Fisheries, free,
Fisheries, joint,
Fisheries, leased,
Fisheries, natural,
Cranberry leases,
Free, .
Leased,
Long lease, 3
Non-operating leases,
One to five year lease, . ‘
One-year lease,
Percentage lease,
Seining privileges,
Town-operated,
Fisheries, regulation of,
Fisheries, sale,
Fisheries, town-operated,
Fisheries, values tabulated,
Fishery, :
Fishery decline statistics,
Fishery, regulation of,
Closed seasons,
Fishing days,

PAGE
54, 55
23, 102

. 110,111
117

103

51

50

27, 28

48

54, 55, 80
62

46-58
16, 17

46

23

54

102

26, 119
55, 93
10, 11, 13
: 8
8

15

79

103, 104
122

10

86

20, 55
57

20, 21, 57
20-22
21

20

20

20

21

21

24

21

22

20

55

57

20, 55
72-75
19-45

69, 70
69
69
131

Fisheries, fishing places,
Herring committee,
Lease,

Methods of capture,
Season, 5
Uniform sale,

Fishing equipment,

Fishways,

Construction,
Destruction,
Entrance,
Existing types,
Inclined plane,
Installation,
Natural streams,
Pool, .
Requirements,
Screens,
Standard fishways,
Water flow,

Five Mile Pond,

Food,

Food value,

Free fisheries,

Fresh Brook, . ‘

Fresh Pond, Falmouth,

Fresh Pond Stream, Plymouth,

Fresh-water cycle of life,

Fyke nets,

Gaspereau,

Gay Head Herring Creek,

Great Herring Pond, .

Grey back,

Growth of young,

Gulf River,

Hatching artificially,

Herring committees,

Herring Creek, .

Herring River, Eastham,

Herring River, Harwich,

Herring River, Wellfleet,

History and legislation,
Catching days,
Establishment by law,
Herring committees,
Indians,

Locality, specification of,
Obstructions,
Penalties,
= Pollution,
Public rights,
Restocking,
Sale,
Season,
Seining,
Torching,

124

104

8

13, 14

. 85, 86

13, 66, 67

36, 70

124

Soe 1 : 95
9-12, 21, 26, 28, 30, 97, 98
12, 25, 48, 96

34, 36-39
Hummock Pond,
Importance of alewife,
Indian Head River,
Indians,

Inspectors of fisheries,
Introduction,

Acknowledgments,

Importance of alewife,

Methods of investigation,

Presentation,

Results of Saveatination.
Investigation, methods of,
Ipswich River,

Island Creek,
Job’s Neck Pond,
John’s Pond,
Jones River,
Kaleb’s Pond,
Kyack,
Lagoon Pond,
Lawrence fishway,
Laws, effect of, .
Lease of fisheries,
Leased fisheries,
Lee’s River,

_ Legislation,
Legislation tabulated,
Length measurements,
Little Herring Pond,
Little Mill Pond,
Little Pond, Falmouth,
Littleworth Brook,
Localities for fishing,
Long Pond, Nantucket,
Long Pond, South Yarmouth,
Lowell fishway,
Maddequet Ditch, Nantucket,
Males, proportion of,
Manada Creek,
Marion,
Marketing,

Food value,

Price,

Salting,

Scales,

Smoking,

Marston’s Mills Hocdtig River,
Martha’s Vineyard fisheries,
Mashpee River,

Materials composing obstructions
Mating,

Mattakessett Creeks,
Mattapoisett River, .

Mature alewives,

Merrimack River, oe
Miacomet Pond,

132

49, 54, 55, 77-79
90

121

22

30, 39, 54, 55, 90-92
120

8

122

76

58

69

20, 22

111

28

50, 51

: 119-124

9, 10, 12, 100, 101

48

‘ ll

. 28, 26, 31, 119
. . , 9-12, 18, 22, 56, 108, 109
65

36, 49, 54, 75, 76

118
Migration,
Ascent of streams,
Descent of streams,
Influence of natural eoaditions,
Parent stream theory,
Mill River, Gloucester,
Mill River, Sandwich,
Mill River, Taunton,
Monatiquot Brook,
Monponset Brook,
Monument River,
Mystic River,
Nantucket alewife fisheries,
Natural conditions, influence of, .
Natural history,
Description,
Distribution,
Names,
Species,
Nemasket River,
Neponset River,
Nine Mile Pond Stream,
Nippenicket Pond,
North River,
Obstructions,
Cranberry bogs,
Dams,
Materials, .
Ocean existence, “
Oyster Pond, Falmouth,
Oyster Pond, Martha’s Vineyard,
Palmer’s River, ;
Parent stream theory,
Parker River, Newbury,
Parker River, South Yarmouth,
Paskamanset River,
Penalties, .
Planting,
Pocha Pond,
Pollution,
Disposal of waste,
Education,
Effect,
Legal action,
Sewage,
Sources,
Survey,
Trade wastes,
Utilization of waste,
Pomolobus estivalis,
Pomolobus pseudoharengus, .
Presentation, *
Price,
Production,
Production by fidhories tabulated,
Public rights and/sale,

133

. 9-12, 26, 30, 39, 104, 105
54, 55, 82
117, 118

19

8-10

8-10

10

8

8

55, 115

54, 55, 83
22, 23, 99
114

23, 24, 30, 39, 86-89
36, 48-50
50

48

48

16

103

121

111, 112

18, 19, 65
55

99

109, 110

38

67

120

38, 52-55, 64

38, 54, 55
64.

8

5,8

6

"28
19, 30
31-33
38
134

Quashnet River,
Quequechan River,
Red Brook, Cataumet, . :
Red Brook, Wareham,
Regulation, unwise,
Free fishing,
Herring inspectors,
Joint fisheries,
Laws,
Lease,
Sale,
Town operated, .
Town responsibility,
Remedial measures,
Reproduction,
Development,
Eggs,
Enemies,
Food,
Sexes,
Spawning grounds,
Spawning habits,
Spawning season, %
Temperature and spawning,
Responsibility for decline,
Restocking,
Restoration,
Results of investigation,
Revenue, . ‘
Revenue to towns tabulated,
Robbins Pond,
Rochester,
Rowley River, 4 '
Sachacha Pond, a,
Sale of alewives,
Salisbury Plain River,
Salt Pond, Falmouth,
Salting,
Santuit River,
Satucket River,
Saugus River,
Scales, value,
Scoop nets,
Screen catching,
Screens,
Scusset River,
Seasons for catching,
Second Herring Brook,
Segreganset River,
Seines,
Seining permits,
Sengatocket Pond,
Sewage,
Sexual maturity,
Sippican River,
Smelt Brook,

PAGE
22, 101, 102
117

9-11, 104
106, 107

54, 55, 81, 82
: 28
23

25

63

94

37, 69

86

116

23

38

120

53

11

é 108
39, 65, 91
135

Smoking, .
Snipatuit Pond,
South River,
Sparrow Pond, Orleans,
Spawn, protection of,
Spawning grounds,
Spawning habits,
Spawning season,
Spring herring,
Squibnocket Pond,
Standard fishways,
Statistics of fishery,
Production,
Revenue,
United States Bureau of Fisheries,
Stocking methods,
Hatching,
Hatching, artificial,
Mature alewives,
Planting,
Protection of spawn,
Ripe fish,
Stony Brook, Brewster,
Stony Brook, Kingston,
Straight run fishway,
Survey of streams,
Swan Pond, Dennis,
Tashmoo Lake,
Taunton River,
Temperature and spawning,
Third Herring Brook,
Three Mile River,
Tisbury Great Pond,
Torching,
Town Brook, Plymouth,
Town River,
Town-operated fisheries,
Trade wastes,
Transportation of alewives,
Traps,
Trap’s Pond,
Two Mile River, :
Value of fisheries tabulated,
Wall-eyed herring,
Wankinco River,
Water supplies, effect of,
Water wheels,
Weight, average,
Weir River,
Weirs,
Wenham Lake,
Westport River,
Weweantit River,
Weymouth Back River,
Weymouth Fore River,
Wing’s Pond, Falmouth,
Young fish, destruction of,

A 7 122
23, 24, 30, 36, 53-55, 113-117
12, 13

86

116

23, 123

é ‘ 39

24, 39, 55, 65, 92
114

20, 22

54

66

23

121

116

72

: 110

49, 55, 107

39, 54, 55, 84

39, 54, 55, 83, 84
104

63