PUBLIC DOCUMENT No. 25. 11 



supply of flatfish. The fleet of large otter trawlers operating 

 upon Georges and other fishing banks indicates that this type 

 of fishing has come to stay, and, when conditions have become 

 properly adjusted, it promises mutual advantage to both fisher- 

 men and consumers. 



Buzzards Bay - - For two years an investigation of the fish- 

 eries of Buzzards Bay has been carried on, with special reference 

 to trap fishing. Data bearing upon these fisheries have been 

 collected, and it is hoped that a definite solution of the problem 

 may result after sufficient time has been allowed for the com- 

 pletion of adequate statistics. Unfortunately, the legislative 

 act authorizing this investigation carried with it no appropria- 

 tion after the first year, thereby limiting the scope of the work 

 to the collection of statistics from a few fishermen who are 

 given the privilege of establishing fish traps. Under such 

 unsatisfactory conditions it will be difficult to make adequate 

 recommendations such as a thorough and complete investiga- 

 tion would have permitted. 



Inland Fisheries. 



Within the past three years definite scientific steps have been 

 taken to restore the fisheries in the inland ponds and streams 

 to some semblance of their original productiveness. To correct 

 the abuses of nearly three hundred years will necessarily be 

 a long and seemingly expensive process, especially while the 

 economic blunder of polluting these streams still continues. 



Fishways. The problem of providing suitable fishways, 

 particularly in the salmon, shad and alewife streams, has 

 received the attention of your commissioners, and several fish- 

 ways have been installed or improved under their direction. 



Water Rights. - - It is eminently desirable that the various 

 water and stream rights be more clearly defined, particularly 

 the fishery rights of riparian owners, which should be controlled 

 and regulated by the State. Such action would be of great 

 assistance to your commissioners in handling various fish 

 problems. 



Pond and Stream Survey. - - A biological examination, de- 

 scribed in greater detail in another section of this report, has 



