86 FISH AND GAME. 



terial, particularly in the smaller streams or near the source of 

 the larger, interferes with the passage of the alewives. 



(3) Dams. Obstruction to the streams by dams is the most 

 important factor in preventing the passage of fish to the spawn- 

 ing grounds. Dams alone are not particularly dangerous. Dams 

 without suitable fishways to enable the proper passage of fish are 

 pernicious. In all our alewife streams the old laws explicitly 

 state that satisfactory passageways for fish should be made over 

 all dams, but, in spite of the enactment and good intent of these 

 old laws, they were either evaded or defied by the mill owners, 

 with the result that there are many dams without suitably 

 equipped fishways which have proved a serious menace to the 

 alewife fisheries. Efforts are now under way for the installation 

 of suitable fishways in the alewife streams. 



(4) Cranberry Bogs. Cranberry interests unless conducted with 

 care conflict with the alewife fisheries. In southern Massachu- 

 setts the development of cranberry bogs along the alewife 

 streams, with the frequent dams and obstructions, has proved a 

 serious drawback to the success of the alewife fishery, as the 

 cranberry industry has been considered of more value than the 

 fishery by the towns, and the owners have not been required to 

 provide suitable passageways for the fish. The profits of the 

 cranberry bogs are usually sufficient to warrant a reasonable 

 outlay in maintaining the rights of the fisheries. 



(5) Water Supplies. The taking of ponds at the source of 

 the alewife streams for local water supplies has decreased the area 

 of spawning ground. 



(6) Pollution. The pollution of the streams from manu- 

 facturing sources has likewise proved detrimental to the life and 

 passage of the fish, and many streams have been temporarily 

 ruined by the chemical and other injurious substances which 

 have been turned into the water. 



(7) Overfishing. The immediate cause of the decline in the 

 alewife fisheries has been overfishing, whereby too many ale- 

 wives were taken and too few allowed to pass to the spawning 

 grounds. This condition has been brought about by unenforced 

 laws and ineffectual local regulation as to the times and methods 

 of fishing. In particular, the short-term lease, frequently for 

 one year, has proved a serious menace by putting a premium 

 upon the lessee's getting all he could out of the fishery for the 

 year without considering its future welfare. 



Restoration. To save the Massachusetts alewife fisheries and 

 insure their future immediate and effective action is necessary. 



