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pie of the long lease of a natural atewife 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. 



