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, w r hich 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 w r ater 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. 



WEYMOUTH FORE RIVER AND MONATIQUOT BROOK. 

 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- 



