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. 



WEYMOUTH 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 

 Iron 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 fish way 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. 



