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Chilmark Pond. Chilmark Pond is situated in the southern 

 part of Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard. It is a natural 

 pond fed by brooks from the western side, and is connected 

 with the ocean at variable times by an artificial opening. 

 On the east side it is connected by a narrow stream with 

 Quinnances Cove. The opening to the ocean is generally dug 

 about the 25th of April, and thereafter whenever the pond is 

 high enough to drain the meadows without great expense, 

 the pond being important inasmuch as it provides hay and 

 duck shooting as well as fishing. 



The fishery, established in 1850, is controlled by the lessees 

 of Chilmark Pond. The principal catch is white perch, but 

 some alewives are also taken. Of late the fishing has fallen off. 



Squibnocket Pond and Herring Creek. Squibnocket Pond, 

 near Gay Head, is connected with the ocean by an artificial 

 stream, Squibnocket Herring Creek, at its southeastern end. 

 The sand shifts so that it is necessary to dig out the creek 

 each year in order to allow the alewives to enter the pond. 

 The fishery, established as a private fishery in 1855, is leased 

 by the town of Chilmark, for five-year periods. 



Gay Head Herring Creek. Gay Head Herring Creek, an 

 artificial stream with its origin in Squibnocket Pond, flows 

 for a short distance through marsh land, and then through a 

 concrete flume into Menemsha Pond. In Menemsha Pond, 

 between the entrance of Gay Head Herring Creek and 

 Menemsha Creek, are six fish traps directly in the course of 

 alewives passing to the spawning grounds in Squibnocket 

 Pond. In 1913, because of the large schools of alewives, 

 permits were obtained from the Chilmark selectmen to set 

 the traps on the southern side of Menemsha Pond, which is 

 in the town of Chilmark. Although the entire course of the 

 Gay Head Herring Creek lies in the town of Gay Head, the 

 course of the alewives through Menemsha Pond lies in Chil- 

 mark waters. The presence of these traps has caused con- 

 siderable ill feeling between the towns of Chilmark and Gay 

 Head, w r hich can be adjusted only by a compromise as to the 

 location of the traps. 



Some believe that the Indians dug the ditch through which 

 the water flows from Squibnocket Pond to Menemsha Pond, 



