79 



a valuable fishery by removing the obstructions in the river 

 so that the alewives may have a clear passageway to Pritchard's 

 Pond, and other minor bodies of water, which would serve as 

 spawning grounds. The first step in this direction is the instal- 

 lation of suitable fishways, which w r as undertaken in 1920 by 

 the Division of Fisheries and Game, beginning with the lowest 

 dam at the Ipswich Mills, where a new fishway has been 

 installed. Similar plans are to be submitted for the dams at 

 Norwood Mills and at Willowdale. These fishways not only 

 are essential for restoring the alewife fishery, but will prove of 

 great benefit to all kinds of fishing. 



CHEBACCO BROOK AND ESSEX RIVER. 



Chebacco Brook, sometimes called Mill River, rises in Che- 

 bacco Lake, and flows for 6 miles through the town of Essex 

 to empty into the Essex River. Low dams and accumulations 

 of old timber and debris, as well as thick grass, choke the 

 brook, which varies from 1 to 4 feet in width, and renders 

 difficult the passage of fish. In 1913 the low dam at the plant 

 of the Gloucester Branch of the Bay State Street Railway 

 Company had been in part removed to allow the alewives to 

 pass up stream. This company relies upon the brook to con- 

 dense steam, and empties into it hot water which, in appreciable 

 quantities, is injurious to fish life. The fishery, established in 

 1879 by the town of Essex, in former days produced annually 

 500 to 600 barrels, and the privilege has been sold for as high 

 as $600. It still exists,* but in such a diminished state that 

 the town does not sell or even issue permits to take alewives. 

 Ordinarily it has been sold at public auction each year, with 

 the provision that a certain number of alewives be allowed to 

 pass to the spawning grounds. A profitable fishery could be 

 re-established by stocking Chebacco Lake with spawning ale- 

 wives after the obstructions were removed, necessary fishways 

 installed and pollution eliminated. However, if Chebacco Lake 

 ever were used as a water supply the fishery could no longer 

 exist. 



