119 



THE ALEWIFE FISHERIES OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 

 The alewife fisheries of Martha's Vineyard assume an im- 

 portant commercial aspect and well illustrate the ability of 

 man to create a successful and lucrative fishery. Fishing is 

 conducted exclusively in the brackish shore ponds, since there 

 are but few streams upon the island. These ponds are con- 

 nected with the ocean by artificial openings at the proper time 

 in the spring and fall, thus permitting adult fish to enter for 

 spawning and the young to return to salt water in the fall. 

 Alewives are taken by seining in these ponds, and the fisheries 

 are controlled under long-term leases by various private com- 

 panies, usually composed of riparian owners. 



EDGARTOWN GREAT POND AND MATTAKESSETT CREEKS. 



Edgartown Great Pond, a large brackish water pond situated 

 just west of Katama Bay, is separated from the ocean by a 

 sandy beach. From the eastern end of the pond an artificial 

 ditch about 1 mile in length, and from 12 to 15 feet wide, 

 connects it with Mattakessett Bay, an arm of Katama Bay. 

 The old creek, which was first dug in 1786, is farther south 

 than the present one of 1889, which lies in a more direct line. 

 The fish are caught at the outlet in Cracketuxet Cove with a 

 seine trap. On certain days, and on Saturday nights, during 

 the fishing period a passage is maintained for the entrance of 

 alewives into the pond, and for the exit of such alewives as 

 have spawned. This is accomplished by the simple procedure 

 of one side of the seine trap being bent in such manner that a 

 passageway about the width of the creek is left. 



The greatest catch recorded was made in 1913, amounting 

 to 3,000 barrels, the average running about 1,800 barrels. 

 The average rental to the town for the past thirty years has 

 been $110. 



In the year 1728 the riparian owners, on condition of digging 

 and keeping a creek connecting Great Pond and Katama Bay, 

 were given the sole privilege of taking fish. In 1783 an act 

 was passed incorporating the proprietors of Mattakessett 

 Creeks into a body politic by the name of the Proprietors of 

 Mattakessett Creeks. In 1889 the new company which dug 



