86 LAWS RELATING TO 



that purpose," passed the ninth day of Mai'ch, in the year of our Lord 

 one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, the law to which this is 

 an addition to the contrary notwithstanding : provided, said town 

 shall at their annual meeting in March instant, vote the same, which 

 the town are hereby authorized to do at said meeting ; an}- law to the 

 contrary notwithstanding. — [March 7, 1801. 



An Act for regulating the Taking and Disposing of the Fish called Alewives within the 

 limits of the Town of Weymouth, and for the more effectually securing to the said 

 Town the advantages thereof. 



Sp. Laws, vol. 2, p. 434. Whereas the town of Weymouth, in the 

 count}^ of Norfolk, at a very considerable expense, purchased and 

 opened a passage for the fish called alewives into Whitman's Pond 

 and the Great Pond, so called, being wholly within said town, and 

 conveyed into them a number of said fish, whereby a great increase 

 has arisen ; it is therefore but just and reasonable that the benefits 

 arising from the taking and disposing of the said fish should be 

 wholly vested in the said town ; wherefore. 



Sect. 1. Be it enacted, That the taking and disposing of the 

 said fish called alewives shall be under the care and management of a 

 committee of the said town, who shall dispose of them in such man- 

 ner, for the benefit of said town, as they shall judge best, and account 

 with the treasurer of said town for the proceeds thereof, on or before 

 the first da}' of November annually, and the money arising therefrom 

 shall be appropriated to the use of schooling in said town ; and the 

 said committee shall have a reasonable allowance for their service, 

 and lay their accounts before the selectmen of said town for allow- 

 ance and approbation ; and the said committee shall consist of five 

 freeholders, chosen b}- ballot in the months of March or April annu- 

 ally, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duty ; and 

 if an}' person chosen to serve on the said committee shall refuse to 

 serve, or if chosen shall neglect to take said oath for the space of 

 seven days after being legally notified of such choice, he shall forfeit 

 and pay to the use of said town the sum of ten dollars. 



Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That tbe said committee, or either 

 of them, shall have full power and authority to remove from or out 

 of the river, brooks or streams leading to the said ponds, any ob- 

 structions that may be made to the free passing of the said fish into 

 the said ponds, or repassing from them into the sea ; and the said 

 committee's going, or either of them, on to the land of any person 

 or persons for this purpose, shall not be deemed or held as a trespass ; 

 and the said committee, or the major part of them, shall determine 

 the particular places where the said fish shall be taken, and give pub- 

 lic notice thereof by posting up one or more notifications in some 



