96 LAWS RELATING TO 



erected, shall not be shut down before the twentieth day of April in 

 every year. 



Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the said 

 town of Middleton be t reby empowered to choose, at an}^ legal meet- 

 ing of the inhabitants of said town, committees for the purpose of 

 regulating, as the}' may think proper, the taking of shad and alewives 

 in the waters of„t,he said pond, and the waters running into and from 

 the same, and preventing obstructions to the said fish passing down 

 said brook, with fines and penalties not exceeding three dollars for 

 each offence, to be recovered in an}- court proper to try the same, one 

 moiet}' to the person who may recover the same, and the other moiety 

 to the use of the said town. — [June 18, 1802. 



[1856, 52.] 



1803. 



[Sp. Laws, vol. 1, p. 272.] 



An Act in addition to an Act entitled " An Act to regulate the Catching of Salmon, 

 Shad and Alewives in Merrimack River, and the Streams emptying into the same." 



Sp. Laws, vol. 3, p. 43. Whereas it is found by experience that 

 catching of fish at or near the mouth of Johnston's Brook, so called, 

 emptying into Merrimack River, within the town of Bradford, in the 

 county of Essex, greatlj' impedes and obstructs the fish from entering 

 and passing up the said stream : 



Sect. 1. Be it enacted, That from and after the passing of this 

 act no person or persons shall be allowed to drag an}^ seine or set any 

 net, pot or other machine, for the purpose of catching salmon, shad 

 or alewives, or any other wa^'s obstruct said fish in their passage 

 within thirty rods below or twent}^ rods above the mouth of said 

 stream, in Merrimack River, on penalty of thirteen dollars and thirty- 

 three cents for each ofl^ence, and the seine, net, pot or other machine 

 so used, to be forfeited ; and the fine or fines, aforesaid shall be re- 

 covered and applied in the same manner as fines for breaches of the 

 act to which this is an addition. — [February 7, 1803. 



[Sp. Laws, vol. 3, p. 72.] 



An Act to regulate the taking of Alewives in the several Streams leading from Ipswich 



River to Prichard's Pond, in Topstield. 



Sp. Laws, vol. 3, p. 48. Sect. 1. Be it enacted, That it shall and 

 may be lawful for the town of Topsfield, annuall}-, at any legal meeting 

 of the inhabitants of the said town, to sell or otherwise dispose of the 

 pri\ilege of taking alewives in the scA'cral streams leading from Ipswich 

 River to Prichard's Pond, in said Topsfield, at such times not exceed- 

 ing three days in a week, and at such places and under such regula- 

 tions as the said town shall direct ; and the emolument arising from 

 said privilege shall be appropriated b}^ the said town to such purposes 



