INLAND FISHERIES. 101 



possession of an}' person, such person or persons shall be deemed to 

 liavc taken them unlawfully, and shall be subject to the penalties by 

 this act prescribed, unless he or they shall make it appear upon trial 

 that the}' came b}' said fish lawfully. 



Sect. 10. Be it further enacted. That all fines and forfeitures in- 

 curred b}' breach of this act, shall enure, one moiety thereof to him 

 or them who shall complain or make information of the same, and the 

 other moiet}' to the said town of Haverhill. — [February 9, 1803. 



[Sp. Laws, vol. 3, p. 43.] 



An Act to regulate the taking of the Fish called Alewives in Johnston's Brook, so 

 called, emptj'ing into Merrimack River, in the Town of Bradford, and for clearing 

 the passage-way of said fish, from said Merrimack River to Johnston's Pond, and 

 from thence to Little Pond, so called. 



Sp. Laws, vol. 3, p. 73. Sect. 1. Be it enacted. That from and after 

 the passing of this act, the said fish may be taken between where the 

 said Johnston's Brook crosses the road, near Benjamin Morse's and 

 Carlton's grist-mill dam, and in no other place in said brook or passage- 

 wa}' from Merrimack River to Little Pond, so called, and on such 

 da3's onl}' as are allowed by law for catching fish in Merrimack River ; 

 and on such of those days, and in such place or places within those 

 limits, as a committee who may be appointed by the town, as is here- 

 inafter provided, may direct. 



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

 Bradford, at their meeting for the choice of town officers in March or 

 April annually, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to 

 choose b}' ballot, three or five persons, being freeholders in said town, 

 a committee to oversee the taking of the said fish as aforesaid ; which 

 committee shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their trust, and 

 shall distribute the fish taken by them, or under their direction, as 

 equally' as circumstances will admit, to such of the inhabitants of the 

 said town, or other persons, as may apply for the same ; and for fish 

 so supplied and delivered, the committee aforesaid shall demand and 

 receive of the person or persons applying therefor payment, at such 

 rate or rates as the inhabitants of said town at their annual meeting 

 in March or April may direct ; excepting of such poor persons as 

 shall be named in a list to be annually made out by the selectmen of 

 the town, and who, in the opinion of said selectmen, are unable to 

 pay for the same ; which list shall be given to the committee, and the 

 person or persons borne on said list shall be supplied with such quan- 

 tities of said fish gratis as the committee think expedient ; and the 

 committee aforesaid shall have such allowance fur their services as 

 the inhabitants of said town, in open town meeting, may determine ; 

 and shall annually, in the month of September ne.^t after their 

 appointment, exhibit their accounts to the selectmen for settlement, 



