INLAND FISHERIES. 301 



matter upon the water and the fish inhabiting the same ; and, further, 

 to make inquiries and ascertain the best mode of constructing fish- 

 ways over said dams, the expense of the same, and such farther 

 facts touching fish-waj's and their usefulness in aiding the passage of 

 fish over obstructions as such commissioners ma}^ deem useful or 

 expedient. 



Resolved, That said commissioners communicate with such com- 

 missioners as may be appointed by the states of New Hampshire and 

 Vermont, upon the subject embraced in these resolutions ; ascertain 

 the legislation which has, from time to time, taken place in those 

 states concerning the erection of dams in either of said rivers, and 

 the height of said dams respectively; if fishways suitable for the 

 passage of shad and salmon exist in said dams or an}^ of them, and 

 if said states possess the right to maintain or cause to be maintained 

 suitable fish-ways for the passage of such fish up said rivers to their 

 sources, or to any and what extent. • 



Resolved, That said commissioners ascertain, so far as practicable, 

 the supply of shad and salmon in said rivers previous to any obstruc- 

 tions being placed therein, when such supply began to fail and the 

 causes generally assigned for such failure, with such further informa- 

 tion touching the value of the fisheries and the habits of the fish as 

 may be attainable. 



Resolved, That said commissioners make a report of their doings 

 to the governor and council on or before the first day of December 

 next. 



Resolved, That the obligation of the Essex Company to rebuild a 

 fish-way in their dam on Merrimack River, in accordance with their 

 charter and the prescription of the connt}^ commissioners of Essex 

 county, be suspended until the first day of July, in the year one thou- 

 sand eight hundred and sixty-six. 



Resolved, That his excellency- the governor be requested to transmit 

 a copy of these resolutions to the governors of the states of New 

 Hampshire and Vermont. — [May 3, 1865. 



1866. 



[Sp. Laws, vol. 1, p. 422; 1855, 401.] 



An Act in addition to an Act to regulate the Fisheries in Taunton Great River and the 



Newmasket River. 



1866,54. Be it enacted, etc., as follows : Sect. 1. The city of 

 Taunton may hereafter sell its privileges of taking shad and alewives 

 in Taunton Great River under the direction of its city council, instead 

 of at a legal meeting to be held for that purpose, as required by the 

 second section of chapter four hundred and one of the acts of the 

 year eighteen hundred and fifty-five. — [March 2, 1866. 



