326 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



until 1822, when a dam was built across the stream, whicli prevented 

 their coming up. Since then dams have been built across the other 

 tributaries, and finally one across the Thames itself, which completely 

 destroyed the salmon-fishery in the river and its tributaries.* 



28. — CONNECTICUT RIVER. 



Salmon ascended this river in the last ceutury to a distance of three 

 hundred miles from its mouth,t breeding in its headwaters and in vari- 

 ous tributaries; in New Hamx)shire and Vermont. They were plenty up 

 to 1797. In 1798 the Upper Locks and Canal Company put a dam 16 

 feet high across, just below the mouth of Miller's Eiver. Within ten 

 or twelve years this extinguished the fish ; that is, when all the then 

 iving fish had died.| 



The States of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connec- 

 ticut have since 1866 been making joint efforts to restore salmon to the 

 river. Small lots of salmon-fry have, from time to time, been placed in 

 it, and within two years several young salmou have been taken in the 

 lower part of the river. It was not, however, until 1873 that any plant- 

 ing was made on an extensive scale. In the spring of that year there 

 were distributed, by the State of Connecticut, a large number of fry in 

 some of the lower branches of the river. The opposition of the proprie- 

 tors of the Holyoke dam, in Massachusetts, to the erection of a fish-way, 

 entailed tedio.us litigation, which delayed the construction of the way 

 until 1873. It is, however, now completed, and tbe commissioners of 

 the several States interested are to place several hundred thousand 

 salmon-fry in the Connecticut and its tributaries in the spring of ]874. 



29. — HAMMONASSETT RIVER. 



In this little river, salmon were caught from 1663 to sonue date in the 

 present century. § 



30. — QUINNIPAICK RIVER. 



Salmon used to frequent this river, but disappeared at some date not 

 ascertained. In the spring of 1872 a salmon weighing five and a half 

 pounds was caught in a gill-net, set for shad near Wallingford. Ano- 

 ther, weighing over four pounds, was caught with a hook in the summer 

 of 1873 by Mr. Stephen P. Northrop, who was fishing for pickerel, with 

 live bait. II These specimens were probably grilse that came from some 

 of the broods of young fry introduced in recent years. 



* Letter of J. Brown, of Williinantis. 

 t Letter of Dr. W. W. Fletcher. 

 t Letter of T. Lyman. 



§ Letter of William H. Bnrgis. Hon. William H. Buell, of Connecticut, is authority 

 for the statement of their actual presence. 

 II Letter of O. J. Martin, esq. 



