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existing laws must be replaced by a general law which, in addi- 

 tion to compulsory oversight by the State, will embrace the 

 following provisions : — 



Lease. — The fishery should be leased to private individuals. 

 A long-term lease, not less than five years, is necessary, since 

 the short-term lease places a premium upon exploitation. The 

 longer period will encourage a purchaser to safeguard the fish- 

 ery in all ways. 



Closed Seasons. — Closed seasons are beneficial only when 

 they are used to supplement and protect constructive cultural 

 work. A closed season is of direct benefit to the alewife fishery 

 when the ale wives are given a chance to spawn in large numbers, 

 thus supplying a natural means of stocking. In all cases of 

 depletion at least a three-year period should be exacted, and 

 the necessity of a further closed season determined by the 

 results obtained, especially in cases where stocking operations 

 have been simultaneously carried on. In fairly prosperous 

 fisheries the one-year closed season alternating with the five- 

 year lease should prove a good prophylactic measure for insur- 

 ing the welfare of the fishery. 



A partially closed season may be imposed by allowing the 

 first part of the alewife run to reach the spawning grounds 

 unmolested, before any fishing is commenced, thus insuring an 

 appreciable amount of good-quality spawn being deposited by 

 large first-run fish. The success of such a provision would 

 depend upon the knowledge, judgment and care exercised by 

 the herring committee in determining the proper run of fish 

 before fishing was permitted. Owing to the higher prices re- 

 ceived for early fish, this method will scarcely appeal to the 

 fishing interests. 



Season. — The length of the season should be the same 

 throughout the State, and not exceed a maximum of sixty days. 

 The exact dates for the commencement of fishing should be 

 determined for each individual stream. 



Fishing Days. — The time of catching should not exceed 

 three consecutive days per week. Any combination may be 

 selected, but the period from sunrise Tuesday to sunset Thurs- 

 day is recommended as giving the best opportunity for preparing 

 and disposing of the catch. 



