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dams at Lawrence and Lowell, and the great quantities of 

 pollution which rendered the stream uninhabitable for fish. 



Under present conditions the alewife fishery of the Merrimack 

 River is an affair of the past. The numerous industrial enter- 

 prises situated along its banks, with their attending pollution 

 and dams, and the fact that a large portion of the river, on 

 which are located its most favorable spawning grounds, lies 

 without the bounds of the State, present a serious problem. 

 However, many tributaries are connected with ponds which 

 might serve as satisfactory spawning grounds. It is possible, 

 with the co-operation of New Hampshire in excluding as much 

 pollution as possible, and by erecting fishways where necessary, 

 that the fishery may be revived. The installation of the new 

 fishways at Lawrence and at Lowell are the first attempts made 

 toward the solution of this most difficult problem. 



Parker River. 



Parker River pursues a winding course for 15 or 20 miles 

 from its source in Boxford to Plum Island Sound. The impor- 

 tant ponds connected with this stream are Rock, Pentucket, 

 Crane and Baldpate, the last forming the headwaters of Penn 

 Brook, which, with Mill River and Beaver Brook, form its 

 principal tributaries. Chiefly used for industrial purposes, the 

 river is obstructed by several dams, and is somewhat polluted. 

 At least five dams at some time have prevented the passage 

 of alewives to Pentucket, Rock and Baldpate ponds, the natural 

 spawning grounds, and three, located at the Byfield Woolen 

 Mill, Byfield Snuff Factory No. 5, and the Pearson Tobacco 

 Company, now offer complete obstruction, while the outlet of 

 Pentucket Pond, the first logical spawning ground, is closed by 

 an embankment and gate. The dams at Glen Mill and at two 

 sawmills for a number of years have prevented alewives from 

 ascending Mill River. 



The public alewife fishery has decreased to such an extent 

 that not over 25 barrels are obtained annually. Forty years 

 ago alewives were taken in considerable numbers below the 

 Glen Mills dam, and shipped to Gloucester for bait. 



In spite of numerous good early laws, the fishery in Parker 

 River has been ruined, primarily through obstruction by dams 



