82 



tion of the United States Worsted Company and the Cellu- 

 graph Engineering Corporation, that their present dilapidated 

 wooden fishways will shortly be replaced with modern struc- 

 tures. 



Mystic River. 



The Mystic River is tidal as far as the locks at West Med- 

 ford, which point it is almost impossible for alewives to pass 

 even at high tide, so that few fish reach the Mystic Lakes for 

 spawning. Between the Mystic Lakes is a dam equipped with a 

 wooden Brackett fishway of little use, since the water level is 

 not sufficiently high to afford flowage. Above the Mystic 

 Lakes the Aberjona River is polluted north of Winchester from 

 several sources, and obstructed by the dam at Whitney's Mill 

 Pond, an elaborate concrete structure in the form of a semi- 

 circle. When sufficient water is flowing over this dam, alewives 

 should be able to surmount it. About three-quarters of a mile 

 below Mystic Lakes is a tributary stream 20 feet wide and 3 

 to 4 feet deep, known as Alewife Brook or Little River. This 

 once connected Spy Pond, Arlington, with the Mystic River, 

 but now drains only a small pond separated from Spy Pond 

 by a road embankment which effectually prevents the passage 

 of alewives into Spy Pond. 



According to Holmes (2) the privilege of taking fish was given 

 in 1633-34 by the General Court to Governor Winthrop and 

 Matthew Craddock at the weir "at Mysticke," situated where 

 High Street, Medford, now crosses the river. Two other weirs 

 were subsequently erected, and large quantities have been taken 

 from the Mystic River in past years, e.g., a single haul of 50,000 

 at Medford, in April, 1844. 



Although no alewives are taken in the Mystic River at the 

 present time, the fishery may once again be brought to a state 

 of real productivity by providing suitable passageways at the 

 dams at West Medford and between the Mystic Lakes, thus 

 opening the Mystic Lakes for spawning grounds; also, in the 

 same way, by making Spy Pond available, proportionately 

 greater benefits may be derived. 



