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Sparrow Pond (Orleans). 



A small stream now connects Sparrow Pond, Orleans, with 

 Pleasant Bay. The original natural outlet by which alewives 

 once ascended to the pond was closed by a private company in 

 order to make them enter by way of an artificial ditch connect- 

 ing the pond with Pleasant Bay. After the disbanding of this 

 company the fishery received no attention until 1918, when it 

 was taken over by the town of Orleans. 



In order to develop a public fishery, as conditions existed in 

 1919, the stream will require widening, clearing of debris, 

 more gradual slope, and regulation of the water flow during 

 the runs of both adult and young fish. 



Chathamport Alewife Brook. 

 A small brook lined with cranberry bogs connects Smith's 

 Pond and Ryder's Cove. It can never be developed beyond 

 the point of supporting a small private fishery. 



Herring River (Harwich). 

 Herring River originally had its headwaters in Hinckley's 

 Pond, through which it is now connected by an artificial 

 ditch with Long Pond. The stream flows from 5 to 6 miles 

 to Nantucket Sound, and varies from 8 to 15 feet in width. 

 Although formerly used for power, it is now utilized for flooding 

 cranberry bogs. Between North Harwich and Hinckley's Pond 

 there are seven dams connected with cranberry interests. 

 Just above the old catching place at North Harwich there is 

 a concrete dam equipped with an excellent fishway. The 

 fishways on the other obstructing dams are less satisfactory, 

 especially the uppermost, a concrete dam of 6 to 7 feet in 

 height, where the level of the flume is higher than the bed of 

 the stream. Where the fishways are not installed, the cranberry 

 bog owners open the flumes to allow the passage of the ale- 

 wives. There has been considerable controversy between the 

 cranberry bog owners at the west and east ends of Long Pond 

 over the question of the proper level of the water in Long 

 Pond, which is influenced by the adjustment of the outlet by 

 the Harwich Herring Committee. 



