98 



Herring River is one of the few streams which show a 

 prosperous fishery as a result of proper care. It is a striking 

 example of the efficiency of the long-term lease, and demon- 

 strates that the existence of cranberry bogs is not incompatible 

 with a successful alewife fishery. In 1912 between 1,200 and 

 1,300 barrels were taken, — a fair average for the last few 

 years, although in an exceptionally good year as high as 3,700 

 barrels may be seined in the catching pool below the first 

 fishway. Formerly fisheries were also maintained on the trib- 

 utaries, Coy Brook and White Pond Brook. As a result of 

 careful town management the fishery has been maintained at 

 a high level, through the constant watchfulness on the part of 

 the local committee and the district deputy of the Division 

 of Fisheries and Game in seeing that no obstructions have been 

 permitted to exist on the stream during the spring run. Its 

 future success depends upon the continued exercise of this 

 care. 



Swan Pond (Dennis). 

 The fishery in Swan Pond River, Dennis, receives but little 

 attention from the town, which permits fishing with dip nets. 

 It has yielded the nominal income of $5 per year, and offers 

 practically no opportunity for development. 



Bass River. 



Bass River rises in Follin's and Mill ponds, and after a 

 course of 5 miles between the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth 

 empties into Nantucket Sound. The river is tidal as far as 

 Follin's Pond. It receives tributaries from Dinah's, Baker's 

 and Turtle's ponds, and is unobstructed, although formerly 

 there was a dam between Mill Pond and Follin's Pond. 



The Bass River fishery has gradually been depleted through 

 exploitation and faulty regulation, although the existing regu- 

 lations, if observed, should! have sufficient influence to safe- 

 guard the fishery. Sixteen permits to catch fish on different 

 parts of the stream are sold to inhabitants of Dennis and 

 Yarmouth, with the restriction that the seines must not ex- 

 ceed 200 yards, and that fishing should be conducted only 

 on four days a week, from May 1 to June 16. 



