178 



famous in our local history. The once beautiful North 

 and South rivers, so important to the first settlers of the 

 town as their principal and most convenient highway, and 

 which afforded ample accommodations to the early com- 

 merce of the town, are now reduced to sluggish streams, 

 hardly receiving the purifying influences of the ocean 

 tides, by reason of the obstructions required in the ser- 

 vice of trade and manufactures. 



To the Justises of the Geuerall Seshious of the Peace to be liolden 

 at Salem for the County of Essex, the last Tuesday of June, 1725. 



"The Humble Petition of Thomas Rich Humbly Sheweth. That 

 the North-River in the Town of Salem runs Southwesterly into Sev- 

 eral! Ponds, viz. Spring Pond, long Pond & Seder Pond where abun- 

 dance of Pisli passes in the Spring time of the year to spawn. Nev- 

 ertheless several waires have been made across the Brook, within this 

 few years, which have almost broke their usuall wonted Custom. I 

 have made application to the Selectmen who inform me that it is with 

 your Honours Consideration in that affair. I have this lour years 

 last past taken all the care I could in pulling clown all the Waires in 

 said Brooks to the severall Ponds once. I requested by a complaint 

 to Justice Sewall & Justice Wolcott for a warrant, hopeing to finde out 

 them that had erected s d waires & I took a Constable with me then 

 we found but one Waire. I have spent four days in the properest 

 time of every last four years abovesaid. Sometimes I have pulled 

 down seven Waires between .Mr. Trask' Millpond S5 the Butts Bridge, 

 this year I was hut two days up the Brook but did not find any. 

 but was informed that the fish were stopt in their Comeing down 

 from the ponds, and if your Hon" in your Wisdom Sec cause to order 

 that affair, or else their wonted custom will be broke, which will make 

 other fish as Cod & Haddock scarce with us, for such fish comes in 

 after the above small fish for bait ; and if such inconveniences could be 

 removed, fish might be as plenty as they were formerly, which would 

 be a great benefit to the Town & Country, for which your Petitioner 

 desires your Honors Consideration for his abovesaid trouble, and your 

 Petioner shall ever pray. Thomas Rich." 



It seems that the labors of Mr. Rich were in his own 

 opinion of some service, for another petition was pre- 

 sented the' next year, which is here presented, verbatim. 



"To the llonrball his maiesties Justses of in fear*' cort, and gene- 

 rail seshious of the peace to Be holden at Salem for the county of 

 Esex the last Tuesday of June, I7i'i>. 



It was considrd liy the llonrball cort holden at Salem on the last 

 Tuesday id' June 1725, that- Thomas Rich shuld lack care, and use all 

 proper meanes that the Law Be observed ami fulfllld with respect to 



