Field. — Massachusetts Alewife Fishery 145 



Through artificial openings the alewives enter, during 

 the spawning seasons, directly into the ponds from the 

 salt water. 



The alewife increases rapidly in size in the fresh water 

 ponds, and by late summer obtains an approximate 

 length of from two to four inches, when it descends from 

 the breeding ground to the ocean, unless prevented 

 by artificial structures such as cranberry bogs, dams, etc. 



Little is known of the subsequent life of the alewife. 

 It is commonly supposed that the same alewife will 

 return three or four years later as a full grown fish to 

 the same stream for the purpose of spawning. This is 

 what is known as "the parent stream theory," and is in 

 all probability, correct, although positive proof is diflfi- 

 cult to obtain. Upon this assumption is based the plans 

 for the future re-establishment of the alewife fishery, 

 since by placing the spawning adult in the headwaters 

 of the depleted alewife streams the fishery can once more 

 be re-established. Where the alewife passes the period 

 of its growth has not been definitely ascertained. It is 

 probable that it remains in the deeper ocean water, but 

 not far from the mouth of the stream whence it 

 descended. 



History of the Fishery. — In the early colonial records 

 mention is made of the alewife as providing food for 

 the first inhabitants of New England. At this time the 

 fisheries were free and the supply greatly in excess of 

 the needs of the population. Every inhabitant who was 

 "a householder had the right of free fishing and fowling 

 in any' of the great ponds, bays, coves, and rivers so far 

 as the sea ebbs and flows within the precincts of the town 

 where he lived unless the freemen of the same town or 

 the general court had otherwise appropriated it." Cap- 

 tain John Smith in his description of New England as 

 relating to the fisheries, particularly the alewife and the 

 cod, said, "If a man worked three days in a season, he 

 would get more than he could spend in the entire year 

 if his expenditures were not excessive." Cod were then 



