FISHWAYS FOR THE RANK AND FILE 



By W. O. Buck 



In his clear and complete article on fishways, published 

 in the Report of the United States Fish Commission, Part 

 II, for 1872-3, Mr. Atkins remarks that it had been deemed 

 expedient to provide fishways for salmon, shad and alewives 

 only, that is, for fishes specially classed as migratory be- 

 cause they run from the sea into streams to spawn. It long 

 had been realized that obstructing the passage of these fish 

 up the streams must be fatal to the fisheries, and even now 

 when artificial propagation has advocates so enthusiastic as 

 to claim that it is the proper method, no one will go so far 

 as deliberately to throw away the aid which fish bring to the 

 good cause when allowed to spawn naturally. 



The recognized American authorities on the subject, At- 

 kins, McDonald, and Von Bayer, after carefully reviewing 

 all the various fishway designs and approving several of 

 them, conclude by each proposing a new plan. This argues 

 that preceding ones were not entirely satisfactory. 



After mulling over the subject a few years, the writer 

 followed these distinguished examples and planned a modi- 

 fied form of fishway for the dam at Grand Lake Stream, 

 Maine, and procured the consent of the powers that were 

 to have it built. Some members of the Society will recall 

 a description of this fishway, presented some years since 

 and accompanied by a promise to report later as to its effi- 

 ciency. Observation of the fishway for a year or more 

 failed to reveal the passage of salmon through it, and Mr. 

 Story, in charge of fish cultural work at that point for the 

 past three years, writes : "In regard to the fishway, I doubt 

 if a salmon ever went through it. My idea is probably 

 worthless, but I think the great fault is lack of inducement 

 — remedy, more water, also place fishway near greatest cur- 

 rent. I think the fishway should vent all the water needed 

 in low water. We know that fish could go up this fishway, i f 



