96 Thirty-Second Annual Meeting 



haunts, though in small numbers. Could people be restrained 

 from taking- them through the ice, it is thought that the river 

 might again be replenished with them, and the fishery restored. 

 The legislature has passed an. act for their preservation; but, 

 through the inattention of those, whose duty it is to guard the 

 laws from_ violation, it is feared that the generous intention will 

 be frustrated." 



Thus writes Samuel Tenney in a "Topographical Description 

 of Exeter in New Hampshire, in Massachusetts." Historical 

 Society Document Collections, 1st Series (Boston 1795) IV. 



Charles Brooks in his "History of the ToAvai of ]\Iedford" 

 (Boston 1855), has the following anecdote: 



"In 1776, a negro named Prince, was at work on the bank of 

 the river (Mystic) opposite the shallow where the ford was, a 

 few rods above the bridge, when he saw an enormous bass swim- 

 ming very slowly \\\^ the river. The tide was inconveniently low 

 for the bass, but conveniently low for the negi-o. Plunge went 

 Prince for the fish, and caught him ! No sooner was he out of 

 water than a desperate spring, such as fishes can gi\'e, released 

 him from his captor; and back he falls into his native element; 

 Quick as a steel-trap. Prince springs upon him again, and again 

 clutches him and lifts him up. The fish struggles; and Prince 

 and fish fall together. Again Prince rises, with his prize in his 

 arms, and then brings him ashore. It weighed 65 pounds. 

 Prince thought that such a wonderful fish should be presented 

 to the Commander of the American forces then stationed on 

 Winter Hill. His master thought so too. Accordingly Prince 

 dressed himself in his best clothes, and taking the fish in a cart, 

 presented it to the Commander, and told the history of its cap- 

 ture; And the Commander gave him six cents!" 



An Albany newspaper of June 10, 1853, says: "A bass of 

 uncommon size, taken in our river, was yesterday brought to our 

 market. Its weight was 55 pounds. We believe this is the larg- 

 est fish ever caught in the Hudson, the sturgeon alone excepted. 

 It was bought by Mr. Jared Skinner for four dollars and fift} 

 cents." 



The largest bass, of which I can find any authentic record, 

 taken with a rod and reel, weighed seventy pounds. This bass 

 was caught by Mr. William Post, at Graves Point, Newport, 



