Internal Fisheries. 7 



but it will be seen that an individual or corporation control- 

 ling a dam at the mouth of a stream, can effectually prevent 

 the passage of fish to those above him, if, in his opinion, fish 

 are a vanity and fish-ways a delusion. 



In most, if not all the other New England states, dam 

 owners are obliged by law to put fish-ways over their dams, 

 which shall be satisfactory to the commissioners. The con- 

 stitutionality of this law has been tested in the courts, and 

 decided in the favor of progress, enlightenment, and the 

 commissioners. 



We hope to carry one point here by force of argument, 

 and show our neighbors that in Rhode Island we are not 

 obliged to be forced into benefitting ourselves as individuals, 

 or as a community. As before mentioned, an almost entire 

 unanimity in our plans, on the part of the dam owners on 

 the Pawtuxet River, prompted us to select that stream as a 

 commencement for our operations, and as the dam near its 

 entrance to the bay, in the village of Pawtuxet, was the first 

 obstacle to overcome, we determined to begin there, at a 

 point easy of access to all interested, and show the commii- 

 nity the practical working of a fish-way. 



With this view, the commissioners conferred with those 

 of Massachusetts, Messrs, Lyman and Bracket, who in the 

 kindest manner gave us every advice and assistance, and 

 through them we obtained plans of practical working fish- 

 ways, suitable for our purpose. The plans are the latest im- 

 provements, and commend themselves for their simplicity, 

 and are believed to be what we need. 



The height of the barrier at Pawtuxet, composed of a 

 natural fall in part, is about six feet. A sharper rise than 

 one foot in ten is not desired ; this fish-way will therefore 

 be sixty feet in length, and as certain points have to be 

 considered in regard to the precise location of it, as well as 

 protection against the masses of ice, brought down by the 



