4 Report on Inland Fisheries. 



mencing at River Point in Warwick, and extending tlirongh Coventry 

 and Scitiiate to Hopliins' IMills, in Foster. In tliis distribution of salmon 

 we were YGvy successful, not in one instance losing a single fish. 



This is the fourth 3'ear that our three principal streams have been 

 stocked with salmon. It is our intention to continue it this coming year, 

 as the cost will be small, and then await developments. Every one 

 knows that for the salmon to attain its maximum of size and weight it 

 must have access after the second 3'earof itslife, to s-alt water. To obtain 

 this we must have fishwaj-s over all the dams in our streams. 



The Commissioners of this State have, in their previous reports, placed 

 this fact before the people, and are gratified to be able to state that as far 

 as the}' have been in communication with dam owners, they Iiave been 

 met, almost always, with a most liberal and encouraging spirit on their 

 part, but it seemed well to the Commissioners to first ascertain if our 

 streams, as far as temperature, impurities, etc., were in a proper state to 

 support salmon, before an}- strong action was taken towanl the erection 

 of fishways. 



]f these young salmon which we have placed in the Blackstone, the 

 Pawtuxet and the Pawcatuck each year, for the past four years, have, 

 after the proper time has elapsed, say two 3-ears, forced their way down 

 stream, as they no doubt cau do, and found their way to the sea, it be- 

 gins to be time that they should return and endeavor to find tlieir way 

 back ; at the Blackstone, the falls at Pawtucket, at a good stage of 

 water will probalily be surmounted, but the next dam the stream above 

 will stop them. We may therefore hope to hear from them in the stream 

 up to that point. 



On the Pawtuxet the conditions are more faA'orablo. W^e have a fishway 

 over the dam at the mouth of that river, and moreover, the under part 

 of the darn has been allowed to get out of repair since the destruction of 

 the mill at that point by fire, and nothing prevents salmon from passing 

 up this streajn as far as Pontiac, therefore we ma}- hope to hear from 

 them up to that point. 



On the Pawcatuck, the dam at Westerly will stop them, and could they 

 pass that the}- could probably force their way some distance up the stream, 

 as the dams are low. 



Now if they have not gone out of the streams, but have remained be- 

 tween the dams where they have originally been placed, and iocreased 

 to a limited extent in size, we should also begin to hear from them, and 

 in\ several instances w-c have, but not to any great extent, and we, as 

 before said, shall tliis coming year use our utmost endeavors to ascertain 

 how they have thriven. 



If they appear in numbers at the mouths of the rivers and are there 



