2838 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



As is well known, the erection of impassable dams across the streams, by preventing 

 the ascent of the species just mentioned to their spawning-grounds, produced a very great 

 diminution, and almost the extermination, of their numbers, so that whereas in former 

 years a large trade could be carried on during the proper season, now nothing would 

 be gained by the effort. 



On page xii you say this : 



It would, therefore, appear that while the river-fisheries have been depreciated or 

 destroyed by means of dams or by exhaustive fishing, the codfish have disappeared in 

 equal ratio. This is not, however, for the same reason, as they are taken only with 

 the line, at a rate more than compensated by the natural fecundity of the fish. I am 

 well satisfied, however, that there is a relation of cause and effect between the present 

 and past condition of the two series of fish ; and in this I am supported by the opinion 

 of Capt. U. S. Treat, of Eastport, by whom, indeed, the idea was first suggested to me. 

 Captain Treat is a successful fisherman, and dealer in fish on a very large scale, and 

 at the same time a gentleman of very great intelligence and knowledge of the many 

 details connected with the natural history of our coast-fishes, and in this respect 

 worthily representing Captain Atwood, of Provincetown. It is to Captain Treat that 

 we owe many experiments on the reproduction of alewives in ponds, and the possi- 

 bility of keeping salmon in fresh waters for a period of years. The general conclu- 

 sions which have been reached, as the result of repeated conversations with Captain 

 Treat and other fishermen on the coast, incline me to believe that the reduction in the 

 cod and other fisheries, so as to become practically a failure, is due to the decrease oft" 

 our coast in the quantity, primarily, of alewives, and secondarily of shad and salmon, 

 more than to any other cause. 



It is well known by the old residents of Eastport that from thirty to fifty years ago 

 cod could be taken in abundance in Passainaquoddy Bay and off Eastport, where only 

 stragglers are now to be caught. The same is the case at the mouth of the Peuobscot 

 River and at other points along the coast, where once the fish came close in to the shore, 

 and were readily captured with the hook throughout the greater part of the year. 



A. Yes. 



Q. Do you dissent now from that opinion ? A. No ; I used that as 

 an impressive lesson to the State legislature to induce them to pass the 

 measures necessary to restore these river fisheries, which they are now 

 doing very rapidily. 



Q. Where is Capt. U. S. Treat, of Eastport, now ? A. In Japan, 

 teaching the Japanese how to catch and cure fish. 



Q. On page xiv of this Eeport you say : 



Whatever may be the importance of increasing the supply of salmon, it is trifling 

 compared with the restoration of our exhausted cod-fisheries ; and should these be 

 brought back to their original condition, we shall find within a short time an in- 

 crease of wealth on our shores, the amount of which it would be difficult to calculate.* 

 Not only would the general prosperity of the adjacent States be enhanced, but in the 

 increased number of vessels built, in the large number of men induced to devote them- 

 selves to maritime pursuits, and in the general stimulus to everything connected with 

 the business of the sea-faring profession, we should be recovering, in a great measure, 

 from that loss which has been the source of so much lamentation to political econo- 

 mists and well-wishers of the country. 



That you still adhere to? A. Certainly. I made that report as im- 

 pressive as I could in order to produce the effect desired, which was to 

 cause the legislature to pass a law in this regard, and it has had that 

 effect. They have passed such laws, and 1 hope that this evil will be 

 remedied in a reasonable number of years. 



Q. It is not remedied yet ? A. No. 



Q. It takes a number of years to do that ? A. I can give an instance 

 where it has had such effect, if you like to have it. lu Massachusetts 

 the most has been done for the restoration of alewives and shad in the 

 Merrimack Kiver; and the shore fisheries there have now increased in a 

 very marked degree. At the present time it is perfectly possible for a 

 man to go out in a boat from the city of Newburyport and catch 4,000 

 pounds of codfish and bring them back the same night. This is the only 

 river in Massachusetts in which very great efforts have been made to 

 restore these river fisheries ; and it is now possible to capture these fish 



