159 



with the many interesting incidents connected with our 

 early history, whilst collecting materials for his father's 

 admirable work on the Salem Witchcraft. 



Dr. JEREMIAH SPOFFORD, of Groveland, spoke of the 

 geological evidence that the Merrimac River once emptied 

 into the ocean by another channel south of its present one. 



Dr. Spofford then alluded to the remarks of Mr. Put- 

 nam on the restocking of rivers, especially the Merrimac, 

 with fish, and questioned the success of the plan. 



A discussion followed, participated in by Messrs. J. 

 Spofford, F. W. Putnam, C. P. Preston, and others; 

 during which Mr. Putnam made a statement as to the 

 results already attained by the several Fish Commis- 

 sioners, and urged that they be aided in their work, as 

 the principles, upon which the experiments were being 

 made, were sound, and if the people would have patience 

 and assist the Commissioners in their efforts, he believed 

 the day would not be far distant when salmon and shad 

 would again be plenty in our rivers. 



Mr. AUGUSTUS MUDGE, of Danvers Centre, spoke of 

 the important work done by the Institute at their meet- 

 ings, and was gratified to have a meeting in his town. He 

 alluded in highly complimentary terms to Mr. Upham's 

 valuable history of the Salem witchcraft, which he said 

 was of inestimable worth to students of history ; but the 

 great mass of the people could not devote their time to 

 its study. He said that there was a little book called 

 "Witch Hill," which was admirably adapted to popular 

 reading. He spoke of the local history of the place, "and 

 said that the first and last English governors of Massa- 

 chusetts resided in Dauvers Gov. Endicott and Gov. 

 Gage, the one at his farm near Danversport, the other at 



