178 



famous in our local history. The once beautiful North 

 and South rivers, so important to the first settlers of the 

 town as their principal and most convenient highway, and 

 which afforded ample accommodations to the early com- 

 merce of the town, are now reduced to sluggish streams, 

 hardly receiving the purifying influences of the ocean 

 tides, by reason of the obstructions required in the ser- 

 vice of trade and manufactures. 



To the Justises of the Generall Seshious of the Peace to be holden 

 at Salem for the County of Essex, the last Tuesday of June, 1725. 



"The Humble Petition of Thomas Rich Humbly Shevveth. That 

 the North-River in the Town of Salem runs Southwesterly into Sev- 

 erall Ponds, viz. Spring Pond, long Pond & Seder Pond where abun- 

 dance of Fish passes in the Spring time of the year to spawn. Nev- 

 ertheless several waires have been made across the Brook, within this 

 few years, which have almost broke their usuall wonted Custom. I 

 have made application to the Selectmen who inform me that it is with 

 your Honours Consideration in that affair. I have this four years 

 last past taken all the care I could in pulling down all the Waires in 

 said Brooks to the severall Ponds once. I requested by a complaint 

 to Justice Sewall & Justice Wolcott for a warrant, hopeing to flnde out 

 them that had erected s d waires & I took a Constable with me then 

 we found but one Waire. I have spent four days in the properest 

 time of every last four years abovesaid. Sometimes I have pulled 

 down seven Waires between Mr. Trask 8 Millpond & the Butts Bridge, 

 this year I was but two days up the Brook but did not find any, 

 but was informed that the fish were stopt in their Comeing down 

 from the ponds, and if your Hon" in your Wisdom See cause to order 

 that aflair, or else their wonted custom will be broke, which will make 

 other fish as COD & HADDOCK scarce with us, for such fish comes in 

 after the above small fish for bait; and if such inconveniences could be, 

 removed, fish might be as plenty as they were formerly, which would 

 be a great benefit to the TOWN & COUNTRY, for which your Petitioner 

 desires your Honors Consideration for his abovesaid trouble, and your 

 Petiouer shall ever pray. THOMAS RICH." 



It seems that the labors of Mr. Eich were in his own 

 opinion of some service, for another petition was pre- 

 sented the next year, which is here presented, verbatim. 



"To the Honrball his maiesties Justses of in fear* cort, and gene- 

 rail seshions of the peace to Be holden at Salem for the county of 

 Esex the last Tuesday of June, 1726. 



It was considrd By the Honrball cort holden at Salem on the last 

 Tuesday of June 1725, that Thomas Rich shuld tack care, and use all 

 proper meanes that the Law Be observed and fulfilld with respect to 



