712 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



rivers is therefore attributed to the terrific noises made by railroad cars as they cross the Mystic at Charlestown. The 

 largest number of alcwives taken by one draft from Mystic Eivcr was in 1844; and tliey counted some more than 

 58,000! We once saw taken, by one draft from this river, shad sufficient to fill six horse-carts. 



" The shad of late years have not been abundant ; only 40 or CO taken during a season. The number of alewives 

 has also greatly diminished ; and the town receives about $150 by selling its right of fishing through the year. Smelts 

 continue to make their annual spring visit in undiminished numbers, and when, for noblest ends, they stealthily enter 

 our creeks and little streams they arc watched by the hungry boys, who, for sport or profit, drive them into their 

 scoop-nets by dozens. In this town they do not let enough escape to keep the race alive, and if in all other towns 

 they were so destroyed this beautiful and delicious fish would become extinct among us. The greatest draft by a 

 certain nameless hoy, fifty years ago numbered C3. They were taken from Marble, or Meeting-house, Brook. 



THE FISHING FOR BASS. '' In Mystic River the bass have wholly disappeared, though there are those living (1855) 

 who remember to have seen them plenty, and some of them weighing more than 30 pounds. In 1776 a negro named 

 Prince was at work on the bank of the river opposite the shallow where the ford was, a few rods above the bridge, 

 where he saw an enormous bass swimming very slowly up the river. The tide was inconveniently low for the bass, 

 but conveniently low for the negro. Plunge went Prince for the fish, and caught him. No sooner was he out of the 

 water than a desperate spring, such as fishes can give, released him from his captor, and back he falls into his native 

 element. Quick as a steel-trap Prince springs upon him again, and again catches him and lifts him up. The fish 

 struggles, and Prince and fish fall together. Again Prince rises, with his prize in his arms, and then brings him 

 ashore. It weighed 65 pounds. Prince thought that such a wonderful fish should be presented to the commander of 

 the American forces then stationed on Winter Hill. His master thought so too. Accordingly, Prince dressed himself 

 in his best clothes, and, taking the fish in a cart, presented it to the commander, and told the history of its capture, 

 and the commander gave him six cental 



FISHERIES FOR MISCELLANEOUS FRESH-WATER SPECIES. "In Mystic Pond there are few fish at present. The fresh- 

 water perch, which appear in the sun like a fragment of a rainbow shooting through the water, are the most numer- 

 ous. The Imam are not uncommon, but their size is very small. The tomcod come to winter there, and are easily 

 taken thus : Some ten or twelve of them gather about a small stone, very near the shore, and each makes his nose to 

 touch the stone. The fisherman sees this unfrightened family circle quietly reposing, and he suddenly and strongly 

 strikes the ice with an axe directly over the unsuspecting group. The blow stuns the fish, and he quickly cuts a hole 

 and takes them all out. Of minnows there are scarcely any, owing to the presence of that fresh-water shark, the 

 pickerel. Eels are taken in winter by means of forked irons thrust into the mud through holes in the ice, and smelts 

 are taken at the same time, in the river at Charlestown, by means of the common hook. 



THE OYSTER FISHERY. " Oyster fishing is another branch of trade carried on from Mystic Eiver. In the early 

 settlement of our town, oysters were extensively used as food, and they were easily taken. They so far abounded 

 in that part of the river which is now between our turnpike river-wall and Maiden Bridge that they obstructed navi- 

 gation. Mr. Wood, speaking, in 1633, of these hindrances, has these words : ' Ships, without either ballast or lading, 

 may float down this (Mystic) river; otherwise the oyster-bank would hinder them, which crosseth the channel.' This 

 oyster-bank is one of those unfortunate institutions whose fate it has been to be often 'run npon,' and on which the 

 'drafts' have been so much greater than the 'deposits' that it long ago became bankrupt. Yet, like an honest 

 tradesman, it has never despaired, and within our memory has made some good fat dividends. In 1770 the sludge 

 from the distilleries was supposed to have poisoned those shell-fish. 



THE LOBSTER FISHERY. " Lobsters have not frequented our river in great numbers; but in 1854 they came up in 

 Birgo companies as far as Chelsea Bridge; and, in the warm month of October, more than 2,000, of prime quality, 

 were taken from that bridge. The names of all the fishermen in Medford cannot be recovered, but among them there 

 have been men of that great energy which secures success. 



FISH TRADE. "The fish found their market chiefly in Boston, and were sometimes cured, and sent in barrels to 

 the Southern States, as food for slaves, or to the West Indies for common consumption. Many were smoked, after 

 the manner of herring, and eaten in New England ; many more were used as bait for cod-fishing on the banks. 

 Aiewives, in early times, were sometimes used as manure, and shad were salted in tubs, and eaten in the winter. 



FINANCIAL PROFITS. "The income from these fisheries may not have been very large, unless we count the 

 support which fish furnished as food ; and, in such case, we apprehend the income was great indeed. They gave 

 a needed and most welcome variety in that brief list of eatables with which our fathers were wont to be contented. 



"In 1829, by the enterprise of Mr. John Bishop, the business of mackerel-fishing was attempted. Some of the 

 finest schooners from the fleets of Hiugham were purchased and fitted out in amplest order. Three schooners were 

 built in Medford for this service. But, before two years had elapsed, it was found impossible to compete with 

 Plymouth, Hingham, Gloucester, and Boston. In these places, barrels and salt were cheaper than at Medford, and 

 the common market more accessible, especially in winter." 1 



BBAINTREE AND QUINCY. 



EARLY HISTORY OF FISHERIES. The following sketch is from the history of these towns, by W. L. Pattee : 

 "The ti:st action the town took in reference to encouraging and establishing this branch of industry was at a 

 public meeting held March 3, 1755, when as an inducement for the citizens of Braintree, or persons from other towns, 

 to engage in this enterprise, the following terms were voted : 'That for the encouragement of the bank cod-fishery to 



> Brook's History of Medford : Boston, 1855, pp. 381-388. 



