THE RIVER FISHERIES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 671 



spring large schools of alewives run up these streams and pass into the ponds above to spawn, 

 and it is at this time that the fishery takes place. The fish are taken either while passing up the 

 stream, or while in the pond, but the former is the more usual method. "When it is observed that 

 the schools are in motion a piece of fine-mesh net is stretched across the stream, which in many 

 instances is not more than 2 or 3 feet wide, and when a sufficient number of alewives have 

 crowded against it dip-nets are brought into use and the fish are transferred to barrels or other 

 receptacles. Uu the banks of some of the more profitable streams small fish-houses have been 

 erected, and the portion of the bed of the stream- adjacent encased in boards, forming a narrow 

 sluice-way. 



In the rivers whose width may be many rods, the fishery is prosecuted by means of seines, 

 strongly made, and having rather fine meshes. These are hauled at certain hours, day by day, 

 until the schools cease to come, or the supply obtained is sufficient. The amount taken by these 

 means is, of course, greater than that obtained in the small streams. 



It sometimes occurs that the stream, instead of flowing from a single pond, issues from a chain 

 of ponds lying near each other, and closely connected. Occasionally the number is only two, as, 

 for example, at the head of Bass River; but sometimes it swells to seven or eight, as is the case at 

 the head of the Wellfleet alewife stream. Under these circumstances it is usual to fish in one of 

 the lower ponds rather than in the stream itself. This is done notably at Bass River, where the 

 fishery is prosecuted in the second or lower pond. The method here employed is naturally that 

 of seining. The seines used vary in length and depth according to the dimensions of the ponds. 

 Those employed in Bass River are 100 or 175 yards long, with meshes 2 inches in diameter. 



LAWS AND REGULATIONS. The laws and limitations by which the fishery in the numerous 

 public streams is regulated, vary somewhat in different tawns. One rule, however, apparently 

 holds good for all, namely, that the citizens of the town through which any given alewife stream 

 flows shall have the privilege of obtaining a certain quantity of fish gratis, or at a nominal price. 

 The arrangements at Sandwich, which may be regarded as typical of those affecting all the 

 smaller fisheries on the cape and the islands, are somewhat as follows : A "catcher" is elected by 

 the selectmen, whose duty it is to catch the fish,. and who receives in compensation the small 

 amount paid by the citizens. Each citizen of Sandwich is allowed to buy one barrel of alewives, 

 by paying from 35 to 70 cents, according as the supply is large or small. Those who are at the 

 river at a certain time in the morning draw lots for their turn in being served, and if the supply 

 comes to an end before all have been served those who are unfortunate enough to stand at the 

 end of the list are forced to go away without receiving any fish. The fishery is prosecuted only 

 for four days each week. 



At West Brewster a committee of three manages the affairs of the alewife fishery, and the 

 citizens receive only one-eighth of a barrel each, for which they pay at the rate of 3 cents per 

 dozen fisih. 



The days on which the fishery may be carried on, and their number, vary in different towns. 

 At West Brewster, until 1S79, alewives were taken every day except Sunday, but since then only 

 three days each week. At Wellfleet, too, the number of days is three, namely, Monday, Wednesday, 

 and Friday. At Bass River and at Sandwich, as already stated, fishing is allowed on four days 

 each week. 



A number of the more profitable fisheries are sold by the towns to private parties annually 

 at public auction, but in most cases with the agreement that a certain fixed quantity shall be sold 

 to the citizens at a very low or nominal price. At Buss River each citizen of Dennis and Yarmouth 

 may buy four hundred herring, at the rate of 40 cents per hundred, and at Wellfleet the lessees of 



