26 FISH COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. [Jan., 
upper guard-gate or lock, at the upper entrance to said canal, 
-as said miter sill now is; but the dam at the extreme west 
end may be fifteen inches higher than its present height, slop- 
ing on a regular incline for three hundred feet: provided 
that said company shall construct and maintain at the said 
dam or dams, and asa part thereof, subject to the approval 
of the Fish Commissioners of this State, suitable and proper 
fish-ways to admit the free passage of fish up and down said 
river, over and above said dams, and to be kept open at such 
seasons as shall be necessary for the passage of fish, said fish- 
ways at all times to be under the direction and approval of 
said Fish Commissioners, or of such other authority as this 
State shall appoint with reference thereto.” 
The company taking advantage of the stage of low water, 
being about to commence operations according to this amend- 
ment, invited the Connecticut Fish Commissioners to inspect 
their plans at Enfield on Friday, the 29th July. The Com- 
missioners were all present, and by the courtesy of the com- 
pany were provided with a steamer which passed through the 
whole length of the canal and out into the river above the 
dam, dropping down to the very dam itself, where the pre- 
liminary coffer dam was being erected, thus enabling the 
Commissioners to obtain a complete view of the situation. 
Although the amendment permits the company to raise the 
dam fifteen inches, it is proposed to raise it only three inches, 
as this is all that is required to assure a plentiful supply of 
water for many years tocome. In the center, a fishway forty 
feet wide is to be introduced. It consists of a series of steps 
proceeding from the crest of the dam down stream for about 
twenty-four feet, and from the plans it would seem to be as 
easy for fish to pass up this fishway at the usual stage of 
water in the spring as to pass through the rapid water of the 
gap now existing. It was the unanimous opinion of the Com- 
missioners that the proposed alteration would present no 
obstruction to the passage of fish over the dam, and their 
approval was given to the work contemplated. 
