MISCELLANEOUS COERESPONDENCE. 137 



mentioned it, or, as far as I know, even thought of it. Does that not 

 come under the fish question? 

 Very truly, 



WINSLOW P. EAYRS. 



Utioa, February 21, 1871. 

 Dear Sir : When I was a lad I lived twenty miles from Bellows 

 Falls, and shad were brought to my home and sold for 10 cents each. 

 They could not surmount the falls ; bat salmon went north, to Canada, 

 andVere worth 3 cents per pound. In my grandfather's time salmon 

 were taken in plenty three miles from our place, at the head of the 

 Contokook Eiver. There is not a doubt but the obstructions of the 

 Connecticut Eiver can be removed; but the smaller streams carry less 

 water by the clearing of the land, and, I fear, cannot be re])opulated. 

 But the noble brook- trout can be produced at a very cheap rate where 

 butchers are plenty. 

 Yours, truly, 



E. JEWETT. 



COPY OF MEMOEIAL OF CITIZENS OF HYANNIS ADDEESSED 

 TO COXGEESS, PEAYING THAT LAWS BE PASSED PEO- 

 HIBITING THE USE OF FIXED APPAEATUS FOE CAPTUE- 

 I^STG FISH. 



We, the undersigned citizens of Cape Cod, humbly entreat your hon- 

 orable body to become interested in making laws to regulate the fishing 

 business, so as to secure to the fishermen a comiDcnsation for the toil 

 and danger accompanying the business. Pounds, weirs, and traps have 

 about used it up. Many of the fishermen have been driven into fishing 

 for a living. It is not uncommon to find two or three men on board a 

 small fishing-vessel. Ten years ago they were in command of as good 

 ships as floated. Steam has robbed us of our first occupation. Pounds, 

 weirs, and traps have served us as bad as steam. We contend that the 

 rich man's dollar, while he is asleep, should not be allowed to catch all 

 the fish, while our lines, which are well baited and tended, find no fish 

 to bite at them. We contend we can put as many and better fish into 

 the markets where fish are sold than are sold in those markets. If any 

 of you doubt it, let him visit the places where fish are induced to go 

 and deposit their eggs. You will find fish taken in such quantities that, 

 after taking care of all they can, the balance are thrown into the 

 farmers' wagons that stand waiting to take them away to dress the 

 land; catching as many fish at one time as it would take to supply all 

 the markets for months ; destroying hundreds of what would become fish 

 where one fish is taken. 



Shall the rich man's dollar be allowed to drive us from our home and 

 all that is sacred to us in memory ? Must Ave look on, and see the rich 

 man's dollar rob our children of bread and clothing? It will be hard 

 work. We have contended with old ocean from our youth, but the rich 

 man's dollar we cannot manage in a lawful way. Why should we not 



