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pje of the long lease of a natural alewife stream by legislative 

 act. During this nominally private ownership, even less care 

 has been taken of the fishery than if it had remained the prop- 

 erty of the town. Leasing natural fisheries for too long periods 

 without specific regulations works against their best interests. 



(2) One-year Lease. — The popular and almost universal 

 practice of leasing from year to year prevails in most towns, the 

 privilege being sold annually at town meeting. This method 

 has proved a most pernicious influence in the decline of many 

 fisheries by encouraging their exploitation by the temporary 

 purchaser. 



(3) One to Five Year Lease. — Certain towns give longer 

 leases, which, however, never exceed five years. The three-year 

 period is next in popularity to the one-year lease, but rarely 

 two, and occasionally five, are given. As a rule, these longer 

 leases form breaks in a succession of single-year leases, but of 

 late they have become more common, and several towns have 

 permanently lengthened their one-year leases to the decided 

 improvement of the fishery. In our opinion a five-year period 

 should be the minimum time, if the future welfare of the fishery 

 is to be considered. The two best alewife fisheries in Massa- 

 chusetts — Herring River, Harwich, and Agawam River — have 

 had the five-year system, the former since 1884, when it suc- 

 ceeded the three-year period, and the latter 1914 to 1919. In 

 some instances the term of lease is determined at town meeting; 

 in others the power to determine the time is conferred upon the 

 herring committee or selectmen. 



(4) Percentage Lease. — Temporarily fisheries have been sold 

 on a percentage basis, the purchaser furnishing to the town a 

 certain percentage of the gross catch, after complying with cer- 

 tain stipulations regarding the sale to townspeople. 



(5) Cranberry Leases. — In a few streams — e.g., Fresh Brook, 

 Plymouth — the fishery is purchased by the owners of cranberry 

 bogs along its course, to enable them to control the water with- 

 out outside interference. 



(6) NoU'O'perating Leases. ■ — Occasionally fisheries are leased 

 and not operated, the alewives being given free passage to the 

 ponds for the purpose of developing the fishery, thus establish- 

 ing a closed season. 



