Marston's Mills Herring River. 



This stream, 2| miles in length, has its source in Cotuit 

 Pond, Barnstable, and its outlet into Great Bay, Osterville 

 Harbor. The water, formerly used for mill purposes, is now 

 used for flooding cranberry bogs. Muddy Pond, through 

 which the waters of Cotuit Pond pass, has been increased by 

 flowage so that a considerable area of bog can be flooded. 

 Some years ago an artificial passageway for the alewives 

 around the obstructing dams was dug, but in 1913 no water 

 entered the abandoned ditch (Fig. 7). Along the stream 

 are several cranberry bogs, where the use of the water has 

 necessitated the construction of numerous dams, only one of 

 which seriously prevents the passage of alewives. 



The decline of the fishery is best shown by the amount of 

 money which has been paid for the catching privilege. From 

 1875 to 1877, $55 was received annually; from 1886 to 1890, 

 $15; from 1890 to 1896, $10; and since 1896 nothing. The 

 fishery is not sold at the present time, for the reason that it 

 is worthless. 



Tlie owners of the cranberry bogs have built dams and 

 maintained other obstructions without constructing suitable 

 passageways for alewives, although special local laws forbidding 

 this practice were in existence. Owing to lack of encourage- 

 ment from town ofiicials no one will buy the fishery, which 

 has never yielded enough to guarantee any large expense for 

 its maintenance. It is entirely feasible to restore the fishery 

 if the alewives are allowed free passage to Cotuit Pond, and 

 more interest is taken by the town. 



Mashpee River. 



Mashpee River flows from Mashpee Pond to Popponesset 

 Bay, a distance of 4| miles away. It averages from 4 to 6 

 Peet in width, and is used chiefly for flooding cranberry bogs. 

 Just below Mashpee Pond is a small millpond, the dam of 

 which is equipped with a fishway. 



The Mashpee River fishery is peculiar in that it once be- 

 longed to an Indian colony. In 1801 and 1803 the town was 

 given the power of regulating the fishery, which has always 



