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. On 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 towns. 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 lotg 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 fish. 
The days on which the fishery may be carried on, and their number, vary in different towns. 
At West Brewster, until 1879, alewives were taken every day except Sunday, but since then only 
three dayseach 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 Bass 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 
