J 11 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 



this mistake, in saying, that all the sea and river fish that he observed in Carolina, differ 

 from those in Europe of the same kind, except pikes, eels, and herrings. Kalm, who was 

 well acquainted with this fish, on the other hand asserts, that what are called herrings in 

 New-York, differ greatly from the European herrings. General Lincoln, in a very interest- 

 ing letter to Dr. Belknap, (History of New Hampshire, vol. 3.) has successfully shown, 

 that the river fish never forsake the waters in which they are spawned, unless some unnatural 

 obstructions are thrown in their way ; that when obstructed, they do not seek new sources 

 in which they may lodge their spawn, but that they are so strongly allured to the same 

 route, that they annually return to their natural river, pressing constantly for a passage into 

 their mother pond ; that the quiet waters of the lake can alone give that nourishment and 

 protection necessary to the existence of the egg, the preservation of which is indispen- 

 sable if an extinction of the schull is to be prevented. I have no doubt, therefore, but 

 that the mode in which our herrings ascended the river, is truly stated. The Sebasta- 

 cook which falls into the Kennebec, is supported by numerous streams which abound 

 with the small river fish, such as alewives, &c. and the inhabitants of that country say, 

 that at the time of the running of these fish, they ascend the streams at distinct periods 

 in succession, and that the schulls never separate, interfere, or transgress in their way to 

 their respective ponds or lakes. The great spawning rendezvous of our herrings, were 

 the cool wholesome waters of the Saratoga Lake. At the proper season the lake was 

 filled with them, and they afforded abundant supplies to all the surrounding country ; its 

 outlet fish creek was obstructed by mill-dams, which prevented the ascent of the fish. 

 The consequences have been not only to exclude it from the upper waters, but to cre- 

 ate a most serious diminution in the waters below. If it had not been for this obstruction, 

 we would have had not only a sufficiency for our home supply, but a valuable article for 

 exportation. The state at large is interested in removing these barriers against the ascent 

 of the fish. Let the mill seats be purchased, the mill-dams demolished, and the com- 

 munication be completely opened ; and let herrings, at the time of spawning, be conveyed 

 alive to the Saratoga Lake ; their offspring will, in due time, descend to the ocean, and in- 

 evitably return. At the first settlement of the town of Hugham, in Massachusetts, the 

 alewives were in such plenty as to give a full supply to the inhabitants, which was destroy- 

 ed by the erection of the mill-dams, that prevented their ascent to a pond. The 

 people attempted, after a great lapse of time, the reestablishment of them, in which they 

 succeeded by opening proper fishways through the mill-dams, and conveying the fish in 

 the spring of the year, in a proper vehicle, into the pond ; this was done by keeping it 

 near the bank of the river, and frequently shifting the water in the vessel. After this, 

 the fish increased annually until there was a pretty good supply, but as there were many 



