The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-03-31
Rirer Fisheries in NeW England.

The gradual dimlnution of fish in the
New England rivers has become serious
matter-well deserving of more legislative
attention than it has hitherto received.
Many rivers, which hut Il generation or
two ago furnished annually large quanti-
ties of palatablc and wholesome food for
the people, now fail to give any quantity
worthy Of notice. The question, wheth-
er this failure is unavoidable. or whether
it has been occasioned by causes which
need not exiSt-which can be removed
and whether il removed, the rivers grad
ually can be repleniShehcd with fish, is a
very important one. We see that lust
now it is under consideration in the Mass
achu~cetS legislature; and from report
OF hearing before Joint special COM
mittcc upon the resolves of the legislature
of New Hampshire last week, which we
find in the Boston Journal. we take the
following interesting extracts:
Judge ii. \. Bellows of New Hamp-
shire, who appeared as the agent of that
state, stated that immense quantities OF
shad and salmon were formerly taken by
citizens of New Hampshire from the Con
necticut, and that fishing was then a very
valuable and important interest there
The salmon went to the upper waters o.
the Connecticut, and were found in al
its tributaries, but had ceased to pass up
since about the year 800. on account Of
the construction of dams Shad and sal
mon also went up the Nlerrimac in very
great abundance until the construction OF
the dam at Lawrence in 1916.
There was no reason why Massachu-
sets should deprive the citizens of New
Hampshire Of valuable interests because
she CHANGED to have the outlets of he
rivers. The general proposition was thu
same as between nations-that one STATE
must exercise its right of domain 50 a
not to intcrpose any unnecessary obstacle
to the enjoyment OF the rights and privi
leges of any other people. The same rul
applied as between individuals.
In regard to the Merrimac river, tn
Massachusetts, legislature required of tn
Essex company at Lawrence that the,
should provide and maintain suitable fish
ways in the dam, which should be accep
table to the county commissioners. The
constructed a iiShway of no value what
ever for the purposes intended, but on ac
count of the little knowled ge on this sui
iect, ii was accepted. In 1913, the com
pany applied for leave to increase its capi
, tai stock, and the legislature seized tn
opportunity to require of them that the
should settle with all the owners of tisl
ways above the dam, but they went n
further than Lowell The intrOductio
of fish would bring Il greater variety {
8 food within reach of the people, and
f larger population could be supported
The speaker argued that the policy {
i asSachusetts-never intended to be abaI
n doncd-was 10 keep open these rivers fi
A the passage of fish, and the Importance
a keeping them open had been repeated
e declared. If it had been abandoned
e had been done inadvertently, and ST
+ might interfere with this right in the E:
o excise of the right of eminent domain.
er Prof. Agas>iz, who had been requeStt
y to inform the committee upon this suhje'
!" stated that he bad paid great attention
a tbs subject of fish. which had been
It prominent study Of his life, and he WI
tama!iar With their habits as far as tn
were known. To begin with the natu
e of the tish-the great dcsideratum for the
In multiplication and growth was that tn
to should be placed in conditions genial
n their nature. We had seen fishes dimi
" i>h in number and finally vanish trc
or places where they were at one time We
he common. The obstacles have been chic
n manufacturing establishments which ha
ly thrown into the river deleterlous substa
to ces, acids. dye-stutf, and all sorts OF hi
n. lures, but still more by the building
ut saw-mills. There is nothing SO munro
,m to the life Of trout especially, and salm
cd as the dust resulting from saw-mllls whl'
when soaked with water, no longer tio