The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-11-20

ny
Hoyt. in his history of Indian wars,
says: NO river in New England af
forded greater number of fish than the
Connecticut" and all references to the
subject by early writers are to the
same effect. The Connecticut, the long
est river in the territory mentioned, with
over l 400 feet fall from it's source to the
sea. and containing the purest water of
all the rivers, afforded especial attrac-
tons for the fnny tribe that were taken
advantage of to the fullest extent, says
L. 5. Hayes of Bellows Falls in the
Springfield Sunday Union. Fish of yari-
Gus kinds were found in large numbers
throughout the entire length of this
beautiful stream, but it was at Bellows
Fails that certain varieties were found in
the greatest abundance.
The traditions of the. req men when
first the pale faced settlers came here
were TO the effect that the reputation vi
the Great Fails had been known to
them generations GARNER, and that at
certain seasons Of the year pilgrImages
were made from distant points Dy parties
of red men TO secure generous suppneS
OF Il necessary article OF food. The hrst
settlers also depended largely upon the
the year, one of the earliest historians
stating Uhat fishing was one or the prIncl-
pal industries OF the first settlers OF
Rockingham.
Water Black with Shad,
The fish most abundant here in early
times were the salmon and the Snad.
The former could pass the rapid waters
Of the falls, while it is said the shad were
never seen above them. Annually, IN the
of
species set out from their ocean winter
home for the head waters of the Con
necticut and its tributaries. They came
as far as these falls in great numbers,
and, as even the salmon could not ascend
higher except with the water at
medium hight, they gathered III great
numbers below the falls, extending some
distance below the eddy so plentlIuIlH
that it was said. 1t seemed as though
person could almost walk across upon
their backs, at least the water was per
fectly black with them
The first settlers held what was termed
FISHING rights in different advantageous
places III the river as tar north as ileIc'
and suits at law have IN some INSTANCES
been successful within few years at iii,
ferant noints in Massachusetts, based
upon the old fishing rights held by taul,
iIies. since the very earliest residence OF
the white man. In the eddy peio" Der
lows Falls a number of old residents re
member the remains OF the olu eng a.
de-frise'' as it was termed, erected bN
those who claimed the first hshlng rights
here. to assist in the drawing OF me iafSG
shad nets The structure was iocateu
about two thirds of the distance IRON
tho month of Saxtons River to the lower
ma ~ hpyfalIS. a little east of the center
If the river. almost directly opposite tie
1or4hs end. of the Liberty Paper coihc
pahy's Inanufactory- 1t was buin Up ~
logs about 80 feet squSre and NJ oFaHattE
Font In
water arose about, four Left .fona'.
snrfscp. IL was filed with heavy @'oIlTH'
and in general appearance locked t INK,
tho log cribs above the dam, except tAtt'
II Rad q large post set strongly liz u.
ceHtqr rising about six or eight Ieet illSo
the air. This was used for a %lndlass
IN, I'M, which to wind the ropes of the large
eIada uetP. The stones OF tins @tFuEl"l
hava. hpsn seen withiu q few years, VIZ
the water was extremely low put II /
said the logs were drawn away one 5eaI
rpan the ice after the dISaPPV5 -
the sbod in this vicinity rendered the con
trivance Of no further value.
Shad Nets Half Mile Long.
The shad nets were often nearly ia Z
n mile long. and from 8 to 20 feet ueeH:
~ -pech end of the net was attached
a long rome. as long or longer. than the
NET itself The net would be taken up
the river. upon one side, the iengtA o.
the rope then striking out INTO tH'
stream the nSflpEHlGl NpuAN ~"
laying out the net, then return To the
- cbeval-de-frise with the other end or Inc
rome and wind. up the long ropes D
means Of the windlasS as ramdly rs l'of
gibIe. drawing the net over large 50 'c'
of tho stream Shad in great NUMBER
Iz-ara caught in this way. Drawing nets
in this manner was continued !2teI
f,rtkEr south than ut this point. ana on
record in the river shows over -,oou Sila'
taken at a single drawing OF the net
a. vsRfH
river at the lower end of the falls. know
as THE Nine Holes" is drlll hoe pu
there nv an owner of fishing rights Z
drew the rots- from. md an eau,
refers TO '"ThP rock with drill hole
rsed by the shsd fishermen. sPIohl',
Hapgood one of the early residents use,
10 fell who, formerly owned tho dltferell
rights about the eddy. Few, if amy. now
living have ever seen the drawing OF the
nets. so important 4 matter century
and more ago.
Indians Speared Salmon.
A very old man. known as Or. hi,
burn" over 80 years ago used to tei
present citizens of the manner In whch
the Indians used to take the salmon ~
bfs childhood previous to the building o.
the dam here. There onerations We're
confined largely to two miles or 81 aeoVe
the falls, and at the time of year When
the salmon were passing up the river.
Above the falls here for over two miles.
ps far as the AIiuikiu place, tho river
wac rapfds md hard 70 NAVIGATE. Two
Indians would carry their liqat harF-
canoe IN 70 whore the NIiIlikin nlaen
now Is and laurch it. One with his ligh'
rad,IIa wopld sit IN I he stern and gflde
H. cSnoe fbrolph the devious channel IN
The. current while the other stood in The
nrow ard drove his smear firmly into the
hacks of the great salmon that. having
worked hard in comirg IN through the
l1v
+b,3e rot &c wary az they would have henr
halop- the fallS. Some were sNearpd :"
This way that Weighed from 20 to 30
norp6e The Indians would come down
into the fails as fer rs the small eddv II
front Of where the store house IS no"