July 28, 2003
Alewives
The April 10, 2003 issue of Shorelines contains two articles on alewives. These small fish typically return to Westport in the Spring, and are of interest to humans (for bait) and birds (for food). Because of pollution in the rivers they have been long absent, but are now returning to spawn. They are to be counted at the fish ladder at Adamsville Pond, from which they cannot be taken till further notice. Further down the river, on River Rd., there is a sign proclaiming “Herring Run”, and there is a cut that passes under the road and enters Cockeast Pond. There is also a sign reporting (in capital letters): NO FISHING FOR NOR TAKING OF ALEWIVES HERRING FROM ANY WATERS OF THE TOWN ON SUN TUES THUR PER ORDER FISH COMM. I have no idea why this restriction exists, but assume it is arbitrarily selected so that some at least of these little fish may make their way successfully into the pond.
It is of some interest to report that alewives have been in the news before. At a Town Meeting in the Fall of 1871, the Town voted: “to empower the Selectmen to take such action necessary to procure the right of the Fisheries belonging to Cock East Pond.” And the New Bedford Republican Standard of 2/8/1872 (p. 4, col. 1) reported on action taken by the Massachusetts House of Representatives: “Also to enable the town Westport to control the fishing in Acoaxet pond.” And (p. 6, col. 2): “The Legislative Committee of Fisheries gave a hearing 31st ult., on a petition of the town of Westport for authority to control the fisheries of Acoaxet pond in that town. It appeared that a man living on the borders of the pond has cut a ditch from it through his lands to Westport River, by which means alewives seek to enter the pond during the season. The proprietor of this private fishery is supposed to have reaped quite a harvest at the expense of the community at large, who object to his setting nets.”
Some problems seem to have a long history. Incidentally, the same Town Meeting voted to authorize the Selectmen to petition the next Legislature for a charter for a bridge across the river from Westport Point to Horseneck. The bridge was finally started in 1893 and completed in 1894, but not without controversy (cf. Carmen Maiocco’s The Bridge at Westport Point).
Bea Gormley, W. F. Wyatt