Kennebec and Sebasticook Rivers



Petition of inhabitants of Burnham -- 1827

"To the Honourable Legislature of the State of Maine, January Term, A.D. 1827

The Inhabitants of the Town of Burnham in the County of Kennebec respectfully represents that formerly the Alewives used to pass up the Stream of the 25 Mile Pond in great abundance and that for several years past there has been a Mill Dam erected across the 25 Mile Stream in the Town of Unity and there has not been a Sufficient Sluiceway through said Dam to permit the alewives to pass up said stream into said pond to cast their natural spawn nor for the fry to pass down said Stream and we would further represent there has been several wares made across said Stream above and below said dam for the purpose of taking said fish at the season of the year when said fish pass up said stream into said pond and they have taken said fish in said wares every day in the week, Sunday not excepted, and it is much doubtful whether any of said fish were permitted to pass into the said pond during last year as there was none seen or known to be in said pond during last season and there was a considerable quantity taken at said wares and we therefore request your Honourable Body to take the subject into consideration and if in your Wisdom you shall think it proper you will pass a Law they there shall be such laws and regulations on said 25 Mile Pond and stream as there is on the Sebasticook River for the preservation of said fish as as duty bound will every pray."

Hezekiah Reynolds and numerous others.

Source: Maine State Archives

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