Kennebec River
Petition of Charles Hayden and 52 others -- 1827
"To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of Maine
We the undersigned inhabitants of several towns in the vicinity of the Kennebec
River respectfully represent that the fish called Salmon, Shad and Alewives
which pass up the river every spring of the year are considered of great
importance not only as a convenience but comfort and help to support many
of said inhabitants, and that said fish are greatly obstructed and distroyed
in their usual passage up and down said river by reason of numerous machines
and obstructions placed in said river to take, kill and distroy said fish.
At the mouth of said river or near thereunto are placed a multitude of wears
for the purpose of taking said fish which prove very destructive by killing
and breaking the schools of fish and driving them back into the ocean so
that it is believed that comparative few in number make their way up the
river. Next they are met in almost every eddy and mouth of small streams
by nets of enormous lengths until they arrive at Ticonic falls between Winslow
and Waterville, where the fish are met by new extraordinary and sure instruments
of death called traps which placed in almost every avenue where it would
be possible for the fish to run. These machines, implements or contrivances
to take and kill said fish are kept almost constantly in the river have
nearly distroyed the whole run of said fish. And at present fish laws for
said river, if any there be, is found altogether inadequate for the purpose
of protecting the passage of said fish up and down said river.
We therefore earnestly request that the Legislature at its present session
would enact such a law for the whole river Kennebec and Sebasticook as will
give said fish a complete protection in their passage up and down the same
and that the fish may have at least three days in each week to pass free
of any obstruction. That all nets or seines used for the purpose of taking
fish should be of limited and proper length and all improper obstructions
removed and forbiden for the future and such a fine or penalty imposed as
will deter any person from violating the law -- which should be so plain
that he who reads may understand, and will give us a complete relief as
it respects the above premises and in duty bound will every pray.
January 9, 1827"
Charles Hayden and 52 others.
Source: Maine State Archives.
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