Connecticut River

1677 -- Minutes of May 2, 1677 town meeting of the Town of Springfield, Mass.:

"Further also Goodm. Lamb, Serjeant Morgan, Joseph Crowfoot, John Clarke Sr., Charles Ferry with such others as they shal take in with them have ye liberty of fishing for this yeere from ye falls in Chickuppi River where the wading place is, down to ye mouth of that river, provided they enter not upon any mans lands or proprietyes there, provided they also shal supply such neighbors as shal desire to have fish of them; & their Salmon they may not sel for more than six pence apiece there, or at ye town more than eight pence, and shad fish they may not sel for more than half pence apiece there, or more than a penny at the Town, & in case they barrel up for market, they are to allow to the Town twelve pence a barrel for all that shal be transported."

Source: Burt, Henry M. 1899. The First Century of the History of Springfield. The Official Records from 1636 to 1736. Vol. II. Published by the author. Springfield, Mass.

1730-1798 -- Market price of Atlantic salmon on Connecticut River

1730-1740: one penny per pound.
1742: one and half penny per pound.
1750-1775: 2 pence per pound.
1781-1784: 2-3 pence per pound.
1794: 4 pence per pound.
1798: 7-8 pence per pound.

(Source: Judd, Sylvester. History of Hadley. 1905. pp. 306, 307, 310.)

1743 -- Resolve by the General Court, March 1, 1743, "Ordered that the Salmon Fishing Falls in Deerfield River, so called, be reserved for the use of the public, with 20 acres around them for conveniency of fishing."

Source: Shelton, George. 1895. History of Deerfield. Vol. 1. Published by the author. Deerfield, Mass. p. 514.

1778 -- "An Act to Prevent the Destruction of Salmon and Other Fish in Agawam or Westfield River."

Excerpt:

"Whereas it is found that fishing at the mouth or entrance of said river Agawam into the great, or Connecticut, River, and in the mouth or entrance of the rivers and streams that run into said Agawam River, and in the ponds from which said streams issue, prevents the said salmon, shad and alewives from going into said rivers and streams, and so into the ponds above, to cast their spawn, and tends to destroy the increase of said fish; therefore ..... That all wears, fence-hurdles, and other incumbrances whatsoever, now erected, or that hereafter shall be erected, in any part of said Agawam River, or in any stream running into the same, for the stopping of the fish, or to facilitate the taking of them by seines, nets, pots, or otherwise, be deemed common nuisances, and as such shall be pulled down and demolished ..."

Passed February 9, 1779

1788 -- "An Act to Prevent the Destruction of Salmon and Shad, in Connecticut River."

Text:

"Whereas it has been represented to this Court, in sundry petitions from the inhabitants of several towns in the County of Hampshire, that by reason of the great number of seines and nets, which are constantly used during the fishing season, in taking Salmon and Shad in Connecticut River, they have decreased for a number of years past, & that there is a great danger the fishery in said river will be destroyed;

Be it therefore enacted by the Senate & House of Representatives in the General Court assembled, and by the authority of same, that no person or persons from & after the passing this Act, shall catch any Salmon or Shad in any part of Connecticut River, within this Commonwealth, or in any river or stream running into the same, oftener or more than four days a week, the days to be, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, in each week, namely from sunrise on Monday, to sunrise on Wednesday, & from sunrise on Thursday, to sunrise on Saturday.

And whereas the fishing on or near to the Falls, in the said River, called South Hadley falls, tends greatly to obstruct the fish going up the said falls: Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the passing this act, no fish shall be taken on the said falls, called South-hadley falls, or within on mile below the said falls, except on Tuesday & Wednesday in each week, and from sunrise on Tuesday to sunrise on thursday, and if any person or perons shall catch any Salmon or Shad, in Connecticut river, or in any river or stream running into the same, or shall drag any seine or drag-net, or use or set any scoop-net, or any other net or machine for the purpose of catching any of the said fish, at any other time or place, than by this act allowed, in the said rivers and streams within this Commonwealth, every person so offending shall forfeit and pay for each and every such offence, the sum of ten pounds.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that no person or persons whatsoever, from and after the passing this act, shall catch any Salmon or Shad, with seines or nets, more than twenty rods in length, in the said Connecticut River; and if any persons shall presume to fish in the said river, with a seine or net exceeding the length of twenty rods, he shall for each offence, forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds ..."

Passed June 20, 1788

1790 -- "Resolve Suspending the Law for Regulating the Fishery in Connecticut River, and Requesting the Governor to Write to the Governor of Connecticut Relative Thereto"

Text:

"On the Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of West Springfield, praying for a suspension of the Law for regulating the Fishery in Connecticut River.

Resolved that the aforesaid Act be and here by is suspended until the first day of January next -- and be it further resolved that Sam. Leyman, Samuel Henshaw & Justin Ely Esqrs. be a Committee on behalf of this Commonwealth to repair to Connecticut to confer with such Committee as may be appointed by the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, on the Subject of regulating the Fishery in said River and of adopting the most effectual Means for preserving the Fish in said River.

And be it further resolved that his Excellency the Governor be requested to write to the Governor of the State of Connecticut, inclosing a Copy of this Resolve, and requesting him to lay the same before the Assembly of the said State and to request their concurrence therein."

Passed June 1, 1790

1791 -- "Resolve Requesting His Excellency to Write to New Hampshire, and Vermont, for the Preservation of Fish in Connecticut River."

Text:

"Resolved that his Excellency the Govournor be and he hereby is requested to send Copies of the Act lately passed by the Legislature of this Commonwealth for the preservation of Fish in Connecticutt River, to the Supreme Executive pwer of the States of New Hampshire and Vermont and to request the said States to adopt similar measure for the preservation of Fish in the said River -- The State of Connecticut having adopted similar measures for the same purpose."

Passed June 4, 1791

1793 -- "An Act to Prevent the Taking of the Fish Near the Dam at the Canal at South Hadley Falls in Connecticut River."

Excerpt:

"Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That no person or persons, at any time hereafter, shall take any Salmon or Shad, within one hundred rods of any part of the Dam in Connecticut river, near the canal at South Hadley, with any net, seine, pot or scoop-net, or any other instrument or machine whatever: And if any person or persons, shall take or catch any salmon or shad, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, each person so offending, shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay a fine of Four Pounds ..."

1796 -- "An Act to Repeal an Act Passed the Twentieth Day of June One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Eight Entitled, "An Act to Prevent the Destruction of Salmon and Shad in Connecticut River."

Text:

"Whereas the beneficial effects contemplated by the Act aforesaid have not been produced thereby, and the further continuance thereof is unnecessary -- Therefore Be it enacted by the Senate and house of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of same, that the Act aforesaid and every part thereof, from and after the passing of this Act shall be and the same is hereby repealed."

Passed March 11, 1797

1818 -- "An Act to Prevent the Taking of Fish near the Dam, at the Canal at South Hadley Falls, on Connecticut River."

Excerpt:

Sec. 1. "Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That no person or persons, at any time hereafter, shall take any salmon or shad, within one mile and a half of any part of the dam in Connecticut river, near the canal at South Hadley, with any net, seine, pot or scoop-net, or any other instrument or machine whatever: And if any person or persons, shall take or catch any salmon or shad, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, each person so offending, shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay a fine of twenty dollars."

Approved by the Governor, February 20, 1818.

Back to Atlantic Salmon History Project page.

Reference source for all laws: Massachusetts Laws, Acts and Resolves (various volumes). Available at Maine Legislative Law Library, State Capitol Building, Augusta, Maine.