Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1901 — HOW FISHES TRAVEL UPSTAIRS. [ARTICLE]

HOW FISHES TRAVEL UPSTAIRS.

Part of Their Journey from Narral Banaett Bay to Nemaaket River. I It Is not an uncommon thing to eel on pleasant days, when the flsh arj running at East Taunton, Mass., huni dreds of men, women and children dual tered around the fishway watching tht fish struggling up against the strong current, and trying to get into tin smoother waters above the dam, when they may shoot off at their leisure tt the spawning place in the Neinaskel River. The fishway Is so constructed that II is impossible for the flsh to make i clear swim from top to bottom or vies versa. They must work up the rivei in the eddies, for the tide is also very strong there near the dam, and until, they reach the lower part of the fislf* way. Thence they struggle and wriggle into tiye lower entrance of the fishway, .thus making sure of at least a chance to rub up against the bftards and rest before they begin their wearisome fight for the top and smooth water. It is In this fishway that the interest of the average spectator is centered, since here the flsh can be seen plainly in bunches almost thick enough for one to walk across qp their backs, and where one may'easily reach down and pull them out of the water. They are generally packed in so thick that they cannot escape the quick-moving hand of man or boy. From right to left and left to right, steadily, slowly, they keep on in the effort to get out of the fishway, and it Is one of the prettiest sights imaginable to watch the little fellows, plucky and game to the last, as they almost Imperceptibly w’ork out of one passageway into another and crowd each other around the corner. No matter how* many people are cldse to them, so close that they could be touched with the hand or cane, they appear to pay no attention to their interested audience, A watchman is on duty at the fishway all of the time to see that no one disturbs them, but when his attention is taken up by questions that are asked frequently, those who like fish right out of the water smuggle them out andare away before they can be apprehended. It is understood that there are thousands of these herring stolen in this way and other ways before they get to the clear mater, but there doesn’t seem to be any help for 1L