Guide to the Fishery Papers, 1816-1873 Administrative Information

Title and Dates: Fishery Papers, 1816-1873 Repository: Gloucester City Archives City Hall 9 Dale Avenue Gloucester, MA 01930 978-282-3043 http://gloucester-ma.gov/index.aspx?NID=72

Collection Number: CC218

Author of Finding Aid: Mary Williams, May 2017

Creator: Unknown

Language: The materials in this collection are in English.

Physical Description: Box 15, Folder 1; 1 folder

Abstract: Letter and petitions to town selectmen regarding Alewife fishing rights, mill pond and stream, clam flats, oyster beds, lobster fishing, the disposal of fish heads and offal deemed a “nuisance,” and the rights of one fishing vessel to fish cod.

Access and Use

Acquisition Information and Provenance: The Gloucester City Archives is the repository of the town and city municipal records.

Processing Information: The collection was original processed by the Gloucester Archives Committee. The finding aid was written by Mary Williams in May 2017.

1 Access Restrictions: Available for research.

Location: The collection is housed at the Gloucester City Archives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements: The paper based collection is in fair to good condition and is arranged in chronological order.

Copyright and Conditions Governing Use: For permission to reproduce or publish materials from this collection, please contact the Gloucester City Archives. Researchers are responsible for following all copyright and intellectual property laws.

Preferred Citation: Fishery Papers, 1816-1885, Gloucester City Archives.

Collection Description Collection Scope and Content Note: Letters, petitions and committee reports by various individuals to town selection requesting that topics regarding Alewife fishing rights, mill pond and stream, clam flats, oyster beds, lobster fishing, “nuisance” disposal of fish heads and offal be put on the town meeting agenda. Letters regarding contracts of individual for use of Alewife fishing stream. One document attesting to rights of a vessel to fish cod. Contents List: For materials that are not dated the abbreviation n.d. is used.

Box 15 Folder 1 Fishery Papers, 1816-1885 1. Unsigned letter to Selectmen regarding title of the town to clam flats in Squam River, n.d. 2. Proposal of Gorham Parsons, Esq., n.d. 3. Letter to Selectmen from Jabez Tarr et. al.to consider opening the stream from Cape Pond into the Squam River for the taking of Alewifes, February 1816. 4. Report of the Fish Committee: Alewives and Stream Between Cape Pond and Annisquam River, May 13, 1816. 5. Report of Committee appointed to confer with owners of mill stream in obtaining a right for fish to pass up stream, May 1816. 6. Committee Report regarding rights of the town to mill stream formerly granted to John Bennet and now claimed by Zachariah Stevens, March 1826. 7. Contract with Joseph Babson regarding lease of Alewife Stream for 5 years, 1827.

2 8. Petition of John Burns, et. al. asking for a committee be appointed to ascertain the rights of John Manning to a mill stream at Sandy Bay, 1828. 9. Report of the Committee on Lobster Fishing, 1828. 10. Report of the Committee on Alewife Fishing, 1830. 11. Letter to Selectmen of Gloucester from Josiah Haskell, et. al. regarding nuisance disposal of fish heads and offal, 1835. 12. Petition of Williams Hodgkins, et. al. to determine title of town to Goose Cove Mill Pond, 1842. 14. Letter from Jonas French, Cape Ann Granite Company, concerning oyster beds, May 1873. 15. Letter from Jonas French, Cape Ann Granite Company, concerning planting of oyster beds in Ipswich Bay and Hodgkins Cove, May 1873. 16. Letter from Jonas H. French, Cape Ann Granite Company regarding the grading of the road leading to his house, May 1873. 17. Document attesting that George Collins, Master of Schooner, Mary L. Wonson of Gloucester is a citizen of the United States and licensed to fish for cod, October 1885.

Related Collections: CC311 Records of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries at Gloucester Fishery Station, 1898-1946.

Subject Terms: Due to the nature of the collection, the subject terms listed below is not an exhaustive list of the people, ships, locations, or topics found within the collection. Listed names of people and vessels have not been unilaterally included among the subject terms.

People Parson, Gorham Stevens, William L. Parrote, William W. [?] Appleton, James Babson, David Pearce, William Jr. Stevens, Zachariah Manning, John Bennet, John Emerson, John, Rev. Mason, John Babson, Joseph Roberts, Charles L. Gott, John Rogers, D[illegible] Dawson, Elias Stevens, William Babson, Joseph Capt.

3 Walen, Michael Lane, Samuel Babson, Nathaniel Clough, Elias Beach, William Haskell, Josiah French, Jonas H. Collins, George Center, Addison Tarr, Jabez Hodgkins, William

Organizations Gloucester Town Council Cape Ann Granite Company Customs House Gloucester

Geographic Location Massachusetts Gloucester, MA Goose Cove, Gloucester, MA Mill Pond, Gloucester, MA Squam (Annisquam) River, Gloucester, MA Sandy Bay, Gloucester, MA Hodgkins Cove, Gloucester, MA

Topics Fishing, Fishing Rights, Alewife, Clam Flats, Lobster, Oyster, Cod, Cape Ann Pond, Mill Stream, Annisquam River, Squam River

Ships Mary L. Wonson, Schooner

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