1837 -- Petition to the Legislature requesting the repeal of the fisheries
preservation laws for the St. George River in Warren.
Text:
"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature
assembled:
Your petitioners, inhabitants of the town of Warren, respectfully represent
that the law regulating the taking of fish in the St. Georges River in said
town requires that the dams across said River shall be opened during the
season when the fish pass up & down said River. This is a great injury
to the owners of the mills situated on said river and others having business
at said mills.
That the law requiring the dams to be opened aforesaid prevents the vacant
water privileges on said stream, which are among the first in the state,
being occupied for Factories and various other machinery, depriving the
inhabitants of those advantages which Nature has provided them, and thus
retarding the growth and prosperity of said Town and the good citizens of
the surrounding country.
That the right of taking fish in said Town or the law regulating the same
has become a bone of contention among the people and a prolific source of
Litigation some contending that they have a right to take fish in the navigable
waters in said Town, and taking them accordingly notwithstanding the law,
others owning farms bordering on the river, contending they have a right
to fish in the waters upon their own land, and fishing accordingly, the
law to the contrary notwithstanding. Thus are generated heart burnings,
strife and lawsuits.
The fish for years back have been much diminished, and they do not when
obtained half pay for the trouble and expense of taking and curing them
to say nothing of the great waste of time by our citizens in congregating
and waiting about the fishways.
On the whole your petitioners are satisfied that it would be for the benefit
of the citizens of this and the neighboring towns to have the law aforesaid
repealed, and they do hereby respectfully request the Legislature to repeal
the same."
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1837 Letter of Town of Warren in response above petition.
Text of Letter:
"Warren, February 6, 1837
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Warren qualified to
vote in town affairs. Voted that our Representative in the Legislature be
instructed to oppose any petitions that may be presented to repeal the law
regulating the Shad & Alewife fishery in the town of Warren.
Voted that our Representative be furnished with a copy of the above vote
by the Clerk.
Attest: Stephen Burgess, Town Clerk
To Edward O'Brien, Esq."
Source: Maine State Archives. Legislative GY Box 110. File 9.
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