er mouth. It was by far the largest fyke net fishery of the Connecticut River.
The 1911-1912 Biennial Report State of Connecticut Fisheries and Game mentions the following. (Some area residents will recognize some fishing locations but many no doubt have faded when they were abandoned for fishing areas).
G. B. Hayden, Essex, Connecticut licensed for 20 fyke nets
171 Mathers Meadow, Conn. River
173 Foxburough Grove, North Cove
174 Walters Point, North Cove
175 Point of Reeds, North Cove
176 Burying Ground Point, North Cove
177 Pratts Meadow, North Cove
178 Camp Ground, Conn, River
179 Woodchuck Pier, Conn, River
180 Thatch Bed Island, Conn, River
181 Notts Island, Conn, River
182 Broad Bill Point, Lords Cove
183 High Point, Lords Cove
184 Stump Meadow, Lords Cove
185 Nobles Meadow, Lords Cove
186 Low Point, Lords Cove
187 Goose Point, Lords Cove
188 Mink Island, Lords Cove
189 Harding Meadow, Lords Cove
190 Goose Island, Lords Cove
191 LaPlace Meadow, Lords Cove
and Jared S. Daniels, Lyme – registered for 22 fykes for these fishing sites
192 West Side, Hamburg Cove
193 Watsons Side, Hamburg Cove
194 West Side, Hamburg Cove
195 Elys Meadow, Conn. River
196 Elys Meadow, Conn. River
197 Elys Meadow, Conn. River
198 Seldens Meadow, Conn. River
199 Seldens Meadow, Conn. River
200 Pine Woods, Conn. River
201 Brockways Island, Conn. River
202 Below Mikes Point, Conn. River
203 Pettipaugh Meadow, Conn. River
204 Pettipaugh Meadow, Conn. River
205 Pettipaugh Meadow, Conn. River
206 Pettipaugh Meadow, Conn. River
207 Pettipaugh Meadow, Conn. River
208 Chester Meadow, Conn. River
209 Chester Meadow, Conn. River
210 Seldens Meadow, Conn. River
298 East Side Notts Island, Conn. River
299 East Side Notts Island, Conn. River
258 Seldens, Conn. River
Some area residents may recognize some of these locations while others no longer appear on modern maps. For a particular habitat history and current study the North Cove sites are significant as an alewife restoration project is now planned for the Falls River. Fyke nets continue to be used for fish sampling and fish census studies. Of the four principles gear types only the shad “flag” or “ring” gill net continues on the lower Connecticut River. Chances are the shad for the annual Essex Rotary Shad Bake were captured by a gill net.
Seasons were Weather Dependent -
During the continued period of warmth the coves sometimes were ice free enabled fyke net fishers to continue fishing and get higher fish prices in winter. The 1922 Biennial Report mentions the hazards of spring runoff which would interfere with the hauling and setting of the fykes.
From pg 48 Report of State Board of Fisheries and Game 1921-22
The Pound and Fyke Net Fishery of the Connecticut River
“Under Section 3134, any person who desires to fish on the Connecticut River with a pound or fyke net must first submit to the Commissioners a description of the net, the place where it is to be set, etc., and having done so it is a compulsory duty of the Commissioners to furnish a number for the net. In actual operation there is no restriction as to the number of nets which any individual may use, nor is there any restriction as to the period of the year when they are in operation.
The fishermen make application for assignment of numbers for a stated number of nets, giving a general description of the location, upon the receipt of which the Commissioners fill out a blank form assigning the numbers – a purely perfunctory operation.
The maximum of numbers issued to one applicant is for 40 nets and the average number of nets used by each fisherman is around 10.
There is perhaps no time of the year when some of the fyke nets are not in use, although during extreme freshet periods the fishing is limited to certain inshore or overflowed areas to which the fish may have resorted for the spawning function.
During the winter months only a limited number of nets are used because the fishermen are hampered by the ice. The principal catch of the nets which are operated in the Winter consists of carp and suckers.”
High Heat Ruins Shad Habitats
As t