Herring numbers not attributed to water quality 2-25-14
Sippican Week
By Georgia Sparling | Feb 25, 2014
MATTAPOISETT — Tri-Town Herring Inspectors report that the 2013 herring numbers were down 8,000 from the previous year.
Rochester Inspector Dave Watling told Selectmen, "It was not too discouraging because they were up a lot the previous year – by almost 100 percent."
Selectmen Chair Tyler Matcallister said towns such as Middleboro have reported higher numbers than those in the tri-town.
Bret Bokelkamp of Marion, a self-described "conservationist, ecologist and fisherman," questioned if something in the water could be hindering herrings.
"I was just curious if any of the local towns that you're aware of have done any water quality test to assure themselves that the streams themselves are healthy...nothing that would impede the productivity of the fish," he said.
Watling said tests of Snipatuit Pond have proven it is healthy, and the quantity of fresh water mussels in the Mattapoisett River indicates that is healthy.