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directors of the fishery draft for the East side and two for the West side of the harbor. The fishing lots were staked off, in width 100 feet each, and in the drawing number one meant a first choice of the fishing lots, and so on according to the numbers as the drawing proceeded. The number of those who registered varied from year to year. In 1856 for example 2,138 names were registered for the draft on the East side and 563 names were registered for the West side.[1] The number registered, of course, never represented all who were qualified. Some were too indifferent to take the trouble, and some were prejudiced against a lottery even under official sanction. The place for the East side drawing was in the Council room at the Court house, and on the West side at the old Carleton market house. Both places on the day of drawing were packed by an eager crowd. Two large revolving wheels were used, one of which contained the names of every freeman who had registered and paid his shilling, the other the numbers of the fishery lots intermingled with a sufficient number of blanks to provide a ticket for every one who had registered for the drawing. At each wheel was a boy blind-folded with his right arm bare to the shoulder, while members of the Common Council stood by to oversee the proceedings. Two other boys were at hand each with a needle and string on which the tickets from the wheel were strung after having been announced. The drawing took many hours and the proceedings were watched with intense interest. If a number of blanks followed in succession indignant voices were apt to exclaim, "Give that wheel a shaking up." Many are the stories that are told as to the scenes attending the drawing of the fishery lots,
- ↑ For the information respecting the Fishery Draft in olden times the writer is indebted to an article by Mr. W. K. Reynolds, which recently appeared in the Daily Telegraph.