The Run

By John Hay

Book Overview

"The run" by John Hay is a captivating journey into the heart of Cape Cod's natural world, meticulously chronicling one of its most remarkable annual events. This classic work immerses readers in the vibrant natural history of coastal Massachusetts, focusing on the powerful and ancient migration of the alewife. Hay's insightful observations illuminate the intricate life cycle of these vital fish, detailing their arduous journey from the vast ocean back to the freshwater streams and ponds where they spawn.

Beyond the specific saga of the alewife, "The run" expands into a broader exploration of marine life and the delicate ecosystems of Cape Cod. Hay masterfully portrays the interconnectedness of species and habitat, revealing the profound rhythms that govern this unique coastal region. His narrative is a testament to the enduring cycles of nature, capturing the raw beauty and scientific significance of this annual spectacle. This book stands as an essential work of natural history, offering a timeless perspective on marine biology, fish migration, and the unspoiled wonders of the Massachusetts coastline. It invites readers to witness a fundamental process of the natural world, forever etched into the landscape of Cape Cod.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025251776
• ISBN13: 9781025251776
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 134 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Sublime and enchanting

Sublime and enchanting is how John Hay has the reader feeling. It is truly a superb book, well written and thoughtful as well as thought provoking.

A superb literary presentation on a marvel of nature

I first read this book in the early 1970s when I was conducting my Ph.D. thesis research, which dealt with the migratory behavior of a fish called the alewife, also known as river herring. Alewife are like small, silvery salmon. About 10 inches long, they migrate into small streams and rivers along the East Coast in the spring to spawn, and the juveniles then migrate to the ocean in the fall, where they live for four or five years before returning to their home stream to spawn. John Hay captures the mystery and delight of an alewife run. Unlike salmon runs that occur in large rivers where the fish can't be seen, alwife migrate into many very small streams, many of which pass through towns and under old mills, such that the fish are readily visible to people. To see thousands of fish stacked up at the base of a dam, knowning that they had traveled thousands of miles in the Atlantic for years before finding their way back to the location where their life began as an egg, is almost incredible. John Hay describes the essence of the alewife in a very informative but tremendously readable style. This is a must read for anyon who enjoys fine writing and has an interest in the natural world.