THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 



785 



Table of lobster industry of Massachusetts Continued. 

 GRAND TOTALS. 



NOTE. In the above table no account is mad" of any markets outside of Boston. The Massachusetts lobster smacks all engage in fish- 

 ing, anil tln-ir crews have, therefore, been included among the fishermen instead of the marketmen. Boston capital invested in the Maine 

 canneries has bnen included in the statistics of that State. 



RHODE ISLAND. 



Rhode Island ranks fourth among the States in the value and extent of its lobster fisheries. 

 This industry is carried on to a greater or less extent from nearly all the fishing ports or stations 

 of the State, the principal ones being Wickford, Newport, Dutch Island, Sanderstown, Narragan- 

 sett Pier, Sakonnet Point, Bristol, and Block Island. 



GROUNDS. The lobster grounds in Narragansett Bay include the numerous inlets on both 

 sides of the bay as far north as Hope Island, the ledges lying out in the bay, and the moderate 

 depths of water surrounding the- islands. Off Sakonnet Point and Brenton's Reef Light Ship 

 lobsters are taken on both sandy and rocky bottoms, from 2 to 10 miles from shore, and in depths 

 of 5 to IS fathoms. In these localities the traps are generally set on rocky bottoms in the spring 

 and fall, and on smooth bottoms during the summer. Brown's Ledge, situated about 20 miles off 

 shore, used to be a good lobster ground, but of late years it has not yielded much. Various good 

 fishing grounds for lobsters exist in many places off the coast and about Block Island. The 

 Block Island region is, however, fished more by boats from Connecticut than by native ones. 

 The Rhode Island fishery also extends to the Connecticut coast, which is visited to some extent by 

 boats from Newport, and nearly or quite to Cuttyhunk. 



The Rhode Island grounds, like those of many other sections of the coast, have been gradually 

 extended outward with the increase of trade and the demand for lobsters, in order to accom- 

 modate the greater number now fishing, but the inner grounds, those of Narragansett Bay, still 

 furnish many lobsters. The depth of water in which the traps are set varies from a few fathoms 

 to 15 or 20 fathoms. 



SEASON. The lobster season usually extends from May 1 to October 1, after which the main 

 part of the fishery generally ceases. In 1879 a few men began lobstering as early as March, 

 obtaining good fares and high prices. As a rule, some lobsters are taken during every month 

 from February until November. The so-called school lobsters are noticed in the waters off Rhode 

 Island. The presence of a school, or its passage over the fishing grounds, is indicated by much 

 better fishing for a few days at a time, after which the catch falls off to the ordinary run. In 

 1879 the best schools came as early as July 4; in 1880 they began about a week later. The 

 best months for fishing are said to be July and August. 



