EHODE ISLAND: NEWPORT COUNTY, INCLUDING BLOCK ISLAND. 301 



inile from shore, oft' the northeastern side of the island. These codfish are seldom large, averaging 

 9 pounds; but, being thick fish and carefully cured, they stand high in the markets. The grounds 

 above enumerated are visited by Connecticut and Massachusetts fishermen, as "well as by Block 

 Islanders. The latter always fish with hook and line, being decidedly opposed to the use of any 

 apparatus unknown to their ancestors. They regard the fishing grounds as their own property, 

 and only ask the "foreigners' 1 to let them alone and to keep at a distance with trawls and other 

 modern appliances. 



The spring catch is placed in pickle for four days, spread on flakes until thoroughly cured dry, 

 and then sent to market. The fall catch is retained in pickle until it is wanted, and is then dried 

 the same as the spring catch. All codfish are cured before ; ale; most of the catch being marketed 

 in Rhode Island and Connecticut. 



Although the leading catch on the fishing grounds about Block Island is cod, yet numerous 

 other species are found in greater or less abundance. One of the most important species outside 

 of cod is the large bloater mackerel that frequently visit this vicinity in the spring of the year. 

 During 1879 hundreds of barrels of these fish were caught. They measured 10 to 19 inches in 

 length, weighed from 1^ to 3 pounds each, and sold for $20 to $25 a barrel. These fish appear 

 irregularly. 



The boats used by Block Island fishermen are very peculiar in construction. They are sharp- 

 pointed at each end, 20 to 25 feet long on the keel, a few attaining 29 feet, 3i to 4 feet deep, with 

 open deck and lap-streak sides, of schooner or sloop rig, chiefly the former, with narrow tapering 

 sails, small masts well forward, with no shrouds, registering from 5 to 9 tons, and worth $250 to 

 $00 each. From their odd appearance, which is increased by their lying very low in the water, 

 they immediately attract the attention of a stranger. They are most excellent sea-boats, and, in 

 the hands of a practical island fisherman, are as hard to drown as a duck, and rarely lost. There 

 are twenty-three of these vessels, aggregating 199.35 tons and carrying eighty-five men. In addi- 

 tion to these "double-enders" there are fifty small boats of less than 5 tons register, with crews of 

 two men each. These follow the same fisheries as the larger vessels. 



In 1867 net-fishing on a limited scale was introduced. In April, 1879, two heart-pounds were 

 set on the west and one on the north side of the island. They remained down until September 1 to 

 September 15. Fish were found to be plentiful; but, on account of the exposed position of the 

 island, it is doubtful if pound-fishing will prove very profitable. In these nets squeteague. bouito, 

 scup, and tautog were taken in 1879. Spanish mackerel have been occasionally taken. The 

 catch of the pounds is shipped to New York in ice usually by sailing vessels interested in the 

 pounds. Bluefish are caught and used at home by the hotels. Lobsters are caught, but mostly 

 by the Connecticut fishermen, only 150 pots being set by the Block Island fishermen. Irish moss 

 is found in abundance. This is gathered, and has been since 1850, in warm weather by women and 

 children; then it is washed and dried (many washings being requisite before it is bleached) and 

 sold to the grocers, who, as a sufficient quantity accumulates, ship it to the woolen and flannel 

 mills of Connecticut. The crop in 1880 was 400 barrels. 



As only a small part of the year is given to fishing, ample time remains to cultivate the ground. 

 Nearly all of the island is under cultivation or used for grazing, the land being well fertilized by 

 refuse fish and seaweed. The latter is gathered in large quantities for this purpose. It is esti- 

 mated that over $30,000 worth of fertilizing products are so used each year. Each farmer or fisher- 

 man gathers any amount he may wish free of cost, except for his time and team. 



The capital invested in the fisheries at Block Island in 23 vessels with their outfit, CO shore- 

 boats, 12 gill-nets, 3 pounds, 150 lobster-pots, and other apparatus, is $28,040. The number of 



