REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 9 



were made, but, on the whole, business has been unprofitable, 

 owing to the small quantity of oil in the fish." 



" Scup and sea bass were abundant on the coast during their 

 migration, more so than for many years, but there were very few 

 caught during the summer in the rivers and bays." 



" Squiteague were very plentiful, so much so that they were 

 hardly worth catching in traps. It is safe to say the loss of these 

 fish from the pounds in East Kiver was from 200 to 400 tons dur- 

 ing the August storm." 



'•'Blue fish were first taken this season the last of March or 

 early in April, in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras, where a large 

 fleet of New York smacks go to make early catches. I think there 

 is about sixty fitted from the Fulton Market alone. They found a 

 good body of fish, but they did not take the hook freely when first 

 found ; they came up the coast slowly, in fact, the great body of 

 them remained south of Barnegat all summer. A fairly good 

 school came on our coast in July, but went to the east ; good 

 catches were made in Vineyard Haven, and they are also reported 

 in considerable numbers off Newburyport. There have not been 

 such large numbers seen along the coast this year as there were 

 for the last three previous years. 



" There was one noticeable thing about them this year, most of 

 them were very large. 



" If I dared guess on the subject, it Avould be that there would be 

 less of them in 1894. Notwithstanding their young were very 

 abundant in the waters this fall." 



State of Rliode Island in account with Commissioners of Inland Fisheries : 



1892. Dr. 

 Dec. 31. To balance due Commissioners $53 78 



1893. 



Oct. 23. " paid for yearling trout 230 00 



'•' "■ express on trout and advertising 18 20 



Dec. 8. " '' printing, stamps and stationery 7 25 



Dec. 31. " '* expenses of Commissioners 50 35 



$359 58 



