REPORT. 



To the Honorahle the General Assembly of the State of Bhode 

 Island and Providence Plantations, at its January Session, 



1898 : 



The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries herewith present their 

 annual report for the year 1897. 



It has been estimated by the United States Fish Commission that 

 the fisheries industries of the State of Rhode Island represent an 

 invested capital of over $1,000,000 ; yielding an annual income of 

 more than 1700,000, and furnishing emploj^ment to fifteen hundred 

 people. An industry offering employment to so large a number 

 of our citizens, and bringing, at the same time, large sums of 

 money into the State, should be fostered with the utm,ost care ; its 

 condition should be critically examined ; ample records should be 

 kept ; prejudicial factors should be detected ; errors corrected; 

 and active measures should be taken to still further develop what 

 has been already so productive. 



The statutes provide that the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries 

 besides introducing, protecting and cultivating fish in the inland 

 waters, shall have a general supervision of all matters relating to 

 trespass upon anj^ waters by fishermen not inhabitants of the 

 State ; of the abuses of seining privileges ; of the observance of 

 "close time;" and that the annual reports to the General Assem- 

 bly shall contain such facts and suggestions as the commission 

 may deem proper. 



