COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 9 



weighing ten pounds was taken from the Pawcatuck, and the same 

 day another weighing six pounds was also caught. Later on, in 

 September, two, weighing four pounds each, were taken from the 

 same stream near Westerly by Mrs. Robinson. Fish of this size 

 must be at least eight years old. 



THE COLLECTION OF DATA AND STATISTICS RELATING 

 TO THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 



The gathering of data and statistics relating to the fisheries is one 

 of the most important duties which the General Assembly has as- 

 signed to the Commission, furnishing as it does, a basis for the enact- 

 ment of intelligent fish laws. In order that it may be of the most 

 value, it is quite necessary that the facts and data gathered should 

 cover as great a number of years as possible, and it is obvious that 

 they should be continuous. Every effort has been made to make 

 them reliable, but as mentioned in previous reports, the absence on 

 our statute books of laws making returns compulsory has prevented 

 the data from being complete. 



GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE FISHERIES IN 1912. 



In general, the fishing in Narragansett Bay in 1912 was extremely 

 poor. Marketable fish were scarce, and few of the "stub-trap" 

 fishermen made more than enough to clear expenses. Indeed, as one 

 experienced fisherman who had kept close observation on this branch 

 of the fisheries, remarked, fewer single fish were caught this year than 

 formerly barrels of fish had been. The last of May and first part of 

 June there were some good catches of large squiteague, and ordinarily, 

 this would have been considered an omen of a good season, but these 

 fish left and no good catches were made afterwards. Small scup and 

 small butterfish were rather plentiful, and in the absence of sizeable 

 fish, were marketed. Bait fish were quite common. While it is 

 difficult to attribute the poor season to any single cause, it is a note- 



