10 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



truckers of Norfolk County, Va., now have green peas in blossom, several 

 weeks earlier than usual, and are cutting and shipping asparagus." 



SQUETEAGUE 



were less than usual. 



TAUTOG 



are reported fairly plenty and good fishing for them in the lower waters 

 of the bay. These fish are more local in their habits and never go far 

 from us even in the colder months. We know of a catch of thirteen, 

 weighing 30 pounds, on the first day of January last. The same per- 

 son reports that he caught 150 pounds of large chogsets the same day. 

 This is certainly very unusual at this season of the year, but the season 

 being unusually mild may account for it. 



MENHADEN. 



The menhaden are by far the most numerous of all our fishes. They 

 are little used as an edible fish, but are of considerable commercial im- 

 portance, as will be seen by the report made by the oil factories. 



THE MENHADEN FISHERY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. 



This fishing for the year 1886 commenced the first of June and con- 

 tinued until the 17th of November, and extended from Seaconnet to 

 Cape Henry ; were most plenty on the south of Long Island ; very few 

 in Rhode Island waters. The catch this season was as follows : 



Steamer Joseph Church with 2 gangs . 



A. M. Hathaway " 



George Curtis " 



CoraP. White " 



Seven Brothers " 



Fanny Sprague " 



George W. Humphrey " 2 



Received at factory from other boats . 



Seaconnet " 2 



Fearless " 1 



John A. Morgan " 1 



Schooner Penekese " 1 



Total catch for the year 1886 232,471 Barrels, 



