4 INLAND FISHERIES. 



The small mouttied Black Bass are very pleutifnl in the ponds 

 and streams where they were placed by our predecessors and are 

 valued more highl}^ each year as a food fish. 



SHAD. 



Through the kindness of U. S. Commissioner 31. McDonald there 

 were placed in the head waters of Palmer River at Shad Factory 

 about two millions (2,000,000) Shad Fry. As has been before 

 stated by us, this is the only body of water unobstructed by dams 

 in our State. We have also applied for an apportionment of eggs 

 of the Land Locked Salmon. 



BAY FISHING. 



The fishing in the upper portions of the bay for Tautog and 

 Scup has been very poor, but Squiteague have been taken very 

 freely by hook and line. The season has been unfavorable to the 

 net fishing during the spring ; while some few did very well, most 

 of them got but poor returns for their outlay and efforts. In the 

 lower portions of the bay, as the season advanced, the Squiteague 

 and Menhaden became very plenty and the season's catches of 

 these fish were large. The Tautog or Black fish were quite plenty 

 all the season. 



Blue-fish were plentj^ at Block Island, but not many in the bay. 



Bass showed an increase of numbers over former years. 



We are pleased to give in full the following letter from Capt. 

 N. B. Church. It gives a vevy clear idea of the menhaden fishery 

 as well as his observation of other fish along the coast. 



New York, December 22, 1894, 

 J. M. K. SouTHWiCK, Esq. 



Dear Sir: Your letter of the 19th is at hand and I am very sorry to say 

 that I am not prepared to give you a very full report of tlie general fisheries. 

 I will not attempt to -write about our loeal spring tisliing as you are probably 



