18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



III. The Location of Fish-Traps within the Waters of Nar- 



RAGANSETT BaY, AND THE COLLECTION OF STATISTICAL 



Data Bearing upon their Ownership. 



For seven years (since 1898) the commission has been annually 

 collecting data in regard to the location and ownership of the numer- 

 ous fish-traps which are set each year along the shores of Narragansett 

 Bay and immediately off its entrances. This year the field has been 

 extended so as to include the region of Block Island, which is by no 

 means an unimportant factor in Rhode Island fisheries. 



The table shows a steady increase in the number of traps set. This 

 is especially noticeable in the Sakonnet river and the off shore traps. 

 These latter have not only increased in number, but have been set 

 further and further off shore, and the catch has warranted still fur- 

 ther extension in coming years. 



The location of the traps is shown in the two accompanying charts. 



Table showing number and general distribution of fish-traps 



since 1898. 



The following arbitrary divisions have been made for sake of con- 

 venience: 



I. Providence River. — South to a line joining Warwick Point and 

 Popasquash Point. 



II. Greenivich Boy. — South of Providence river division in west 

 passage to a line drawn east and west touching southern part of Hope 

 Island. 



III. West Passage. — The west passage south of Greenwich Bay 

 region to a line drawn due west from Beaver Tail and west of line 

 connecting the east end of Greenwich Bay boundary and North 

 Point. 



IV. Mount Hope Bay. — North of railroad bridge, Tiverton, and a 

 lino connecting Bristol Ferrv and Muscle Shoal Light. 



