52 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



Two heavy storms (one on May 8th, and the other on May 30th) 

 were very disastrous to the fishermen. It has been estimated that, 

 besides a great deal of damage to the gear, 5,000 barrels of fish were 

 lost in the latter storm. 



Mackerel. — The first mackerel of the season was caught April 27th. 

 The customary occasional catches were made until May 14th, when 

 216 were brought in. There was a steady increase until May 25th, 

 when 400 mackerel were brought in in one day. From this time on 

 there was good average fishing until July 1st. The record day was 

 June 20th, when 86,000 mackerel were brought in. The first " tinker " 

 was caught May 27th. 



Squiteague. — -Two squiteague were landed on May 7th, and about a 

 month later, on June 6th, the first barrel was caught. The squiteague 

 season opened June 11th. 



Other Fish. — Striped bass were first caught on April 24th, sea 

 robins on April 25th, and squid on April 25th. 



The first horse mackerel were caught the 25th of June. 



season of 1909. 



Scup. — Several scup were caught off Watch Hill, April 19-20. 

 April 21st, one was taken off Seal Rock. The scup season really 

 began on May 1st, and closed about June 14th. May 10th, the scup 

 were very abundant. 



Mackerel. — April 2nd two mackerel were caught, the first of the 

 season. May 4th, 42 barrels were shipped from Newport. The first 

 big catch of mackerel was on May 16th, when 500 barrels were 

 caught. May twenty-fourth nearly 2,000 barrels were landed at 

 Newport, and from this time on until the end of June there was good 

 fishing. 



June 17th, "tinkers" first appeared. 



Other Fish. — Butter-fish appeared April 21st, and were about as 

 abundant as usual. 



Striped bass also appeared on April 21st. 



A few very large squiteague were caught May 19th. The run began 

 June 17th, when 15 barrels were taken. 



Bluefish were first caught June 17th. 



Menhaden came into the Bay on June 5th. 



