24 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



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



RAGANSETT BaY, AND THE COLLECTION OF DaTA BeARING 



upon Their Ownership. 



The collection of data under this head was begun in 1898, when 

 there were already more than one hundred traps in the Rhode Island 

 waters exclusive of Block Island. For nine years our reports have 

 published charts showing the position of the traps and a table indi- 

 cating their ownership. The table giving the summary for the nine 

 years is interesting in showing the steady increase in number of traps 

 in various locations and as a whole. 



The increase in the number of traps includes the year 1906. It is 

 particularly noticeable in the offshore traps, where the number has 

 doubled in the last three years. During the scup season a cordon 

 of these large traps is spread about the mouth of the Sakonnet river. 

 To form the outer edge of this cordon twenty traps, each with 

 a leader one-half mile long, are stretched in a nearly perfect arc from 

 Seal Rock to a point south-southeast of Sakonnet Light. The forty- 

 four remaining traps are interspersed within this arc in such a way 

 as to fill up the gaps in the outer row. (See chart.) 



Not only has there been an increase in the number of traps, but 

 as predicted in the last report the traps have been extended a farther 

 distance from shore. The Fisheries Company has a string of nine im- 

 mense traps on one line of leaders and the outermost trap is four and 

 a half miles from shore. 



In the west passage the fishermen have added drag-nets to their 

 gear, and they are thus able to improve intervals of time when the 

 trap season is dull. 



Table Showing Number and General Distribution of Fish- 

 Traps Since 1898. 



The following arbitrary divisions have been made for the sake of 

 convenience : 



