444 EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Exclusive of the oyster and clam industries and the taking of blue- 

 fish and menhaden, the use of pound nets is the most important fishery 

 in New York. The pound nets are set principally at the eastern end 

 of Long Island, and to a much less extent at the western end of Great 

 South Bay and ofl' Gravesend. This fishery was more valuable in 1901 

 than ever before, the 248 nets yielding 8,769,082 pounds of fish, worth 

 $164,557. In 1898 the yield was valued at $108,939, and in 1891 at 

 $125,719. The large increase in 1901 was due principally to the 

 higher prices prevailing in the markets. The* principal species taken 

 in pound nets are squeteague, butter-fish, flounders, and scup. 



The shad yield in New York in 1901 shows a gratif^dng increase 

 over 1898; indeed, it was greater than for an}^ previous year for which 

 returns are available since 1888. The number captured in 1901 was 

 888,240, valued at $110,682. In 1898 the catch was 488,611; in 1897, 

 506,273; in 1896, 542,814; and in 1891, 762,946. Most of the shad are 

 taken in Hudson liiver, and especially in Dutchess, Ulster, West- 

 chester, and Columbia counties. 



The sturgeon fishery shows a remarkable falling off, the value of 

 the product decreasing from $46,573 in 1898 to $8,323 in 1901. This 

 fish is now very scarce, not only in Hudson River, but also along the 

 south side of Long Island, where it was secured in abundance six 

 3'ears ago. A large percentage of the sturgeon taken in Hudson 

 River are small — under 20 pounds in weight — and are known locally 

 as "peelicans." In 1892 the State interdicted the capture of these 

 small fish, and this is expected to have a beneficial effect on the abun- 

 dance of mature sturgeon. 



The catch of sturgeon on the south side of Long Island furnishes 

 an instance of the development and decline of coastal fisheries. The 

 fish are taken by means of floating gill nets with 12 or 14-iuch mesh, 

 operated during May and June, and also to a limited extent in Sep- 

 tember. The nets are set 1 or 2 miles from the shore from Blue Point 

 to Montauk Point, and especially off' Amagansett, Wainscott, and 

 Westhampton. This fishery began in 1892. In 1896 there were 103 

 men employed, using 37 boats and 223 gill nets, and the catch of 

 sturgeon amounted to 314,430 pounds, gross weight, worth $15,125. 

 In 1898, when the fisheiy probably reached its greatest development, 

 187 men used 70 boats and 454 nets, and the gross weight of sturgeon 

 secured was 509,365 pounds, worth $43,864. Notwithstanding a large 

 increase in the quantity of twine used bj^ each boat, the average catch 

 of fish in succeeding 3'ears showed a great decrease, and in 1901 the 

 57 men, using 25 boats and 257 nets, secured only 65,130 pounds, gross 

 weight, of sturgeon, worth $4,801. This fisher}- is so unprofitable at 

 present that it promises to become extinct in a few 3-ears. 



The returns for most of the minor species of fish show a considerable 

 increase during the last five years, a result doubtless of the high cost of 



