SHAD FISFIKKIl'S OF TIIH ATLAN'I'IC COAST. 



243 



Staienuitl, l>y uatcr arctn, of the yield of shad in each form of apparalun evqAoijed in the 

 ' Jlxhvries of New York in 1S90. 



Incidental catch. 



NEW YORK BAY. 



The numerous bodies of water leading from the ocean to the mouth 

 of Hudson Eiver have several designations, but the name Kew York 

 Bay applies to the whole area from Sandy Hook to the Battery. The 

 near approach of Staten Island to the western end of Long Island 

 divides the bay into two unequal portions, known as Upper Bay and 

 Lower Bay. The general form of Lower Bay is that of an equilateral 

 triangle, each side of which approximates 15 miles in length. Upper 

 Bay is about 5 miles long and '.> or 4 miles in width. Connecting the 

 two, occupying the space between Long Island and Staten Island, are 

 the Narrows, the least width of which approximates 1 mile. At the 

 extreme ui)per end of Lower Bay, occupying the cove between Coney 

 Island light and Fort Hamilton, is Gravesend Bay, a small body of 

 water covering about 2 square miles. The fisheries of each of these 

 water areas are described in succession. 



Loirer Bay. — The shad lishcries of Lower liay are confined to the use 

 of several pound nets on the shore of Staten Island between Elm Tree 

 beacon and Fort Tompkins light. These nets are set separately in 12 

 to 15 feet of water, and are worth about S250 each. Four were used 

 in 1890, requiring 18 men and G boats, the value of the latter being 

 •SD.'iO. The season began April 1 and ended about the middle of June, 

 and the catch approximated 8,400 roes and 5,000 bucks, valued locally 

 at $1,080. 



