244 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Oravesend Bay. — The sliad fisheries of Gravesend Bay in 1896 were 

 represented by 2 large pound nets and 2 rows of fyke nets, set in from 

 10 to 25 feet, the pound Jiets being set individually and the fyke nets 

 with 30 in one row and 4 in another. The pound nets are larger than 

 those on the shore of Staten Island, and are valued at $600 each. It is 

 necessary to have two sets of twine, since the large quantity of drift 

 and refuse becoming fixed to them prevents their being operated more 

 than a week at a time. Each of the fyke nets has five 14-foot hoops 

 with two funnels to the net. The catch of shad by the 2 pound nets 

 numbered 978 roes and 652 bucks, worth $195, while the fyke nets caught 

 2,880 roes and 1,920 bucks, valued at $576. 



The Narrows. — Each season a large number of shad drift nets are 

 operated in the Narrows, the season beginning usually about April 1, 

 two or three weeks before the Hudson River season opens, and closes 

 about May 15. The nets average 400 yards in length with 5^ to 5^ inch 

 mesh, and cost about $75 each. On account of the extensive navigation 

 through this channel it is necessary to operate the nets 25 or 30 feet 

 below the surface, this being effected by long buoy lines, the most usual 

 length being 26 feet. Even at this de^ith the suction of large steamers 

 frequently entangles the nets in a mass and sometimes even lifts tliem 

 up into the screws. In 1896 there were 59 boats drifting nets in the 

 Narrows, using 46,900 yards of twine and operated by 120 men. The 

 catch was much less than usual, the total number of shad taken being 

 38,100 roes and 25,400 bucks, valued locally at $7,620. Most of the 

 fishermen live on Staten Island and at Bay Eidge, Fort Hamilton, and 

 Gravesend on Long Island. The others live " up the river " and else- 

 where and rendezvous at Fort Hamilton during the fishing season. 

 The latter operate also to some extent on the Hudson, but the Narrows 

 is their principal fishing-ground. 



Upper Bay. — In the Upper Bay shad were taken by means of stake 

 nets and fyke nets set along the western side of the bay on the Jersey 

 Flats, between the northern end of Staten Island and Bedloe Island. 

 The stake nets were owned by fishermen from Bay Ridge, and were set 

 in 4 rows containing 151 "stations." The abundance of drift matter 

 and other refuse in the water necessitated the use of two sets of nets, 

 each remaining in the water about a week, thus requiring 302 nets for 

 the 151 "stations." The nets were each 24 feet long by 28 feet deep, 

 with 5|-inch mesh, and were set with the top from 10 to 12 feet below 

 the surface of the water. The poles were from 60 to 70 feet in length, 

 and 26 feet apart in the rows. To operate these 4 strings of nets 

 required the services of 21 fishermen, using 10 boats, valued at $2,000. 

 The season began about the 1st of April and lasted six weeks, the total 

 yield of sliad approximating 30,000 in number, of which about three- 

 fifths were roes. The fyke nets are owned by fishermen from Hudson 

 County, N.J. Tlie yield in the 214 used m 1896 numbered 27,267 roe 

 shad and 22,491 bucks, for which the fishermen received $7,337. 



