218 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



RHODE ISLAND 



The fisheries and industries related to the fisheries of Rhode 

 Island in 1929 employed 1,907 persons, which is 14 per cent more 

 than the number employed in the previous year. Of the total number 

 of persons, 1,406 were fishermen, 61 were employed on transporting 

 vessels, and 440 in the wholesale and manufacturing industries. 



The total catch amounted to 28,401,268 pounds, valued at $2,435,- 

 346, which is an increase of 3 per cent in the catch and 2 per cent in 

 the value of the catch, as compared with the catch and its value in 

 the previous year. Of the total value of the catch, that of oysters 

 accounted for 21 per cent; clams, 18 per cent: lobsters, 14 per cent; 

 and flounders, 9 per cent. Of the total weight of the catch, that of 

 flounders accounted for 17 per cent; cod, 9 per cent; whiting, sea 

 herring, and oysters, each 8 per cent; mackerel and squid, each 7 

 per cent; and scup or porgy, 6 per cent. 



OPERATING UNITS BY GEAR 



The catch of fishery products in Rhode Island during 1929 was 

 taken by 1,406 fishermen, who used 80 motor vessels, 1,019 motor 

 and other small fishing boats, and 17 major types of gear. The 

 vessels had a combined capacity of 917 net tons. The fisheries 

 accounting for the greatest number of persons were the fishery by 

 tongs, employing 443 fishermen; the lobster-pot fishery, employing 

 400 fishermen; and the hand-line fishery employing 216 fishermen. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



Five types of gear accounted for 81 per cent of the fishery products 

 taken in the marine fisheries of Rhode Island during 1929. Listed in 

 order of their importance, they were : Floating traps, which accounted 

 for 34 per cent of the catch; otter trawls, 19 per cent; hand lines, 11 

 per cent; dredges, 9 per cent; and purse seines, 8 per cent. The catch 

 by floating traps was principally whiting, squid, scup, mackerel, and 

 butterfish; that by otter trawls, chiefly flounders; that by lines, 

 mainly cod and haddock; that by dredges, principally oysters; and 

 that by purse seines, herring and mackerel. 



OPERATING UNITS BY COUNTIES 



Newport County was foremost in the number of persons fishing, 

 accounting for 47 per cent of the total. Kent County followed with 

 20 per cent. Other counties employing a considerable number of fish- 

 erman were Washington and Providence. Newport County alone 

 accounted for 68 per cent of the fishing vessels. It also accounted for 

 41 per cent of the motor and other small fishing boats. Kent County 

 accounted for 29 per cent of the small fishing boats. 



CATCH BY COUNTIES 



Fishing was prosecuted in the marine waters of five counties in Rhode 

 Island during 1929. Ranked according to their value, the fisheries of 

 Newport County were most important, accounting for 71 per cent of 

 the total catch and 48 per cent of the total value of the catch. Wash- 

 ington County was next in value of the catch, accounting for 16 per 

 cent of the quantity and 16 per cent of the value. The next county in 

 importance was Kent, followed in order by Bristol and Providence. 



