INLAND FISHERIES COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 5 



to advocate one side or the other. They endeavor to give the facts 

 as they find them, to represent the good or ill conduct of the parties 

 most interested as it comes under their notice, and to enforce the law 

 in all cases without fear or favor. In our last report we mentioned 



the arrest and prosecution of King. This case, owing to the 



law's delays, has not yet come to trial. The arrest of the individual, 

 however, has had a good effect on those parties who were disposed to 

 violate the law. Judging from the close observance of it, the past 

 season, the lesson was a good one to all interested. 



It will be seen by. our financial statement apj^ended, that our exjien- 

 ses in properly enforcing the law this year, were about one thousand 

 dollars. It cannot well be done for less, as the men employed must 

 be faithful and energetic, and attend to their duties in all weathers. 

 Such men are not easily found. 



HEART NETS. 



Forty-nine (49) heart nets were maintained in Narragansett Bay 

 the past summer, an increase of eight (8) over the year previous, 

 and eighteen (18) in two years. Tiiis increase is due to the num- 

 ber placed this year in Sakonnet river below Stone Bridge. No less 

 than nineteen (19) being placed there, an increase of ten (10) over the 

 previous year. We desire to call the attention of your honorable body 

 to the fact that six (G) of these destructive machines were maintained 

 by parties living outside of the State of Khode Island, who lived on 

 board their vessels, loaded the same and sailed away for a market far 

 from our own doors. Other States have laws forbidding this sort 

 of business, and it is high time we enact something of the kind to 

 protect ourselves. As the years go on, and our State increases in 

 population, and our people realize as they begin to do the im2)ortance 

 and value of oui- fisheries, such regulations must come, and we believe 

 the sooner the better. Laws properly enforced require more or less 

 expenditure of money, and money so spent is, we believe, well spent. 



In our report of last year, we made sundry suggestions looking to 

 the amendment of our fishery laws. No notice was taken of the 

 same, and we can only say that we have not changed our views in the 



