COMMERCE, NAVIGATION AND FISHERIES. 



77 



Note B. — As showing the extent to which the business of taking men- 

 haden in shore seines for manure had been carried in the waters of Southold 

 town during the first half of the present century, I quote from the Repub- 

 lican Wokhfiian, of July 4, 1835, the following "statement of fish (called 

 bunkers) that have been taken in the waters of the town of Southold the 

 present season," and append theret-^ the proof of its authenticitv in the 

 shape of a certificate from the assessors of the town: 



We, the undersigned, do certify that the foregoing is a correct state- 

 ment of fish taken in the to>vn of Southold, the present season, being 

 drawn up under our supervision. That the length of seine employing ten 

 men is about 150 rods, exclusive of line, which is generally double that 

 length. 'I'hat those seines employing a greater or less number of men are 

 in the same proportion in regard to length. That the average time 

 employed in fishing has been about five weeks. That the number of fish 

 requisite for manuring an acre of land sufficient for any crops is 15,000. 

 That the prices of fish have ranged from 50 to 75 cents per thousand, and 

 consequently the expense of manuring an acre will range from seven dollars 

 fifty cents to eleven dollars twenty-five cents. ^ That the number of porgies, 

 or skippaugs, taken in Southold bay by fishing smacks and carried through 

 Helgate to New York market, at a single tide, on or about the i8th inst. , 

 has exceeded 100,000; the average weight of the same is one pound each, 

 and the proceeds of the sale 3, 500 dollars. 



John Clark, ] 



Oliver Corey, | Assessors of the 



Henry H. Terry. \- 

 Joshua Hallock, | Town of Southold. 

 Barnabas Wines, J 



Southold, June 30th, 1835. 



It is further stated that about 12,000,000 menhaden were taken in the 

 town of Riverhead, the same season. 



