wAPPENDIX. 95 



business cares in the great city. If you should undertake to ascertain the 

 value of these fisheries you would have upon your hands a most perplexing 

 work. You would have to hunt up every man who has enjoyed the exhil- 

 arating sport of trolling for blue fish. But then not one of them would be 

 able to tell you what he estimated to be the value of his day's catch; for in 

 catching fish, he also caught hea'th and recreiiion and joy. Besides fish 

 so caught are not usually sold. 



I remember a notab'eclay's fishing on the Great South Bay many years 

 ago which has an ever increasing value in its pleasant recollections. 



Then again you have all amund Long Island, trout ponds and trout 

 streams, almost all of which are uow pr.vaLe preserves. Who can estimate 

 the money value of these fisheries .^ For example: Suppose you should 

 apply to my friend, the Hon. Henry J. Scudder, of Northport, for the 

 annual value of the catch on his trout pond, which is not only a source of 

 pleasure to himself and his family, but adds a charm to the landscape 

 wh'ch takes in his beautiful home. To estimate the value of the fish taken 

 on that pond during a season upon the basis of value per pound in Fulton 

 Market, would, I think, be very disgusting to Mr. Scudder. 



Then, again, you have your oystering interest, for the enterprising 

 citizens of Suffolk County have gone out upon the bays and harbors in 

 front of their properties along the water line, and through a recognized 

 principle of squatter sovereignty have acquired exceedingly valuable ri- 

 parian rights. Ichlhyologically the oyster is not a fish; but, commercially, 

 oystering and the fisheries are commonly embraced in the same category. 

 It would be about as difficult, I think, for you to ascertain the value of 

 oysters, clams and escallops, taken annually in the waters of Suff"olk 

 County, as it would be (or you to ascertain the value of the imported goods 

 consumed by the people of that county. 



I enclose a statement in regard to the population of Suffolk County 

 according to the censuses, running back as far as possible, also acreage in 

 farms, value of lands in farms, and value of manufactures. Some time ago 

 I wrote an article for the North American Rnnew, a copy of whicti I send to 

 you. In this, you will find some allusion to Long Island which may 

 interest you. 



If you should fail to meet the expectations of your audience you -will 

 certainly be entitled to plead in defence the fact that you were asked to do 

 the impossible thing, and you may, if you choose, summon me as witness 

 in your defense. 



Regretting my inability to serve you better, — I am. Sir, very respect- 

 fully yours, JOSEPH NIMMO, Jr., 



Chief of Bureau, 



