294 GEOGRAPHICAL KEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



Statistics of flic oyster interests of the Stale for 1879. 



Number of planters 100 



Nu i her of lessees in 1879 56 



Extent of ground cultivated .... acres.. 962 



Valno of same (about) 15,000 



Value of shore property (about) $75,000 



Number of boats engaged 100 



Value of same with outfit 20,000 



Number of men hired by planters and dealers through, the whole year 150 



Annual earnings of same 75,000 



Number of men hired half the year 350 



Semi-annnal earnings of same 50,000 



Number of families supported, exclusive of retail trade (about) 500 



Annual sales (1879) of 



I. Native oysters bushels.. 148,200 



Value of same $205,500 



II. Chesapeake "plants" bushels.. 274,300 



Value of same 200,000 



III. Fancy stock bushels.. 15,000 



Value of same 20,000 



IV. Baltimore and Norfolk "open stock" gallons.. 8,650 



Value of same 5, COO 



Value of oysters raised in Rhode Island, but owned elsewhere 250, 000 



Total first value of all oysters produced in Narragansett Bay, annually 680,500 



C. GENERAL FISHERIES OF NEWPORT COUNTY, INCLUDING 



BLOCK ISLAND. 



96. ADAMSVILLE, LITTLE COMPTON, TIVERTON, AND VICINITY. 



ADAMSVILLE. After leaving Massachusetts, if traveling in a southern direction, the next 

 State bordering on the ocean or its bays, is Rhode Island; and, upon crossing the line between 

 the two States the first fishing place is Adamsville, iu Newport County. The fish caught here are 

 chiefly tautog and eels, both of which are found plentifully throughout all seasons of the year, 

 save winter. A small amount of fishing is done by five men a part of the season, farming being 

 their chief employment. The catch by these men iu 1880 was 5,000 pounds of tautog and 2,000 

 pounds of eels, valued at $350. 



LITTLE COMPTON. Sakonuet Point is the spot to which numerous fishermen of Little 

 Compton and the neighboring places come for the purpose of fishing. This point juts out into 

 Sakonnet River, which is an arm of Narragansett Bay. Into this bay flow the Providence, Tauu- 

 ton, and several other rivers and streams. A great variety of fish, including shad, mackerel, 

 Wuefish, rock bass, striped bass, tautog, squeteague, Spanish mackerel, alewives, kingfish, butter- 

 fish, flounders, flatfish, cod, hake, pollock, sturgeon, and scup are taken iu the bay and adjacent 

 waters. The last-mentioned species is usually caught in the greatest quantity. The Spanish 

 mackerel, cod, hake, and pollock are rare visitors. Sturgeon arc plentiful, but, like the pollock, 

 are not considered a food fish, being classed with the dogfish, goosefish, shark, skate, and men- 

 haden, which are sold at 25 cents a barrel for fertilizing purposes. The fishing grounds extend 



