306 GEOGEAPHICAL REVIEW OF TIlE FISHERIES. 



sold in Few York ; clauis, chiefly used at the summer resorts in their season and sold throughout 

 the near towns and cities at all seasons. 



The investment in the fisheries of Apponaug in 1 steamer, 9 sail boats, 36 scallop dredges, 4 

 seines, 30 small boats and fixtures, and the fish-houses, is $4,609. The catch includes 3,300 gallons 

 of scallops, 6,000 bushels of clams, and 37,500 pounds of fresh fish, worth $11,975. The number of 

 persons employed is 38. 



EAST GREENWICH. East Greenwich is located at the head of Greenwich Bay, in which fish- 

 ing is carried on for six or eight months in the year. Seines, gill-nets, and fyke nets are used. 

 The same species of fish are taken here as at Apponaug. The fishing by Greenwich men is 

 extended as far south as Newport; but, wherever they go, a scanty living only is their reward. 



The gill-net fishery is the most important. These nets are set in about 4 fathoms of water. 

 Sandy Point is a noted bluefish ground. The boats used by the gill-netters are those which have 

 already served as seine-boats and will yet fill the place of scallop-boats later in the season. Juno 

 and July are the two best months for gill-netting. Eleven nets are used; they are each 75 

 fathoms long and are made with a mesh of 4 inches. In these no fish of a less weight than 2 

 pounds are taken. 



Four seines, each 100 fathoms long and 12 feet deep, of 1 to 2-inch mesh, are used. Each 

 seine requires the labor of three men. April and May are the best months for this fishery, but it 

 is kept up by some all the year round. In addition to bluefish, these seines catch squcteague and 

 tautog. Before menhaden steamers were so extensively used one seine would at times catch 250 

 barrels of menhaden at a single haul. 



About a hundred fyke-nets are set in Greenwich Bay, close inshore, under the ice. Very 

 little hook-and-line fishing is done. 



Near Greenwich numerous scallops and clams are taken. The former are obtained by dredging 

 the beds between Greenwich and Wickford, from September 15 to May 15. Clams arc dug on the 

 main shore and near islands at all seasons, but chiefly during the summer. The scallops are 

 shipped to New York and Providence or are used for local consumption. The clams are sent to 

 Providence and the summer resorts, any balance being reserved for home trade. 



The capital invested in East Greenwich in 16 sail-boats, 12 row-boats and fixtures for clamming, 

 75 dredges, 4 seines, 11 gill nets, 100 fyke-nets, and fish-houses, is $5,190. The catch is valued at 

 $12,500 and includes 6,000 bushels of scallops, 4,000 bushels of clams, 5,000 pounds of eels, and 

 125,000 pounds of fresh fish. The number of persons employed is 50. 



B. GENERAL FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. 



101. FISHERIES FROM WICKFORD TO NARRAGANSETT PIER. 



WICKFORD. Wickford is a small place, situated on the west side of Narragansett Bay, 12 

 miles northeast from Newport, a steamer from the latter port connecting with a branch of the 

 Shore Line Railroad to this port. 



A small amount of fishing is carried on in cat- rigged boats and skiffs by hand-line fishermen; 

 also by nets and traps. Four heart pounds are set on the west side of the bay, north and south of 

 the harbor. They are fished from the 1st of May until November. Boats fish all over the bay, 

 and during a small part of the year outside for cod. Eels are found plenty, and arc taken by traps 

 and spears. Fyke nets are mostly fished during the winter; the loading catch by them is flounders. 



