332 GEOGRAPHICAL KEVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



ages oil bis offshore laud. Another planter gives me his estimated wealth as follows: On 70 acres 

 75,000 bushels, suitable to be sold as seed in the spring of 1830, at an average of 50 cents a bushel ; 

 on 50 acres, shells and a good set; elsewhere, in one tract, about 3,000 bushels of young spawners, 

 on which shells are to be thrown; on another tract, 20,000 bushels of seed useful in 1880; and, 

 lastly, an area holding about 5,000 bushels of 'set'. A 30-acre lot yielded this firm 12,000 bushels 

 in three years, which were sold at 70 cents." 



E. COAST TOWNS OF CONNECTICUT WEST OF NEW HAVEN. 



110. GENERAL FISHERIES OF THE DISTRICT. 



FISHERIES FROM MILFORD TO NEW YORK. There are no important general fishing stations 

 in Connecticut west of New Haven. At Milford there is a menhaden oil factory with a fleet of 

 twelve vessels, aggregating 316.G2 tons, and a large capital invested in buildings and machinery. 

 In the Housatonic River eleven seines, handled by forty-seven men, are used in the annual capture 

 of about 28,000 pounds of shad and 165,000 pounds of other fish. 



At Stratford seines are hauled for menhaden for manure, and a few blackfish or tautog, 

 flounders, and striped bass are taken. The total catch of these fish is about C,000 pounds yearly, 

 and 20,000 pounds of eels. No one lives entirely by fishing. Ten men take eels in summer. 



W. D. Cook & Sons, fish dealers at Bridgeport, report that a few bluefish, weakfish, and 

 striped bass are taken near there with lines, mainly for sport. A seine is sometimes hauled, but 

 it does not pay. Fykes are set for flounders, and a sturgeon is sometimes caught. The bluefish 

 seldom exceed 2 pounds. Eels are taken in pots and with spears. The market supply of fish comes 

 from New York, Boston, and Gloucester. The above firm has sold 44 barrels per week. The catch 

 here amounts to 2,000 pounds of eels and 5,000 pounds of other species. No one lives by fishing 

 entirely; it is mainly done for sport. The fishermen throw small eels on shore to die. Mr. W. D. 

 Mills has a small seine 30 rods long, 14 feet deep, and of 2J-inch mesh. He says that there are 

 nine seines owned here, but that if a man depended upon fishing he would starve. They fish when 

 other work is dull. Blackfish and flatfish are the main fish. A few lobsters are caught. 



The supply of fish for South Norwalk comes almost entirely from New York, and there is no 

 fishing here except for sport. Some of the people take a few els and flatfish, but not enough to 

 amount to anything for market. 



From South Norwalk to New York the same story is told. All fish come from New York to 

 the big markets. A few men drag out an existence by fishing when nothing else offers, but they 

 are of an idle class who do not care to do too much of anything. A few anglers fish for sport, and 

 an occasional big bass is taken. The following notice is from Forest and Stream of June 2, 1881: 



"NEW EOCHELLE, NEW YORK. On the 24th of May, Mr. Walter J. Davids caught with a 

 hook and line, using a squid for bait, a striped bass 4 feet 2 inches long and weighing 53 pounds. 

 It was taken in New Rochelle Harbor, Long Island Sound, in about 12 feet of water, near the village 

 dock. H. W. M." 



Anglers find sport occasionally, but from a commercial point of view there arc practically no 

 fisheries here. 



