354 



GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



cutire menhaden catch for the bay, including those taken by the residents and other fishermen, is 

 estimated at 400,000,000 fish. The figures for the first two quarters of 1880 are as follows : 



Mr. W. S. Havens, collector of customs at the port of Sag Harbor, has gathered statistics of 

 the fisheries for all points on Peconic and Gardiner's Bays, and for the ocean shore from Rivcrhead 

 to Montank and Orient Points. Mr. King informed us that these figures were included in the 

 statistics furnished by him, but as they differ in many particulars, we furnish a copy as taken from 

 Mr. Haveus's books : 



The items of "Fresh fish," "Other shell-fish," and "All other products" I think too low, and 

 in the account of the different towns of the district I give my estimate for each. 



123. THE FISHING TOWNS BETWEEN BAITING HOLLOW AND SOUTHOLD. 



BAITING HOLLOW. Six fishermen, four of whom have families depending upon them, reside 

 at this place, which is an inland village with no harbor. Nearly all of them fish along the sound 

 shore with haul-seines. The seines and boats aggregate about 81, COO. The principal species taken 

 are flounders, bluefish, striped bass, and weakfish, the first-named being the most abundant. Last 

 year 40,000 pounds of fish were taken and marketed in the locality at an average of G cents per 

 pound. Very few were shipped during the season. 



RIVEBHEAD. This is a place of about 2,700 inhabitants. It is situated at the head of Peconic 

 Bay, which separates the two peninsulas of the eastern end, or, as a citizen expressed it, " right in 

 the fork of the boot-jack." A small river empties into the bay at this point, but a dam prevents 

 any fish from ascending. A long pond, said to be 50 feet deep in places, is formed by the dam, 

 and contains pike or "pickerel" (Esox), which, from the descriptions, I think are E. rcticulatits. 

 Black bass and carp have been introduced this year. One hundred of the men are engaged in 

 fishing. Eighty-eight are employed in the menhaden fisheries, and twelve live by clamming, eeling, 

 &c. Sixty out of the entire number are married, which, if the families be included, gives a total 

 of three hundred and fifty persons dependent on the fisheries. Oysters were planted about ( 2 miles 

 below the village last spring, but they do not thrive well. A company of six members was formed, 

 with shares of $50 each, and 1 acre was planted with G75 bushels of seed from New Haven, Conn. 



