NEW YORK: SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND. 363 



leach through the sand. They become quite fresh from the influx of the streams emptying into the 

 bay, arid the sea fish thus shut in die when the waters get cold. In this way untold millions of 

 valuable food-fish have perished. Such a closing happened in October last (1880), and among 

 the fish lost were thousands of small bluefish, weakfish (Cynoscion regale), porgies or scup (Steno- 

 tomus clirysops), and menhaden (Brcroorlia tymnmts). Several public-spirited citizens offered to 

 dig an opening at their own expense, but there is said to be a law forbidding it. They all want 

 the inlet opposite their own houses, and so commissioners were appointed to select a location for 

 it. These commissioners put it off until their fall farming work was done, and in the meantime the 

 fish died. Mr. William N. Lane, at Good Ground, says that when the fish die in the bay in such 

 quantities it seriously interferes with the fish which desire to enter it to spawn the next season, as 

 the oil or "slick' 7 which is produced upon the water is very offensive to them. In former years 

 Spanish mackerel (Scomleromorus maculatus) were taken in this bay, but none come now. The prin- 

 cipal species at present are bluefish, weakfish, eels, and porgies. It is claimed to be the best place 

 for eels on Long Island. 



"Duck clams" come into the bay periodically and when they are here the porgies (scup) come 

 in and feed upon them in great numbers, as do several species of wild fowl, as red-heads, canvass- 

 backs, broad-bills, coots, boobies, and old-squaws. This clam came in last summer, after an 

 absence of three years. Their stay is usually three or four years, when they all die from some 

 cause unknown. 



GOOD GROUND. Seventy-five men at this settlement derive their support from the water. 

 They divide their time between fishing, clamming, wild-fowl shooting, and taking out parties of 

 pleasure fishermen in their sail-boats. The fishing season continuing more than two-thirds of the 

 year, the number of fishermen may be placed at fifty. Twenty of the men are married, and one 

 hundred and thirty persons in all are dependent upon the fishery. Small boats of 2 tons are used, 

 of which there are fifty, worth $4,000. About 8 : 3,000 arc invested in seines, fykes, and gill-nets. 

 Eels are taken in great numbers. Mr. Lane, alluded to above, took eels from twelve to fifteen 

 years ago, and averaged 25,000 pounds per year. He thinks that in the whole bay there are fifty 

 men eeling at the present time, but their labors are not rewarded with the same success as 

 formerly, and the entire yearly catch probably does not average more than 100,000 pounds. About 

 30,000 pounds of eels are taken at Good Ground, together with 1,000,000 pounds of fresh fish, 

 including fiat-fish. Crabs are plenty, but not many are sent to market. The catch reaches about 

 100 dozen of soft crabs and 200 barrels of hard crabs, the latter being consumed at home. 



ATLANTICVILLE. Forty men fish here, of whom twenty are married. There are one hundred 

 persons in all dependent on the fisheries. The apparatus of capture is similar to that of the 

 neighboring towns. Fifty 2-ton boats, worth $4,000, and $6,000 worth of nets, are used in the 

 fisheries. The products consisted of 50,000 pounds of eels, 1,200,000 pounds of other fish of 

 various species, 50 barrels of hard crabs. 300 dozen of soft crabs, 200 bushels of oysters, and 500 

 bushels of hard clams. 



QUOGUE. This locality has ten fishermen, six of whom are married. Including these men 

 and their families a total of thirty persons are dependent upon the fisheries. In the months of 

 May and June, and sometimes in October, these fishermen devote their attention to the capture of 

 striped bass with seines and gill-nets on the outer shore. The catch of this species has fallen off 

 greatly in the past few years. The total production of the fisheries of this place for the last year 

 amounted to 20,000 pounds dressed eels, 40,000 pounds fresh fish, and 50 barrels hard crabs. 



At Pond-Quogue, or Canoe Place, as it is otherwise designated, is a menhaden factory owned 

 by Mr. Albert Terry, of Riverhead. 



