384 



GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



with two fykes each are usually fished iu the bay. Eight ineii are engaged iu the fishery, the 

 catch for 1880 amounting to 20,000 shad, in addition to 50 tons of other fish. Joseph Slater sets 

 two fykes for shad off Constable Hook, and two for other small fish, while Mr. Nicholas and others 

 have a number at Bayonne. Mr. Slater reports 12 to 15 shad a fair catch for a fyke iu twenty- 

 four hours. The shad season usually lasts from the middle of April until late iu May, but 

 other species, including bass and weakfish, are taken up to the middle of December. Iu 1880 ihe 

 price of shad ranged from $8 to $15 per hundred. The principal fisheries, if we except the gill-net 

 shad fishery, which is carried on to a limited extent by these fishermen in New York waters, are 

 off Bergen Ridge, between Bergen Poiut and Communipaw. Bergen Ridge separates Upper New 

 York Bay from Newark Bay, and fishermen living on it often fish in both localities. 



140. NEWARK BAY. 



The fisheries in this bay are said to have been greatly injured by coal oil. Newark Bay shad 

 formerly sold at high prices in the neighboring towns, but as they often taste of oil they have lost 

 their reputation. At times even the oysters in the bay are tainted with coal oil, and the fishermen 

 complain loudly against the emptying of such substances into the rivers, as well as against the 

 practice of carrying oil across them in submerged pipes. 



Ten men fish regularly throughout the year, and in the shad season as many more fish with 

 gill-nets in New York waters ; $1,500 are invested in nets, with $300 additional in small boats. 

 The catch of shad for the past two seasons has been very light. In 1880 it amounted only to 4,000 

 in number, with 32 tons of other species. A few crabs are taken here for local consumption. 

 The smelts which enter this bay are esteemed beyond those of other localities. They are taken 

 chiefly about the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers. They are quite small, seldom exceeding five 

 inches in length. The catch is now quite insignificant, but when Eastern smelts are selling in New 

 York at from 5 to 15 cents per pound these find a ready market at 25 cents. 



C. THE COAST FISHERIES OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. 



141. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION. 



THE VARIOUS FISHERY INTERESTS. This district, which includes the ocean shore from Sandy 

 Hook to Barnegat Inlet, has extensive fisheries. They are carried on exclusively from small open 

 boats, and sloops and schooners under 5 tons measurement. The fishing is chiefly about the 

 mouths of the brackish bays and coves, and along the outer beach, though a number of species 

 are taken several miles from land. The fishing begins in early spring and continues without inter- 

 ruption till late in the fall, after which most of the fishermen turn their attention to clamming, 

 though a few of the larger boats are employed in the winter cod fisheries. 



STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION. The following statements show the extent of the sea fish- 

 eries of the district for 1880: 



Summary statement of persons employed. 



