THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 787 



Summation of the lobster fisheries of Rhode Island in 1880. 



- Number of fishermen 110 



Number of smackmen who are also fishermen 19 



Number of smacks above 5 tons burden 5 



Value of same $4,650 



Number of boats 85 



Value of same $6,400 



Number of lobster pots 2,170 



Value of same $1,627 



Total amount of capital invested $12,677 



Number of barrels of bait used 840 



Valueofsame $420 



Quantity of lobsters taken and sold, in pounds 423,250 



Value of same to the fishermen $15,871 



CONNECTICUT. 



The lobster fisheries of Connecticut are of considerable importance, especially in New London 

 County. The principal places from which the fishery is carried on are as follows, beginning at 

 the east: Stouiugton, Noauk, New London, Saybrook, the vicinity of South Norwalk, including 

 Black Rock and Five Mile River, and New Haven. The catch for New London County, including 

 Stoningtou, Noauk, and New London, is five or six times greater than, that of the remainder of the 

 State. The little town of Noank, situated at the mouth of the Mystic River, about midway between 

 Stouingtou and New London, is the most important lobster station in the State, the catch for that 

 port in 1880 having been equal to about one-half the total catch for the entire State. 



SEASON. The extreme limits of the Connecticut lobster season are from March to December, 

 but a few lobsters are sometimes taken in the winter when the weather is not too severe. The 

 Stouington lobstermen generally fish from April to November ; the New London from April to 

 September ; the South Norwalk from April to November ; the New Haven from April to October. 

 The Noank lobstermen fish more or less the entire season, as indicated above, but state that lob- 

 sters are most abundant during the latter part of the summer and the fall, or from August to 

 November. 



GROUNDS. The traps are set in all depths of water, from a few feet to 60 fathoms, and on all 

 kinds of bottom, rocky, sandy, and muddy. Some of the best fishing grounds are situated in 

 Block Island Sound off Fisher's Island, where lobsters are caught abundantly, even in deep holes 

 sounding 50 to 60 fathoms. This region is mostly visited by the Noank fishermen. In Western 

 Connecticut, from the mouth of the Connecticut River westward, the fishery, being of slight extent, 

 is generally carried on near shore and in depths of 1 to 20 fathoms. The New London County 

 fishermen are, however, more venturesome, being to a greater extent dependent upon this 

 industry for a living. They have, therefore, extended their field of operations over a much 

 broader area. The smaller boats set their pots everywhere and in all depths in Fisher's Island 

 Sound and Block Island Sound, about Montauk Point, and from there towards No Man's Land, 

 and along the Rhode Island shore to near the mouth of Buzzard's Bay. The larger smacks fish 

 over the same area and also in Buzzard's Bay and Vineyard Sound, and off Martha's Vineyard and 



* 



Nantucket. 



TRAPS. The ordinary round-top lath trap, with wooden or twine funnel openings, is most 

 commonly used. Occasionally, however, a galvanized iron funnel is employed. Another style of 

 trap is made from basket splints. The hoop-net pot, called in this State the " drop net " trap, 

 is sometimes, but only rarely, employed. 



BAIT. Menhaden are generally used as bait, as they are usually more easily and cheaply 



