7<J2 



HISTOKY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



List of \>'ii- York lobsln- Kimicks Continued. 

 ENGAGED IN OTHER FISHKKIES ALSO. 



Name. 



Where owned. 



How rigged. Well or dry. Tonnage. Value. Crew. Markets supplied. 



Cornelia M. Kiugsland Greenport Schooner Well 39 $3,000 5 New York City. 



Caroline Augusta New York ...do do 21.92 1,800 7 Do. 



JosieKeeves do do 'do 45.35 3,800 6 Do. 



Total 108.27 8,600 18 



Total of all smacks 218. 81 j 11,650 33 



I . 



Summation of the lobster fisheries of New York Stale in 1880. 



Number of fishermen 'M 



Number of boats 32 



Value of same '. ., $640 



Number of lobster pots -. 960 



Value of same $720 



Total amount of capital invested in the fishery $1,360 



Number of barrels of bait used 270 



Value of same $135 



Quantity of lobsters taken, in pounds 135,000 



Value of same to the fishermen $5,062 



Summation for the New York wholesale market in 1880. 



Number of marketmen 81 



Number of smacks above 5 tons burden 6 



Value of same $11,650 



Number of smackmen 33 



Amount of capital invested in the city markets (estimate) 50, 000 



Quantity of lobsters handled, in pounds 2,500,000 



Amount paid for same to the fishermen and eastern dealers $125, 000 



Value of same, at wholesale prices $175,000 



Enhancement in value in the New York markets $50,000 



NEW JERSEY. 



Although lobsters occur along the entire outer coast of New Jersey, they are sufficiently abun- 

 dant to give rise to a regular fishery only upon that section of the coast lying between Sandy Hook 

 and Atlantic City. 



The fishing season proper begins about May 1 and continues until the last of September ; but 

 some of the fishermen set their pots as early as the middle of March, and others again fish late in 

 the fall. 



The net traps described elsewhere are the principal appliances used for taking lobsters along 

 this coast. Two men generally go together in a boat and set from thirty to forty traps on small 

 rocky spots in from 5 to 11 fathoms of water. They then engage in hand-line fishing for the day; 

 after which the pots are hauled. One man rows the boat while the other tends to the pots. Two 

 men tending thirty to forty pots will average about one barrel, equal to 140 pounds of lobsters, daily. 



In 1875 lobsters are said to have run much larger in size than at present, the catch in weight 

 having been greater, although the average number procured to the trap was about the same. 

 Thirty pounds to a trap was not an uncommon catch in former years, but during 1880 the average 

 to a trap was less than 5 pounds. The average weight of the lobsters taken at the present time is 

 about 1^ to 1$ pounds each. 



According to the statements of the fishermen of Long Branch and Seabright, the lobster lisli- 

 eries were extensively prosecuted as early as 1800, the catch being sold to carters for their local 

 trade. The business gradually declined, however, until in 1870 it was almost wholly abandoned. 

 About 1872 it again began to pick up, and it has gradually increased until in 1880 there were four- 



