SHAD FISHERIES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST. 



243 



Statement, by water areas, of the yield of sliad in each form of apparatus employed in the 

 ' fisheries of New York in 1S9G. 



a Incidental catch. 



NEW YORK BAY. 



The numerous bodies of water leading from the ocean to the mouth 

 of Hudson River have several designations, but the name New York 

 Bay applies to the whole area from Sandy Hook to the Battery. The 

 near approach of Staten Island to the western end of Long Island 

 divides the bay into two unequal portions, known as Upper Bay and 

 Lower Bay. The general form of Lower Bay is that of an equilateral 

 triangle, each side of which approximates 15 miles in length. Upper 

 Bay is about 5 miles long and 3 or 4 miles in width. Connecting the 

 two, occupying the space between Long Island and Staten Island, are 

 the Narrows, the least Avidth of which approximates 1 mile. At the 

 extreme upper end of Lower Bay, occupying the cove between Coney 

 Island light and Fort Hamilton, is Gravesend Bay, a small body of 

 water covering about 2 square miles. The fisheries of each of these 

 water areas are described in succession. 



Loicer Bay. — The shad fisheries of Lower Bay are confined to the use 

 of several pound nets on the shore of Staten Island between Elm Tree 

 beacon and Fort Tompkins light. These nets are set separately in 12 

 to 15 feet of water, and are worth about $250 each. Four were used 

 in 1890, requiring 18 men and boats, the value of the latter being 

 $930. The season began April 1 and ended about the middle of June, 

 and the catch approximated 8,100 roes and 5,000 bucks, valued locally 

 at $1,680. 



