SHAD FISHERIES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST. 259 



OCEAN SHORE OF RHODE ISLAND. 



Along the ocean shore of Bhode Island, from Watch Hill to Point 

 Judith, there are several pound nets each spring in which a few shad 

 are taken incidentally. These nets are set about April 20 and remain 

 until the fall, catching shad during the first two or three weeks in 

 which they are set, viz, from April 20 to May 10. There were 14 pound 

 nets in this locality in 1896, the total value of which was $16,800, and 

 their catch of shad is reported at 946, of which about 40 per cent were 

 roes. The average weight of the roe shad approximated 5 pounds, 

 while the bucks averaged in weight about 3 pounds each. The roes 

 sold at an average price of 38 cents and the bucks at about 20 cents 

 each. On the shore of Block Island there were 4 pound nets in 1896, 

 valued at $4,900, in which 105 shad, worth $32, were taken. In 1895 

 the same 4 pound nets caught about 200 shad. 



NARRAGANSETT BAY. 



There are numerous pound nets set each spring at various points in 

 Narragansett Bay, the principal species taken being scup, squeteague, 

 and sea bass. The nets are most numerous off the southern shore of New- 

 port Island, in Western Channel and between Sakonnet and Tiverton. 

 In these pound nets a few shad are taken each year, but this species 

 is rarely sufficiently numerous to receive special attention from the 

 fishermen. In the 98 nets in Narragansett Bay in 1896, the catch of 

 shad was 1,090 roes and 1,073 bucks. Over half of these were taken 

 in 39 nets set in the Eastern Channel, between Sakonnet Point and 

 Mount Hope Bay, the catch being 685 roes and 563 bucks. The largest 

 yield in any single pound net was 70 roe shad and 78 bucks, obtained 

 in a net off Bumstick Neck, at the northern end of Narragansett Bay 

 near the mouth of Providence River. 



Warren River. — While a few shad run up most of the tributaries of 

 Narragansett Bay, yet they are not in sufficient numbers to support 

 important fisheries, and the only well-known shad stream in the State 

 is Warren Biver. This small stream is a tidal arm of Narragansett Bay 

 near its northern limit. It is only a few hundred feet in width, about 

 10 miles in length, and contains no obstructions to the free passage of 

 fish. It has been an important shad stream during the last thirty years 

 at least. In 1880 it was reported that about 5,000 shad, with an aver- 

 age weight of 3£ pounds each, were taken in 5 pound nets set in this 

 river. In 1896 there were 3 pound nets set at the head of the river, 

 near the Massachusetts State line. The shad season began April 20 

 and ended May 29, and the catch numbered 5,480 roes and 3,778 bucks, 

 valued locally at $2,408. This was an average for recent years, the 

 yield ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 annually. 



Pawcatuch River. — The Pawcatuck formerly yielded a large number 

 of shad, but at present it is obstructed by numerous dams, which com- 

 pletely block the passage of fish. Yet a few shad are taken in the 



