16. AGRICULTURE 



Agriculture holds a relatively umjnportant position in the 

 economy of the area. Although the land of the state of Rhode Island 

 is fertile, only 1.5 percent of the labor force of the state is en- 

 gaged in farming as a primary enqsloyment, and this percentage is 

 decreasing as urban development expands into farming areas. In the 

 less industrialized areas, however, particularly along the Middle 

 and Lower Bays, there are a number of thriving farms. 



17. NAVIGATION 



Narragansett Bay, one of the deep water harbors on the Atlantic 

 coast, is the seaway to the ports of Providence and Fall River, which 

 rank third and fifth, respectively, in commercial tonnage in New 

 England, The total annual tonnage passing through the bay is about 

 10,000,000 tons, of which about 75 percent is destined for the port 

 of Providence, Three distinct types of vessels comprise the traffic 

 in the bay, - deep-draft commercial vessels. Naval vessels, and small 

 fishing and recreational craft. 



The deep-draft commercial vessels carry cargo consisting prin- 

 cipally of imports of petroleum and petroleum products, and of coal. 

 In 1955, these commodities accounted, respectively, for £5 percent 

 and 10 percent by weight of the total cargoes received at Providence. 

 In 1955, annual commercial vessel traffic passing through the bay 

 totaled about 370 vessel trips a year for vessels having drafts of 

 30 feet or greater and about 230 vessel trips for vessels having 

 drafts between 25 and 30 feet. Commercial vessels having drafts of 

 less than 25 feet made aporoximately 25,000 vessel trips to and from 

 the various ports within the bay. 



Naval vessels using the bay include all types of modem fight- 

 ing ships, which are part of the Atlantj.c Kleet (see paragraph 20). 

 Thousands of small fishing and recreational craft na-vigate the vraters 

 of the bay in connection with commercial and sport fishing and sail- 

 ing and motor boating. In recent years, the number of pleasure craft, 

 both sailboats and motorboats, has increased spectacularly. 



18 . TRANSPORTATION 



The area, containing the second largest metropolitan region in 

 New i3ngland, is served by an extensive system of highways, railroads 

 and airlines. Major highways radiate from Providence connecting the 

 area with Boston, Worcester, Hartford, New London and New Bedford. 



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