FISHERIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. 365 



than either scallops or clams, the yield amounting to 31,212 bushels, 

 valued at $31,81B, against 19,950 bushels in 1892. The supply of clams 

 in 1898 was not equal to the local demand, a large proportion of the 

 yield being used for clambakes. 



The lobster fishery, as compared with 1892, shows a decrease in 

 products, but an increase in the quantity of apparatus employed. The 

 catch of lobsters in 1892 was 774,100 pounds, valued at $53,762, and 

 in 1898 it was 578,066 pounds, valued at $43,290. The number of 

 pots used in the former year was 6,341 and in the latter 10,312. The 

 season for catching lobsters is principally from May to August, inclu- 

 sive, but more or less fishing is carried on throughout the year. While 

 the law prohibits the capture of lobsters under 9 inches in length, little 

 attention is paid to this provision. The cost of bait used in lobster 

 pots is not very great, as the lobstermen utilize all kinds of fish refuse, 

 which is often obtained from the trap-net fishermen and the local fish 

 markets without cost. 



8cup is the most important species, next to oysters, ()))tained in the 

 fisheries of the State. The catch of scup in 1898 was 6,390,225 pounds, 

 valued at $75,596, all of which, except 2,300 pounds, worth $68, taken 

 with hand lines, was secured with trap nets and pound nets. It is said 

 that this fish has been phenomenally abundant every season since 1894. 

 Some years ago about 7,000 barrels of scup were -held in a large pound 

 for several months pending a rise in prices. They were fed chiefly on 

 ground menhaden and mussels. It was found that they greatly pre- 

 ferred the menhaden to anything else, the quantity fed to them a day 

 being 100 barrels. When sold they were in good condition, and the 

 experiment proved a success, although a good many of the fish escaped 

 through a break in the pound. They will live, it is said, an entire 

 summer in a pound without being fed, but will become poorer than 

 when first impounded. 



Squeteague or weak-fish are also very plentiful, and appear to be 

 getting more so each year. The catch in 1898 amounted to 3,125,635 

 pounds, valued at $63,976. At Wickford the sounds, or swim-bladders, 

 are. taken from the squeteague, and after beinsf dried are sold as a 

 secondary product. It requires about 35 of these, when prepared for 

 market, to make a pound, the average selling price of which was 30 

 cents, the total quantity sold being 2,100 pounds, valued at $630. 



Alewives are taken in Point Judith Pond and other waters of the 

 State, but the catch was not so large as in former years. In 1889 the 

 product of fresh, salted, and smoked alewives aggregated 1,046,250 

 pounds, valued at $18,138; in 1892 it was 1,189,593 pounds, valued at 

 $18,216, and in 1898, 838,622 pounds, valued at $10,273. The trade in 

 salted alewives was very much injured in 1898 by the Spanish-American 

 war, the West Indies being the principal market for this product. 

 Shipments were made by only two persons, and amounted to 368 barrels. 

 In 1899 3,000 barrels were shipped and prices were considerably ])etter. 



