366 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The lisheiy for hard and soft shell crabs is carried on by several 

 persons to a limited extent in Narrow River, between Wickford and 

 Narragansett Pier, the season being from about the middle of June to 

 the last of August. Soft crabs were the more v^aluable, the price 

 received in 1898 being $1 a dozen, while the hard crabs brought only 

 about 25 cents a dozen. The catch of hard and soft crabs was 12,895 

 pounds, valued at $2,250. 



The sword-fish fishery, which centers at Block Island, appears to 

 have declined during recent years, owing, it is said, to the scarcity of 

 fish. In former years 15 fish have been caught in a day by one vessel, 

 but a vessel is now considered lucky if she brings in 3 or 4, the chances 

 being that the result of her day's cruise will be onl}^ 1 or 2 fish, and 

 possibh^ none. In 1898 the total catch amounted to 55,875 pounds, 

 valued at $2,935. Their average weight, dressed, is about 200 pounds. 

 It is said that the largest specimen ever taken by the fishermen of 

 Block Island weighed 618 pounds and was captured about five years 

 ago. The fishery is carried on chiefly b}^ 5 schooners, ranging from 

 13 to 25 tons net register. The season is from the middle of June to 

 about the 10th of August. In suitable weather the vessels leave the 

 harbor in the morning about 4 o'clock, returning in the afternoon 

 about 5 or 6 o'clock. Before being shipped (and generall}^ before the 

 vessel returns to port) the fish are dressed by removing the head, vis- 

 cera, and fins, including the caudal, the ventral cavity being washed 

 out with sea water and the carcass wrapped in bagging. Boston and 

 Providence are the principal markets for this product. 



The oyster industry is the most important branch of fisheries in the 

 State, its products at the present time having a greater value than all 

 the other fishery products combined. There has been a substantial 

 increase in this industr}^ during the past few years, the yield in 1898 

 being larger than in any previous year, except 1879, for which data 

 are available. The quantity of market and seed oysters taken from 

 the private and public grounds in 1889 was 203,450 bushels, valued at 

 $271,939; in 1892 it was 174,446 bushels, valued at $259,242, and in 

 1898, 457,378 bushels, valued at $505,378. 



The three tables which follow show the number of persons engaged, 

 the number and value of vessels and boats, the quantity and value of 

 fishing apparatus, the value of shore and accessory property and the 

 amount of cash capital employed, and the quantity and value of the 

 products of the fisheries of Rhode Island in 1898: 



Persons employed. 



How engaged. 



On vessels fishing 



On vessels transi)()rting 

 Boat or shore fishermen 

 Shoresmen 



Total 



No. 



365 



79 



896 



347 



1,687 



