372 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



consisted of flat-fish and flounders, squeteague, sea bass, butter-fish, 

 and various other species. 



The most important group of apparatus employed in the fisheries 

 of the State, as determined by the value of the catch, was comprised 

 of dredges, tongs, clam diggers, and hoes. The products obtained 

 with these consisted of oysters and oyster shells, clams, quahogs, and 

 scallops, and were valued at $572,896. A considerable quantit}^ of 

 products was also taken with other forms of apparatus. The yield 

 of seines amounted to 3,630,143 pounds, valued at $21,978, the more 

 important species being mackerel, menhaden, and alewives. Gill nets 

 secured 330,770 pounds, A^alued at $11,828, consisting principally of 

 blue-fish and squeteague. The catch of fyke nets was 141,645 pounds, 

 valued at $3,385, the greater part of which was flat-fish. The hand and 

 trawl line catch was 1,972,116 pounds, valued at $60,076, the more 

 abundant species being cod, haddock, mackerel, tautog, and blue-fish. 

 The catch with lobster and eel pots consisted of 578,066 pounds of 

 lobsters, valued at $43,290, and 291,225 pounds of eels, valued at 

 $13,271. In the vessel fisheries harpoons were used for the capture 

 of sword-fish, the catch being 55,875 pounds, valued at $2,935. The 

 remainder of the products was taken with spears, snap nets, and minor 

 apparatus, and was valued at $4,608. 



The following series of tables shows by counties, species, and appa- 

 ratus the quantity and value of products obtained in the vessel and 

 shore fisheries of Rhode Island in 1898: 



Table showing, by counties, the yield of the seine fisheries of Rhode Island in 1898. 



Species. 



Newport. 



Providence, 



Kent. 



Washington. 



Total. 



Lbs. 



Val. 



Lbs. 



Val. 



Lbs. 



Val. 



Lbs. 



Val. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Vessel fisheries: 

 Mackerel 



80,000 

 3, 100, 000 



S2,843 

 7,350 















80,000 

 3, 100, 000 



$2, 84a 

 7,350 



Menhaden 































Total 



3, 180, 000 



10, 193 















3, 180, 000 



10, 19a 

















Shore fisheries: 

 Alewives, fresh 







2,000 



$70 



1,000 



$25 



83, 232 

 73, 600 

 93,790 



$408 



920 



1,860 



86. 232 

 73, 600 

 93, 790 



5,000 



300 



1,500 



39. 233 

 19, 375 



3,300 

 40,000 



3,128 



47,475 



200 



1,100 

 18,250 

 11,500 



4,375 



1,785 



503 



Alewives, salted 







920 



Alewives, smoked 















1,860 



Blue-fish 











6,000 



200 



200 



Bullheads 











300 



1,500 



2,700 



19,375 



3,300 



24 



45 



135 



748 



120 



24 



Cod 















45 



Eels 







36, 533 



2,172 







2,307 



Flounders 











748 



Mackerel 















120 



Menhaden 







28,000 

 3,000 



220 

 260 



12,000 

 128 



21 

 16 



241 



Minnows 











276 



Perch 







47,475 



200 



1,100 



1,801 



20 



110 



1,801 



Pickerel 















20 



Smelt . .. 















110 



Squeteag'ue 







1,000 



50 



17,250 



510 



560 



Striped bass 







11,500 



1,298 



1,298 



Tautog . ... 











4,376 



157 



157 



Shrimp 







1,785 



595 







595 



















Total 







72, 318 



3,367 



39, 753 



929 



338,072 



7,489 



450, 143 



11, 786 











Total vessel and 

 shore 



3,180,000 



10, 193 



72,318 



3,367 



39,753 



929 



338,072 



7,489 



3,630,143 



21,97» 







