THE POUND-NET FISHERIES OF THE ATLANTIO STATES. 605 
In the remarks of Mr. E. W. Whalley, of Narragansett Pier, before Professor Baird, in 1871, 
we find a statement of the usual sequence of fish at Point Judith, and are presented at the same 
time with a most charming fragment of folk-lore. In reply to the inquiry as to whether fish were 
not earlier arrived at that point than usual, he replied: “About the same. They expected them in 
February and got the seines ready. They had them in the water in March. I always judge by the 
dandelions. When I see the first dandelion, scup come in; I watch the buds, and when the buds 
are swelled full then our traps go in; when the dandelion goes out of bloom and goes to seed, the 
scup are gone. That is true one year with another, though they vary with the season. Iam 
guided by the blossoms of other kinds of plants for other fish, When high blackberries are in 
bloom we catch striped bass that weigh from 12 to 20 pounds. When the blue violets are in blos- 
som—they come early—you can catch the small scoot-bass. That has always been my rule; that 
has been handed down by wy forefathers.” * 
The fish appear to be moving eastward when taken in Narragansett Bay. This is particularly 
the case with scup. 
DISPOSITION OF THE CATOH.—The facilities for shipping fish from Narragansett Bay by rail 
are excellent. No difficulty is found in getting the catch safely to market in a very fresh state. 
They are usually packed, as in other places, with ice in barrels. Good prices are generally obtained. 
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS.—The financial organization of most of the trap companies in 
Rhode Island does not differ from that of the pound-net companies in other regions already de- 
scribed. At Little Compton, according to Mr. Kumlien, the shore suitable for the pound fishery is 
divided into twenty-one “sets” or sections, of 65 fathoms each. As some sets are better than others, 
all are drawn for by lot. No one can draw unless he has all the gear required for fishing. A man 
may have nearly all the necessary apparatus and yet be excluded from the lottery. That the poor 
man, however, may not be unfairly pushed aside, he is allowed to ally himself with some man richer 
than himself, thereby forming a firm. A rich fitter often enters into partnership with a poor fish- 
erman, the former furnishing the lacking apparatus, while the latter does the fishing. The nets 
must be 65 fathoms apart. When three sets exist in one bay the parties occupying the middle one 
are allowed to use leaders of sufficient length to bring their net in a line with the remaining two. 
In this same locality, before the Sunday close-time was enforced, the fishermen had the rule that 
those who were not at their posts on that day got nothing of the profits from the fish taken. 
The fishing is usually carried on on shares, the fitter receiving one-third of the gross receipts 
and the fishermen the remainder, after the expenses of board are subtracted. Usually a fishing- 
gang consists of six men and a cook. Frequently it occurs, however, that one cook is able to pre- 
pare food for two or three gangs of fishermen. 
An average trap is worth $350. This amount includes the cost of boats, extra twine, and 
all other minor appurtenances incidental to the active prosecution of the industry. These traps 
are seldom owned by a single man, but usually by three or four, the majority of whom are part 
owners. Many pound-nets are made of condemned menhaden-seine netting, and have therefore no 
great value. 
According to the data collected in Rhode Island in 1880, the number and value of pound-nets 
in use in the State were as follows: 
Traps. Number.| Value. 
Pounds and weirs..... 166 | 56, 638 
* Report U. 8. Fish Commission, I, 1873, pp. 24-25. 
