106 EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. 



purity of the water, Barrington River was always famous scup-ground ; 

 Kickamuit Kiver the same. I canuot find a person who knows of any 

 impurities in those waters that were not there fifty years ago ; but no 

 scup are now caught there to-day, and with the tide ebbing and flowing 

 twice every day, the impurities falling into the bay are hardly more 

 noticeable than a drop of ink into a hogshead of water." 



Scarcity of food has been assigned as a reason why fish are not so 

 numerous in the bay and rivers as heretofore. Again opinions differ, 

 some persons believing there is no want of food, and others affirming 

 its scarcity. In the opinion of your committee, the preponderance of 

 evidence is that there is an abundant supply. 



Mr. Bassett, in reply to question 57, says, " My opinion as to scarcity 

 of food is, that there is the same amount as formerly ; some have said 

 muscles are scarce; on this point I can say, in the spring of 1868 I lived 

 at the head of Bullock's Gove, and two or three mornings of the week 

 went on to the muscle-bed off Nayatt or Bullock's Points, carrying a 

 pair of rakes, and always pulled up all the muscles we wanted; they 

 were so plentiful on Bullock's Point that a man in my employ, at a very 

 low tide, shoveled into a sea-weed scow as many as two horses could 

 draw, and put them into the manure heap." 



In answer to the 80th interrogatory, Mr. Bassett says, " This trapping 

 has destroyed a business which, formerly was followed by many of our 

 citizens. I do not know a man in the city of Providence who now fol- 

 lows fishing for a living, and for this reason : I think fish are so scarce 

 in the bay they could not make a living. Boat-building was formerly 

 carried on here by six or seven different concerns. 1 know of but two 

 now, who build a few boats. All the business formerly connected with 

 down the river boating-parties has been broken up, and our citizens go 

 down to Maine or other places for fishing." 



This witness presents the view which, in general, is that of the hook- 

 and-line fishermen. In juxtaposition, the committee propose to place 

 the evidence of Benjamin Tallman, of Portsmouth, well known as a 

 fisherman of very great experience, and who may be considered as the 

 inventor of trap -fishing. His examination by the committee was thor- 

 ough and protracted. His oral reply to the 5th printed interrogatory 

 was as follows : " The proportion of tautog to scup is very small. I don't 

 suppose that the average of each trap would amount to four hundred 

 pounds the whole season. In 1867, in nine days, I got $18,000 ; I have 

 six traps ; had three traps on one line; employed twenty-seven men on 

 these three traps and twenty-seven on the other three ; couldn't tell 

 how many barrels ; sold them at about $2 per barrel ; should think 

 about 10,000 barrels ; got one morning $3,000 before breakfast. In 1868 

 did nothing. I had nine gangs, and expected to have got $30,000, but 

 did not get over $6,000. The reason was it was owing to the northeast 

 winds ; cold storm all the time ; kept the fish off the shore in deeper 

 waters. In 1869 had six traps and six gangs; took about $6,000. 

 Horse-mackerel came along about the 25th of May; the price averaged 

 $2 per barrel ; some sold for $1 and some for $3." 



As to the number of traps, he stated, " There are nine setting-places, 

 eight for double gangs and one for single gang, at Seconnet Point; 

 there are three set further south than usual this year. There are sev- 

 enteen gangs, of about ten men each, including the cook. At the Flints, 

 on Sachuest Point, there are six gangs, having fifty-six men, between 

 Sachuest Point and Eastou's Point. Three at Gooseberry Island; one 

 belongs at Newport, one at Tiverton, and one at Portsmouth. East of 

 Brenton's Beef, single gang. Two traps at the Wash-Bowl, west of 



