306 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



19,942 bushels. In 1898 scallops averaged 54 cents per bushel, and 

 in 1902 $1.26 per bushel. 



The lobster fishery shows a great reduction, decreasing from 578,066 

 pounds in 1898 to 397,305 pounds in 1902, notwithstanding a slight 

 increase in the number of pots used. The falling off in production 

 has been almost counteracted by an increase in the price per pound, 

 which averaged 7.50 cents in 1898 and 9.94 cents in 1902. Among 

 the other species showing a decrease during this period are menhaden, 

 from 3,140,000 pounds to 471,000 pounds; blue-fish, from 330,290 to 

 146,335 pounds; cod, from 1,426,912 to 690,160 pounds; striped bass, 

 from 101,950 to 50,087 pounds; alewives, from 838,622 to 621,490 

 pounds, and flat-fish and flounders from 1,710,057 to 1,134,870 pounds. 



The following series of tables shows the number of persons em- 

 ployed, the amount of capital invested, and the quantity and value of 

 products in the fisheries of Rhode Island in 1902: 



Persons employed. 



How engaged. 



No. 



On ves.sel.s, fishing 



On vessels, transporting 

 Boat or siiore flsliermen 

 Shoresmen 



Total 



394 



14 



1,017 



692 



2,117 



Table of apparatus and capital. 



Items. 



Vessels fishing 



Tonnage 



Outfit 



Vessels transporting 



Tonnage 



Outfit 



Boats 



Apparatus— vessel fisheries: 



Pound nets and trap nets, 



Purse seines 



Gill nets 



Lines, hand and trawl ... 



Pots, lobster 



Pots, eel , 



Harpoons , 



Dredges , 



Tongs 



Num- 

 ber. 



79 

 1,239 



12 

 118 



38 



1 



231 



330 

 220 



136 

 110 



Value. 



»198, 995 



63, 046 

 10, 000 



772 

 103,841 



54, 200 

 600 

 2,340 

 986 

 390 

 220 

 217 

 3,321 

 520 



Items. 



Apparatus — shore fisheries: 



Pound nets and trap nets. 



Seines 



Gill nets 



Fyke nets 



Lines, hand and trawl . . . 



Pots, lobster 



Pots, eel 



Spears, eel 



Dip nets 



Dredges 



Rakes 



Tongs 



Hoes 



Shore and accessory property 

 Cash capital 



Total. 



Num- 

 ber. 



160 

 05 

 82 



701 



10, 204 

 3,750 

 61 

 11 

 1,208 

 67 

 422 

 412 



Value. 



71, 690 



5,090 



4,088 



4,210 



579 



11,232 



2,668 



43 



16 



4,048 



228 



1,915 



255 



369, 235 



119, 760 



1,014,280 



Table of products. 



