314 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Table showing by counties the catch by spears and harpoons in the fisheries of Rhode 



Island in 1902. 



Table shoioing bi/ counties the catch by dip nets in the fisheries of Rhode Island in 1903. 



THE OYSTER INDUSTRY. 



The oyster fishery yields in value more than half of the fishery 

 products of Rhode Island. This industry has increased greatly since 

 1880, when 163,200 bushels were produced. In 1902 it gave employ- 

 ment to 694 persons and $291,892 worth of vessels, boats, apparatus, 

 shore property, etc., and the product was valued at $.588,052. The 

 yield of the public or free fishery was small, amounting to 1,800 bush- 

 els of market oysters and 70,200 bushels of seed oysters. Owing to a 

 complete lack of set in 1902. and again in 1903, the outlook for this 

 branch of the fisheries in the next year or two is not favorable. Pri- 

 vate oyster culture used 5,744 acres of ground in this state in 1902, 

 and produced 21,350 bushels of seed oysters, 93,758 bushels of market 

 oysters, and 420,921 gallons of opened oysters, the whole valued at 

 $570,390. 



Table showing by counties the extent of the oyster industry of Rhode Island in 1902-3. 



