154 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 
V.— THE FISHERIES OF RHODE ISLAND. 
GENERAL REMARKS AND STATISTICS. 
The fisheries of Rhode Island rank fourth in importance among the New England 
States, although if the value of only free-swimming fish be considered the State leads 
Connecticut. The menhaden fishery and industry are of greater extent than elsewhere 
in New England; the oyster fishery ranks next to that of Connecticut; and the quan- 
tity of scup taken far exceeds the catch in all the other States. 
Condensed statistics of the fisheries of the State are first presented in the form ot 
three tables, which cover persons engaged, capital invested, and products, respectively. 
Compared with 1880, there has been a decline in some branches and an advance in 
others, as shown in Section I of this paper. Especially noteworthy are the decrease in 
the number of vessels (from 92 to 69) and the improvement in their construction as 
shown by the average value, which was $2,085 in 1880 and $2,854 in 1889. 
89. — Table of persons employed. 
How engaged. No. 
On fishing vessels I 376 
On transporting vessels 12 
In shore fisheries 896 
On shore, in factories, etc 473 
Total 1, 757 
90 . — Table of apparatus and capital. 
Boats 
Apparatus of capture — vessel fisheries ; 
Seines 
Gill nets 
Hand lines and trawl lines. 
Pots 
Harpoons 
Dredges and rakes 
Apparatus of capture— shore fisheries : 
Haul seines 
Gill nets 
Pound nets and trap nets 
Fyke nets 
Hand lines and trawl lines 
Pots 
Dredges, tongs, etc 
Shore property 
Cash capital 
Total 
651 
19 
3 
30 
32 
114 
182 
376 
5, 145 
Value. 
$194, 325 
26, 385 i 
2,625 1 
400 
62, 743 
12, 100 
30 
2, 390 
120 
450 
635 
235 
3| 144 
369, 759 
244, 524 
, 020, 178 
