FISHERIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. 
171 
122. — Table showing by fisheries and species the yield of the vessel fisheries of Connecticut in 1889. 
THE SHORE FISHERIES. 
The shore fisheries of Connecticut, as gauged by the value of the products, are, as 
a whole, of less importance than those of Rhode Island, although special branches are 
of greater extent, among which the shad, oyster, and lobster fisheries may be men- 
tioned. The statistics show the fisheries by counties and by apparatus. 
There are four counties in Connecticut from which shore fishing is carried on ; 
these are New London, Middlesex, New Haven, and Fairfield, each of which excels in 
certain features or branches, Jfs brought out in the following series of tables. 
Of 1,252 shore fishermen in the State, 546 were employed in Fairfield County, 277 
in New Haven County, 247 in New London County, and 182 in Middlesex County. 
New London County had the largest investment in the shore fisheries, viz, $51,926, 
closely followed by Fairfield County with $50,129; New Haven and Middlesex coun- 
ties had, respectively, $35,542 and $33,011. Boats represent more than half the aggre- 
gate value of the property in the shore fisheries, and pound nets constitute the most 
important and valuable form of apparatus. 
The shore fisheries yielded 38,965,460 pounds, which were sold for $450,419. 
Fairfield County took 12,250,056 pounds, valued at $174,685, of which 7,800,000 pounds 
represented oyster shells obtained from the Housatonic River and used by. oyster- 
planters in preparing beds. The oysters secured amounted to 1,063,769 pounds (or 
151,967 bushels), for which $121,122 was received. The next most important product 
was the quahog or round clam, of which 124,480 pounds (or 15,560 bushels), valued 
at $15,710, were marketed. The output of soft clams was also considerable, having a 
value of $6,990. The molluscan fisheries of this county are thus seen to be the most 
extensive. New Haven County ranks second in quantity and value of products, taking 
9,830,186 pounds, worth $133,303. Oysters and clams are also the most important 
species in this county, $104,680 accruing from their sale. The catch of menhaden is 
the only other noteworthy feature of the shore fisheries of the county ; 6,306,486 pounds 
of this species, with a value of $13,010, were taken. New London County is credited 
with 9,381,109 pounds, worth $95,740. In this county shellfish form an inconspicuous 
part of the product, the output being less than in any other county ; the yield of 
