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ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

SSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES

MADE TO THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, 1896.

PROVIDENCE, R. I.

E. L. FEEBMAN & SONS, PEINTEES TO THE STATE.

1896.

REPORT,

To the Honorable the General Assennhly of the State of Rhode Island
and Providerice Plantations, at its January Session, 1896 :

The Commissioners of Inland Fisheries herewith present their
report for the year 1895.

Tkout.

Ten thousand (10,000) yearling trout were purchased by the
Commissioners, and have been placed in the streams and ponds
of the State. More applications for trout fry have been made the
past season than for many years, showing- an increasing interest
as well as a kindly disposition to aid the Commissioners in their
work.

Reports from the fishermen the past season show better catches
than last year, the water in the streams having been higher.

Von Behr or Bkown Trout.

Through the kindness of the United States Commission we ex-
pect to receive in February, 1896, ten thousand (10,000) eggs of
this species, which will be hatched, reared until fall, and then
distributed in the streams and ponds of the State. This is a very
rapid growing fish.

Black Bass.

The fishing for this valuable food and game fish the past season
has been better than for a number of years. Notably in Watchaug
Lake, Moswansicut and Wallum and other ponds, where large
catches have been reported throughout the season. Watchaug

4 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Lake lias its outlet into the Pawcatuck river, and through this
connection this river can now be said to be fairly well stocked
with the small-mouthed black bass. It being conceded that the
large-mouthed species will thrive even better than the small-mouth
in rivers of this character, it is the intention of the Comjnissioners
as soon as practicable, to introduce the former fishes into the
larger rivers and many of the ponds of the State.

Bay Fishing.

In the upper waters of the bay the fishino- has been very good
during the past season. Squiteague, hickory shad, scup and smaU
blue fish were very plentiful from the first of July to October.

The tautog fishing, spring and fall, has been only fair. Small
scup appeared in the upper portions of the bay early in July,
weighing about twelve or sixteen to the pound, and, as was often
reported to us, the river bottom seemed to be paved with them.
Later in the season they were taken weighing from one-half to
three-quarters of a pound each. Fishing was good from Hope
Island to Fox Point.

Squiteague were taken weighing from one and one-half to eleven
XDOunds. At Pawtuxet, in October, squiteague from four to six
inches in length were taken very plentifully along the wharves.

The fishing in the lower portions of the bay the past season has
been in some respects unique ; there has been on the whole a very
good season, at times very abundant, then of a sudden would they
be gone. This frequent change has been quite a remarkable
feature of the last season ; the fish were not equally distributed ;
while some caught very largely, others did not catch the usual
amount.

The scup were here in good numbers.

The squiteague were extremely plenty.

Black fish were plenty, the fall catch exceeded any before
known.

The bass, the most highly prized of all our game fish, were not

REPORT Ot' COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 5

very plenty; from some cause they do not regain their former
abundance. We believe that to be due in great measure to the
want of access to pure water at the head waters of streams, a
trouble that besets all our fresh water spawners.

Account of Fish and Lobsters shipped from Nenport hy the Old
Colony Stea7Rboat Line^ dtiring the year 1895 :

Month. Fish. Lobsters.

January 74 barrels. 20 barrels.

February 91 " 1

March 70 " 1 "

April 186 " 41 *•

May 11,794 " 275 "

June 6,291 " 407 "

July 3,544 " 833 "

August 1,015 " 281 "

September 644 " 170 ''

October 544 " 37 "

November 179 " 13 "

December 190 " 40 "

Total 24,622 " 2,119 "

Approximate estimate of the amount of fish taken from waters
west of Point Judith :

Barrels.

Porgies 3,700

Sea Bass 300

Flounders 400

Blue Fish 325

Smelts 225

Herring , 1,500

Black Fish 90

Striped Bass 10

Menhaden 15,000

Lobsters 150

The fishing for porgies is reported as somewhat better than in
1894, but the catch of lobsters has fallen short of past seasons.

6 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

The folio ^dng table shows the amount of Fish and Lobsters
shipped over the Old Colony Steamboat and Kailroad for the last
ten years :

Year. Fish. Lobsters. Total.

1886 barrels. barrels. 17,434

1887 16,657 " 834 " 17,491

1888 15,033 " 1,161 " 16,194

1889 19,306 " 2,047 " 21,353

1890 8,933 " 2,650 " 11,583

1891 18,032 " 2,204 " 20,236

1892 26,832 " 3,123 " 28,955

1893 24,452 " 1,399 " 25,851

1894 17,769 " 2,392 " 21,161

1895 24,622 " 2,119 " 26,741

Total 171,636 " 16,929 " 206,999

Menhaden.

For an account of these fish we submit the follomng from Capt.
N. B. Church, who has so often kindly furnished us information :

New York, Dec. 31, 1895.
James M. K. Southwick, Esq., Newport, R. I.

My Dear Sir : Replying to j^our favor of Dec. 27th, regarding tbe menhaden
fishery, would say that the catch taken as a whole has been a fair average with
the last five years. The fish appeared in Chesapeake Bay later than common
owing to very cold weather in that vicinity, and when they did come late in
April did not show on the surface so that they could be caught, until about the
first of July, when they were caught in large quantities from that time until the
close of the season. From the Chespeake Bay up to and including the Delaware
Bay the fishing has been good all of the season, in fact it has been the best on
record at the latter place, both in catch of fish and yield of oil. Sandy Hook
Bay and tributaries has had plenty of menhaden this j^ear, as has also Fire Island
Bay, and the fishermen in these places have had a good season.

You will please notice that these fish have been in the bays, probably owing to
the large bodies of blue fish on the coast. In Long Island Sound and vicinity
fish have been scarce, no large catches having been made for the season. Rhode
Island fishermen have not had good fishing in their waters, except for a few

EEPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 7

weeks early in the season when they were fairly plentiful in all the bays and
rivers.

There has been a large body of menhaden in Buzzard's Bay all summer.

Few fish have been seen in Cape Cod Bay or Boston Bay this season, but the
season in Maine opened in July with very flattering prospects. For a few weeks
the fish showed well and the fishermen had all they could do to care for their
catch, but after the month of July they sank just below the surface of the
waters so they could not be caught. Occasionally they would come to the sur-
face for a few hours. I can give you totals on catch of fish and make of oil later
if you want them.

All kinds of food fish have been abundant all along our coast.

Yours, etc.,

N. B. CHURCH.

New York, January 20th, 1896.
J. M. K. SouTHWiCK, Esq., Newport, R. I.
Dear Sir : The following is a report of the menhaden industry for 1895 :

Factories in operation 42

" not in operation 5

Men employed ashore 1,064

afloat 1,212

-Sailing vessels in use 35

Steamers " 48

Pounds in operation 24

Fish caught r 461,747,850

Gallons oil made 1,767,754

Tons crude scrap made 21,965

" dry " " 18,682

Capital invested $1,543,000

As you desire the result of the Rhode Island fishing, I give you that separ-
ately, but it is also included in the above table.

Yours truly,

N. B. CHURCH.

Besult of Rhode Island menhaden fishing :

Factories in operation 3

" not in operation ,

Men employed ashore 140

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Men employed afloat 164

Sailing vessels in use 1

Steamers " 8

Pounds in operation 5

Fish caught 39,483,600

Gallons oil made 344,845

Tons crude scrap made 3,637

" dry " "

Capital invested $520,000

EEPOKT OF CHAIKMAN OF COMMISSION ON
LOBSTEES.

The constant and increasing demand for lobsters, and the greatly
increased efforts to supply the demand have caused much serious
inquiry as to their ability of maintaining the stock in the waters.

Although they occupy all the ground of our coast generally
fished over, they are subject to so many perils that it sometimes
seems a miracle that any survive.

Perils.

Perils are ever present with them. At no period of their lives
are they safe from natural enemies; the codfish, haddock and
the black fish prey upon them in every condition of their existence,
large or small, hard or soft shell, but their greatest danger is dur-
ing the moulting period, when they become the most helpless
creatures in the world, and are eagerly devoured by all sorts of
fish life ; and their own cannibalistic propensities justify the belief
that they materially aid in the destruction of their own kind regard-
less of consanguinity. In this the lobsters have no better record
than other fishes, and our experience with the young shows them
not a whit behind the worst characters among fishes.

The first peril that besets the lobster begins with the eggs;
when attached to the mother they are often stolen by some small

EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEES OF INLAND FISHERIES. 9

X^redatory fish or eels ; tlie latter is said to be the most guilty party
in this, the first menace to their increase. As the eggs hatch, the
little fellows rise to the surface and remain free swinnners for
several weeks, and during this period they are gobbled up by the
million by mackerel and other fish who seem to consider them
their normal food. AVe have seen small schools of mackerel and
also butter-fish after them as soon as liberated, and swallow them
as a hungry fowl would grain; that made us think, "that since
they were so soon done for, that must be what they were begun
for."

What escape this danger find new ones every time they go to
the bottom to moult, which in their early life occur every few daj^s.
The period extends as they advance in life. After development
to a certain stage they go to bottom and take the chances of life
with their progenitors. While they have at this time passed
through the most hazardous period of their lives, and have greatly
improved chances of reaching maturity, they are still in great
danger, and will lose very many of their number before reaching
the legal size of ten inches.

As it is a law of nature that animal life must be sustained by
nutriment, it appears that the excessive product of eggs and young
among fishes is one, if not the chief provision of nature to supply
such nutriment. Were it not so none could long exist, and the
ocean would be too small for any one of the prolific breeders.

We would not have it understood that the spawn or young of
lobsters or other fish is the normal food of their kind. But like
the young lobster in confinement without other food, thousands
would have but one representative in time. That such destruc-
tion would take place under favorable natural conditions where
they could spread over a large area, and have a supply of normal
food, none can believe. If such conditions could be produced and
such food could be supplied as they find in their native waters,
then would we have the secret for rearing them, that has so far
been found impractical.

The writer has been informed by Prof. A. Agassiz, that he has

10 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

retaiued the youug lobsters during the season, to what extent I
do not know, but to have kept them at all is accomplishing- more
than anyone else, so far as we know.

This we trnst will point to a successful solution of the artificial
propagation of this valuable crnstacea at no very distant day.

The effect of human agency in depleting the lobsters by the
capture of half-grown, and the egg-bearing, have caused much
concern, and led to the enactment of laws limiting the size and
prohibiting the catch of those bearing eggs.

To put back into the water all below a fixed limit cannot largely
increase the stock, but must have a favorable effect, as it gives
those that have passed through the most hazardous period of life
a chance to attain to a mature size. While the taking of the egg-
bearers is a draft upon future stock, and if they could be returned
to the Avater and allowed to remain there until the eggs were
hatched, little more could be accomplished in the way of assisting
nature in kee^Ding up the stock.

The efforts made to enforce legal enactments to secure these
ends have failed ; they have succeeded only in creating a conflict
between those charged with the enforcement of the law and the
fishermen, and in the expenditure of large sums of the State's
money.

The restrictive laws are often evaded, and never effective in ac-
complishing the purpose expected. While they may restrain a few,
the majority will destroy the eggs to avoid the jDenalty, and retain
the lobster for market.

We do not mean here to impute to the fishermen any special
lawlessness beyond that of other classes. Most people are willing
to escape taxes ; very many constantly evade them ; and the fisher-
men look upon anything taken from their catch as a tax. Each
egg-lobster means to them about twenty-five cents, and is it a
matter of surprise that they don't voluntarily drop overboard an
indefinite amount of quarters of dollars.

We make no apology for those who break the law. It is our

RErORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 11

wish to point the way to a practical method of deahng- with the
question.

We have said that the laws were ineffectual ; it would be easy
to show that they are, but we believe it generally admitted that
they are, even where wardens are charged with their execution as
their sole duty, and with every facility for their w^ork.

How to secure the end contemplated by the laws, and make
practical efforts to sustain or increase the stock, is the question.

We suggest the following as the only possible method that ap-
pears practical to us :

The State to i^urchase every egg-lobster caught, and either re-
place them in the w^ater, where they would not be recaptured, or
retain them until hatched.

To put in effect the plan i3roposed and carry it to a successful
issue, there should be a co-operation of the different States and
that of the General Government, and should be on some general
and systematic plan.

Cost.

We believe the efforts to enforce the laws in some of the States
have been at a cost to the State of very much more than enough
to purchase every illegal lobster taken. We are without data, but
doubt if the estimate of twenty -five cents per pound is too high,
while the same might have been bought for six or seven cents per
pound.

Besides the evil effects of a continued' warfare is very demoral-
izing. It makes jDoachers and law-breakers of many otherwise
well-disposed citizens, and engenders bitter enmity where good
feeling should exist, that would lead to co-operation.

We think that if the fishermen were paid for the egg-lobsters
sufficient to compensate for any extra trouble, they w^ould gladly
turn them in to the State, and co-operate with officers to enforce
the laws limiting size.

Even if it became necessary to purchase the short lobsters, it is
a question if the State could not, then, secure the end desired

12 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

cheaper tliau by auy other method. This we say would be very
much more effective and at less cost to the State, than an army
of officers or a flotilla of gnnboats.

To secure and return to. the water as young life, every egg
carried by the lobsters, would promise very much more than has
been done heretofore.

We were mu-ch gratified that a neighboring State tried, last
year, the plan of buying the egg lobsters, although we have not
learned how satisfactory they were in hatching them. We are
very sure many eggs were returned to the water as young, that
would have otherwise been destroyed.

Hatching.

We believe no method better than that provided by nature, and
if practical to i3lace the egg lobster in the water free, where they
would not be again captured, in no way could more be done to
increase the future stock. Next to this we would retain the lob-
sters until hatched and thereby secure a young lobster for every
egg. By incubation Avith any process we believe a great waste
occurs ; first, in stripping the eggs, then in hatching, and again, a
loss occurs after hatching, before they are liberated. Besides,
this entails considerable labor and expense.

Preserves.

That lobster and fish preserves may be established where most
of our edible fishes could be kept under nearly natural conditions,
and where they could be retained for long periods, and some of
them continuously, we verily believe.

The advantages of such a preserve must be obvious to all. The
very large catches that glut the market for short periods and are
soon followed by a scarcity, need never occur; the bulk of the
large catches could be placed in the preserves and used as wanted,
or furnish sport for the hook and line fishermen.

Were we not convinced of the feasibility of this method we
should hardly have ventured to present it here.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 13

There are along our coast arms of the sea or partially enclosed
waters, that furnish exevy natural condition required for some or
other of our fishes. Could entire control be secured of some of
them, we believe the results would justify any cost that would be
necessary to test them by a fair trial.

We trust that the Fish Commissioners of the Atlantic States and
the United States will give this matter an investigation and report
as to to its practicability.

J. M. K. SOUTHWICK, Chairnian.

State of Rliode Island in account until Coimnissioners of Inland

Fisheries :

1894. Dr.

Dec. 31. To balance due Commissioners $632 63

1895.

Mar. 7. " paid for trout fry (50,000) 10150

Oct. 30. " " " yearling trout (10,000) 400 00

" .» <* <<■ transportation cans 24 00

Dec. 31. " expenses of Commissioners 107 78

" " printing, advertising and postage 28 75

$1,294 66

1895. Cr.

Mar. 4. By cash of State Treasurer $632 63

May 23. " " " " " 146 34

Oct. 29. " " " " " 442 14

Dec. 31. " balance due Commissioners 73 55

11,294 66

J. M. K. SOUTHWICK, \

HENKY T. ROOT, / Commissioners

WILLIAM P. MORTON, \ of

CHARLES W. WILLARD, i ^ , , ^. , .
ADELBERT D. ROBERTS, ) ^^^^^^"^ ^''^'''''''

LIST OF FISH COMMISSIONERS.

The United States.

Commissioner, ■- Brice.

Richard Rathbim, Assistant in Charge of Division of Inquiry respecting Food
Fishes.

W. de C. Ravenel, Assistant in Charge of Division of Fisli Culture.

Hugh M. Smith, Assistant in Charge of Division of Statistics and Methods of
the Fisheries.

Herbert A. Gill, Chief Clerk and Acting Commissioner.

Alabama.

Col. D. R. Hundley, Madison.

Hon. Chas S. G. Doster, Pratt ville.

Arizona.

T. W. Otis, Prescott.

John Howard, Prescott.

C. W. Stearns Phenix.

Arkansas.

H. H. Rottaken, President, .... Little Rock.
W. B. Worthen, Secretary, .... Little Rock.
This State has never made an appropriation for fish culture.

California.

H. F. Emeric, President, San Francisco.

William C. Murdoch, San Francisco.

J. M. Morrison, Sacramento.

Colorado.
Gordon Land, Denver.

16

KEPOET OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Connecticut.

Hubert Williams, President, .... Salisbury (Lakeville P. O.).
Abbot C. Collins, Secretary, . . . .291 Main Street, Hartford. ■
James A. Bill, Treasurer, .... Lyme (Bill Hill P. O.).

The Shellfish Commissioners are : George C. Waldo, Bridgeport ; Bryant A.
Treat, Wallingford.

Delaware.

Charles H. Shubert, Odessa.

Dr. E. G. Shortlidge, Supt. of Hatcheries, . Wilmington.

R. T. Nesbitt, .

Capt. J. D. Edmoudson,

Georgia.

Atlanta.
La Grange.

Richard Roe,
Geo. H. Laugford,
Henry Schmidt,

Illinois.

East St. Louis.

Havana.

Elgin.

Indiana.
P. H. Kirsch, Columbia City.

Iowa.

Geo. E. Delevan,

Ole Bjorenson, Superintendent.

Estherville.

Kansas,

O. E. Sadler,

El Dorado.

Maine.

Thos. H. Wentworth,

Henry O. Stanley,

O. B. Whitten, Sea and Shore.

Bangor.
Dixfield.
Portland.

Maryland.

G. W. Delawder.

Oakland.

G. R. Rider, Salisbury.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

Massachusetts.

E. A. Bnickett, Chairman, .... Winchester.

I. C. Young, Wellfleet.

E. D. Bufflngton, Worcester.

17

Michigan.

Herschell Whitaker, President,

Detroit.

H. W. Davis,

Grand Rapids

Seymour Bower, Superintendent, .

Detroit.

Geo. D. Mussey, Secretary,

Detroit.

F. B. Dickerson,

Detroit.

Minnesota.

W. S. Timberlake,

. St. Paul.

Wm. Bird,

Fairmount.

W. P. Andrus,

Minneapolis.

A. F. Ferris, Secretary, ....

Brainerd.

F. von Baumbachj

Alexandria.

S. S. Watkins, Superintendent,

St. Paul.

Missouri.

H. M. Garlichs, Chairman, . . . .

St. Joseph.

J. L. Smith,

Jefferson.

Edw. Cunningham,

St. Louis.

A. C. Garlichs, Secretary

St. Joseph.

Philip Kopplin, Jr., Superintendent,

St. Louis.

James W. Day, Superintendent,

St. Joseph.

Nebraska.

Joseph H. Blair, . . . . .

Omaha.

William L. May,

Omaha.

R. H. Oakley,

Lincoln.

M. E. O'Brien, Supt. of Hatcheries,

South Bend.

Nevada.

Geo. T. Mills, .
Ernest Harris, Deputy,

Carson City.
Carson City.

18 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.

New Hampshire.

W. T. Shurtleff, Lancaster.

W. H. Griffin, Manchester.

Nathaniel Went worth, Hudson.

New Jersey.

George Pfeiffer, Jr., .
Parker W. Page,
W. Campbell Clark, .
Howard P. Frothingham,

New York

Barnet H. Davis, President,

Henry H. Lyman,

William R. Weed, .

Charles H. Babcock,

Edward Thompson, .

F. B. Mitchell, Secretary,

Edw. Thompson, Shellfish Commissioner

Camden.
Summit.
Newark.
Mt. Arlino-ton.

53 Broadway, New York.

Oswego.

Potsdam.

Rochester.

Northport.

Albany.

53 Broadway, New York,

Ohio.

H. B. Vincent, President,
Wm. R. Huntington, Secretary,
J. W. Owens, ....
B. F. Seitner, ....
E. B. Shorb

McConnellsville.

Cleveland.

Newark.

Dayton.

Van Wert.

Oregon.
H. D. M'Guire, Fish and Game Warden,

Pennsylvania.

Henry C. Ford, President,

James A. Dale, Corresponding Secretary,

H. C. Demuth,

S. B. Stillwell

Louis Streuber,

D. P. Corwin,

1823 Vine Street, Phila.

York.

Lancaster.

Scranton.

Erie.

Pittsburg.

EErORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES.
Rhode Island.

19

J. M. K. Soiithwick,
William P. Morton, Secretary,
Henry T. Root, Treasurer,
Chas. W. Willard, .
A. D. Roberts, .

Newport.

Johnston.

Providence.

Westerly.

Woonsocket.

South Carolina.

Hon. A. P. Butler, Columbia.

Tennessee.

W. W. McDowell, Memphis.

H. H. Sueed, Chattanooga.

Edward D. Hick, Nashville.

Utah.

A. Milton Musser,

. Salt Lake City.

Vermont.

John W. Titcomb, St. Johnsbury.

Horace W. Bailey, Newbury.

Virginia.
Dr. J. T. Wilkins, Bridgetown.

Washington.

James Crawford,

Vancouver.

Wisconsin.

Edwin E. Bryant, President Madison.

Calvert Spensley, Treasurer, .... Mineral Point.

William J. Starr, Eau Claire.

Prof. E. A. Birge, Madison.

Jas. J. Hogan, La Crosse.

Geo. F. Peabody, Appleton.

Currie G. Bell, Bayfield.

Jas. T. Ellarson, Secretary, Fish and Game

Warden, Madison.

Wyoming Territory.

Louis Miller,

Laramie.

MBL WHOl LIBRARY