The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-15
THE N sumsS FnagalGs OF LosG ISLAND.

Extent of The Observation-Disclosures Necessity
for Lighthouse at Long Beach knr.
There are not many persons IN this city who know
FULLY OF the extensive and lucrative fisheries estab
ished at the eastern end OF Long Island and the ex
tent OF employment they afford to hundreds Of FAINT
lies IN the vicinity OF Peconic and Gardeners bays.
Tne Menbaden fishery OF Peconic Bay Is o very ex.
tensiye business. Menhaden is tho name Of pecu-
liar species OF fsh that comes vast shoals in the
spring OF the year into the bays at this end OF Long
Island. for the purpose OF spawning. At thar stage,
however, they are generally IN poor condition and
yield but little oil. They are taken In selnes and
some enormous hauls are oftentlmes made. the
nsh ID not for eating and the business or catching
s to render the menhaden into oil aud manure.
From estimates furnished BY the principal Usher
men engaged In tine menhaden fishery the number
taken during the past season is put down at
81 500 000 In addition the shore Belnes and pounds
took $500, 0C0, OF which more tnan one hall was
sold to farmers to be applied 70 the land for manure,
wnilc the remainder were taken to factories to be
TRANSMIT ed into OIL.
About twenty years ago the business OF extracting
oil from menhaden was commenced with the estab-
to proportions. During the past year snere
have been many seventeen factories III operation
ana cardners pavs Ia nearly ali cases the owners
or factories nave Two or more gangs nsnfng TOT
them and furnish the boats ANA nets with AZ the
labor and receiving stated price per thousand Tor
their share OF the nsh, the boats taking third Tue
capital Invested In these factories and An the boats
nets &c., is about half million dollars. Besides this
sum number OF the ricner folks In the
vicinity have invested largely in similar fac
tories in Name, Rhode Island, Connections. New
Jersey and Virginia that the total amount invested
the business reaches figure climbing up close to
million Last season there we're over thirty gangs
OF men, numbering three boats TO q gang, out In
oyer Down MADE tne largest which was
100000 Of nsh The lowest was 100000; the ave-
2 Tine sSss
lucrative development The interests bound up
| in this object are numerous and varied.
THIS SECTION Of Long Island feels that t
4 unique aud exclusive source of natural wealth and
bringing II 10 the highest stage OF commercial value
| For period OF seven months last season over 100
/ vessels and over 800 men were employed IN the
when is ali the Tune undergoing enlargement, helps
| to make this part of Long Island place 81 far more
| Importance than is generally believed. The OIL ex.
tracted from the fish Is used for various purposes or
| dressing leather In ropewalks. in painting, mixing
| with other oils. &c. The scrap 10 used as manure.
| Last season the produce was 7.lO5 tons OF manure
1 and II, 460 barrels OF OIL
| The one great desdcratum which the people Of
this part OF the island anxousy look for 70 the
| general governments is the erection OF lighthouse
| on Long Beach bar-the only dinlcult or dangerous
| place tue fishermen have to pass their trips up
and down the bay. The expense which the national
government Is asked 10 incur IN anording safety 70
the poor mariners who carry their fortunes N their
humble fishing crafts up add DOWN tue bay, through
all kinds OF weather and at all hours OF the day or
| night Is OF comparatively small amount The
| erection OF lighthouse would involve no
| engineering difficulties Whatever. solid ioun-
dalton can be found few feet below
the surface OF the tide. lignt, casting ITS friendly
! radiance the waters ut tnls pont In years
| past, might have been the means OF saving many
gallant little craft and kept the black shadow OF
| desolatlon from many q home. The national gov
| ernment was never before called upon TO appropri-
ate money for more laudaDe purpose than this.
Ii the people have any reason III calling tue govern
ment under which they live wise and paterDa II -
In just such instances as this where tna means OF
/ the national treasury are given to consummate
/ work which inures to the general good and which
the means or the community Itself are insumcl6nt
| to secure. ANY one who looks at The map or Long
Island Will notice tile very many creeks bays and
inlets OF the sea which mark It's eastern boundary.
IL may be easily inferred that considerable risk is
often times In navigating tnereabouts when IL
Is both dark and bolster0us aud no visible guide on
coast or promontory. The lighthouse, winch 1t ID
the anxious desire OF the people 10 see erected,
would point the way other boats than those sail
ing directly IN line with 1t aud save s.s4epy pao
more than the cost OF It's construction. -9
SIN another great purpose wncn VIII be served
by the erection Of lighthouse on Long Beach bar
| VIII consist in the fact that splendid haven-at
present useless because almost mac cesSDlewlll be
secured under cover OF Shelter Island. Vessels CON-
| Ing TO New York through the Sound frequently,
| when bad weather arises nave to put back for a
| the Sound the usual channel - through Plum Gut.
aud the distance 10 be retraced 10 secure barbor at
either OF the havenS last named Involves great loss
| Of time. Tue tide sets through Plum Gut an hour
| and q half earlier, and the channel past Long Beach
point has uniform depth OF thirty feet. Vessels,
therefore, by comDaratlveiT slight deviation from
their course, could, If the navigation OF Long Beach
inlet were facilitated by light, secure good safe
early tide in their favor. saving considerable time
| and sailing ds lance.