East Lyme All that remains of what was once the largest commercial fishing operation from New London to the Connecticut River are the stone jetty at Rocky Neck State Park, some historical documents and a song telling of a “fish gang from Niantic.”
The Luce Brothers crews did not pursue cod, tuna, or haddock, but landed millions of oily, bony menhaden they caught in Long Island Sound. In their factory, they steamed and pressed the fish for abundant oil and turned the dry “scrap” into prized fish guano to fertilize farms in England and New England.
David Littlefield, whose family has long and deep roots in East Lyme and Old Lyme, has worked passionately for decades to bring the story of the Luce Bros. and the menhaden fishery they dominated back to life.
The Littlefield family’s farmhouse. (photo submitted)
Published March 03. 2021 7:43AM
Jim Littlefield, Special to The Times
Ever since that photograph of the early Littlefield farmhouse came into my possession, I have wondered who was inside the house when the picture was taken. There had to be somebody home; after all, it was winter, and the family car was parked in the driveway, all gassed-up and ready to go!
This c. 1840 farmhouse still stands today on Route 156 in Niantic near the Old Lyme border and was part of what was once called the Rocky Neck Farm when John and Jane Littlefield bought it in the spring of 1861. Arriving from Block Island (via Avondale, near Westerly, R.I.) they had left behind the comforts (but also, the confines) of their island home as opportunities there had become limited.