X PREFATORY NOTE. 



(16.) INTRODUCTION to Section D., U. S. Catalogue lut. Fisheries Exhibition. (Catalogue of the Economic Mollusca 

 and the apparatus and appliances used in their capture and preparation for market, exhibited by the U. S. 

 National Museum.) By Lieut. Francis Wiuslow, U. S. N., pp. [3] to [53]. Aggregate table of production, 

 p. [3]; Special tables and statistical statements throughout. 



(17.) INTRODUCTION to Section E., U. S. Catalogue Int. Fisheries Exhibition. (The Whale Fishery and its Appliances. ) 

 By James Temple Brown, pp. [3]-[25.] 



(18.) Statistics of the Whale Fishery. By A. Howard Clark, in the preceding, pp. [26]-[29.] 



(19.) A Review of the Fishery Industries of the United States, etc. By G. Brown Goode. An address at a conference 

 of the International Fisheries Exhibition, June 25, 1883. 8vo., pp. 84. Numerous statistical statements, 

 summaries, and tables. 



(20.) ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT. Method and results of an effort to collect statistics of the fish trade, and consump- 

 tion of fish throughout the United States. By Chas. W. Smiley. Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission, -vol. ii, 

 1882, pp. 247-52. 



Two special reports have also beeu published, as follows : 



(21.) A Monograph of the Seal Islands of Alaska. By Henry W. Elliott. 4to., illustrated. Pp.172. An edition of thi 

 report with substitutions on pp. 102-9 was also issued as a Special Bulletin of the Fish Commission, No. 176. 

 (22.) The Oyster Industry. By Ernest Ingersoll. 4to., illustrated. Pp. 2f)2. 



The general results of the investigation, from the statistician's stand-point, may be briefly 

 summarized as follows : 



In 1880 the number of persons employed in the fishery industries of the United States was 

 131,426, of whom 101,684 were fishermen, and the remainder shoresmen. The fishing fleet con- 

 sisted of 6,605 vessels (with a, tonnage of 208,297.82) and 44,804 boats, and the total amount of 

 capital invested was $37,955,349, distributed as follows : Vessels, $9,357,282 ; boats, $2,465,393 ; 

 minor apparatus and outfits, $8,145,261; other capital, including shore property, $17,987,413. 



The value of the fisheries of the sea, the great rivers, and the Great Lakes, was placed at 

 $43,046,053, and that of those in minor inland waters at $1,500,000 iu all $44,546,053. These values 

 were estiinatcdnpon the basis of the prices of the products received by the producers, and if average 

 wholesale prices had been considered, the value would have been much greater. In 1882 the yield 

 of the fisheries was much greater than in 1880. and prices both " at first hand " and at wholesale 

 were higher, so that a fair estimate at wholesale market rates would place their value at the 

 present time rather above than below the sum of $100,000,000. 



The fisheries of the New England States are the most important. They engage 37,043 men 

 2,066 vessels, 14,787 boats, and yield products to the value of $14,270,393. In this district the 

 principal fishing ports in order of importance are: Gloucester, New Bedford, the center of the 

 whale fishery, Eastport, Boston, Proviucetown, and Portland. 



Next to New England iu importance are the South Atlantic States, employing 52,418 men, 3,014 

 vessels (the majority of which are small, and engaged in the shore and bay fisheries), 13,331 boats 

 and returning products to the value of $9,602,737. 



Next are the Middle States, employing in the coast fisheries 14,981 men, 1,210 vessels, 8,293 

 boats, with products to the amount of $8,676,579. 



Next are the Pacific States and Territories with 16,803 men, 56 vessels, 5,547 boats, and products 

 to tho amount of $7,484,750. The fisheries of the Great Lakes employ 5,050 men, 62 vessels, and 

 1,594 boats, with pioducts to the amount of $1,784,050. The Gulf States employ 5,131 men, 197 

 vessels, and 1,252 boats, yielding products to the value of $545,584. 



SPENCER F. BAIRD, 



Commissioner of Fisheries. 



WASHINGTON, May 30, 1884. 



