394 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



creeks several miles iuluiid. Tbe shore islands, with the exception of such as have lecome popular 

 as summer resorts, are almost uninhabited, and even these places are often deserted during the 

 winter months. Many of the people are wholly dependent on agriculture, but the greater number 

 of those living near the water own small patches of laud, on which they raise scarcely enough to 

 supply their own tables. These are largely dependent on the bays for a livelihood. There is also 

 a large class that "follow the bay" during the entire year, oysteriug in winter and fishing or 

 clamming at other seasons. 



It is urged by some that the fisheries are a positive injury to the State, in that they encourage 

 idleness and cause the people to neglect the cultivation of the soil. It is doubtless true that the 

 great wealth of sea products lying at their very doors has given these people a feeling of security 

 that works to their disadvantage, for with their knowledge that there is an abundance of fish, 

 oysters, or clams that can be had at any time for the taking, and that these will not only supply 

 food, but can readily be turned into money, they soon become improvident, spend a greater part 

 of their time in idleness, and go to the bays only when necessity compels. 



THE MORE IMPORTANT FISHING CENTERS DESCRIBED. There is more or less fishing for local 

 supply along the entire shore, and almost every man living near the water catches a few fish and 

 gathers a sufficient quantity of clains and oysters for his own table, while some iu nearly every 

 locality fish to supply the country trade, except in that portion of Delaware Bay lying to the north 

 of Dennis Creek, where the fishing for marine fishes is limited to the capture of weakfish, which 

 occur in such small numbers that the fishing is not extensive. 



The commercial fisheries of Southern New Jersey center about the larger summer resorts along 

 the shore. These either afford an excellent market during the summer months, or, from their loca- 

 tion, ofl'er superior advantages for shipping. The principal centers are Barnegat, Tuckerton, 

 Atlantic City, and Cape May. 



Barnegat, a settlement of 1,100 inhabitants, is a favorite resort for the sporting classes from 

 the larger cities of the interior. Being located near Barnegat Inlet, it is chiefly important on 

 account of the large number of bluefish taken by trolling. It ranks low as a market, as the inhab- 

 itants are largely supplied with fish free of charge by the pleasure fishermen. 



Tuckertou, a village of 1,400 inhabitants, is situated nearly opposite New Inlet, in the center 

 of the most extensive quahaug fisheries of the entire coast. It affords good shipping facilities by 

 both laud and water, and many of the people for miles in either direction are largely interested in 

 clamming and fishing. There is also an excellent local market both in Tuckerton and at Beach 

 Haven, a few miles distant. 



Atlantic City, the largest summer resort of Southern New Jersey, is located on one of the 

 islands of the oute'r beach at Absecon Inlet. It is the principal fishing center of the district. It 

 has a winter population of 5,500, which is increased during the summer months to many times that 

 number, every hotel and boarding-house beiug packed from the middle of June till late in Sep- 

 tember. During this season the demand for fish is very large, and six firms, with eighteen men, 

 in addition to a large number of fishermen and hawkers, are engaged iu catering to the trade. 

 According to Mr. J. V. Albertson, fully $30,000 worth of fish and $35,000 worth of oysters are con- 

 sumed in the city each season. The principal species used are weakfish (Cynoscion reyale) and 

 sheepshead (Dipiodus probatoeeplialus), and market boats often go 20 to 30 miles to get their supply. 



In addition to its advantages as a market, Atlantic City is favorably situated for the prosecu- 

 tion of the ocean fisheries. There are two well smacks that supply the city in part with sea-bass 

 (Serramts atrarius) in summer^ and it is more largely interested in the winter cod fisheries than 



