T xi. 



VIRGINIA AND ITS FISHERIES. 



A. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES OF THE STATE. 



160. STATISTICS OF THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. 



THE VARIOUS FISHERY INTERESTS. Virginia comes seventh in tbe list of fish-producing States. 

 The oyster, menhaden, and shad fisheries are the three branches in which the citizens are most 

 extensively interested. In the first-named fishery this State ranks second only to Maryland, having 

 16,315 persons employed, with products valued at $2,218,376. The menhaden fisheries are of 

 recent origin, but they have developed with remarkable rapidity. In 1880 the fleet numbered one 

 hundred and two sail, and the oil, scrap, and compost produced sold for $303,829 ; 88,213,800 

 pounds of menhaden were utilized in this way. The river fisheries are also important, furnishing 

 employment to 2,641 persons. Over 3,000,000 pounds of shad and nearly 7,000,000 pounds of 

 alewives, with many other river species, were taken, the whole having a value of $272,828. 



STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR 1880. In the accompanying statements will be found a 

 statistical recapitulation of the fisheries of the State : 



Summary statement of persons employed. 



Detailed statement of capital invested and apparatus employed. 



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