392 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



GENERAL IMPORTANCE OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY. 



The full extent of the fisheries of the United States has not been exhibited by- 

 detailed figures since the results of the census of 1880 were published. In the year 

 named the number of persons directly connected with the industry was ascertained to 

 be 131,426; the amount of capital invested in the business was $37,955,349; and the 

 value of the catch was $38,083,348. While the increase in the population of the 

 country since that time has naturally led to an advance in the fishing industry entirely 

 independent of the fluctuations in the abundance of economic water animals, few 

 persons are aware of the great importance of the fisheries at present, and still fewer 

 are informed regarding the changes in the development of our fishery resources since 

 1880. 



Compared with many other great national industries, fishing may justly be con- 

 sidered of minor importance. In a number of the coast States, however, this industry 

 ranks among the foremost enterprises. In view of the international questions affecting 

 the entire country which have arisen and are likely to arise in connection therewith, 

 and because of the great amount of attention which the fisheries have received and 

 are still destined to receive from State and national legislatures, fish commissions, and 

 other organizations, fishing deserves to be regarded as one of the leading industries 

 of the nation, and, as such, entitled to the most careful consideration and study. 



At the present time, the general extent of the fisheries of the United States, as 

 determined by the investigations carried on by the U. S.' Commission of Fish and Fish- 

 eries, is as follows: 



Persona employed .- 182, 376 



Capital invested $08, 245, 406 



Value of products $45, 312, 818 



THE FISHING POPULATION. 



While the statistics show that the number of persons in the United States directly 

 connected with the fisheries is under 200,001), wheu cognizance is taken of the large 

 number of people engaged in various other occupations directly or indirectly dependent 

 upon the fisheries and of the fisheimaen's families who are immediately supported by 

 their labors, it is safe to assume that the fishing industries of the United States give 

 support to over 1,000,000 men, women, and children, or about 1 person in every G5 of 

 our population. 



Of the persons connected with the fishing industry, 37,800 are vessel fishermen, 

 105,000 are shore and boat fishermen, and 39,200 are shoresmen and factory hands. 



The State having the largest number of persons employed in the fisheries is 

 Maryland, where 39,900 people are directly associated with the fishing industry ? 

 chiefly in the oyster-packing business. The State with the next largest fishing- 

 population is Virginia, which is credited with 23,595 persons, a majority of whom 

 are connected in some way with the oyster industry. Massachusetts follows Virginia 

 with 17,025 persons, more than half of whom are vessel fishermen, a class more 

 numerous here than in any other State. Maine ranks next to Massachusetts; its 

 fishing population numbers about 15,100. Other States having more than 10,000 

 fishery employes are New York, with 13,750; New Jersey, with 10,435; and North 

 Carolina, with 10,275. 



