SECTION 3 

 MIDDLE ATLANTIC FISHERIES 



Commercial landings of fish and shellfish at ports in the Middle Atlantic States (New York, New 

 Jersey, and Delaware) during 1975 were 188.1 million pounds valued at $49.8 million at dockside. This was a 

 11-pereent decrease in volume, but a 14-percent increase in value compared with 1974. Principal cause of 

 the decline in landings was reduced menhaden catches in New Jersey. Among the species that had increased 

 landings were fluke flounder, gray sea trout, scup, whiting, hard blue crabs, and surf clams. 



Fishermen and vessels . There were 16,119 full-time and part-time commercial fishermen operating 492 

 vessels (5 net tons or more), 11,356 motorboats, and 40 other boats. This was an increase of 421 fishermen, 

 32 vessels, 306 motorboats, and 3 other boats compared with 1974. New York led in number of fishermen 

 (12,561) and motorboats (9,452). New Jersey had the largest number of vessels (303) and other boats (24). 



Processed products. The total value of processed fishery products in the Middle Atlantic area (including 

 Pennsylvania) was $221.2 million— a decrease of $20.1 million (9 percent) compared with 1974. New York led 

 with products valued at $74.0 million, followed by New Jersey with $62.8 million; Pennsylvania, $50.7 million; 

 and Delaware, $23.7 million. An average of 6,144 persons a month were employed in 380 processing and 

 wholesaling establishments operating in the four States— a decrease of 7 employees, but an increase of 3 

 seafood establishments over 1974. 



Clams . Hard clams are the most valuable species of either shellfish or finfish in the Middle Atlantic States. 

 Landings of hard clams yielded 10.3 million pounds of meats worth a record $16.0 million— increases of 5 

 percent in both volume and value over 1974. New York accounted for 84 percent of the area total with 

 landings of 8.7 million pounds of meats valued at $14.3 million. This represented increases of 8 percent in 

 volume and 7 percent in value over 1974. Great South Bay on Long Island provided 90 percent of the New 

 York landings and 76 percent of the Middle Atlantic landings. New Jersey landings yielded 1.6 million pounds, 

 down 7 percent in volume from 1974. Landings were the smallest since 1963 and 26 percent below the 

 average for the previous 5 years. 



Surf clam landings yielded 42.4 million pounds of meats valued at $5.8 million— increases of 31 percent 

 in volume and 32 percent in value compared with 1974. New Jersey accounted for 84 percent of the landings 

 with 35.6 million pounds— up 57 percent compared with 1974. During the latter half of the year many vessels 

 that had been clamming off southern Virginia returned to New Jersey waters because of reduced landings in 

 Virginia. Most New Jersey surf clams (81 percent) were taken within 3 miles off the beach in an area south of 

 Atlantic City. New York landings of 4.6 million pounds increased 16 percent to the largest landings since 

 1949. All the New York landings were taken within 3 miles of the beach. Delaware landings were 2.3 million 

 pounds in 1975, down 60 percent from the previous year and 31 percent below the 1970-74 average. Vessels 

 made only intermittent landings there this year, because they began to land more trips in New Jersey. 



Soft clam landings yielded 232,000 pounds of meats valued at $217,000— increases of 23 percent in 

 volume and 17 percent in value over the 1974 production. New Jersey landings increased 94 percent in 

 volume compared to 1974, because of the operation of a new depuration plant allowing the harvesting of soft 

 clams from impure waters. New York landings (63,000 pounds) declined 38 percent compared with 1974. 



Hard blue crabs . Landings reached 6.4 million pounds valued at a record $1.4 million— gains of 29 percent in 

 quantity and 33 percent in value over the 1974 catch. Landings were the largest since 1950 and 85 percent 

 above the average for the previous 5 years. Landings in all three States were higher than they had been for 

 years. Delaware with 3.6 million pounds increased 58 percent, the highest landings since 1957. New Jersey 

 landings of 2.9 million pounds increased 5 percent over the 1974 total, the highest since 1939. New York 

 landings were 16,000 pounds in 1975 compared with 3,000 pounds in 1974. The average price per pound paid to 

 fishermen declined 2 cents per pound in New Jersey and 8 cents in New York, but increased 4 cents in 

 Delaware. 



Other Species . Landings of sea trout were 6.0 million pounds valued at $868,000— increases of 37 percent in 

 volume and 21 percent in value over 1974. New Jersey fishermen landed 72 percent of the catch in the area. 

 Trawlers landing at Cape May accounted for 68 percent of the New Jersey sea trout landings. Bluefish 

 landings, 2.2 million pounds valued at $352,000, increased 5 percent in volume and 34 percent in value 

 compared with 1974. New Jersey with 1.3 million pounds or 59 percent of the total bluefish landings 

 increased 28 percent in volume; New York with 889,000 pounds declined 17 percent. Landings in Delaware 



