SECTION 4 

 CHESAPEAKE FrSHERIES 



The commercial landings of fish and shellfish in the Chesapeake States (Maryland and Virginia) 

 were 509.1 million pounds valued at $56.0 million— a decline of 88.1 million pounds (15 percent) and $2.1 

 million (4 percent) compared with 1974. Reduced landings of alewives, menhaden, surf clams, blue crabs, and 

 oysters were the principal cause of the decline in volume. There were moderate increases, however, in 

 landings of croaker, fluke flounder, gray sea trout, sea bass, and sea scallops. 



Virginia landings of 444.8 million pounds worth $33.1 million were 87 percent of the volume and 

 59 percent of the value in the Chesapeake area. Menhaden was 71 percent of the volume in Virginia and 23 

 percent of the value; surf clams were 9 percent of the volume; and hard blue crabs, 8 percent of the volume. 

 Maryland landings were 64.3 million pounds valued at $22.9 million. In Maryland hard blue crabs accounted 

 for 38 percent of the total volume; oysters, 26 percent; menhaden, 9 percent; and surf clams, 8 percent. In 

 December the entire James River in Virginia was closed to all finfishing and shellfishing, because of the 

 presence of kepone, an insecticide that a chemical firm had discharged into the upper river at Hopewell. 

 These discharges were made over a number of years. 



Fishermen and vessels. There were 24,274 full-time and part-time fishermen operating 1,911 vessels of 5 net 

 tons or over, 16,052 motorboats, and 372 other boats. Compared with 1974, this was an increase of 1,088 

 fishermen, 13 vessels, and 719 motorboats, but a decline of 333 other boats. 



Processed products. The value of processed fishery products in the Chesapeake States was $160.8 million— an 

 increase of $10.8 million compared with 1974. Maryland firms packed processed products valued at $97.7 

 million— 61 percent of the area total. In Virginia, processed products were worth $63.1 million. In Maryland, 

 Virginia, and the District of Columbia, 367 processing and wholesaling establishments employed a monthly 

 average of 7,991 persons. 



Alewives. Landings of 12.1 million pounds valued at $422,000 declined 18 percent in volume and 9 percent in 

 value compared with 1974. The Virginia production of 11.4 million pounds (down 15 percent) was 94 percent 

 of the Chesapeake landings. Maryland landings of 718,000 pounds were 48 percent less than 1974, and the 

 smallest on record. 



Clams. Landings of surf clams were 44.4 million pounds of meats valued at $6.7 million— declines of 30 

 percent in volume and 14 percent in value compared with 1974, the record year for volume and value. 

 Virginia led the Nation for the fourth consecutive year in surf clam landings with 39.1 million pounds of meats 

 or 45 percent of the U.S. total production. In 1974, surf clam landings in Virginia were a record 58.2 million 

 pounds or 61 percent of the total U.S. production. The once highly productive area east of the Virginia Capes 

 has become depleted owing to extensive fishing. In 1975, the vessels were required to take longer trips to 

 land the same number of clams as in previous years. The Maryland surf clam fishery declined only 1 percent 

 in volume from the previous year; the size of the fleet has remained stable. 



Landings of heird clams were 1.2 million pounds of meats valued at $1.1 million— decreases of 22 

 percent in quantity and 21 percent in value compared with 1974. Virginia fishermen landed 94 percent of the 

 total, 1.1 million pounds of meats. Seaside bays off the Atlantic Ocean yielded 35 percent of the Virginia 

 total; the James River, 32 percent; the York River, 26 percent; and the Chesapeake Bay, 7 percent. The 

 Maryland catch was made from two areas, Chincoteague Bay and Pocomoke Sound. The soft clam fishery, 

 which is in Maryland waters, had landings of 1.2 million pounds of meats valued at $1.2 million— down 41 

 percent in volume and 34 percent in value from the 1974 landings. During the first 6 months of the year, soft 

 clamming was fair, and exvessel prices stable at $10 per bushel. In July and August the vessels were hard put 

 to reach their 15-bushel-per-day limit on landings. Many vessels could only bring in 5 to 8 bushels per day. 

 Exvessel prices were $18 to $20 per bushel. In December the discovery of an untapped bed of mostly large- 

 sized soft clams discovered in Pocomoke Sound brought a rush of boats to that area. 



Crabs. Landings of hard blue crabs were 59.1 million pounds valued at $9.3 million— a decline of 10 percent in 

 volume, but an increase of 12 percent in value compared with 1974. Virginia crabbers caught 59 percent of 

 the total with 34.8 million pounds landed. Pot fishermen landed 30.2 million pounds or 87 percent of the 

 Virginia totaL Dredge vessels in the winter fishery took most of the remainder. Maryland landings, 24.3 

 million pounds, valued at $4.3 million, declined 2 percent in volume and increased 5 percent in value 

 compared with 1974. Maryland crab pots took about 64 percent of the catch; trot lines took most of the rest. 

 The average exvessel price for hard blue crabs was 17.6 cents per pound in Maryland and 14.4 cents per pound 

 in Virginia. 



