430 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



and scallops is offset by the rise of shrimp, crab, croaker, and spot. If the 

 species which make up in each year, say, 70 per cent or more of the quantity 

 are arranged in parallel columns for the twenty-three canvassed years, and 

 another set aranged of those which made up 70 per cent or more of the 

 value, it will be seen that great commutations occurred and that no two 

 years are the same in composition for either quantity or value, that no 

 pattern of change is clearly discernible, and that few generalizations can 

 be made. It can be observed, however, in these "descending order" tables 

 for North Carolina, as in those for the whole country (Tables 51 to 56, 

 Appendix), that there is a tendency for the main bulk (say 70 per cent) 

 to be made up of a larger and larger number of species. In 1880 in North 

 Carolina, 70 per cent of the quantity and value was in four species, alewife, 

 mullet, shad, and oysters; in 1887, 70 per cent of the quantity was two 

 species, alewife, and shad, and 70 per cent of the value was in three, alewife, 

 shad, and mullet. From 1923 to 1945 the quantity was made up of from 

 five to eight or nine species and the value rather more, i.e., from eight to 

 ten. This increase in number can hardly be ascribed to the exploitation of 

 more species to supply a larger demand, for the total production did not 

 increase (average food fish 1921-1940 is 2.7 less than average of 1887- 

 1908) ; also, when compared year by year there is seen to be no relationship 

 between number of major species and quantity or value of product. To some 

 (though not a large) extent the change has resulted from an actual biological 

 diminution of abundance of the anadromous shad (and perhaps alewives) 

 and the substitution therefor of other species. The striped bass, also 

 anadromous, has not diminished. 



The composition of the catch in the later years is (as in New England 

 and other parts of the country) radically different from what it was in the 

 early years; the declines are generally in those species which have a poor 

 economic behavior pattern, and the newcomers or newly dominant species 

 are those which have the best behavior patterns, i.e., those for which de- 

 mand supports price on increasing production. In the pre- 1900 period the 

 bulk of both quantity and value consisted of alewives, shad, mullet, oysters, 

 and sea trout. In the post-1920 period shrimp, crab, spot, and croaker play 

 an increasingly prominent part. That is to say, the catch is made up, from 

 time to time, of whatever affords the fishermen the largest return for their 

 labor. 



Statistical History of the Economic Species. Table 91, Appendix, is the 

 statistical history of quantity and value of each of the principal useful 

 species of fish and shellfish in North Carolina. The series are, of course, 

 not continuous but, even so, their fluctuations show a remarkable tendency 

 to establish maxima in the years of good business, 1902, 192 7-1929, 1936- 

 1937? for in 1 93 6- 1 93 7 records or high peaks were established by bluefish, 



