38 



FISHES AND FISHERY METHODS 



propitiously situated with respect to productive fish stocks and have 

 lower production costs. 



Production by types of gear are summarized in Table 3.8. The large 

 seine catch reflects the importance of menhaden, 98 per cent of the 2.2 

 billion pound catch in 1959 being taken by purse seine. Table 3.4 shows 

 the predominating gears used in each fishery in 1959. The gear used 

 changes from time to time and differs from region to region. Restrictive 

 legislation bavsed on socio-economic or conservation considerations, or 

 on both, has also controlled the type of gear. 



Table 3.8. Production by Types of Gear 



* For molluscs. 



The Fishery by Species. While 151 kinds of organisms contributed to 

 the 1959 total production, 55 accounted for 97 per cent of the total. 

 They are ranked by value in Table 3.3 with the year and amount of 

 record production. The latter were usually taken from virgin accumula- 

 tions. Sustainable yields would be lower. As indicated by underlined 

 totals. New England possesses the greatest diversity, being the main 

 producing region for 12 of the 55 items, and Alaska the least, being the 

 center for only one, namely salmon. 



The proportions of the 1959 national production contributed by the 

 first 12 most valuable species as listed in Table 3.4 and their bimonthly 



