258 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The following summary sIiowk the returns made by the United 

 States Menhaden Oil and Guano Association : 



Statement of the extent of the vte)ih(i(h'n industry of the United States in each 

 year from 1873 to 1S98, incliisirc, <icc(»(ling to the returns of the United States 

 Menhaden Oil and Guano Association. 



The following summary shows the extent of the menhaden industry 

 according to the latest returns of the United States Fish Commission. 

 The figures for Connecticut, New Jersey, and Virginia for 1902 are 

 not yet available, and there have been no operations in Texas since 

 1901: 



Although very small quantities of other fish are used, practically 

 the entire catch in the menhaden fishery consists of that species alone. 

 The principal species other than menhaden are sea- robin, skates, 

 and bellows-fish. These are secured mostly in pound nets, especially 

 in those set in Gardiner Bay. They sell for 50 to 80 cents per 1,000, 

 and two or three million are used each year. The sea-rol)in yields 



