FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1926 397 
In 1925 the fisheries of Connecticut gave employment to 1,451 
fishermen and transporters; the value of vessels, boats, and gear 
employed in the fisheries amounted to $1,559,274; and the yield of 
the fisheries was 31,865,966 pounds, valued at $2,236,550. Though 
the number of persons engaged has increased from about 1,300 to 
1,450 during the last three years, it is still below the number in 1919, 
which was 1,666. The value of the vessels, boats, and gear increased 
with each successive canvass and is now nearly 50 per cent above 
the investment in 1919. The substantial increases during this 
period in the number of motor vessels and otter trawls are the out- 
standing changes to be noted. 
The total yield of the fisheries increased from 23,652,647 pounds, 
valued at $1,700,638, in 1919 to 38,265,091 pounds, valued at 
$2,592,327 in 1925, and then decreased to 31,865,966 pounds, valued 
at $2,236,550 in 1926. These changes may be understood by examin- 
ing the components of the yield. These are summarized in the 
accompanying table, from which it may be seen that food fishes in 
1926 constituted about 29 per cent, food shellfish about 18 per cent, 
and nonfood items about 53 per cent of the total quantity. Of the 
total value food fishes accounted for about 21 per cent, food shellfish 
50 per cent, and nonfood items 29 per cent. 
Summary of the yield of the fisheries of Connecticut in 1919 and 1924 to 1926, 
inclusive 




Year Food fish Food shellfish | Nonfood items | Total 
| Pounds | Value Pounds Value | Pounds Value | Pounds Value 
iC Eee oe 3, 656, 394 | $266,196 | 6, 025, 308 $747, 780 | 13,970, 945 | $686, 662 | 23, 652, 647 | $1, 700, 638 
LODE ope Fey =, | 6, 280, 075 | 351, 782 | 4, 957, 955 952, 081 | 14, 531, 486 702, 795 | 25, 769, 516 2, 006, 658 
LOD He eae 7, 625, 523 377, 469 | 6,751, 044 | 1,434, 559 | 23, 888, 524 | 780,299 | 38, 265, 091 2, 592, 327 
PGGHS sae 9, 401,692 | 465,897 | 5, 671,478 | 1,125,269 | 16,792,796 | 645,384 | 31,865,966 | 2, 236, 550 

The yield of the food fishes has increased steadily with the succes- 
sive canvasses, more than doubling in quantity and nearly doubling 
in value since 1919. The yield of flounders dominates the catch of 
focd fishes. Four-fifths of the total poundage and nearly two-thirds 
of the total value of the food fishes taken in 1926 were flounders, 
and the increased catch of this variety accounts for the increase in 
the total. The shad is next to flounders in importance. In 1919 
the value of the shad yield was nearly as large as the value ef flounders, 
but with the marked increase in the flounder yield and a decreased 
yield of shad the latter was a poor second in 1926, with a value less 
than one-tenth that of flounders. Other important items were 
haddock, cod, and swordfish. 
The food shellfish constitute the most valuable fishery resource of 
Connecticut, and of these the oyster is by far the most important. 
The yield of oysters in 1926, mostly from private beds, approached 
5,000,000 pounds of meat, valued at more than $880,000. This is 
somewhat less than the yield in 1925 but above the yields of 1919 
and 1924. The lobster is the other important shellfish, with a yield 
in 1926 of 645,454 pounds, valued at $227,003. The quantities taken 
were less in each successive canvass. 
Of the nonfood items seed oysters, taken mostly from private beds, 
are the most important. In 1926 their value was nearly $660,000. 
Menhaden and oyster shells are the other items in this category; 
together they had a value of slightly over $50,000 in 1926. 
