42 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The alewife catcli in different waters with apparatus set especially 

 for these fishes is shown in the next table. The Potomac Eiver is seen 

 to have the largest yield, closely followed by the Damariscotta, after 

 which come the Connecticut, Taunton, Sassafras, Delaware, Merrimac, 

 Elk, and Hudson. 



Ta1)h' sliowing hi/ waters the number, weujlit, and value of the alewives tahen in the special 

 alewife fisheries. 



OOMPARATIYE STATISTICS OF THE CATCH. 



In the following table the quantity and value of the alewife catch are 

 exhibited for three seasons separated by intervals of eight years. Some 

 of the States show a larger yield in 1896 than in either 1888 or 1880, 

 and the total output in 1896 is considerably in excess of that for the 

 previous years. In the New England and INIiddle Atlantic States the 

 increase since 1880 was constant and marked, but in the South Atlantic 

 region there was a smaller catcli in 1896 than iu the earlier years. 

 Especially noteworthy changes were the increase in Maryland from 



