FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1927 437 



ings amounted to 400,000 pounds, and since that year they have 

 increased each year over the landings for the previous year, with but 

 two exceptions. Flounders are taken largely by small vessels that 

 operate a gear loiown as a flounder drag. This is merely a small 

 otter trawl adapted to fit a vessel of small tonnage. Flounders are 

 taken mainly on South Channel and shore grounds. They are 

 becoming of increasing importance in the package-fish trade. 



Pollock, with landings of 7,651,711 pounds, ranked fifth in impor- 

 tance and increased 14 per cent over a year ago. Quantities of these 

 fish are filleted. 



The landings of all other varieties of fresh fish at these ports were 

 greater than a year ago, except those of swordfish and cusk, which 

 were slightly smaller. 



Among the salt fish, herring ranked first in importance with landings 

 of 4,410,436 pounds, or about 14 times as much as for 1926. The 

 landings of salt groundfish (cod, haddock, hake, cusk, pollock, and 

 halibut) amounted to 2,105,048 pounds, or 56 per cent less than those 

 for the previous 3^ear. Landings of salt mackerel amounted to 

 175,655 pounds, a decrease from a year ago of 84 per cent. 



Fishing grounds. — Fishery products landed at Boston, Gloucester, 

 and Portland by Amencan fishing vessels are taken from the fishing 

 grounds off the United States, Newfoundland, and the Canadian 

 Maritime Provinces. The fishing banks off the United States 

 include all those west of 66° west longitude. Those off Newfoundland 

 on which fishing was prosecuted during 1927 include Green Bank, 

 Grand Bank, St. Peters Bank, Straits of Belle Isle, and oft' Newfound- 

 land. Those off the Canadian Maritime Provinces include all the 

 fishing banks east of 66° west longitude not already fisted in the 

 group off Newfoundland. 



During 1927, vessels that land at the principal New England ports 

 obtained 240,083,000 pounds from fishing grounds off the United 

 States, or 91 per cent of the total landings. This is an increase of 21 

 per cent over the amount obtained from these grounds in 1926 and 

 shows a tendency on the part of fishermen to obtain fish nearer to port. 



The more important banks m this group were South Channel, 

 where 121,688,000 pounds were obtained; Georges Bank, where 

 38,154,000 pounds were obtained; shore grounds, where 32,022,000 

 pounds were obtained; and Browns Bank, where 12,091,000 pounds 

 were taken. South Channel abounds with haddock, and, since it 

 has a comparatively smooth bottom, it has become a desirable 

 ground upon which to prosecute on otter-trawl fishery. 



Landings from banks off the Canadian Maritime Provinces 

 amounted to 17,378,000 pounds, or 7 per cent of the total landings. 

 This represents a decrease under a year ago of 55 per cent. Virtually 

 the entire amount was obtained from La Have Bank and Western Bank. 

 All the fish caught by American fishing vessels off the coasts of the 

 Canadian Maritime Provinces were from offshore fishing grounds. 



Landings obtained from banks oft' Newfoundland accounted for 

 only 2 per cent of the total and amounted to 6,388,000 pounds. This 

 is an increase of 291 per cent over a year ago. Virtually the entire 

 amount from these grounds consisted of salt herring, which was used 

 chiefly for bait and was taken from the treaty coast of Newfoundland. 

 The other species were obtained from fishing banks on the high seas. 



Fishing fleet, trips, and days' ahsence.— During 1927, the fishing 

 fleet at the three ports numbered 359 sail, steam, and gasoHne vessels, 



