FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1927 463 



$12,456,256. Of this catch, 128,121,258 pounds, vakied at $12,292,932, 

 were principally food fish and shellfish, and 39,891,237 pounds, 

 valued at $162,324, were menhaden. Compared with the amount 

 and value of the 1921 catch of food fish and menhaden, respectively, 

 the food-fish group increased 22 per cent in amount and 19 per cent 

 in value, while menhaden decreased 82 per cent in amount and 88 per 

 cent in value. 



Of the total products, those of fish account for 71 per cent of the 

 amount and only 37 per cent of the value, while those of shellfish 

 account for only 29 per cent of the amount and but 63 per cent of the 

 value. This high value for shellfish products is due chiefly to that for 

 oysters. On the basis of the computed value to the fishermen of the 

 total fishery products taken, the annual earning power of persons 

 engaged in catching fish in this section was about $1,250 durmg 1926. 

 This must not be taken to represent the total average earning power 

 of these fishermen, for in many cases fishing is a seasonal occupation 

 with them, and when the fish are out of season they turn to other 

 pursuits. Possibly $1,250 represents more nearly one-half to two- 

 thirds of their annual earning power. 



The industries related to the fisheries of these States in 1926 

 employed 4,382 persons, of whom 107 were engaged in transporting 

 fishery products, 3,412 were in the wholesale trade, 510 in the pre- 

 pared-fish and by-products industries, and 353 in menhaden reduction 

 factories. Those employed in the related fishery industries (exclusive 

 of the 107 persons employed in transporting and the 343 connected 

 with the wholesale trade but not employed in these estabkshments) 

 received $5,133,949 in wages during 1926. This constitued an aver- 

 age earning from this class of work of about $1,300. As with the 

 fishermen, persons employed in the related fishery industries generally 

 do not confine their entire time to the work, so that $1,300 can not 

 be taken as representing the entire annual earnings of these persons. 

 In all probability it constitutes between one-half and two-thirds of 

 their annual income. 



Fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States, 1926 

 OPERATING UNITS: By States 



