494 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



SHAD AND ALEWIFE OP THE POTOMAC/ RIVER 



In 1927, this fishery was prosecuted by 682 fishermen. It yielded 

 222,321 shad that weighed 686,581 pounds, valued at $113,825 to the 

 fishermen. Compared with the yield for 1926, this is a decrease of 

 34 per cent in number, 34 per cent in weight, and 48 per cent in value. 

 Of the total number, 86 per cent were taken by Virginia fishermen 

 and the remaining 14 per cent by Maryland fishermen. 



The catch of alewives amounted to 11,608,067 fish with a weight 

 of 4,645,365 pounds, valued at $50,588 to the fishermen. This is a 

 decrease of 16 per cent in number, 16 per cent in weight, and 9 per 

 cent in value, compared with the yield in 1926. Of the total number, 

 89 per cent were taken by Virginia fishermen and the remaining 11 

 per cent by Maryland fishermen. 



Shad and alewije fisheries of the Potomac River, 1927 



1 Includes the statistics on one small haul seine in Maryland. 



Catch of shad in the Potomac River, 1896 to 1921 



