REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 39 
landed, but a large increase in the value, as compared with the previ- 
ous year. The decline in quantity occurred at Gloucester and Port- 
land, while there was considerable increase over the previous year in 
the receipts at Boston. Statistics of these fisheries have been col- 
lected during the year by the local agents and published in monthly 
bulletins showing by species and fishing grounds the quantities and 
values of fishery products landed by American fishing vessels at 
these ports. Two annual bulletins also have been issued, one show- 
ing the catch by months, and the other by fishing grounds. 
The fishing fleet which landed fishery products at these ports dur- 
ing the calendar year 1917 included 493 sail, steam, and gasoline 
screw vessels. These vessels landed at Boston 2,962 trips, aggregating 
98,650,139 pounds of fish, valued at $5,166,440; at Gloucester, 3,074 
trips, aggregating 58,134,944 pounds, valued at $2,451,484; at Port- 
land, 3,248 trips, aggregating 18,645,503 pounds, valued at $743,408. 
The total for the three ports amounted to 9,284 trips, aggregating 
175,430,586 pounds of fresh and salted fish, having a value to the 
fishermen of $8,361,332. Compared with the previous year there was 
an increase of 339 trips, and a decrease of 10,393,839 pounds, or 5.59 
per cent, in the quantity, with an increase of $1,977,426, or 30.97 per 
cent, in the value of the fish landed. The catch of haddock decreased 
7,000,957 pounds, hake 5,257,653 pounds, pollock, 1,095,838 pounds, 
cusk, 2,518,994 pounds, halibut 1,692,701 pounds, herring 5,494,676 
pounds, and miscellaneous products 2,232,214 pounds, but all of these 
species except cusk, halibut, herring, and the miscellaneous products 
increased in value. The catch of Newfoundland herring decreased 
4,462,479 pounds, or 39.58 per cent, in quantity, and $98,202, or 30.12 
per cent in value. The cod catch increased 12,823,966 pounds, or 
29.39 per cent, in quantity, and $813,952, or 52.28 per cent, in value, 
and the mackerel catch 1,535,714 pounds, or 9.65 per cent, in quantity 
and $404,831, or 38.58 per cent, in value. There was also an increase 
in the catch of swordfish of 201,206 pounds, or 11.35 per cent, in 
quantity, and $53,890, or 22.61 per cent, in value. The catch of tile- 
fish landed at Boston during the year amounted to 1,211,450 pounds, 
valued at $44,743, an increase over the previous year of 338,308 
pounds, or 38.74 per cent, in quantity and $20,448, or 84.16 per cent, 
in value. 
The following tables present in detail, by fishing grounds and by 
months, the products of the vessel fisheries of Boston and Gloucester, 
Mass., and Portland, Me., for the calendar year 1917. The weights 
of fresh and salted fish given in these statistics represent the fish as 
landed from the vessels, and the values are those received by the 
fishermen. The grades, or sizes, given for certain species are those 
recognized in the trade, 
