FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1930 207 



per cent; and flounders, 8 per cent. Of the total weight of the catch, 

 that of haddock accounted for 48 per cent; cod, 14 per cent; mackerel, 

 12 per cent; and flounders, 8 per cent. 



OPERATING UNITS BY GEAR 



The catch of fishery products in Massachusetts during 1929 was 

 taken by 8,402 fishermen, who used 413 motor vessels, 1 sailing vessel, 

 24 steam vessels, 2,810 motor and other small fishing boats, and 19 

 major types of gear. The vessels had a combined capacity of 17,601 

 net tons. The fisheries accounting for the greatest number of persons 

 were the otter-trawl fishery, employing 2,967 fishermen; the trawl- 

 line fishery, employing 1,661 fishermen; the harpoon fishery, employ- 

 ing 1,140 fishermen; and the purse-seine fishery, employing 1,017 

 fishermen. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



Three types of gear accounted for 86 per cent of the fishery products 

 taken in the marine fisheries of Massachusetts during 1929. Listed 

 in order of their importance they were: Otter trawls, which accounted 

 for 54 per cent of the catch; lines, 22 per cent; and purse seines, 10 

 per cent. The catch by otter trawls and lines was principally fish of 

 the ground-fish group, and that by purse seines was principally 

 mackerel. 



OPERATING UNITS BY COUNTIES 



Suffolk County was foremost in the number of persons fishing, 

 accounting for 31 per cent of the total. Essex County followed with 

 29 per cent. Other counties employing a considerable number of 

 fishermen were Barnstable, Bristol, and Plymouth. Suffolk County 

 accounted for 42 per cent of the total number of fishing vessels, and 

 Essex County followed with 33 per cent. Barnstable County led in 

 the number of motor and other small fishing boats, accounting for 33 

 per cent of the total. Essex and Plymouth Counties followed in 

 order, accounting for 18 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively, of the 

 total number. 



CATCH BY COUNTIES 



Fishing was prosecuted in the marine waters of 8 counties in Mas- 

 sachusetts during 1929. Ranked according to value, the fisheries of 

 Suffolk were most important, accounting for 53 per cent of the total 

 catch and 45 per cent of the total value of the catch. Essex County 

 was next in the value of the catch, accounting for 29 per cent each of 

 the total quantity and value. Other important counties, listed in 

 order of their importance with respect to the value of the catch, were 

 Barnstable and Bristol. 



