286 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



NEW JERSEY 



The fisheries and industries related to the fisheries of New Jersey 

 in 1929 employed 7,635 persons. This is 27 per cent more than the 

 number employed in these fisheries during 1926, which is the most 

 recent year for which comparable data are available. Of the total 

 number of persons, 6,009 were fishermen, 222 were employed on 

 transporting vessels and boats, 1,223 in the wholesale trade, and 181 

 in manufacturing industries. 



The total catch amounted to 110,001,064 pounds, valued at 

 $8,730,624. This is an increase of 50 per cent in quantity and 40 per 

 cent in value, as compared with the catch and its value in 1926. Of 

 the total value of the catch, that of oysters accounted for 66 per cent; 

 clams, 6 per cent; and butterfish, 4 per cent. Of the total weight of 

 the catch, that of oysters accounted for 40 per cent; squeteagues or 

 "sea trout," 8 per cent; scup or porgy, 7 per cent; and menhaden, 

 6 per cent. 



OPERATING UNITS BY GEAR 



The catch of fishery products in New Jersey during 1929 was taken 

 by 6,009 fishermen, who used 287 motor vessels, 79 sailing vessels, 

 2,086 motor and other small fishing boats, and 21 major types of 

 gear. The vessels had a combined capacity of 6,442 net tons. The 

 fisheries accounting for the greatest number of persons were the 

 oyster-dredge fishery employing 2,733 fishermen, and the fishery 

 with tongs employing 932 fishermen. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



Three types of gear accounted for 78 per cent of the fishery products 

 taken in the marine fisheries of New Jersey during 1929. Listed in 

 order of their importance, they were: Dredges, which accounted for 

 39 per cent of the total catch; pound nets, 28 per cent; and purse 

 seines, 11 per cent. The catch by dredges was principally oysters; 

 that by pound nets, principally whiting, squeteagues, butterfish, 

 king crabs, scup, and menhaden; and that by purse seines was princi- 

 pally scup, menhaden, and squeteagues. 



OPERATING UNITS BY COUNTIES 



Cumberland County led in the number of persons fishing, account- 

 ing for 49 per cent of the total. Cape May County followed, with 

 16 per cent. Other counties employing a considerable number of 

 fishermen were Ocean, Monmouth, and Atlantic. Cumberland 

 County also was foremost in the number of vessels fishing, account- 

 ing for 68 per cent of the total. Cape May County followed with 17 

 per cent. Cape May County led in the number of motor and other 

 small fishing boats, accounting for 25 per cent of the total, and 

 Atlantic County followed, with 19 per cent. 



CATCH BY COUNTIES 



Fishing was prosecuted in the marine waters of 14 counties in New 

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

 Cumberland County were most important, accounting for 41 per cent 

 of the total catch and 65 per cent of the total value of the catch. 

 Cape May County followed, with 26 per cent of the catch and 12 per 



