326 tJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



accounted for 33 per cent; shad, 19 per cent; menhaden, 11 per cent; 

 crabs, 9 per cent; and croakers, squeteagues, and clams, each 5 per 

 cent. Of the total weight of the catch, that of menhaden accounted 

 for 47 per cent; crabs, 15 per cent; oysters, 12 per cent; croakers, 7 

 per cent; and alewives, 6 per cent. 



OPERATING UNITS BY GEAR 



The catch of fishery products in Virginia during 1929 was taken by 

 10,041 fishermen, who used 30 steam vessels, 92 motor vessels, 17 

 sailing vessels, 7,639 motor and other small fishing boats, and 14 

 major types of gear. The vessels had a combined capacity of 4,469 

 net tons. The fisheries accounting for the greatest number of per- 

 sons were the fishery with tongs employing 4,250 fishermen, the 

 pound-net fishery employing 2,139 fishermen, the trot-line fishery 

 employing 1,054 fishermen, and the purse-seine fishery employing 

 1039 fishermen. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



Five types of gear accounted for 96 per cent of the fishery products 

 taken in the fisheries of Virginia during 1929. Listed in order of 

 their importance they were: Purse seines, which accounted for 47 

 per cent of the catch; pound nets, 23 per cent; lines and tongs, each, 

 10 per cent; and dredges, 6 per cent. The catch by purse seines was 

 exclusively menhaden; that by pound nets was chiefly alewives, 

 croaker, squeteagues or "sea trout," and shad; that by lines almost 

 exclusively crabs; that by tongs principally oysters; and that by 

 dredges consisted of crabs, oysters, and scallops. 



OPERATING UNITS BY COUNTIES 



Accomac County was foremost in the number of persons fishing, 

 accounting for 17 per cent of the total. Northumberland County 

 followed, accounting for 14 per cent. Other counties employing a 

 considerable number of fishermen were Lancaster, Middlesex, North- 

 ampton, Mathews, York, and Gloucester. York County accounted 

 for 29 per cent of the total number of fishing vessels, Northumber- 

 land County accounted for 19 per cent, and Elizabeth City County, 

 17 per cent. Accomac County led in the number of motor and other 

 small fishing boats, accounting for 21 per cent of the total. North- 

 ampton followed with 13 per cent. 



CATCH BY COUNTIES 



Fishing was prosecuted along the coast and in the coastal rivers 

 and bays of 31 counties in Virginia during 1929. Ranked according 

 to value, the fisheries of Accomac County were most important, 

 accounting for 14 per cent of the total catch and 19 per cent of the 

 total value of the catch. Northumberland County was next in the 

 value of the catch, accounting for 38 per cent of the quantity and 14 

 per cent of the value. Other important counties listed in order of 

 their importance with respect to the value of the catch were Mathews 

 and Lancaster. 



