FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1930 



401 



Sponges sold at the Exchange, Tarpon Springs, Fla., 1927-30, and ike 5-year 



average 1922-26 



ALABAMA 



The fisheries and industries related to the fisheries of Alabama in 

 1929 employed 1,095 persons, which is 11 per cent less than the 

 number employed in 1928. Of the total number of persons, 781 were 

 fishermen, 12 were employed on transporting vessels, 95 in the whole- 

 sale trade, and 207 in manufacturing industries. Of the fishermen, 

 2 were engaged also in the manufacturing of prepared fishery products. 



The total catch amounted to 9,024,539 pounds, valued at $410,325, 

 which is a decrease of 38 per cent in the catch and 30 per cent in the 

 value of the catch, as compared with the catch and its value in the 

 previous year. Of the total value of the catch, shrimp accounted for 

 38 per cent; red snapper, 25 per cent; and mullet, 18 per cent. Of the 

 total weight of the catch, shrimp accounted for 49 per cent; mullet, 

 18 per cent; and red snapper, 14 per cent. 



OPERATING UNITS BY GEAR 



The catch of fishery products in Alabama during 1929 was taken 

 by 781 fishermen, who used 34 motor vessels, 4 sailing vessels, 449 

 motor and other small boats, and 9 major types of gear. The vessels 

 had a combined capacity of 430 net tons. The fisheries accounting 

 for the greatest number of persons were the otter-trawl fishery 

 employing 285 fishermen and the hand-line fishery employing 148 

 fishermen. 



CATCH BY GEAR 



Four types of gear accounted for 94 per cent of fishery products 

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

 their importance they were: Otter trawls, which accounted for 49 

 per cent of the catch; trammel nets, 18 per cent; lines, -17 per cent; 

 and haul seines, 10 per cent. The catch by otter trawls consisted 

 almost exclusively of shrimp; that by trammel nets principally mullet; 

 that by lines chiefly red snapper; and that by haul seines principally 

 mullet. 



OPERATING UNITS BY COUNTIES 



Fisheries of Alabama are confined to Baldwin and Mobile Counties. 

 Mobile County accounted for 83 per cent of the number of persons 

 fishing, 82 per cent of the fishing vessels, and 80 per cent of the motor 

 and other small fishing boats. 



