274 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Production of alewives in the Potomac River in various years, 1909 to 1924 



FLORIDA SPONGE FISHERY 



In 1924 the quantity of sponges sold at the sponge exchange, 

 Tarpon Springs, Fla., was 425,305 pounds, valued at S714,760, of 

 which 265,392 pounds, valued at $599,221, were large wool; 58,021 

 pounds, valued at $72,652, small wool; 81,420 pounds, valued at 

 $37,996, yellow; 14,898 pounds, valued at $2,661, grass, and 5,574 

 pounds, valued at $2,230, wire. It is estimated that sponges to the 

 value of $50,000 were sold outside of the exchange at Tarpon Springs. 



Compared with the production in 1923, this indicates a decrease 

 of 13 per cent in total quantity and 3 per cent in total value. When 

 compared with the annual production in the years 1919 to 1923, 

 however, it is apparent that the 1924 production is only slightly 

 below normal in quantity and above normal in value. The produc- 

 tion of large wool sponges shows a gratifying increase and that of small 

 wool and yellow sponges is being well maintained, but the production 

 of grass and wire sponges has decreased considerably as compared 

 with previous years. The unusually small yield of grass sponges in 

 1924 is attributed to the continued high winds, which caused unusual 

 turbidity of inshore waters where these are fished and to some extent 

 to the low prices that prevailed during the season. 



The following table gives comparative statistics on the sponges 

 sold at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange from 1919 to 1924: 



Sponges sold at the exchange, Tarpon Springs, Fla., 1919 to 1924 



Year 



1924 

 1923 

 1922 

 1921 

 1920 

 1919 



Pounds 

 5,574 



16, 028 

 7,585 



12,918 

 6,594 

 6,706 



FISHERIES OF THE PACIFIC COAST STATES IN 1922 



The statistics of the fisheries of the Pacific Coast States for the 

 calendar year 1922 were obtained from a canvass made during 1923. 

 The canvass was conducted in a manner similar to that for the year 

 1915 in order that the statistics collected might be comparable to 

 those of 1 9 1 5 and previous canvasses. A summary has been published 

 as Statistical Bulletin No. 647, but the detailed statistics are published 

 herein for the first time. 



