REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES XXXI 



While this was an increase over 1924 of 19 per cent in number, 21 

 per cent in number of pounds, and 85 per cent in value, it was one 

 of the smallest catches of which there is statistical record. The 

 catch of alewives, amounting to 7,835,380 fish, weighing 3,134,152 

 pounds and valued at $37,341, was less than the 1924 catch by 42 per 

 cent in number and 34 per cent in value and was one of the smallest 

 catches since 1915. 



FLORIDA SPONGE FISHERY 



In 1925 the quantity of sponges sold at the sponge exchange, Tar- 

 pon Springs, Fla., was 434,672 pounds, valued at $715,097, of which 

 242,020 pounds, valued at $609,393, were large wool ; 29,968 pounds, 

 valued at $44,952, were small wool; 120,748 pounds, valued at $48,- 

 300, yellow; 28,622 pounds, valued at $8,014, grass; and 13,314 

 pounds, valued at $4,438, wire. Compared with" the 1924 produc- 

 tion this is an increase of 2 per cent in quantity and less than 1 per 

 cent in value. 



FISHERIES OF THE GULF STATES 



Compilation of the statistics of the fisheries of the Gulf States in 

 1923 was completed during the fiscal year and published in sum- 

 mary form as Statistical Bulletin No. 670. The results show that 

 the fisheries in these States gave employment to 17,793 persons, of 

 whom 11,132 were engaged in fishing operations, 1,785 in the whole- 

 sale trade, and 4,876 in the fish-canning and by-products industries. 

 The investment amounted to $10,535,905, of which $5,196,541 was in- 

 vested in vessels, boats, gear, and shore property used by fishermen, 

 $1,975,223 in the wholesale fish trade, and $3,364,141 in the canning 

 and by-products industries. The yield of the fisheries aggregated 

 160,324,042 pounds, valued at $8,096,650. The output of the canning 

 and by-products industries was valued at $6,264,913. 



Shrimp, with a production of 44,246,177 pounds, valued at $1,735,- 

 422, was the most important fishery product of the Gulf States, con- 

 stituting 21.4 per cent of the total value of fishery products. Other 

 important products were oysters, 25,453,309 pounds or 3,636,187 

 bushels, valued at $1,587,945; mullet, 30,797,824 pounds, valued at 

 $1,207,114; sponges, 574,593 pounds, valued at $873,572; red snapper, 

 11,728,845 pounds, valued at $864,857; and squeteagues or "sea 

 trout," 4,356,906 pounds, valued at $426,668. 



Compared with 1918, the last available statistical report, there was 

 an increase of 19.5 per cent in the number of persons engaged, 61.2 

 per cent in the amount of capital invested, 22.5 per cent in the quan- 

 tity, and 24.4 per cent in the value of fishery products landed by the 

 fishermen. A large portion of this increase was due to the growth of 

 the shrimp-canning industry and is the"* outstanding feature of 

 recent developments in the Gulf fisheries. 



FISHERIES OF NEW ENGLAND 



During the past fiscal year the fisheries of the New England 

 States were canvassed for statistics pertaining to 1924. Results were 

 published in condensed form in Statistical Bulletin No. 703. Ac- 



