284 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



Fisheries. — The vessel fisheries of Alabama employed haul seines, 

 otter trawls, dredges, and tongs, which together produced 11,212,131 

 pounds of oysters and shrimp, valued at $394,695. Dredges pro- 

 duced 7,921,725 pounds of oysters, valued at $273,021; haul seines 

 vielded 2,490,000 pounds of shrimp, valued at $88,997; otter trawls, 

 632,700 pounds of shrimp, valued at $22,819; and tongs 167,706 

 pounds of oysters, valued at $9,855. 



The shore and boat fisheries produced 13,819,607 pounds of fish 

 and shellfish, valued at $591,046. Otter trawls were the most pro- 

 ductive apparatus, catching 6,312,800 pounds of shrimp, valued at 

 $230,887. Tongs were next with 1,888,572 pounds of oysters, valued 

 at $109,211. Trammel nets followed with 1,716,411 pounds of prod- 

 ucts, valued at $81,841, of which 1,094,914 pounds, valued at $33,256, 

 w T ere mullet; 245,894 pounds, valued at $22,157, were squeteagues 

 or " sea trout," and the remainder was made up of 13 other varieties 

 in smaller quantities. Dredges yielded 1,896,951 pounds of oysters, 

 valued at $80,562. Haul seines produced 1,141,014 pounds of prod- 

 ucts, valued at $41,335, of which mullet was the most important 

 item, with 610,612 pounds, valued at $18,318, followed by shrimp 

 with 443,600 pounds, valued at $16,383. Lines yielded 706,369 

 pounds, valued at $34,262, the principal items of which were sque- 

 teagues or " sea trout," hard crabs, and sheepshead. Minor appa- 

 ratus produced 157,490 pounds, valued at $12,940. 



Wholesale trade and industries. — The wholesale fish trade was car- 

 ried on by 24 establishments, valued at $80,440, with cash capital of 

 $17,250 and employing 243 persons, to whom $63,989 were paid in 

 wages. 



Fish canning and the manufacture of by-products were carried on 

 by 33 establishments, valued at $1,023,395, with cash capital of $116,- 

 050 and employing 1,556 persons, to whom $539,525 were paid in 

 wages. The production consisted of 204,548 cases of canned oysters, 

 valued at $1,057,201 ; 173,093 cases of canned shrimp, valued at 

 $1,066,157; 32,789 tons of crushed oyster shells, valued at $278,031; 

 and other products valued at $2,837; making the total value of 

 canned fishery products and by-products $2,404,226. 



The following tables and summary statements present the detailed 

 statistics of the fisheries of Mississippi in 1924. 8 



8 For statistics on persons engaged, vessels, boats, gear, and investment in the fisheries 

 refer to page 266. 



