FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1925 305 



MAINE 



Among the New England States in 1924 Maine was second only 

 to Massachusetts in the importance of her fisheries. There were 

 6,252 persons engaged in the fisheries, of whom 739 were on fishing 

 vessels, 226 on transporting vessels, 4,988 in the shore and boat 

 fisheries, and 299 were employed as shoresmen. The total investment 

 amounted to $3,792,875, which included 230 vessels valued, together 

 with their outfits, at $1,746,472: 2,684 motor boats, valued at $951,- 

 205 ; 1,989 sail and rowboats, valued at $52,527 ; gear to the value of 

 $881,835, and shore and accessory property to the value of $160,836. 

 The total yield of the fisheries amounted to 116,707,179 pounds, 

 valued at $4,136,989. Based on the value of their yield, the most 

 important species were lobsters, 51,513,002 pounds, valued at $1,772,- 

 165; cod, 21,409,737 pounds, valued at $574,804; herring, 47,930,152 

 pounds, valued at $447,160; haddock, 15,508,289 pounds, valued at 

 $357,352; clams, 3,577,300 pounds, valued at $228,331; smelt, 627,707 

 pounds, valued at $137,430 ; and swordfish, 863,036 pounds, valued at 

 $131,284. 



Fisheries. — Of the total yield the vessel fisheries produced 37,966,- 

 520 pounds, valued at $956,045. The most valuable catch in this 

 fishery was made with lines, amounting to 13,281,355 pounds, valued 

 at $326,585, of which cod and haddock were the most important 

 items. Otter trawls were next, with 10,879,185 pounds, valued at 

 $283,903. Harpoons took 863,036 pounds of swordfish, valued at 

 $131,284. Purse seines, gill nets, haul seines, lobster pots, set nets, 

 and scallop dredges took the remainder of the yield of the vessel 

 fisheries. 



The shore and boat fisheries landed 78,740,659 pounds of fishery 

 products, valued at $3,180,944. Lobster pots produced the most 

 valuable yield, amounting to 5,623,810 pounds, valued at $1,759,990. 

 Lines were next, with a yield of 24,319,108 pounds, valued at $476,916, 

 consisting largely of cod, haddock, hake, and smelts. Pound nets, 

 trap nets, weirs, followed with a catch of 30,711,853 pounds, valued 

 at $339,366, of which herring were by far the most important item. 

 Clam hoes yielded 3,577,300 pounds, Valued at $228,331. Gill nets, 

 scallop dredges and drags, set nets, bag and pocket nets, haul seines, 

 purse seines, fyke nets, otter trawls, dip nets, eel pots and traps, 

 sluiceways and traps, harpoons, spears and dinner traps, named in 

 order of importance, made up the remainder of the yield of the shore 

 and boat fisheries. 



Wholesome trade and industries. — The wholesale fishery trade of 

 Maine, including one firm in New Hampshire and two in Maine en- 

 gaged in the pearl-essence industry, was carried on in 55 establish- 

 ments, valued at $642,398, carrying cash Capital of $163,850 and em- 

 ploying 271 persons, to whom $188,620 were paid in salaries and 

 wages. Canning, salting, smoking and the manufacture of by-prod- 

 ucts were carried on in 148 establishments, which were valued at $4.- 

 444,761, carried a cash capital of $397,350, employed 5,430 persons, to 

 whom $1,619,115 were paid in salaries and wages, and manufactured 

 $9,668,232 worth of products. 



