16 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



were published in condensed form as Statistical Bulletin Xo. 520 

 early in 1922, and distributed to the trade. 



The number of persons en^a<red in the fisheries of jSIaryland was 

 21.383. the investment was $7,500,431:, and the products amounted to 

 59,530,795 pounds, with a value to the fishermen of $4,198,008. The 

 principal species were ovsters, 4,547.471 bushels, or 31,832,297 

 pounds, exclusive of shells, valued at $2,291,120; crabs, 27,188,922 

 in number, or 9,002,974 pounds, valued at $742,944; shad, 1,807,190 

 pounds, valued at $355,217; striped bass, 1,040.274 pounds, valued 

 at $193,295; alewives, fresh and salted, 7,073,088 pounds, valued at 

 $177,240; squeteague or "sea trout," fresh and salted, 2.281,490 

 pounds, valued at $92,284; and croaker, 2,519.770 pounds, valued at 

 $00,570. Compared with 1904 there Avas a decrease of 8.954, or 29.51 

 per cent, in the number of persons employed and of 21.598,071 

 pounds, or 20.02 per cent, in the quantity of the products, with an 

 increase of $802,108, or 25.83 per cent, in their value. There was 

 also an increase of $1,582,909, or 20 45 per cent, in the investment. 



The number of persons enfyajjed in the fisheries of Virginia was 

 19,378, the investment was $10,709,499, and the products amounted 

 to 471,219.089 pounds, having a value to the fishermen of $8,541,724. 

 The principal species were oysters, 3,903,509 bushels, or 27.744,983 

 pounds, exclus'.ve of shells, valued at $2,349.101 ; menhaden, 300.379.- 

 425 pounds, valued at $2,158,518; shad, 7,293.805 pounds, valued at 

 $1,145,100; squeteague or "sea trout," 12,908,502 pounds, valued at 

 $054,521 ; crabs, 40.911.237 in number, or 13,037,079 pounds, valued 

 at $505,504; croaker, 10,372,134 pounds, valued at $513,975; ale- 

 wives, fresh and salted, 10,005,100 pounds, valued at $259^58; 

 clams, 449,440 pounds, exclusive of shells, valued at $229,045; and 

 butterfish, 3,018,842 pounds, valued at $130,894. Compared with 

 1904, there was a decrease of 9.490, or 32.87 per cent, in the number 

 of persons employed, but an increase of $0,094,505, or 132.00 per cent, 

 in the investment, of 115.903,291 pounds, or 32.01 per cent, in the 

 quantity, and of $2,957,370, or 52.95 per cent, in the value of the 

 products. 



SHAD AND ALEWIFE FISHERIES OF THE POTOMAC RIVER. 



The shad and alewife fisheries of the Potomac Eiver in 1921 were 

 engafred in by 983 fishermen. The number of boats used was 023, 

 valued at $77,150. The fishing apparatus included 200 pound nets, 

 valued at $87,295 ; 290 gill nets, valued at $37,505 ; and seines, vahied 

 at $1,540. The shore and accessory property was valued at $7,735, 

 and the total investment amounted to $214,885. 



The number of shad taken was 405,872, or 1,100,438 pounds, valued 

 at $207,370. of which 49,081, or 138.207 pounds, valued at $25,191, 

 are credited to Maryland and 350,191 shad, or 1,022,231 pounds, 

 valued at $182,179, to Virginia. Compared with 1920 there was a 

 falling off in the catch of 123,480 shad, or 819,342 pounds, in quan- 

 tity and of $127,094 in value. 



The catch of alewives, or river herring, was 10,303,510 fish, or 

 4,121,404 pounds, valued at $44,041, of which 1,395,000 fish, or 

 558,000 pounds, valued at $9,010, are credited to Maryland and 

 8,908,510 fish, or 3,503,404 pounds, valued at $35,031, to Virginia. 



