84 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES, 



SHAD AND ALEWIFE FISHERIES OF MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. 



The perpetuation of these important fisheries is a subject of special 

 concern to the States of Maryland and Virginia. As the fisheries are 

 conducted at the same seasons with the same apparatus and present 

 like problems, association of statistical tables and discussions regard- 

 ing them is a matter of convenience. In making the canvass it was 

 found practicable to obtain statistics of the catch for 1921 in addition 

 to the detailed statistics for 1920. 



In 1920 the catch of shad in Maryland was 1,867,196 pounds, val- 

 ued at $355,217, and in Virginia 7,293,805 pounds, valued at 

 $1,145,106, a total of 9,161,001 pounds, valued at $1,500,323. In 

 1921 the catch in Maryland was 1,807,074 pounds, valued at $347,396, 

 and in Virginia 6,936,001 pounds, valued at $1,204,595, a total of 

 8,743,075 pounds, valued at $1,551,991. 



Compared with 1915 there was an increase of 412,661 pounds, or 

 28.37 per cent, in the catch of shad in Maryland in 1'920 and of 

 352,539 pounds, or 24.23 per cent, in 1921. The increase in Virginia 

 in 1920 as compared with 1915 was 2,579,671 pounds, or 54.72 per 

 cent, and in 1921, 2,221,867 pounds, or 47.13 per cent. 



The catch of alewives in 1920 in Maryland amounted to 7,071,688 

 pounds, valued at $177,190, and in Virginia to 16,665,100 pounds, 

 valued at $259,258, a total of 23,736,788 pounds, valued at $436,448. 

 In 1921 the catch in Maryland amounted to 6,504,845 pounds, valued 

 at $144,584, and in Virginia to 18,834,164 pounds, valued at $245,945, 

 a total of 25,339,009 pounds, valued at $390,529. 



In 1920 there was a decrease in the catch of alewives in Maryland 

 amounting to 5,495,892 pounds, or 43.73 per cent, as compared with 

 1915. There was a further decrease in 1921 amounting to 6,062,735 

 pounds, or 48.24 per cent, as compared with 1915. In comparison 

 with 1915 the catch of alewives in Virginia shows an increase in 1920 

 and 1921, amountmg to 610,970 pounds, or 3.80 per cent, m 1920, and 

 2,780,034 pounds, or 17.31 per cent, in 1921. 



Comparative statistics of these fisheries for various years, the catch 

 in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, and the number and value of 

 shad, by counties, are shown in the tables which follow. The catch of 

 the Potomac River is shown in detail on pages 66 to 07 



Comparative Statistics of the Shad and Alewife Product of Maryland and 

 Virginia, Various Years, 1880 to 1921. ^ 



1 The catch of shad and alewives in these States outside of the Chesapeake Bay region is included for 

 some years, but is practically negligible. 



