BUREAU OF FISHEEIES XXIII 



Shad Jishenj. — On the Hudson River the shad fishery was carried 

 on by 241 fishermen and 3'ielded 56,480 shad which weighed 196,745 

 pounds, vahied at $30,683 to the fishermen. This represents a de- 

 cHne of 29 per cent both in number and vahie as compared with the 

 production in 1928. 



CHESAPEAKE BAY STATES 



The Virginia menhaden industry recovered somewhat from the 

 poor year of 1928, and produced a larger quantity of scrap and meal, 

 but the value barely exceeded that for 1928.. There was a smaller 

 oil production selling at a lower price in 1929 than in 1928, with the 

 net result that the total value of the menhaden industry in Virginia 

 in 1929, in spite of increased production, was about the same as in 

 1928. This situation reveals the need for improved methods in the 

 manufacture of menhaden meal and oil with a view toward the pro- 

 duction of a higher quality product. 



Conditions in the oyster industry were little changed, although 

 distribution has not yet kept pace in some parts of the country. The 

 crab industry had one of its best years in 1929, according to the 

 reports of persons in the trade. The production of packaged fish in 

 1929 about equaled that for 1928. 



Shad fishery. — In 1929 shad and alewife fisheries of the Potomac 

 River were prosecuted by 773 fishermen. It yielded 317,253 fish 

 that weighed 1,052,284 pounds, valued at $141,589 to the fishermen. 

 Compared with the yield for 1928 this is a decrease of 56 per cent in 

 number, 49 per cent in weight, and 34 per cent in value. 



SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES 



In 1928 the fisheries of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 

 and the east coast of Florida employed 11,882 fishermen, or 3 per cent 

 more than in 1927. The catch amounted to 258,440,435 pounds, 

 valued at $6,027,154, which is a decrease of 1 per cent in catch and 

 an increase of 6 per cent in value when compared with 1927. 



The production of canned shrimp in 1929 was somewhat higher 

 than in 1928. The menhaden industry, which is rapidly becoming a 

 factor in the fisheries of these States, showed a considerably increased 

 production in 1929 over that in 1928. 



GULF STATES 



According to available records for 1928, the fisheries of Alabama, 

 Alississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and the west coast of Florida have been 

 exceeded only in 1927, from which year they decreased 2 per cent in 

 amount and 1 per cent in value. They employed 16,356 fishermen, 

 or 8 per cent more than in 1927. The catch amounted to 191,007,176 

 pounds, valued at $9,866,263. The production of canned shrimp in 

 1929 was about the same as in the previous year, while the production 

 of canned oysters was considerably in excess of the pack in 1928. 



Florida sponge fishery. — In 1929 the quantity of sponges sold on the 

 exchange at Tarpon Springs, Fla., amounted to 378,514 pounds, valued 

 at $706,645. This is a decrease of 8 per cent in quantity and 3 per 

 cent in value compared with the transactions in 1928. 



