726 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



1 



CHESAPEAKE BAY STATES 



As the latest general statistical canvass of the catch of fishery- 

 products for this region was made for 1925, no other later data are 

 available on the condition of the catch of fishery products in these 

 States. However, the general trend of the fisheries mayobe obtained 

 from a study of the statistics, which are of more recent date, of the 

 canning and by-products industries and certain other industries. 



The menhaden industry recovered somewhat from the poor year 

 of 1928 and produced a larger Ciuantity of scrap and meal, but the 

 value did not increase accordingly and barely exceeded that for 1928. 

 Less oil with a less value was produced in 1929 as compared with 

 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 should bring home to the menhaden 

 manufacturers that it should improve methods for the manufacture 

 of their menhaden meal and oil with a view toward the production of a 

 higher-grade product. To produce such a product would require but 

 little additional expenditure in improving manufacturing methods. 



In 1929 the alewife canning industry produced products which 

 about ec(ualed the amount canned in 1928. The production of the 

 oyster industry changed little from the previous year. Some diffi- 

 culty has been experienced in marketing oysters, as distribution 

 through retail outlets has not kept pace in some parts of the country. 

 The crab industry had one of its best years in history in 1929, accord- 

 ing to reports of persons in the trade. The production of package fish 

 in 1929 about equaled that for 1928. The catch of shad on the 

 Potomac River in 1929 was somewhat less than that made in 1928, 

 and about one-fourth less than the average annual catches during 

 the past decade. The catch of alewives was less than that in 1928. 



SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES 



The fisheries of these States, which are conducted mainly by small 

 operators along the shore, continue to be in a sound position. In 



1928 the yield was about 1 per cent less than in 1927, but the value 

 was 6 per cent greater. 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 



The fisheries of these States were more productive in 1928 than in 

 any year upon which there are records since 1880, except in 1927, 

 fiom which year they decreased 2 per cent in amount and 1 per cent 

 in value. The production of canned shrimp in 1929 was about the 

 same as in the previous year. The production of canned oysters in 



1929 was considerably in excess of the pack in the previous year. 

 The quantity of sponges handled on the exchange in 1929 at Tarpon 

 Springs was below normal in both volume and value. 



PACIFIC COAST STATES 



The fisliories in these States yielded the greatest volume on record, 

 in 1928, although the value did not keep pace and was less than in 

 1927. The pack of canned salmon in 1929 was 92 per cent greater 



