820 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHEillES 



were made until 1905 when the catch amounted to 29,556,000 pounds. 

 In 1928 the production decreased to 11,039,000 pounds. 



Scup.— The largest catch of scup was made in 1889, amounting to 

 8,572,000 pounds. The smallest catch was registered in 1924 when 

 1,352,000 pounds were taken. A jecovery was effected in 1928 when 

 the catch amounted to 2,859,000 pounds. 



Skates. — The first available records on the catch of skates are for 

 1905. The catch in that year amounted to 26,000 pounds. Since 

 then this fishery has constantly expanded, and in 1928 the catch 

 amounted to 1,058,000 pounds. 



Smelt. — During the period of 1887 to 1902 the catch of smelt con- 

 sistently exceeded 1,100,000 pounds, and 1892 reached a peak of 

 1,698,000 pounds. Since 1902 no catch has been as great as 1,000,000 

 pounds. However, that in 1928 amounted to 903,000 pounds. 



Swordjish. — The smallest catch of swordfish that has been recorded 

 was made in 1887, amounting to 685,000 pounds. The trend has been 

 generally upward and in 1928 the largest catch on record was made, 

 amounting to 4,366,000 pounds. 



Whiting. — In 1887 only 47,000 pounds of this species were taken. 

 By 1919 it amounted to 16,203,000 pounds. However, in 1928 the 

 catch decreased and amounted to 8,378,000 pounds. 



Crabs. — The crab fishery in New England prior to 1908 was not of 

 great importance, the catch at no time exceeding 88,000 pounds. 

 Since 1908, however, the catch has increased rapidly and in 1928 

 amounted to 3,755,000 poimds, which is by far the largest on record. 



Lobsters.- — The trend of the lobster fishery has been downward. 

 The largest catch during the period under review was made in 1889, 

 when 30,450,000 pounds were taken. By 1928 the catch decreased 

 to 11,604,000 pounds. 



Squid. — The trend of this fishery has been generally upward. In 

 1888, 486,000 pounds were taken. In 1928 the catch had increased to 

 7,927,000 pounds, which is the largest on record. 



Hard clams. — Almost constant increases in the catch of hard clams 

 have been reported since 1887. In that year the catch amounted to 

 only 590,000 pounds of meat, while in 1928, 2,232,000 pounds were 

 taken. 



Soft clams. — The largest catch of soft clams was taken in 1889 

 and amounted to 11,542,000 pounds of meat. The catch in 1928 

 amounted to 5,470,000 pounds. 



Oysters. — The catch of oysters in 1928 amounted to 9,373,000 

 pounds of meat. This is by far the smallest catch on record. The 

 largest catch was registered in 1910, when 41,594,000 pounds were 

 taken. 



Scallops. — The scallop fishery in 1888 produced 342,000 pounds of 

 meat and was the smallest catch on record. The largest catch was 

 made in 1908 and amounted to 1,763,000 pounds. That in 1928 

 was but httle less than this peak year and amounted to 1,753,000 

 pounds. 



Considered in general terms over the period reviewed the catches 

 of butterfish, flounders, haddock, mackerel, skates, swordfish, whiting, 

 crabs, squid, hard clams, and scallops have increased; the catches 

 of cusk, herring, pollock, smelt, and soft clams have remained fairly 

 constant; and the catches of alewives, cod, hake, halibut, menhaden, 

 scup, lobsters, and oysters have decreased. 



