FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1929 923 



Spunges sold nt the exchange, Tarpon Springs, Fla., 1926 to 1929, and the o-i/car 



average 1921-1925 



FISHERIES OF THE GULF STATES, 1928 



During 1928 the catch of fishery products in the Gulf States ex- 

 ceeded that in any year for which there are records, except that in 

 1927. These fisheries gave employment to 16,356 fishermen or 8 per 

 cent more than in 1927. Of the total number of fishermen employed 

 during 1928, 2,400 regular fishermen were engaged on vessels, and 

 13,033 regular and 923 casual fishermen were employed in the shore 

 and boat fisheries. Their catch amounted to 191,007,176 pounds, 

 valued at $9,866,263. This is a decrease of 2 per cent in the catch 

 and 1 per cent in the value of the catch as compared with the quantity 

 and its value for 1927. Of the total catch in 1928, 67,704,097 pounds, 

 valued at $3,673,124, were fish, and 123,303,079 pounds, valued at 

 $6,193,139, were sliellfish and miscellaneous products. 



Based on the value to the fishermen, shrimp wdth a production of 

 82,169,863 pounds, valued at $3,092,417, was the most important 

 product. Oysters w^ere second with a production of 34,942,614 

 pounds of meats, valued at $1,943,239. Other products of importance 

 were mullet, 26,447,649 pounds, valued at $1,111,921; red snapper, 

 10,392,215 pounds, valued at $860,430; sponges, 554,358 pounds, 

 valued at $851,362; and squeteagues or "sea trout," 5,339,636 pounds, 

 valued at $564,433. Other products were valued individually at 

 lesfe than $300,000. 



The industries related to the fisheries of the Gulf States gave em- 

 ployment to 4,528 persons, of whom 85 were engaged in transporting 

 fishery products, 1,768 were in the wholesale trade and received 

 $1,319,912 in salaries and wages, and 2,675 were in the prepared- 

 products and by-products trade and received $1,567,748 in salaries 

 and wages. There were 250 establishments in the wholesale fish 

 trade handling primary products and 97 establishments w^ere in the 

 prepared-products and by-products trade. The latter manufactured 

 products valued at $8,131,857, consisting principally of canned shrimp 

 and oysters. In addition, individual fishermen in the Gulf States 

 prepared fishery products, valued at $30,910. Most of these products 

 were salted mullet and salted mullet roe. 



