FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1923 195 



The total production of the fisheries of this region in 1922 amounted 

 to 105,733,734 pounds, valued at S4, 503, 521, as compared with 

 93,374,159 pounds, valued at $1,841,168, taken in 1903, or an increase 

 of 13 per cent in quantity and 145 per cent in value. The most 

 important product, in terms of value and amount, was mussel shells, 

 of which there were 51,768,173 pounds, valued at $1,050,592, together 

 with $101,504 Avorth of pearls and slugs found in the mussels. These 

 were taken in all of the States of this region except Louisiana, Missis- 

 sippi, Texas, and Nebraska. Other important products were buffalo 

 fish, $17,267,177 pounds, valued at $1,013,692; carp, 18,338,371 

 pounds, valued at $872,128; catfish and bullheads, 8,092,690 pounds, 

 valued at $713.461 ; drum or sheepshead, 5,260,892 pounds, valued at 

 $290,480; paddlefish or spoonbill cat, 1,398,991 pounds, valued at 

 $132,545: to which might be added 12,398 pounds of caviar worth 

 $29,546. The spoonbill cat, as this species is most coinmonl}^ known, 

 is in great demand in New York City, the fishermen sometimes re- 

 ceiving as high as 45 cents per pound for it. The caviar usually nets 

 the shipper $3 a pound. The meat is used mainly in smoking. 

 Among other important species might be mentioned suckers, quill- 

 back or American carp, and crappie. the combined value of these 

 species being $171,587. 



Along the lower portion of the Mississippi Valley the buffalofish 

 is a predominating species and comprises about one-half of the catch 

 taken, while the carp occurs irregularly or not at all in many portions 

 of this region. From the Ohio River northward, however, the pro- 

 portion of carp to buft'alofish steadily increases. In lUinois we find 

 two and one-half times as much carp as buffalofish. and in Wisconsin 

 six times as much carp. In these two States the carp are practi- 

 cally all taken from the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. 



The output of the Mississippi River proper, including a few minor 

 tributaries too unimportant to be shown separately, in 1922 amounted 

 to 28,266,157 pounds, valued at $1,410,265, or about 27 per cent in 

 quantity and 31 per cent in value of that of the Mississippi River 

 and all of its tributaries. Fishing is prosecuted on this river from 

 its mouth to Minneapolis. Mussels, however, are not taken to any 

 extent commercially south of the mouth of the Missouri River, but 

 are taken in some of the minor tributaries 200 miles or more north 

 of Minneapolis. This river has probably been worked longer and 

 more steadily than any other mussel-bearing stream. 



The Illinois River was the most important tributary of the Missis- 

 sippi River. In 1922 the number of persons engaged in the fisheries 

 or related industries of this river and a few minor tributaries was 927. 

 The total investment, including boats, apparatus, shore property, 

 and cash capital, amounted to $332,367, and the entire output was 

 12,660,512 pounds, valued to the fishermen at $617,254. Carp and 

 buffalo were the leading species making up this total, the catch of 

 the two combined being equal in value to more than two-thirds that 

 of the entire catch. 



The White River and tributaries, in Arkansas and Missouri, rank 

 next to the Illinois River. In 1922 there were 1,997 persons engaged 

 in its fisheries or related industries. Its total investment was 

 $190,327. Of this amount $105,060 was invested in boats, $47,470 

 in apparatus, $36,797 in shore property, and $1,000 in cash capital. 



