REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 123 



and an index of autliors facilitate the finding of works on special topics 

 and the papers of individual writers. 



Koles on a Ileconnoissance of the Fisheries of the Pacific Coast of the United States in 1S94. 

 (Bulletin 1894, pp. 223-288.) 



The inquiry on wliicli this paper is based was made in May and June, 

 1894, and is referred to in the previous report of the division. The 

 article embodies the results of observations on the condition of the 

 salmon industry of the different sections that it was deemed advisable 

 to visit; the development of the market fishery and the sardine indus- 

 try; the history, growth, and present extent of the sturgeon fishery of 

 the Columbia Kiver; and notes on several other branches of the fish- 

 eries that possess special interest. A special feature of the paper is 

 the i)resentation of detailed statistical data showing for certain appa- 

 ratus, fishermen, and j-ears the fluctuations in the catch of different 

 kinds of salmon in various parts of the Columbia River. 



A statistical Eeport on the Fisheries of the Middle Atlantic S,atcs. (Bulletin 1894, pp. 

 339-467.) 



This completes the series of papers on the economic fisheries of the 

 diflerent geographical coast sections, the regions for which reports have 

 been previously issued being the Kew England States, the Pacific 

 States, the Gulf States, and the South Atlantic States, iu the order 

 named. The present paper is based entirely on original field investiga- 

 tions carried on by agents of this division during parts of the fiscal 

 years 1891, 1892, and 1893; and the statistics and other information 

 obtained relate to the calendar years 1889, 1890, 1891, and 1892. The 

 statistical matter consists of (1) general condensed tables showing by 

 States the extent of the fishery industry in the entire region, (2) detailed 

 data for each State by counties, (3) a series of tables giving the extent 

 of some of the more important fisheries, and (4) comparisons with 1880. 



In the items of persons engaged and the value of the products the 

 commercial fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States are more important 

 than those of any other geographical section of the United States; but 

 the amount of capital invested is much less than in the Kew England 

 States. The returns show that during the last year covered bj^ the 

 statistics 90,923 persons Avere engaged in the various branches of the 

 industry; $19,318,604 was invested in the vessels, boats, apparatus, and 

 other property employed; and the value of the products at first hands 

 amounted to $19,023,474. This represents an increase since 1880 of 

 51.91 per cent in the number of persons employed, 32.35 per cent in 

 value of investment, and 13 ]ier cent in the value of the yield. 



The branches that are noticeably important and surpass in value 

 those of all other i-egions combined are the fisheries for oysters, clams, 

 shad, menhaden, bluefish, squeteagiie, crabs, alewives, striped bass, 

 sea bass, white perch, yellow perch, Spanish mackerel, and terrapin. 

 During the last year reported the value of the oysters taken was 

 $12,402,925; clams, $1,222,495; shad, $1,216,589; menhaden, $615,829; 

 bluefish, $591,479, and squeteague, $480,887. 



