REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 53 



THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



The canvass of the statistics and methods of the fisheries of this 

 important coast section was begun in the previous year. By reference 

 to the report of the work of this division for 1891-92, it will be seen 

 that the entire Chesapeake Basin and the adjoining ocean shores of 

 Maryland and Virginia were then covered, leaving for future inquiry 

 the States of New York, Is'ew Jersey, and tliose parts of Pennsylvania 

 and Delaware not drained by the tributaries of the Chesapeake. The 

 field work in this region began in August, 1892, and was the first under- 

 taken in the fiscal year. The regular canvass was completed by April, 

 but some special inquiries in the region were made as late as June, 

 1893. 



The investigation of the fisheries of the entire State of New York 

 was conducted by Mr. E. E. Eace, with the exceptions to be noted later. 

 The inquiry began at. the eastern end of Long Island, included both 

 shores of the island, was extended to Manhattan Island, Staten Island, 

 and that part of the State on the north side of Long Island Sound, and 

 embraced the Hudson Eiver as far up as Stillwater, in Saratoga County, 

 about 17 miles above Troy. In the vicinity of Greenport, at the east- 

 ern end of Long Island, the writer cooperated with Mr. Eace for a short 

 time in August. The collection of data showing the extent of the 

 wholesale fish and oyster trades of JSTew York City was undertaken by 

 Mr. W. A. Wilcox, who also made a supplementary visit to a part of 

 Westchester County. An imi^ortant feature of the canvass of this 

 State was the thorough investigation of the Hudson Eiver to the limits 

 Oi' commercial fishing. The fisheries of this river had never before 

 been completely covered in the statistical inquiries of the Commission. 

 Extensive shad, striped bass, perch, and other fisheries were found to 

 exist in the upper river, and valuable notes concerning the occurrence 

 of the Atlantic salmon were obtained. 



The coast and river fisheries of New Jersey were studied by Mr. Ans- 

 ley Hall, Mr. E. E. Eace, and the writer. The parts of the State visited 

 by Mr. Hall included the New Jersey side of the Hudson Eiver, the 

 northern coast within Sandy Hook, the eastern coast betweeen Shark 

 Eiver and Cape May, and the shores of Delaware Bay. Mr. Eace can- 

 vassed the New Jersey shores of Delaware Eiver from its mouth to 

 Shawnee, in Monroe County, Pa., about C miles above Delaware Water 

 Gap. The coast of Monmoutli County, between Atlantic Highlands and 

 Shark Eiver, was visited by the writer, who, in addition to a regular 

 canvass of the fishing industry, made a special study of the important 

 pound-net fishery of that section. 



That part of Pennsylvania above Philadelphia bordering on the Dela- 

 ware Eiver was visited by Mr. Eace, in conjunction with the canvass of 

 the New Jersey side of the river. The remainder of the river front of 

 the State was covered by Mr. C. H. Stevenson. 



The fisheries of Delaware i)rosecuted on the ocean side of the State 

 and on Delaware Eiver and Bay were investigated by Mr. Stevenson. 



