54 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The inquiry in this region placed the Commission in possession of 

 statistical data, for the years 1889 to 1891 and in i)art lor 1892, showing 

 in detail the extent of the valuable fishery interests of the States and 

 regions named. The two most prominent shad rivers in the country 

 were thoroughly canvassed. The oyster industry here is second in 

 extent and value only to that of the Chesapeake. Other branches of 

 special interest or prominence are the bluefish, sea-bass, sturgeon, 

 weakfish, and striped-bass fisheries, and the menhaden industry. 



The inquiry disclosed the fact that the number of persons engaged in 

 the fishing industry of the section in 1891 was 26,313, of whom 5,022 

 were vessel fishermen, 18,308 were shore or boat fishermen, and 2,983 

 were shore hands. 



The capital invested in the business was $8,839,250. Over 1,300 

 vessels, with a tonnage of 20,142, valued with their outfits at $1,909,783, 

 were employed in various capacities in these fisheries. The small boats 

 used in the shore fisheries numbered 13,321 and had a value of $839,301. 

 The apparatus of capture consisted of 989 seines, 451 pound nets, 12,048 

 gill nets, 10,936 fyke nets, and 22,408 pots, which, with other minor 

 apparatus, were valued at $861,631. Shore property and cash capital 

 representing an investment of $5,228,535 were devoted to the industry. 



The yield of the fisheries amounted to 264,814,936 pounds, having a 

 first value of $8,890,163. The quantity mentioned includes only the net 

 weights of oysters, clams, and other mollusks. Two objects of fisheries 

 in this section are together worth over $5,000,000, namely, the oyster, 

 worth $4,582,711, and the qualiog, or hard clam, worth $1,024,648, these 

 values representing 5,238,963 bushels and 1,000,058 bushels, respec- 

 tively. The next important product is the shad, of which 17,204,849 

 pounds, valued at $781,014, were taken. The catch of bluefish was 

 12,734,501 pounds, for which $501,173 was received. Menhaden rank 

 next to bluefish in value, although far exceeding all other fish combined 

 in quantity; over 125,000,000 pounds were secured, valued at $352,999. 

 The next important fishes and the value of the catch in 1891 were as 

 follows: Squeteague, $330,340; sea bass, $217,413; eels, $146,976; cod, 

 $115,922; flounders, $79,019; striped bass, $78,556; and alewives, 

 $63,152. The soft clam comes next to sea bass in value, the catch 

 being worth $153,591. 



The following tables show for each State detailed statistics of the 

 fisheries. As elsewhere explained, the figures do not relate to those 

 parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware tributary to Chesapeake Bay, 

 which were covered by the statistics in the previous report of the 

 division : 



Persons employed. 



Dcslguatioii. 



In vo88f!l fisheries 



In nhore fisheries 



Ou sliore, in factories, etc 



Total 



New 

 York. 



2,346 



7,858 

 2, 042 



12, 24C 



New Pennsyl- 

 Jersey. vania. 



2,218 



7,889 



532 



10. 639 



353 

 994 

 289 



1,636 



Dela- 

 ware. 



105 



1,567 



120 



1,792 



Total. 



5,022 

 18, 308 

 2,983 



26, 313 



