REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 63 



INQUIRIES AT GLOUCESTER AND BOSTON, MASS. 



The services of the local agents at these important fishing ports have 

 been continued. At Gloucester, the most prominent fishing port in the 

 United States, Capt. S. J. Martin has, as heretofore, rendered eminently- 

 satisfactory service, notwithstanding the arduous duties and long hours 

 of work necessitated by the character of the fisheries and the nature of 

 the information obtained. The local agent at Boston, Mr. Frederick F. 

 Dimick, is better qualified than anyone else, by virtue of long experience 

 in the work, to represent the office at Boston, and his connection with 

 the Boston Fish Bureau enables the Commission to obtain his services at 

 a salary not more than one-fourth that which would have to be paid 

 under other circumstances. Keference has elsewhere been made to the 

 furlough of these agents during August, September, and October, on 

 account of a deficient appropriation. The loss of data for those months, 

 while serious, has in part been made up through the voluntary efforts 

 of the agents. 



In the previous report of the division an outline of the character of 

 its work at Gloucester and Boston was given and its practical value 

 was shown. It need only be stated that the inquiries have continued 

 along the same general lines, and that the information gathered is 

 the most complete, accurate, and valuable ever obtained regarding the 

 resources and productiveness of the various fishing-grounds resorted 

 to by New England vessels. 



MINOR FIELD INQUIRIES. 



In August Mr. Edward E. Eace, who was then in Maine on leave 

 of absence, was ordered to make an investigation of the menhaden 

 industry of that State. He visited all the factories in the eastern part 

 of the State engaged in making oil and fertilizer from the menhaden 

 and obtained detailed statistical information for the years 1890 and 

 1»891. Few fisheries have attracted more attention in Maine than the 

 menhaden fishery; and the recent return of the fish to the waters of 

 the State has caused a revival of the discussion which was suspended 

 during the period of ten years when menhaden were practically absent 

 from that coast. 



In 1890 menhaden were very abundant on the Maine coast, and four 

 factories, located at Kound Pond, Linnekin, and Boothbay Harbor, in 

 Lincoln County, were oj)erated. These were valued at $21,000. The 

 number of shore employees was 306, to whom $38,610 was paid in wages 

 during the fishing season, extending from June to September. The cash 

 capital required to carry on the business was $95,000. The fish were 

 caught and supplied to factories by 9 fishing steamers carrying about 

 200 men. The menhaden taken and utilized at the factories amounted 

 to 302,700 barrels, equivalent to about 89,550,700 fish. From these the 

 following products were made: 1,059,000 gallons of oil, with a market 

 value of $264,750, and 10,930 tons of wet scrap, or "chum," valued at 



