KEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 177 



decline in some of the most extensive fisheries and the diversion of 

 many large fishing vessels to the Pacific States. Comi)ared with 1880, 

 in 1889 there were 507 less i)ersons engaged in the fisheries; there 

 were 415 fewer vessels and 3,226 fewer boats employed, and a corre- 

 sponding decrease in the value of vessels, boats, and apparatus, but 

 owing to a. large increase in the amount of shore, accessory, and cash 

 property the total investment was $101,837 more than in 1880. The 

 Viilue of the general food-fish fisheries was about $1,850,000 less iu 1889 ; 

 the oyster, clam, and scallop fisheries were $965,000 greater; the lob- 

 ster fishery was $310,000 more valuable; the menhaden fishery exceeded 

 by $30,000 the results iu 1880; and the whale fishery declined in value 

 $ 1 ,400,000. A net decrease in the value of the fishing industry amount- 

 ing to $1,950,000 is disclosed, a sum that would be easily overcome by 

 the return of mackerel to our shores iu their former abundance. 



SOUTH ATLANTIC COAST. 



Tlie field work in this region occupied parts of two years. On Jan- 

 uary 14, 1890, Mr. VV. de 0. Ivavenel, field superintendent in the Divi- 

 sion of Fish-Oulture, who had been assigned to temporary duty in the 

 Division of Fisheries, was detailed to make a study of the methods and 

 statistics of the fisheries of the South Atlantic States. Mr. liavenel 

 had conducted a similar inquiry in this section during the previous 

 year, and his familiarity with tlie fisheries made his services of sx»ecial 

 value to the ofltice. The canvass was begun in Florida and had ex- 

 tended to a point on Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, when, on April 

 1, 1890, it became necessary to detach Mr. Ravenel from this work in 

 order to resume his regular duties. 



Owing to various exigencies, the canvass which was brought almost 

 to a close by Mr. Ravenel could not be completed at that time, and 

 it was not until the following year that it became feasible to do ad- 

 ditional work in the South Atlantic region. Immediately after the 

 completion of the inquiry in the Gulf States, to which reference will 

 be made, the force there engaged was transferred to this section and 

 disposed at i)roper intervals along the coast. Mr. Ravenel liad again 

 been assigned to this duty^ and, while the investigation in the Gulf was 

 in progress, l^ad begun his canvass and had gotten the work well ad- 

 vanced by the time the regular agents were available to assist in the 

 in(|uiry. He visited the fisheries of eastern Florida, Georgia, and the 

 greater -part of South Carolina before being obliged to suspend on 

 account of other duties. Mr. Stevenson took up Mr. Ravenel's inquiry 

 at Georgetown, S. C, finished that State and visited a part of North 

 Carolina, Messrs. Hall and Race covering tbe remaining part of the 

 State. The work was brought to a close about the middle of June, 1891. 



This inquiry was addressed to every i^hase of the fishing industry and 

 may be regarded as a comidete canvass of all the commercial fishing 

 interests, including those of the rivers draining into the Atlantic Ocean. 

 H. Mis. 113 12 



