04 



SECTION 2 - NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



Commercial fishermen operating out of ports in the New England States (Maine, New Hamp- 

 shire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) landed 531.3 million pounds of fish and 

 shellfish worth $91.0 milllon--a de.crease of 37.0 million pounds (7 percent), but a gain of $10.5 

 million (13 percent) compared with 1969. Landings of otter trawl-caught industrial fish, haddock, 

 shrimp, cod, and sea herring declined sharply; landings of ocean perch, pollock, and sea scallop 

 meats were slightly less than In 1969. The harvest of blackback and yellowtall flounders, white 

 hake, and soft clam meats increased substantially compared with 1969; landings of alewlves, scup, 

 whiting, and bluefin tuna gained moderately. Landings of most other species were about the same 

 as in the previous year. With few exceptions, exvessel prices for fish and shellfish Increased for 

 all species. Fishermen were paid a record high average of 17.1 cents per pound in 1970 — compared 

 with 14.2 cents in 1969. Average prices per pound paid for haddock, northern lobsters, shrimp, 

 and sea scallop meats had the sharpest gain. 



Massachusetts led all States in volume with 286.9 million pounds; followed by Maine, 

 158.8 million; and Rhode Island, 79.4 million pounds. Compared with 1969, landings were some- 

 what greater in Massachusetts, but declined in Rhode Island and Maine. Rhode Island landings 

 were down 9 . 1 million pounds because of smaller landings of industrial fish . In Maine , the 32.5 mil- 

 lion-pound decrease resulted from smaller landings of sea herring (sardines) , shrimp, ocean perch, 

 and whiting. The value of landings was greater for all New England States except Connecticut, 

 where it was about the same as in 1969. Massachusetts led all States in value of landings with 

 $47.0 million (51 percent); Maine was next with $30.7 million (34 percent); and Rhode Island, 

 $10.9 million (12 percent) . New Hampshire and Connecticut together accounted for the remaining 

 3 percent . 



Fishermen and vessels. The New England fisheries had 22,218 fishermen using 686 vessels (5 

 net tons or greater) and 11,955 other craft — a decline of 9 vessels, but an increase of 2,269 fish- 

 ermen and 1 , 155 other craft compared with 1969 . 



Processed products. The value of processed seafood items was $246.5 million — an increase of 

 $20 .6 million compared with 1969. Massachusetts led in production with products valued at $175.8 

 million, followed by Maine with $48. 9 million; New Hampshire, $16.9 million; Rhode Island, $4.7 

 million; and Connecticut, $223,000. The five States had 8,960 persons employed in 537 whole- 

 saling and processing plants. 



Vessel construction. In 1970, five newly constructed vessels were added to the New England fleet 

 and two more vessels were purchased fromoutside the region. In addition, the 135-foot steel stern 

 trawler, Tremont . a sistership to the Old Colony , was built in Wisconsin to operate out of Bos- 

 ton for groundfish and flounders. The Tremont and the Old Colony were the newest, most modern, 

 and most efficient vessels in the groundfish fishery. Six vessels were lost at sea, and 15 vessels 

 changed ownership. 



Labor. Two ports had labor troubles. In New Bedford, Mass., two labor disputes were settled 

 quickly. One ended without loss of time when a contract that included fringe benefits for fisher- 

 men was negotiated between fishermen and vessel owners . The other dispute was between plant 

 owners and workers unloading fishing vessels . It led to a 1-day tieup that ended quickly when the 

 workers receivec;! higher wages. In Gloucester, Mass., workers had an 8-week dispute with a 

 stevedoring firm. The firm had imports to unload and finally diverted considerable tonnage to Ports- 

 mouth, N.H. In another dispute, shore plant workers inGloucester were idle for 3 weeks because 

 of a disagreement with management over a new contract. 



Groundfish. Landings of six groundfish species (cod, cusk , haddock, ocean perch, pollock, and 

 white hake) were 149 . million pounds — 22.7 million less than in 1969. Despite sharply decreased 

 landings, the value of $15.5 million was just slightly less than the $15.6 million fishermen re- 

 ceived in 19B9 . Compared with 1969 , landings of only two species improved — cusk and white hake . 

 The production of ocean perch (55.3 million pounds) and pollock (8.8 million) was just slightly 

 less than in 1969. Cod landings, however, declined sharply from 56.9 million pounds in 1969 to 

 52.7 million in 1970. 



