SECTION 3 - MIDDLE ATLANTIC FISHERIES 



Commercial landings of fish and shellfish at ports in the Middle Atlantic States (New York, 

 New Jersey, and Delaware) were 140.0 million pounds worth $29.9 million — an Increase of 2.1 

 million pounds (2 percent) and S4 .4 million (17 percent) compared with 1969. Major species landed 

 in greater quantity than in 1969 were bluefln tuna, bluefish, flounders, lobsters, oysters, and surf 

 clams. Important species that declined in volume were butterflsh, menhaden, scup, striped bass, 

 whiting, and sea scallop meats. 



New Jersey led in volume with 97.5 million pounds (70 percent) followed by New York with 

 32.5 million (23 percent), and Delaware, 10.0 million pounds (7 percent) . New York led in value 

 of landings with $16.1 million (54 percent), New Jersey had $12.5 million (42 percent), and Del- 

 ware had $1.3 million (4 percent). 



Fishermen and vessels . The Middle Atlantic States had 8,469 fishermen — 35 less than in 1969. 

 There were 455 vessels (5 net tons or more), 3,878 motor boats, and 143 other boats--a decline 

 of 43 vessels and 82 other boats, but an increase of 228 motor boats compared with 1969 . 



Processed products . The value of processed seafood items in the four-State Middle Atlantic area 

 (including Pennsylvania) was $139.5 million — an increase of $7.9 million compared with 1969. 

 New York led with products valued at $55.'? million; followed by New Jersey with $34.8 million; 

 Pennsylvania, $43.4 million; and Delaware, $5.6 million. There were 5,706 persons employed 

 in 367 wholesaling and processing plants in the four States. 



Surf clams . Landings of surf clam meats were a record 52.6 million pounds worth a record $6.1 

 million — an increase of 10.4 million pounds and $1.1 million compared with 1969. The harvest 

 was 17 percent greater than the landings made in 1966, the former record year. Delaware landings 

 increased sharply from 2.8 million pounds in 1969 to a record 8.7 million in 1970. 



Fishing effort in the Middle Atlantic States has usually been directed to the remunerative 

 offshore clam fishery. In 1970 , however, the vessels fished primarily for the smaller inshore clams 

 because of their abundance. Fishermen also found a better market for their clams than in previous 

 years because packers received them more readily. 



In 1970, a newly designed vessel entered the surf clam fishery. The vessel had facilities 

 for shucking clams onboard thereby eliminating the problems of availability of water used in shuck- 

 ing and disposal of sand waste. 



Menhaden . Landings of 31.5 million pounds were 12.3 million less than in 1969, and the second 

 smallest harvest on record. The only reduction plant that continued to function was operating on 

 a limited basis. The large purse seiners were no longer used, and landings depended on the smal- 

 ler local vessels that used purse seines and pound nets. 



Flounders . Landings of 10.6 million pounds worth $1.6 million increased 22 percent in volume 

 and 37 percent in value compared with 1969. New York with landings of 7 . 3 million pounds ac- 

 counted for 69 percent of the total production. Yellowtail landings (5.8 million pounds) dominated 

 the Middle Atlantic flounder production. Eighty-one percent of the yellowtail flounders were land- 

 ed in New York, the rest were in New Jersey. Until 1969, few yellowtails were landed in New Jer- 

 sey, but in that year and in 1970 landings increased sharply. A new market developed for yellow- 

 tail flounders, and a fillet plant in New Jersey took fish that weighed from 3/4 to 1-1/2 pounds. 

 Fluke flounder landings (2.9 million pounds) were second in volume. New Jersey accounted for 69 

 percent of the fluke harvest; the rest were landed in New York. New York accounted for 92 per- 

 cent of the 1 . 8-million-pound landings of blackback flounders. Small quantities of gray sole and 

 lemon sole were also landed in New York and New Jersey. 



