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REVIEW OF CERTAIN MAJOR FISHERIES 



U.S. CRAB FISHERY, 1970 



Crab landings of 277.2 million pounds worth $39. 2 million Increased 19.9 million pounds, 

 but declined $3.9 million compared with 1969. 



The harvest was greater in all areas and Increased sharply in the Chesapeake and Pacific 

 Coast States. Chesapeake blue crab landings of 69.8 million pounds were 15 percent more than in 

 1969. Most of the gain was In Virginia where landings of 43 . 3 million pounds Increased 22 percent . 

 The Pacific Coast States harvest was 125.6 million pounds--an Increase of 8 . 1 million compared 

 with 1969. Record landings of dungeness crabs (58.5 million pounds) and snow crabs (14.5 mil- 

 lion) accounted largely for the gain. Compared with 1969, Oregon landings of dungeness crabs 

 (14.9 million pounds) increased 53 percent and California landings (15.4 million) nearly doubled. 

 Alaska and Washington landings of dungeness crabs declined moderately however, and Alaska land- 

 ings of king crabs (52. 1 million pounds) declined for the fourth consecutive year. 



The Pacific Coast States led in volume with 125.6 million pounds (45 percent) followed by 

 the Chesapeake States with 69.8 million (25 percent); South Atlantic States, 42.9 million (15 per- 

 cent); and Gulf States, 35.6 million pounds (13 percent) . The rest was landed in the New England 

 and Middle Atlantic States, and in Hawaii. 



The use of crab dredge operating units was confined to Virginia. A total of 465 fishermen 

 operated 324 crab dredges measuring 554 yards at mouth. Of this number, 447 fishermen were on 

 173 vessels and 18 fishermen were on 18 motor boats. Fifty vessels were 5 to 9 tons; 67, 10-19 

 tons; 34, 20-29 tons; 13, 30-39 tons; 5, 40-49 tons; 1, 50-59 tons; 2, 60-69 tons; and 1, 70-79 

 tons. The total tonnage was 3,007 gross tons. 



SUMMARY OF CRAB POT OPERATING UNITS, 1970 



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