22 



AMERICAN CATFISHES. 



2,188,765 pounds, with a value of $67,480, or an average price by the 

 pound of a httle over 3 cents (3.08). There is thus shown a falHng 

 off of 129,480 pounds in the catch, but the total value shows an 

 increased gain to the fishermen of $21,548. 



The statistics of the Gulf States, including Florida and Alabama, 

 for 1897, give a total catch of 2,448,564 pounds, valued at $58,147, 

 and for 1902 for the same states, 2,415,315 pounds, valued at $72,991. 

 These figures show a decrease of 33,249 pounds, but an increase in 

 value of $14,844 and an increase of nearly f cent (0.65) by the pound. 



South Atlantic States. — For this region, exclusive of Florida, the 

 catch of 1887 is reported as 106,059 pounds, representing a value to 

 the fishermen of $2,844, or an average price by the pound of a little 

 over 2§ cents (2.68). In 1902 the catch in the same states is found 

 to be 693,650 pounds, valued at $18,824, or an average of a little less 

 than 2f cents (2.71) by the pound. These figures indicate an increase 

 of 587,591 pounds and in value $15,980, without any great increase in 

 the price by the pound. In the South Atlantic States, including 

 Florida, there appears to have been from 1887 a steady growth of the 

 fishery, a steadily increasing catch, and a corresponding increase 

 in total value, but some fluctuation of the price by the pound. 



Statistics of the Catfish Fishery in the South Atlantic States, including 

 Florida, for Certain Years. 



Middle Atlantic States. — The statistics for the Middle Atlantic 

 States, exclusive of Virginia, show that in 1887 the fishery yielded 

 1,746,136 pounds, worth to the fishermen $65,208, or an average price 

 of nearly 3f cents (3.73) by the pound, and in 1904 a catch of 866,561 

 pounds, valued at $40,756, or nearly 4| cents (4.70) a pound. There 

 is here shown a falling off of 877,575 pounds and a decrease of total 

 value to the fishermen of $24,452, but an increase of nearly a cent 

 (0.97) by the pound. 



The available data for the Middle Atlantic States, including Vir- 

 ginia, go back only to 1890 and represent only four years. These four 

 years show some fluctuations in amount and value of catch, as well as 

 in price by the pound, but upon the whole a decrease in amount and 

 total value, and an increase in price by the pound, as shown by the 

 table on the following page. 



