132 



FISHERY INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



redfish, or red drum, in 1902, 2,607,881 pounds, in 1918, 2,986,280 

 pounds; salt-water sheepshead, in 1902, 1,974,815 pounds, in 1918, 

 1,558,514 pounds; snappers, in 1902, 13,995,660 pounds, in 1918, 

 9,547,901 pounds; squeteagues, or ''sea trout," in 1902, 4,789,047 

 pounds, in 1918, 4,960,738 pounds; and oysters, in 1902, 34,115,935 

 pounds, in 1918, 23,754,465 pounds. The total for these species for 

 1902 was 85,265,004 pounds, and for 1918, 71,720,817 pounds, a de- 

 crease of 13,544,187 pounds. It will be noted that the fallino; off is 

 confined largely to the oyster industry, the catch of other products 

 changing but little. The falling off in the oyster catch was probably 

 due chiefly to loss of men to war activities and to transportation 

 difficulties. 



In connection with the above comparisons and with the efforts of 

 the Bureau and other agencies to increase the use of fishery products, 

 particularly the neglected forms, the following comparative figures 

 for these years are of interest: Catch of black drum, in 1902, 418,875 

 pounds, in 1918, 2,011,288 pounds; crevalles, including blue runner, 

 in 1902, 100,105 pounds, in 1918, 507,005 pounds; cero and kingfish, 

 in 1902, 152,700 pounds, in 1918,465,860 pounds; groupers, in 1902, 

 1,112,258 pounds, in 1918, 5,935,825 pounds; menhaden, in 1902, 

 12,500 pounds, in 1918, 14,413,942 pounds; Spanish mackerel, in 1902, 

 1,583,891 pounds, in 1918, 3,494,845 pounds; and shrimp, in 1902, 

 12,366,915 pounds, in 1918, 27,142,999 pounds. The total for these 

 species for 1902 was 15,747,244 pounds, and for 1918, 53,971,757 

 pounds, an increase of 38,224,513 pounds. 



The following tables give the comparative statistics for various 

 years from 1890 to 1918 for (1) five important fisheries which have 

 been long established, and (2) five fisheries of less importance, show- 

 ing their development and increase in recent years. 



Comparative Statistics op Products of Certain Fisheries of the Gulf States, 

 Various Years, 1890 to 1918. 



1 Probably includes some black drum, for which no separate figures are given. 



2 Includes blue runner. 



The following tables contain statistics of the number of persons 

 employed, the amount of capital invested, the quantity and value of 

 the products of the fisheries of the Gulf States in 1918, and com- 

 parative statistics of the products of the fisheries for various years; 



