STATISTICS OF THE FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC 



STATES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The present report on the fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States 

 is for the calendar year 1901. The statistics of the oyster fishery, 

 however, in all sections except Long Island, New York; Delaware; 

 Worcester Count}^, Md., and Accomac and Northampton counties, Va., 

 are for the oyster season of 1900-1901. 



The investigation on which this report is based emln-aced the com- 

 mercial fisheries of all the coastal waters, including coast rivers, of the 

 various States of this region. It was begun in January and completed in 

 October, 1902. The inquiries in the field were made by the statistical 

 agents of the Commission as follows: Mr. C. H. Stevenson canvassed 

 Long Island, New York; Delaware; Accomac and Northampton coun- 

 ties, Va., and Worcester County, Md. Mr. John N. Cobb canvassed New 

 York, exclusive of Long Island; the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, and, 

 in December after the regular investigation closed, obtained statistics 

 of the smoked-fish trade of Philadelphia and additional data on the 

 shore fisheries of Philadelphia Countj^ Pa., and Burlington and Mercer 

 counties, N. J. Mr. W. A. Roberts canvassed the Eastern Shore of 

 Maryland, except AVorcester and Cecil counties, and also the Patuxent 

 River, and the Chesapeake side of St. Mary, Calvert, and part of Anne 

 Arundel counties on the western shore of that State. Mr. John B. 

 Wilson assisted in the work at Crisfield, Md., and canvassed New 

 Jersey on the Delaware River and Bay from Camden to Cape May. 

 Mr. Thomas B. Gould obtained statistics of Pennsylvania on the Dela- 

 ware and Susquehanna rivers, and of New Jersey on the Delaware 

 River above Camden. Messrs. W. A. Wilcox and T. M. Cogswell 

 canvassed Virginia, except Accomac and Northampton counties, and 

 also that part of Maryland bordering the Potomac River. The remain- 

 ing territory in Maryland was worked by Mr. G. H. H. Moore and 

 Mr. E. S. King, the former canvassing Cecil and Harford counties 

 and the wholesale trade and vessel fisheries of Baltimore City, and the 

 latter collecting statistics on the shore fisheries of Baltimore County 

 and Baltimore City and on the vessel and shore fisheries of a part of 

 Anne Arundel County. Messrs. Stevenson, Cobb, Roberts, Wilcox, 

 Cogswell, and Moore obtained explanatorj^ notes on the fisheries which 

 are embodied in the text, and also assisted in the work of preparing 



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