FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



445 



meats. Especially is this true of eels, which are o-enerally distributed 

 throughout the waters of New York. The .yield in 189S was 396,045 

 pounds, worth $27,517, and in 1901 it was 722,859 pounds, worth 

 $50,033. In the same time the yield of Hounders increased from 

 876,683 pounds, worth $28,455, to 1,274,308 pounds, worth $49,949. 



The high market value of lobsters during recent years has resulted 

 in great activity in their capture in the coastal waters of New York, 

 as well as on other portions of the Atlantic coast; but the catch has 

 declined from 381,020 pounds in 1897 and 332,378 pounds in 1898 to 

 183,539 pounds in 1901. The average catch per pot in 1897 was 81 

 pounds; in 1898, 59 pounds, and in 1901, 37 pounds. This decrease 

 occurred although the number of months in which the lobster fishery 

 is prosecuted has increased somewhat. 



Probably the most noteworthj^ change in the methods of the fisheries 

 of New York is the extensive adoption of auxiliary power in the 

 vessels and boats, which makes the work to a large extent independent 

 of weather conditions. .Especially is this the case in oyster-culture 

 and in the pound-net fisheries. Gasoline and naphtha engines are the 

 popular forms adopted. These were introduced about ten j^ears ago. 

 In 1901 35 boats, worth $30,720, and 55 vessels, worth $176,900, were 

 thus equipped. 



The following tables show the number of persons emplo3^ed, the 

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

 of the fisheries of New York in 1901: 



Number of2}ersons employed. 



How engaged. 



On vessels fishing 



On vessels transporting . 

 In shore or boat fisheries 

 Shoresmen 



Total 



3,131 



455 

 5,090 



2,888 



11, 564 



Table of apparatus and capital. 



Items. 



Vessels fishing J 437 



Tonnage 8, 458 



Outfit 



Vessels transporting 196 



Tonnage 3, 183 



Outfit 



Boats I 4, 656 



Apparatus — vessel fisheries: 



Seines 76 



Gill nets 465 



Fvkenet< 605 



Lines 



Eel pots 505 



Lobster pots 2, 790 



Dred es 1,195 



Tongs 364 



Rakes 83 



Value. 



$1,005,665 



328, 

 235, 



25, 

 317, 



Items. 



Apparattis — shore fisheries: 



Seines 



Gill nets 



Pound nets 



Fyke nets 



Dip nets 



Lines . . ; 



Eel pots 



Lobster i 'Ots 



Spears 



Dredges 



Ton/s 



Rakes 



Hoes 



Shore propert 



Cash capital 



Total. 



No. 



259 

 3,453 



248 

 6,607 



101 



7, 021 

 2,196 



198 

 1,563 

 1,986 

 1,196 



585 



Value. 



816, 700 



62, 724 



67,645 



32, 745 



165 



2,104 



6,766 



3,270 



121 



5, 530 



10, 954 



7,313 



480 



4,221,226 



3, 025, 500 



9, 444, 271 



