FISHERIES OP THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 485 



for planting purposes; but owing to local conditions and regulations 

 they are sold in the markets of the adjacent towns. 



The returns presented in the subjoined tables show onh' imperfectly 

 the extent of the oyster resources of this State. Most of the oysters 

 credited to Pennsylvania and a small percentage of those credited to 

 New Jersey were taken from within the limits of the State of Dela- 

 ware; but they have been credited to Pennsylvania and New Jerse}^, 

 respectively, owing to the fact that they were taken by vessels owned 

 in those States. During the year covered by the returns 15 non- 

 resident vessels engaged in dredging 03^sters on the natural reefs, and 

 34 in cultivating oysters on the private areas in this State, whereas 

 only 21 resident vessels engaged in this industry. The oyster fishery 

 is centered at Bowers Beach and Little Creek in Kent County, but 

 many oysters are tonged near the mouths of creeks in that county 

 and also in Sussex Count3^ At Seaford, Sussex County, about 125 

 persons are employed in the wholesale oyster trade, receiving supplies 

 from Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. 



The yield of alewives, perch, squeteague, and striped bass shows a 

 decrease of about 50 per cent compared wi-th 1897, while that of Ger- 

 man carp, cat-fish, and eels shows an increase. • These species are 

 taken mostly by seines, gill nets, and f3"ke nets, and man\^ eels are 

 taken in pots. The fisheries are not centered in particular localities, 

 but are well distributed throughout the State, except the squeteague, 

 which is taken mostly below the mouth of Delaware River, The 

 increase in the yield of German carp is especiallv noteworthy. Ten 

 years ago very few were caught, but in 1897 111,300 pounds were 

 reported, and in 1901 the catch amounted to 198,040 pounds. 



While the lobster fishery of Delaware is of little economic impor- 

 tance, it is interesting on account of its representing the southernmost 

 limit of that fishery on the Atlantic coast. It is prosecuted at Lewes, 

 in Sussex Count}^, and the lobsters are taken in pots set in the vicinity 

 of Delaware breakwater. In common Avith that on other parts of the 

 coast, the yield of lobsters in Delaware shows a gradual decrease. In 

 1891 the catch was 8,200 pounds, in 1897 it was 5,095 pounds, and in 

 1901 it was further reduced to 2,760 pounds. 



The factor}^ at Lewes, Del., receives large quantities of menhaden 

 for conversion into oil and fertilizer. These fish, however, are credited 

 as part of the product of the fisheries of New York, owing to the fact 

 that the vessels taking them are owned in that State. In 1901 40,260 

 tons of menhaden were converted into $325,982 worth of oil and ferti- 

 lizer. With the exception of Virginia this was a greater quantity of 

 menhaden than was utilized in any other State, and represented one- 

 sixth of the total product of menhaden in the United States, 



The extent of the fisheries of Delaware in 1901 is shown in the 

 following tables. 



