CI.VIII REPORT OF CO.MMISSIONER OF FISII AND FISHERIES. 



Sjxinish mackerel. — The abundance of tliis species in recent years 

 presents a marked decrease as compared with 1880. In the latter year 

 1,027,003 pounds, worth |100,10J:, were taken, the fish ranking third in 

 importance among the food-fishes of the region, wliile in 1891 less than 

 half the quantity was caught and the tish declined to the ninth place. 

 The catch in Maryland was very small in both 1880 and 1891, but was 

 larger in the latter year than in the former. The decrease may evidently 

 be traced to the capture, chielly in i)ound nets, of large quantities of the 

 fish early in the season in the lower part of the Chesai)eake, before 

 the tish have spawned. 



iSquetea(/ue. — Two species of squetea^ue, locally known as weaktish 

 and trout, rank third in importance among the food-tishes of this 

 section. As compared with 1880, they were taken in much larger 

 quantities in 1891, and the increase was marked in both Maryland and 

 Virginia. The aggregate yield reported in 1880 was 1,541,000 ])ounds, 

 valued at $31,110; in 1891 the catch amounted to 4,088,481 pounds, 

 worth $1.50,793. Pound nets and seines are the apparatus chiefly 

 employed in taking these fish. 



iStri2)ed bass. — The supply of this lish seems to be holding out remark- 

 ably well in view of the large annual catch in fresh and salt water 

 with seines, gill nets, and jDOund nets. The output in 1891 was about 

 410,000 pounds more than in 1880, althougli there was a decline of 

 nearly 30 per cent in Virginia. The total yield in 1891 was 1,732,554 

 pounds, for which the fishermen received $138,723. 



IShad. — i^ext to the oyster, the shad is the most valuable fishery 

 product of this region; in 1880 it occupied the same rank. The main- 

 tenance of the supply may be clearly traced to large plants of fry in 

 the waters of the region, and the increase in the out-i^ut has been due 

 to the employment of larger quantities of apparatus, especially pound 

 nets. Following is a comparative statement of the catch of shad in 

 Maryland and Virginia in 1880 and 1891 : 



These figures show an increase of nearly 100 per cent between tlie 

 years named, the advance being shared about equally by the two 

 States. 



Crabs, — The prominence which crabs have attained in the fisheries 

 of tliis region is one of the most noteworthy features of the industry. 

 In 1880 only 3,305,807 pounds of crabs, equivalent to about 9,917,000 

 individuals, were marketed; these brought the fishermen $78,938. In 

 1891, when the fishery was more extensive than ever before, 10,490,197 

 pounds, or about 31,488,59(1 crabs, valued at 1^305,755, were sold. In 



