REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. CLIX 



1880 the tisLery was more extensive iu Virginia, but at the preseut 

 time nearly four-tifths of the busiuess is carried on in Maiyland. Much 

 the hirger part of the catch is sold as soft-shell crabs. 



Oyster. — This important resource now represents nearly eight-tenths 

 of the value of the fisheries of this region. During the season covered by 

 the inquiry the industry was in a prosperous condition. The foregoing- 

 table of products shows that 9,945,058 bushels, valued at $5,295,866, 

 were taken in Maryland, and 6,151,636 bushels, valued at $2,520,068, 

 in Virginia, the total yield being 16,096,691 bushels, for which the 

 fishermen received $7,815,934. Compared with 1880, these figures show 

 a decreased production, amounting to 654,942 bushels in Maryland and 

 685,684 bushels in Virginia, while the value of the output has increased 

 $565,380 and $301,692, respectively. A large increase- has also taken 

 place in the number of persons engaging in the oyster industry. In 1880 

 Maryland had 13,748 fishermen and 9,654 shore hands, while in 1891 it 

 had 21,280 fishermen and 12,108 shoresmen. In 1880 Virginia was 

 credited with 14,236 fishermen and 2,079 shoresmen, and in 1891 16,352 

 fishermen and 2,250 shoresmen. The total increase was thus 12,273. 

 The capital invested in the oyster^ industry in 1880 was $6,034,350 in 

 Maryland and $1,351,000 m Virginia^ in 1891 it was $7,269,245 and 

 $1,927,792, respectively. 



ALBEMARLE REGION, NORTH CAROLINA. 



In April, 1892, the writer visited Albemarle Sound and some of the 

 rivers debouching into it in the interests of the Division of Scientific 

 Inquiry. The primary object of the visit was the collection of the 

 fresh- water fishes of the region. At the same time an opportunity was 

 afforded to inspect the commercial fisheries. 



Forty-five species of fishes were ascertained to inhabit this region at 

 the time of the inquiry; of these about thirty may be regarded as food- 

 fishes, two or three others are sometimes eaten but have no recognized 

 economic value, and the remainder are small fishes whose principal 

 importance arises from the fact that they constitute a prominent part 

 of the food sui)ply of other fish. 



This is one of the most important fishing sections on the Atlantic 

 coast. Albemarle Sound is the largest coastal body of fresh water in 

 the United States, and more extensive fresh- water fisheries are main- 

 tained in it and its tributaries than are j)rosecuted elsewhere on our 

 coast. The most prominent fish occurring are shad, ale wives, strij>ed 

 bass, black bass, and white i)erch, but many other fishes common to the 

 section are taken in greater or less numbers and materially contribute 

 to the income of the fisherman, among which sturgeon, catfish, eels, 

 suckers, pike, mud shad, hickory shad, several kinds of sunfishes, yellow 

 perch, and flounders may be mentioned. 



The annual fisii production of this region is about 9,000,000 pounds, 

 of which nearly two-thirds represents ale wives. Tlie value of the catch 

 is about $465,000, nearly half of which sum represents shad. 



