54 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The inquiry in this region placed the Commission in possession of 
statistical data, for the years 1889 to 1891 and in part for 1892, showing 
in detail the extent of the valuable fishery interests of the States and 
regions named. The two most prominent shad rivers in the country 
were thoroughly canvassed. The oyster industry here is second in 
extent and value only to that of the Chesapeake. Other branches of 
special interest or prominence are the bluefish, sea-bass, sturgeon, 
weakfish, and striped-bass fisheries, and the menhaden industry. 
The inquiry disclosed the fact that the number of persons engaged in 
the fishing industry of the section in 1891 was 26,313, of whom 5,022 
were vessel fishermen, 18,308 were shore or boat fishermen, and 2,983 
were shore hands. 
The capital invested in the business was $8,839,250. Over 1,300 
vessels, with a tonnage of 20,142, valued with their outfits at $1,909,783, 
were employed in various capacities in these fisheries. The small boats 
used in the shore fisheries numbered 13,321 and had a value of $839,301. 
The apparatus of capture consisted of 989 seines, 451 pound nets, 12,048 
gill nets, 10,936 fyke nets, and 22,468 pots, which, with other minor 
apparatus, were valued at $861,631. Shore property and cash capital 
representing an investment of $5,228,535 were devoted to the industry. 
The yield of the fisheries amounted to 264,814,936 pounds, having a 
first value of $8,890,163. The quantity mentioned includes only the net 
weights of oysters, clams, and other mollusks. Two objects of fisheries 
in this section are together worth over $5,000,000, namely, the oyster, 
worth $4,582,711, and the quahog, or hard clam, worth $1,024,648, these 
values representing 5,238,963 bushels and 1,000,058 bushels, respec- 
tively. The next important product is the shad, of which 17,204,849 
pounds, valued at $751,014, were taken. The catch of bluefish was 
12,734,501 pounds, for which $501,175 was received. Menhaden rank 
next to bluefish in value, although far exceeding all other fish combined 
in quantity; over 125,000,000 pounds were secured, valued at $352,999. 
The next important fishes and the value of the catch in 1891 were as 
follows: Squeteague, $330,340; sea bass, $217,413; eels, $146,976; cod, 
$115,922; flounders, $79,019; striped bass, $78,556; and alewives, 
$63,152. The soft clam comes next to sea bass in value, the catch 
being worth $153,591. 
The following tables show for each State detailed statistics of the 
fisheries. As elsewhere explained, the figures do not relate to those 
parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware tributary to Chesapeake Bay, 
which were covered by the statistics in the previous report of the 
division : 
Persons employed. 
cp New New /|Pennsyl-| Dela- 
Designation. York. | Jersey. | vania. ware, | Dotal. 
inGyessel fisheries ; = 2.22225 «2s5e sence eaeeesee eee 2, 346 2, 218 353 105 5, 022 
UieShore TiSHCYVIGS: = ~ciocice ee aslade hoes aeeoe emer 7, 858 7, 889 994 1, 567 18, 308 
On)shore,in factories, etc. --..-.--22--------6--sa--=- 2, 042 532 289 120 2, 983 
Pebbles} ae es ay Pe Wa ma Sa es See 12,246 | 10,639| 1,636| 1,792] 26,313 
