32 FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



Except an unimportant gill-net fishery for shad and alewives, the 

 fisheries of Camden County are directed entirely to oysters, which 

 are not taken in the waters of the county, but in Maurice River 

 Cove by vessels owned in Camden. 



Atlantic County has valuable oyster and clam fisheries. The 

 oysters are taken chiefly from private beds within the waters of the 

 county, but a few vessels also work in Maurice River Cove. The clam 

 fishery gives employment to more men than any other fishery. The 

 net and line fisheries center at Atlantic City, though there are some 

 quite important net fisheries on the Great Egg Harbor River. Im- 

 portant seine fisheries are prosecuted back of Atlantic City in what is 

 known as the " Thoroughfare," but most of the hand-line and all of 

 the trawl-line fishing is carried on in the ocean. Notwithstanding 

 its important fisheries, Atlantic City received very heavy shipments 

 of fish from Seabright and other northern points during the summer 

 season. 



About half of the value of the catch in Cape May County is credited 

 to lines. This county also has quite important pound-net and seine 

 fisheries. The remainder of the catch consists mostly of oysters 

 from private beds, and clams. 



Salem County leads aU others in the yield of shad, which are 

 taken in the Delaware River with drift gill nets. This county also 

 leads in the catch of carp and sturgeon. Comparatively few other 

 species are taken in any considerable quantities. 



Middlesex County depends mainly upon its oyster and clam fish- 

 eries, both of which have been declining during recent years. A 

 few smelt are taken in the Raritan River at New Brunswick during 

 the spring. 



Aside from the catch of oysters, clams, and shad, the fisheries of 

 Burlington County are not very important. The catch of white perch 

 and striped bass has been quite large, but recently there has been a 

 very marked falling off, especially in striped bass. 



Practically the entire catch of Gloucester County consists of shad 

 and carp. This county ranks second, or next to Salem County, in 

 the catch of these two species. 



Hudson County ranks second to Monmouth County in the value of 

 its lobster catch. A few oysters are taken in New York Bay off Jer- 

 sey City, and shad are taken in New York Bay and the Hudson and 

 Hackensack rivers. The remainder of the catch consists chiefly 

 of carp. 



The catch in Bergen County consists of shad, carp, catfish, eels, 

 suckers, striped bass, and smelt, in the order of their importance. 

 The fishing is done in the Hudson and Hackensack rivers, the shad 

 being taken mostly in the former and the other species in the latter. 

 About two-thirds of the shad catch in the Hudson is taken by men 



