FISHEKIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



55 



Jewish dealers drive direct from New York City to the fishing sin tics 

 and have been known to pay as high as 20 cents a pound for carp. 



Striped bass and white perch. — Since 1901 the catch of striped bass 

 has decreased 81 per cent in quantity and 80 per cent in value, and 

 white perch 80 per cent in quantity and 75 per cent in value. Until 

 recently the capture of these two species furnished remunerative 

 employment to many fishermen during the winter months, especially 

 along Barnegat Bay, but in the present scarcity the fishery hardly 

 pays. Striped bass were particularly scarce in 1904. Seines and 

 gill nets are the apparatus commonly used for their capture, these 

 being fished mostly through the ice. The Mullica River, in Burlington 

 County, one of the principal spawning streams in the state, has also 

 been very prolific in these two species, but in 1904 the catch was 

 very light. Bag nets and seines are the apparatus used in this river, 

 the former being commonly fished through the ice in from 20 to 30 

 feet of water. 



Sturgeon. — Comparatively little change has taken place in the 

 sturgeon fishery since 1901. The largest catches are taken with gill 

 nets in the Delaware River in Salem and Cumberland counties. A 

 few are taken al3b in pound nets set in the ocean. The value of the 

 fishery is much enhanced by the preparation of caviar from the eggs. 



The following table shows the quantity and value of sturgeon, 

 including caviar, taken in New Jersey in various years since 1890: 



Whiting. — This species, which is also locally called "winter weak- 

 fish" and "frost-fish," was difficult to market a few years ago, but 

 now brings a fair price. It is taken in large quantities from Novem- 

 ber to February, many pound nets being kept in use after the reg- 

 ular season especially for its capture. 



FISHERIES OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE STATISTICS. 



The number of persons employed in the fisheries of Pennsylvania 

 in 1904 was 1,412. Of these, 117 were on fishing vessels, 703 in 

 shore or boat fisheries, and 592 were shoresmen, principally employees 

 of the wholesale fish and oyster establishments of Philadelphia. 

 The total investment was $2,097,715. The number of vessels was 

 1G, valued at $48,200, having a net tonnage of 286, with outfits 



