FISHERIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. 31 



purposes, and some for bait in the trawl and hand-line fishery. The 

 greater part of the catch was taken in pound nets, trap nets, and 

 weirs. 



Cod. — Since 1902 the quantity of cod taken has decreased 6,576,453 

 pounds, with a decrease of $137,394 in value, or 37 per cent and 36 per 

 cent, respectively. Practically the entire catch was taken with lines. 

 Many men leave their regular occupations on shore to engage in catch- 

 ing cod during the winter. Nearly 87 per cent of the output was sold 

 fresh by the fishermen, the remainder salted. The catch was divided 

 almost equally between the vessel and shore fisheries. 



Hake. — This species ranks second in quantity and fourth in value of 

 the catch, the average price received by the fishermen being about 1 

 cent a pound. The most prolific hake fishing grounds in the United 

 States are off the shores of Maine, and many vessels engage exclu- 

 sively in "baking" during certain times of the year. The fishermen 

 always sell the hake dressed, this custom having begun, it is said, 

 about the time of the civil war, when the sounds were very valuable 

 in the manufacture of glue, and has been continued ever since, "even 

 though the sounds are now much less valuable. There has been a 

 decrease of 21 per cent in the quantity of hake and 2 per cent increase 

 in value since 1902. 



Haddock. — This fish ranks next to cod in the quantity and next to 

 hake in the value of the catch. There has been an increase since 1902 

 of 24 per cent in quantity and 17 per cent in value. 



Smelt. — Since 1902 there has been a decrease of 47 per cent in the 

 catch of smelt and 34 per cent in its value. There is always a demand 

 during the fall and winter, however, and the fishermen seldom realize 

 less than 10 cents a pound, the average being considerably more. 



Mackerel. — There has been a decline in this fishery since 1902 of 49 

 per cent in quantity and 40 per cent in value. Gill nets, seines, and 

 pound nets were the apparatus used. 



Shad. — As in other sections of the country, the catch of shad 

 shows a considerable falling off in quantity. Compared with 1902 

 there has been a decrease of 21 per cent, with an increase, however, of 

 47 per cent in value. 



Menhaden. — Tliis fish did not appear in large numbers along the 

 coast of Maine during 1905, and the menhaden factories therefore 

 did not operate during that year. 



Clams. — Clams are sold fresh for food and to canneries, and salted 

 for bait. There has been a steady decHne in the product for several 

 3^ears, since 1902 amounting to 32 per cent in quantity and 30 per 

 cent in value. 



Salmon. — The catch of salmon in the whole state amounted to 

 86,298 pounds, valued at $20,137. By far the largest part of this, 

 1125—07 3 



