FISHERIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. 69 



Herring. — .The catch of herring in 1905 amounted to 18,364,454 

 pounds, valued at $381,696; of this amount 6,624,690 pounds was 

 taken in the shore fisheries and 11,739,764 pounds in the vessel fish- 

 eries. The hirger portion of the catch was taken on the west coast 

 of Newfoundland by vessels from Gloucester. During the season of 

 1904-5, 37 vessels sailed from Gloucester to engage in the winter her- 

 ring fishery, and brought in fares aggregating 10,248,264 pounds, 

 valued at $237,610. 



Mackerel. — The mackerel catch shows a decrease in comparison 

 with the figures for 1902. The decline is wholly in the vessel fishery, 

 the shore catch showing an increase. The total catch in 1905 was 

 14,103,971 pounds, valued at $966,443. 



Pollock. — An increase of more than 100 per cent appears in the pol- 

 lock catch as compared with 1902, the returns for 1905 amounting to 

 25,485,871 pounds, valued at $267,927. The demand for this fish is 

 growing, and the range of shipments is now very wide. In former 

 years small sales of pollock were the rule, but there is now a better 

 market. 



Scup. — The catch of scup is made almost wholly in the shore fish- 

 eries. Out of a total of 1,019,200 pounds, valued at $26,751, only 

 61,200 pounds were taken in the vessel fishery. The total catch shows 

 an increase of 430,300 pounds since 1902. 



Squeteague. — The catch of squeteague along the Massachusetts 

 coast shows a steady increase from year to jea,r. The catch in 1905 

 was 5,224,816 pounds, valued at $108,200, an increase of 1,454,599 

 pounds since 1902. 



Swordfish. — With the greater demand for swordfish a large increase 

 is shown in the catch. Vessels of various sizes are employed in the 

 fishery, many of them being equipped with swordfish gear in addition 

 to their other apparatus. The catch in 1905 was 1,703,554 pounds, 

 valued at $116,692. 



Whiting. — The catch of whiting in 1905 was 4,299,690 pounds, 

 valued at $19,097. The greater portion is disposed of by the fisher- 

 men to wholesale dealers, who salt the fish and pack them in barrels 

 for shipment. 



Lobsters. — ^The catch of lobsters in Massachusetts shows a con- 

 stant decrease from year to year; in 1905 it was 1,283,071 pounds, 

 valued at $176,234, a decrease of 412,617 pounds since 1902. The 

 value, however, was $1,139 more than in 1902, and this increase is 

 constant as the supply diminishes. 



Crabs. — The utilization of crabs in this state is a comparatively new 

 industry, and the preparation and shipment of crab meat has not yet 

 gone far beyond the experimental stage. At Winthrop Beach one 

 dealer has engaged in the business. There is a jjlentiful supply of 

 crabs. 



