MAINE : GENEEAL EEVIEW OP ITS FISHEEIES. 9 



sons were actively engaged in the capture or preparation of fishery products. Of these, 3,630 

 belonged to the vessel fleet, 4,480 fished from small boats, and the remaining 2,961 were employed 

 as shoresmen in preparing the products for the markets. In addition to these, 1,591 persons 

 were, according to Mr. C. G. Atkins, engaged in the river fisheries, making a total of 12,662 persons 

 directly dependent upon the fishery industries. Not less than 2,500 others were engaged in trans- 

 ferring the fish to the larger markets, in the manufacture of fishery apparatus, or in other depend- 

 ent industries, which brings the total for those directly and indirectly engaged in the fishery indus- 

 tries up to 15,000. A majority of these have families dependent upon them for support, and, 

 allowing for these, we find that fully 48,000 persons, equal to 7 per cent, of the total population 

 of the State, are, to a greater or less extent, dependent upon the fisheries for a livelihood. 



The total capital invested in the various industries connected with the sea fisheries for the same 

 period was $3,375,994, of which $633,542 was in vessels and $245,624 in boats, the remaining 

 $2,496,828 representing the value of gear and outfit, shore-property, and floating capital. 



During the year, the Maine fishermen landed 202,048,449 pounds of sea products, valued at 

 $1,790,849 as they came from the water. These products received an enhancement in value of 

 $1,823,329 in process of preparation, making them worth $3,614,178 when placed upon the market. 

 Of the entire catch of sea products, 42,548,008 pounds were sold fresh, 93,195,430 pounds were 

 used for drying, 39,690,615 pounds were pickled, 9,038,242 pounds were smoked, and 17,576,154 

 pounds were canned. 



The principal species taken were cod, herring, mackerel, hake, haddock, and lobsters; these 

 constituting seven-eighths of the entire catch. The following quantities of each of the above- 

 named species were secured: Cod, 56,004,325 pounds, valued at $656,753; herring, 34,695,192 

 pounds, valued at (including sardines) $1,043,722; mackerel, 31,694,455 pounds, valued at $659,304; 

 hake, 24,447,730 pounds, valued at $278,336; haddock, 17,728,735 pounds, valued at $225,393; lob- 

 sters, 14,234,182 pounds, valued at $412,076. 



The vessel fleet numbered 606 sail, aggregating 17,632.65 tons, valued at $1,413,361, including 

 apparatus and outfit. It was divided into two classes, the larger vessels being engaged in the 

 offshore, while the smaller were employed in the inshore fisheries. Of the offshore fleet, 94 engaged 

 in the offshore cod fisheries for a greater or less period. Some of them fished for cod during the 

 entire season, while others, after making one or two trips to the banks, joined the fleet engaged 

 in the mackerel fishery, bringing the total for this fishery up to 81 vessels, manned by 1,042 fish- 

 ermen. Four vessels were employed in the halibut fishery, and twenty-six fished for haddock 

 during the winter months. The smaller craft were in the shore fisheries, taking cod, herring, 

 mackerel, or lobsters, as might at the time seem most desirable. The catch of the vessel fleet 

 reached 212,747 quintals of dry fish, worth $618,025, and 96,350 barrels of pickled fish, worth 

 $510,052. In addition to these, oil and sounds to the value of $109,119 were saved, making the 

 total value of the catch of the vessel fleet $1,359,376. 



THE LOBSTER FISHERIES. One thousand eight hundred and nine men, with capital to the 

 amount of $189,219, were engaged in the lobster fishery. The catch for the season amounted to 

 14,234,182 pounds, netting the fishermen $268,739. Of the entire catch, 9,494,284 pounds -were 

 sold to the twenty-three canneries of the State. These furnished employment to 782 persons, 

 including smackmen, tinsmiths, and factory hands. The product of the canneries amounted to 

 1,542,696 one-pound cans, 148,704 two-pound cans, and 139,801 cans of other kinds. The enhance- 

 ment in canning was $143,337, the total value of the canned products as placed upon the market 

 amounting to $238,280. A description of the lobster fishing and canning interests will be found 

 in another part of this report. 



