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GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



The products of the whale fishery were most profitable in 1854, when the total receipts from 

 the American fleet were valued at $10,802,504.20, and included 2,315,924 gallons of sperm oil, 

 10,074,3GG gallons of whale oil, and 3,445,200 pounds of whalebone. A large part of this enormous 

 product was the result of Massachusetts industry. The capital now invested in this fishery iu 

 Massachusetts, including the value of vessels, outfit, shore property, and circulating capital, is 

 $4,411,150. The value of products in 1879 was $2,089,337, and the number of persons employed 

 4,300. 



Of the 2,099 vessels employed in the cod and mackerel fisheries iu the United States in 1874, 

 1,02G of 49,578 tons belonged to Massachusetts. Accurate sta'.istics of the combined fisheries of 

 the State for any given year canuot be obtained. From the reports of the State inspector of pickled 

 fish, we learn that the mackerel fleet in the United States iu 1851 numbered 940 sail of 59,410 tons, 

 and employed 9,993 men and boys. Of this fleet, 853 vessels of 53,705 tons were owned in Massa- 

 chusetts, and the rest in other States. 



United Stales mackerel fleet in 1851. 



