410 GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



by a channel, is Indian River Bay, which is G miles long east and west and has an average breadth 

 of 1 mile. Both of these bays are connected with the ocean by an inlet through the beach, which 

 has sufficient depth to admit vessels with a draught of 6 feet, and through which large numbers of 

 anadromous fish and a smaller quantity of sea fish find their way to the sheltered waters inside. 



Having thus briefly outlined the principal features of the coast, it only remains to be said 

 that the bays lying south of Cape Henlopen and the beaches bordering on Delaware Bay consti- 

 tute the fishing grounds, where the operations of seining, netting. c., are carried on, a descrip- 

 tion of which will be given in succeeding paragraphs. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE FISHERIES. Although the sea fisheries of Delaware suffer by compari- 

 son with the great commercial fisheries of the Northeastern States, they are, nevertheless, not with- 

 out importance, especially if we take into consideration the benefit derived by the inhabitants of the 

 State iu being supplied with quantities of wholesome food at a price which is only nominal. In 

 nearly all of the coast towns a portion of the inhabitants engage more or less actively iu the fish- 

 eries during a part of the year generally in the spring though, as a rule, these men are semi- 

 professional, depending chiefly on agricultural pursuits, the latter being the principal occupation 

 of the people of this region. 



The oyster-beds of Delaware in 1880 produced 300,000 bushels of native oysters valued at 

 $687,725. There were also planted in the waters of this State 650,000 bushels of oysters from* 

 Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere, to be left bedded here until suitable for market. In addition 

 there were 184,500 bushels of oysters received from other States and packed in the cannery at 

 Seaford. Little Creek Landing is the headquarters for the native oyster business. The southern 

 oysters are planted on beds at several places along the shore, but chiefly opposite the villages of 

 Little Creek Landing and Mahon's Ditch, and are raised mostly for the Philadelphia trade, the 

 beds and planting being largely controlled by the dealers of that city. Mr. Ingersoll fully dis- 

 cusses this subject in the census report on the oyster industry. The capital invested in the indus- 

 try iu Delaware is given at $145,500, which includes sixty-five vessels at $50,000; three hundred 

 boats, $12,000; gear and outfit, $10,000; shore property, $73,500. The number of oyster fishermen 

 is 820 and of shoremen 245. 



THE FISHERY GROUNDS. The most important sea fishery is carried on along the shores of 

 Delaware. Bay, where the trout (Cynoscion regale) and the spot (Liostomvs xanthurus) are the prin- 

 cipal species taken, or at least occur in the greatest abundance. The other species of salt-water 

 fish which frequent the shores of the bay are less plenty, some kinds being quite rare. 



SHIPMENTS OF FISH AND SOFT CRABS. The following statistics of the shipments of fish and 

 soft crabs from some of the railroad stations south of Cape Henlopen may be of interest as giving 

 a general idea of the commercial status of the fisheries in that section of the State of Delaware. 

 The figures here given have been obtained from the books at the different railroad stations through 

 the kindness of the agents in charge. In 18SO the following quantities were shipped : Selby ville, 

 129,450 pounds of fish ; Frankford, 8,200 pounds of fish and 9,125 pounds of crabs ; Dagsborough, 

 9,556 pounds of fish and 29,970 pounds of crabs; Mill sbo rough, 3,707 pounds of fish and 69,220 

 pounds of crabs. 



150. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR 1880. 



STATISTICS FOB 1880. The following tables show the extent of the commercial fishery interests 

 of Delaware: 



