X. 



MARYLAND AND ITS FISHERIES. 



A. GENERAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF THE 



STATE. 



155. STATISTICAL BECAP1TULATIOK 



THE VARIOUS FISHERY INTERESTS. If the sea fisheries proper be taken as a standard, Mary- 

 laud has an unimportant place on the list of fish-producing States; but if the oyster and river fish- 

 eries, in both of which this State is extensively interested, be included, it ranks second only to 

 Massachusetts in the value of the- products, and stands first in the number of persons employed. 

 The 20,008 fishermen and shoremen produced in 1880 $5,221,715, while the 20,117 interested in the 

 Massachusetts fisheries realized $8,141,750 as the result of their labors. This is easily explained 

 by the fact that the fishing season is much shorter in the former than in the latter State, and that 

 the fishermen are as a rule less energetic and not so fully equipped for the work. 



The oyster interests are more important than those of any other State. These, according to 

 the report of Mr. E. H. Edmonds, furnished employment to 23,402 persons, with 1,450 vessels and 

 1,825 boats, the value of the products amounting to $4,730,476. 



With so extensive a river system, the fresh-water fisheries are naturally of peculiar impor- 

 tance, and more shad are taken by these fishermen than by those of any other State, while Maryland 

 stands second only to North Carolina in the extent and value of the alewife fisheries. 



STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR 1880. The following tables show the extent and value of 

 the fishery interests of Maryland : 



Summary statement of per song employed. 



ih tailed statement of capital invested and apparatus employed. 



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