PRODUCTS OF THE PRINCIPAL FISHERIES IN DETAIL. 



71 



A summary of the statistics for the total salmon 

 catch of the United States, obtained by combining the 

 figures for the Alaska salmon product with those for the 

 salmon product of continental United States, is given 

 in the following tabular statement : 



1 Less than 1 per cent. 



The distribution of the catch of salmon, exclusive 

 of the Alaska product, by apparatus of capture, was 

 as follows: 



1 Less than 1 per cent. , 



Shad. The common shad (Alosa sapidissima) is 

 found on all the coasts of the United States and in 

 some inland waters, the most important shad fisheries 

 being in the rivers of the Atlantic slope. The average 

 weight is about 4 pounds and the average length 

 about 2 feet. 



The names "mud shad," "gizzard shad," "winter 

 shad," "stink shad," "hickory shad," and "white- 

 eyed shad" are applied to different species. The 

 menhaden is called "hardhead shad" about Cape Ann, 

 "bug-shad" in Virginia, and "yellow-tailed shad" 

 from North Carolina to Florida. 



Shad was fourth in value among the fishery products 

 of the United States in 1908. Among fish proper it 

 was surpassed in value only by salmon and cod, while 

 in the Atlantic coast fisheries, cod is the only fish for 

 which a greater value was reported. Shad is indige- 

 nous to the rivers of the Atlantic coast, and the trans- 

 planting of this species to the Pacific coast was among 

 the early activities of the United States Fish Com- 

 mission. The extent to which the undertaking suc- 

 ceeded is shown in the tables which follow. The 

 catch of shad in 1908 amounted to 27,641,000 pounds, 

 valued at $2,113,000, or 4 per cent of the value of the 

 entire fishery product and 7 per cent of the value of 



fish proper. Shad was reported by 17 states, includ- 

 ing all the Pacific coast and all Atlantic coast states* 

 except New Hampshire. The statistics of the catch, 

 by states ranked according to the value of their 

 respective products, are given in the following tabular 

 statement: 



i Less than 1 per cent. 



The first five states reported 78 per cent of the total 

 value of this product. In all of these states shad 

 ranked high in importance among the various species 

 taken. In North Carolina it was first in value; in 

 Virginia second, ranking next to oysters; in Maryland 

 third; and in Florida and New Jersey fourth. 



The distribution of the shad catch of 1908, by divi- 

 sions and state groups, was as follows: 



i Less than 1 per cent. ' Less than $100. 



The quantity and value of the shad reported for 

 1908 and earlier years are given in the following 

 tabular statement : 



