SHAD FISHERIES OP THE ATLANTIC COAST. 



201 



The following summary shows, by States, the number of people 

 employed in each branch of the shad fisheries of the Potomac River in 

 1896: 



Designation. 



Fishermen : 



Stake-net... 



Drift-net ... 



Seine 



Pound-net . . 



Bow -net 



Shoresmen . . . 

 Transporters . 



Total, exclusive of duplication. 



Virginia 

 shore. 



Maryland 

 shore. 



21 



231 

 247 



308 



241 

 87 



116 



25 



39 



4 



Total. 



21 



472 



334 



424 



25 



70 



21 



1,367 



The following statement shows the boats, apparatus, etc., employed 

 in the shad fisheries of the Potomac Eiver in 1896: 



Designation. 



Virginia shore. 



Length 



(yds.). 



Value. 



Maryland shore. 



No. 



Length 

 (yds.). 



Value. 



Total. 



-pj Length 

 ' (yds.). 



Value. 



Boats 



Stake nets 



Drift nets 



Seines 



Pound nets 



Bow nets 



Shore property . 



Total value 



529 

 118 



6,133 

 67, 000 

 13, 600 



$17, 950 



1,043 



6,155 



13, 700 



35, 175 



$6, 945 



L18 



5 



131 



3 



94, 5U0 

 3,640 



16, 425 



5. 



52d 



236 



13 



430 



3 



6,133 



161,500 



17, 240 



$24, 895 

 1,043 

 12, 385 

 17, 700 

 43, 350 

 6 

 21,525 



90, 448 



30, 456 



120, 904 



The following statement shows the product of each branch of the 

 shad fisheries of the Potomac Eiver in 1896: 



The drift-net grounds extend from Mathias Point to Alexandria, a 

 distance of 60 miles, but those nets are operated most extensively from 

 Indian Head to River View. Below Mathias Point the water is salty 

 and too clear and sluggish to permit the successful use of this form of 

 apparatus, except when heavy rains have swollen the river. The nets 

 range in length from 300 to 1,000 yards, averaging above 700 yards, 

 and in depth from 30 to 90 meshes, depending respectively on the width 

 and depth of the reach in which they are operated. They are usually 

 so rigged as to float several feet below the surface of the water, being 

 suspended by buoy lines at intervals of 15 or 18 feet. Those nets 60 

 to 90 meshes deep, when operated in the main channel, are buoyed 

 with the upper line from 8 to 10 feet below the surface, permitting all 

 boats, except the largest steamers, to pass over them without injury. 



