STATISTICAL REVIEW OF THE COAST FISHERIES. 273 
In reading the tables, the principal points to be borne iu mind may be 
briefly summarized as follows : 
Oysters : The weight given is for the edible part (meats and liquor) ; 
7 pounds to the bushel. 
Round clams or quohaugs ( Venus mercenaria) : Same as oysters ; 8 
pouuds to a bushel. 
Long clams (Mya arenaria) : Same as oysters ; 10 pounds to a bushel. 
Scallops ( Pecten irradians and P. magellanicus) : Weight of “eye” or 
muscle (the edible portion) is given ; 3£ pounds to a bushel. 
Oil (whale, seal, and fish) : 7£ pounds to a gallou. 
The boats carried on vessels are not shown separately, but are in- 
cluded with the outfit. 
The values of products are in all cases based on the prices paid the 
fishermen, or the original cost. 
II.— GENERAL STATISTICS. 
The series of tables presented uuder this head exhibits in the most 
condensed form the information shown in greater detail for each State 
and for particular fisheries. Special attention is also directed to cercaiu 
phases of those industries that could not properly be included else- 
where. This arrangement makes it possible to note the salient points at 
a glance, and besides is convenient for purposes of general comparison. 
The tables have been prepared with a view to show by States and by 
geographical sections the following: (a) Persons employed; ( b ) appa- 
ratus and capital; (c) products and values; (d) special features; ( e ) com- 
parative data. 
The comparative statements deserve special consideration, and some 
explanation may be necessary to prevent misapprehensions. Iu the 
comparisons which are considered in this discussion an effort has been 
made to bring the figures of 1880 to cover practically the same area 
as is included in these tables. It lias, however, not always been prac 
ticable to do this, and iu some cases the figures of the coast fisheries 
for 1888 have had to stand against totals for States in 1880. 
Table 8, which exhibits by States certain averages for vessels em- 
ployed in fishing in 1888, may be explained as follows : 
The large size of the vessels sailing from California and their high 
relative value is due to the fact that they are mostly whalers, and many 
of them costly auxiliary steamers. The majority of the vessels in the 
cod fishery are large as compared with Atlantic fishing craft, and carry 
more men in their crews. In Massachusetts the vessels average much 
smaller in size and less in relative value. The explanation for this is 
found in the fact that many small vessels are employed in the so-called 
“ shore fishery,” a branch of fishery as yet not engaged iu to any con- 
siderable extent by California vessels. The ocean fisheries of New 
England also employ chiefly sailing vessels less thau 100 tons, and this, 
together with the fact that property of this kind is not held at such high 
H, Mis, 274 18 
