174 EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 

 FISHERIES OF THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. 



There has been a decrease in the fisheries of this region, since their 

 canvass in 1889, of 259,814,470 pounds of products, amounting to 

 $877,813 in value. A large part of this decrease is represented by algae, 

 which, if eliminated from the figures of both years, leaves an actual 

 decrease in fish products of 111,030,570 pounds, worth 1825,512. 



The catch of menhaden has largely decreased. In 1889 the quan- 

 tity was 173,632,210 pounds, worth 1428,228, whereas in 1898 only 

 23,140,177 pounds, valued at $65,175, were taken, a decrease of 

 150,492,023 pounds, worth $363,053. The reduction in this fishery is 

 traceable chiefly to the transfer of the industry to New York State. It 

 is therefore apparent that the food fisheries of the New England States 

 have increased in quantity and have decreased but slightl}^ in value. 



One of the most noticeable changes is in connection with the lob- 

 ster fishery. The total catch of lobsters in 1889 was 30,449,603 pounds, 

 worth $833,736, and in 1898 14,661,808 pounds, worth $1,276,968. The 

 yield of this fishery has therefore diminished more than 50 per cent 

 in quantit}^ and increased more than 50 per cent in value. 



The total number of persons engaged in the fisheries of the New 

 England States was 35,445, distributed as follows: Maine, 16,954; New 

 Hampshire, 154; Massachusetts, 14,177; Rhode Island, 1,687; and 

 Connecticut, 2,473. A total decrease of 1,091 is shown since 1889. 



The amount of capital invested in the fisheries was $19,637,036, an 

 apparent decrease of $437,758, caused by the transfer of the menhaden 

 fishery and the omission of certain valuations which were included 

 in the former canvass. 



The vessels employed in the fisheries numbered 1,427, and were 

 valued with their outfits at $4,224,339. The apparatus of capture was 

 valued at $1,218,898. Pound nets and weirs represent the greatest 

 value among the apparatus, aggregating $405,424. Hand and trawl 

 lines are next in importance, valued at $278,815. Lobster pots were 

 worth $219,045; seines, $132,140, and gill nets, $100,679. 



Massachusetts leads in the New England States in respect to impor- 

 tance of the fisheries, the products being worth $4,454,139. Maine is 

 next, with fisheries valued at $2,654,919, followed by Connecticut at 

 $1,559,599, Rhode Island at $955,058, and New Hampshire at $48,987. 

 The yield of the entire region amounted to 393,355,570 pounds and was 

 valued at $9,672,702. 



The fishery for cod, cusk, haddock, hake, and pollock leads all the 

 others, being valued at $2,798,109. The oyster fishery of Connecticut 

 and Rhode Island, worth $1,910,684, ranks next, followed by the lob- 

 ster fishery, valued at $1,276,967; the herring fishery at $596,688; the 

 halibut fishery, at $569,515, and the mackerel fishery at $481,933. 



Other important fisheries are those maintained for ale wives, smelt, 

 blue-fish, scup, and sword-fish. 



