180 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 



The lobster fisherj- is prosecuted to a greater or less extent in all 

 the States on the Atlantic coast from Maine to Delaware, but nearly 

 75 per cent of the total annual yield is from the waters of Maine. 

 The statistics show that the total yield in 1880 was 20,128,033 pounds, 

 valued at $488,871, and in 1889 it was 30,771,573 pounds,, valued at 

 $861,297, an increase of 10,043,540 pounds in quantity and of $372,426 

 in value. There has since been a great reduction in the quantity of 

 lobsters annually produced, but the value has been constantly increas- 

 ing. In 1898 the total yield was 15,188,062 pounds, valued at 

 $1,318,299, a decrease, as compared with 1889, of over 50 per cent 

 in quantity and an increase of over 50 per cent in value. The greater 

 part of this decrease in quantit}^ has occurred in Maine and Massa- 

 chusetts. From 1889 to 1898 the lobster yield of Maine declined 

 about 55 per cent in quantity, while it increased about 70 per cent 

 in value. In Massachusetts there has been an almost steady decline 

 in the yield since 1880. In that year the catch was 4,315,416 pounds, 

 valued at $158,229, and in 1898 it was 1,693,741 pounds, valued at 

 $147,702, a decrease of 2,621,675 pounds, or 60 per cent in quantity, 

 and of $10,527, or about 6 per cent, in value. 



The following table shows the quantity and value of lobsters taken 

 in each of the lobster-producing States in each year for which this 

 fishery has been investigated from 1880 to 1898: 



states. 



1880. 



1887. 1888. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Maine 



14,234,182 



2.50,000 



4.315,416 



423,250 

 613, 385 

 135,000 

 156,800 



$268,739 



7,500 



158,229 



15,871 



2:^,002 



5,062 



5,488 



22,916,642 



142,824 



3,511,0^5 



570,039 



1,487,020 



114,000 



101, 580 



39,000 



$512,044 



6,268 



156,204 



27,128 



82,594 



6,850 



7,719 



910 



21,694,731 



13(5, a50 



3,743,475 



588,500 



1,477,226 



248,000 



181,688 



39,000 



$515,880 



6,256 



172,936 



28,047 



85,723 



13,900 



12,965 



910 



New Hampshire 



Massachusetts 



Rhode Island 



Connecticut 



New York. 



New Jersey 



Delaware.. 









states. 



1889. 



1890. 



1891. 



1892. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Maine 



25,001,351 $ 



137,175 



3,353,787 



456,000 



1,501,290 



124,023 



188,347 



9,600 



574,165 



6,415 



148,492 



21,565 



83,099 



12,780 



14,301 



480 











17,642,677 



196,350 



3, 182, 270 



774, 100 



1,614,530 



$663-,048 : 

 11,700 



205,638 * 

 53,762 V 



101,358 * 



New Hampshire 











Massachvi setts 











Rhode Island 1 











Connecticut 











New York 



150,400 



185,321 



7,200 



$14, 754 



13,683 



360 



165,093 



165,664 



8,300 



$15,655 



12,463 



410 



New Jersey 



143,905 

 5,600 



10,861 1 

 286 k 



Dela are 





states. 



Fiscal year 1897. 



Calendar year 1897. 



1898. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Maine .. 



10,300,880 



90,300 



2,089,502 



$683,082 



5,493 



157,330 







... 



11,183,294 

 108,515 

 1,693,741 

 578,066 

 1,098,192 

 332,378 

 123,876 



$992,856 5 



9.372 i 



147,708 .' 



43,290 ( 



83,748 ^ 



30,235 



New Hampshire 







Massachusetts 







Rhode Island 







Connecticut 











New York 



130,610 

 79,230 



10,913 

 6,197 



• 381,020 



99,230 



5 095 



$31,458 



8,573 



459 



New Jersey 



11,097 



Delaware 





















1 



