FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



259 



THE FISHERIES, BY APPARATUS. 



In the vessel fisheries lines and oyster dredges are the only apparatus 

 of capture. The principal species in the line fishery are sea bass- and 

 flounders. This fishery is prosecuted in the ocean during the summer 

 months by vessels which are engaged in the oyster fishery or the 

 coasting trade the rest of the year. The line catch amounted to 

 973,495 pounds, valued at $37,832. The oyster fishery is carried on 

 entirely in the waters of New Jersey and Delaware, principally the 

 latter, where most of the planted beds owned directly by Pennsylvanians 

 are located. The catch of oysters amounted to 1,861,538 pounds, or 

 265,934 bushels, valued at $143,974. The total catch in the vessel 

 fisheries was 2,835,033 pounds, valued at $181,806. 

 - In the shore fisheries seines are the most important apparatus 

 employed. The quantity of products taken by them was 1,479,834 

 pounds, valued at $50,177, the principal species being shad and ale- 

 wives. This is the oldest method of fishing on the Delaware River, 

 and some of these seine fisheries have been in operation since before 

 the beginning of the present century. The yield of gill nets was 

 1,065,581 pounds, valued at $23,522, more shad being taken in them 

 than in any other form of apparatus. Fyke nets and dip nets produced 

 respectively 86,117 pounds, valued at $5,429, and 82,713 pounds, valued 

 at $4,247. Lines, pots, and minor apparatus secured 2,769,230 pounds, 

 valued at $87,701. 



The two tables which follow show the quantity and value of products 

 in the vessel and shore fisheries by each form of apparatus: 



Table showing the yield of the vessel fisheries of Pennsylvania in 1897. 





Apparatus and species. 



Philadelph 



ta County. 





Lbs. 



Value. 



Lines: 

 Blue-fish • 



12,800 



31,545 



29, 150 



900, 000 



$321 



Flounders 



792 



Scup - - 



719 



Sea bass 





36,000 









Total 



973, 495 

 1,861,638 



37, 832 



Dredges: 

 Ov«ters 



143, 974 









Grand total 



2, 835, 033 



181,806 







