FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



263 



FISHERIES OF DELAWARE. 



The fisheries of this State are prosecuted in the Delaware River and 

 Ba}^ and the Atlantic Ocean, and to a small extent in the Nanticoke 

 River, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. 



The number of persons engaged in the fisheries in 1897 was 2,392, 

 of whom 120 were on fishing and transporting vessels; 1,888 on boats 

 in the shore fisheries, and 384 in fishery industries on shore. 



The number of vessels fishing and transporting was 42, valued with' 

 their outfits at $37,854. The number of boats in the shore fisheries 

 was 953, valued at $39,349. 



The value of apparatus connected with the vessel fisheries, consist- 

 ing almost entirely of oyster dredges, was $2,886, while in the shore 

 fisheries numerous forms of apparatus were employed having an aggre- 

 gate value of $43,156. The more important of these were gill nets, 

 valued at $31,037; seines, $8,676; fyke nets, $1,125; and pound nets, 

 $625. The value of shore property and cash capital amounted to 

 $284,574, the total investment being $407,819. 



The products of the fisheries aggregated 8,647,897 pounds, worth 

 $252,123. The most important species in value were shad, worth 

 $47,962; squeteague, $25,149; perch, $19,128; striped bass, $12,033; 

 and alewives, $11,910. The yield of the oyster fishery was valued at 

 $63,897, and of the sturgeon fishery $34,750. Of the latter amount, 

 $25,736 represents the value of the caviar. 



The three tables which follow show by counties the number and 

 value of vessels, boats, and fishing apparatus, the number of persons 

 employed; the value of the shore and accessory property, the amount 

 of cash capital, and the quantity and value of the products of the 

 fisheries of Delaware in the year 1897: 



Table showing^ by counties, the vessels 



thefisheri 



boats, apparatus, 



es of Delaware in . 



and shore property 

 1897. 



employed in 



Items. 



Kent. 



Newcastle. 



Sussex. 



Total. 



No. 



24 

 211 



Value. 



No. 



Value. 



No. 



Value. 



No. 



Value. 



Vessels fishing 



$20,625 











24 

 211 



$20, 625 



Tonnage 













Oyitfit 



3,900 

 1,650 



50* 



11,145 



2,880" 

 6 











3 900 



Vessels transporting 



3 

 55 



6 

 110 



"272" 



$4,300 



'""265* 

 23,209 



10 



178 



**36i* 



$5,800 



18 

 343 



"953' 



72 



11,750 



Tonnage 





Outfit 



1,264 

 4,995 



1,579 



Boats 



320 

 72 



39, 349 



Apparatus — vessel fisheries: 

 Dredges 



2,880 



Lines 











6 



Apparatus — shore fisheries: 

 Pound nets 





4 



23 



242 



170 



1 



'"'56' 



150 



1,378 



20,742 



261 



2 



41 



45 



4 



112 



515 



226 



98 



" '558* 



100 



22 



475 



4,968 



3,604 



659 



121 



37 



196 



100 



163 



57 



166,845 



82,500 



8 

 176 

 983 

 656 

 153 



' '680' 

 100 

 117 



625 



Seines (total length 22,101 yards) 



Gill nets (total length 246,345 yards) 



Fyke nets 



41 

 226 

 260 



54 



2,330 



6,691 



305 



180 



17 



18 



8,676 



31,037 



1,125 



Minor nets 



303 



Lines 



95 



Eel pots and spears 



72 



259 



Lobster pots 



100 



Tongs 



95 



682 



7 



9,835 



1,500 







845 



Other apparatus 





27 



19, 694 



4,200 



91 



Shore and accessory property 





196, 374 



Cash capital 





88,200 









Total 





61,821 





74,314 





271,684 





407, 819 









