FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



265 



FISHERIES BY APPARATUS. 



The vessel fisheries of this State are confined to Kent Count}^, the 

 catch consisting almost entirely of oysters, of which 339,990 pounds 

 (48,570 bushels), valued at $24,707, were secured. Some squeteague 

 were taken on lines by vessels which carry out pleasure parties during 

 the summer season. At Lewes, in Sussex County, a few steamers land 

 part of their fish at the menhaden factories, but as these steamers 

 belong in other States their catch has not been credited to Delaware. 



In the shore fisheries, so far as the quantity of fish secured is con- 

 cerned, seines rank first, they having taken 3,677,291 pounds, valued 

 at $64,498, but in value of catch gill nets are first, having taken 2,577,114 

 pounds, valued at $98,598. The principal species taken in seines are 

 alewives, squeteague, and shad, while in gill nets the principal species 

 are shad, sturgeon, and squeteague. The yield by oyster tongs is next 

 in importance, its value being $39,190. Fyke nets caught 157,310 

 pounds, valued at $6,469, and pound nets 93,770 pounds, valued at 

 $2,197. Lines, pots, spears, miscellaneous nets, and other minor forms 

 of apparatus were also used. A small lobster fishery, with pots, is 

 carried on at Lewes. This is the southernmost point on the Atlantic 

 seaboard where the lobster fishery is prosecuted. 



The two tables which follow show the products of the vessel and 

 shore fisheries, by each form of apparatus, for the year 1897: 



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





Apparatus and species. 



Kent County. 





Lbs. 



Value. 



Lines: 

 Squeteague - 



9,400 



$188 









Dredges: 

 Oysters, market 



167, 160 

 172, 830 



18, 534 



Oysters, seed , 



6,173 









Total 



339, 990 



24, 707 









Grand total 



349, 390 



24, 895 







Table showing, by counties and apparatus of capture, 



Delaware in 1897. 



the yield of the shore fisheries of 



Apparatus and species. 



Kent. 



Newcastle. 



Sussex. 



Total. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Lbs. 



Value. 



Gill nets: 

 Alewives 



3,600 



860 



52,800 

 20,000 



$440 

 600 



15,500 



$90 



71, 900 



20, 000 



600 



126, 000 



1,200 



167, 100 



15.200 



1, 387, 296 



361,900 



• 47,310 



280, 250 



28, 900 



69, 458 



$590 



Carp 



600 



Cat-fish 







600 



38, 000 



1,200 



78, 700 



6,700 



197,476 



164, 700 



15,000 



7,010 



5,300 



1,485 



32 



190 



24 



3,633 



396 



6,027 



3,354 



1,120 



468 



243 



550 



32 



Croakers 



88,000 



440 







630 



Mullet 







24 



Perch 



48,000 



8,500 



219, 644 



197, 200 



26, 210 



85,860 



23,600 



21,870 



2,542 

 627 

 6,672 

 3,534 

 1,940 

 2,905 

 1,048 

 8,100 



40,400 



3, 232 



9,407 



Pike 



1,023 



Shad 



970, 176 



26,804 



39, 503 



Squeteague 



6,888 



Striped bass 



6,100 

 187, 380 



814 

 5,638 



3,874 



Sturgeon 



9,011 



Suckers 



1,291 



Caviar 



46,103 



i7,675 



25. 725 







Total 



722, 484 



27, 868 



1,322,959 







54,603 



531, 671 



16, 127 



2,577,114 98.598 









