FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



309 



used, there being 60 in 1891 and onl}" 37 in 1897. This is due principally 

 to the gradual substitution of steamers for sail vessels, there being 63 

 sail vessels fishing and transporting in 1891 against 28 in 1897. Men- 

 haden were fairly abundant, the catch numbering 263,203,000, but the 

 fish were exceedingly dry. yielding only 177,043 gallons of oil; whereas 

 the 191,365,500 fish caught in 1891 yielded 396,575 gallons. The 

 quantity of scrap produced was 21,434 tons, worth $331,227, in 1897, 

 against 17,054 tons, worth $230,647, in 1891. The following table 

 shows in detail the extent of this industr}^ in 1897: 



Table slwwing the extent of the menhaden industry of Virginia in 1897. 



Items. 



Factories 



Cash capital 



Vt'ages paid factory em- 

 ployees 



Persons in factories 



Persons on vessels 



Menhaden utilized 



Tons of dry scrap 



Tons of crude and acidu- 

 lated scrap 



Gallons of oil made 



No. 



16 



552 



618 



2(33,203,000 



13,488 



7,946 

 177, 043 



Value. 



$181, 700 

 115, 500 



52,594 



243,497 

 255, M3 



75,684 

 30,805 



Items. 



Steam vessels fishing 



Tonnage 



Outfit 



Sail vessels fishing 



Tonnage 



Outfit 



Sail vessels transporting. 



Tonnage 



Outfit 



Seines (total length, 



30,622 feet) 



No. 



14 

 1,061 



15 

 429 



13 

 372 



37 



Value. 



$148,000 



34,227 

 17,200 



10,322 

 13,400 



2,651 

 25,400 



THE AVHOLESALE FISHERY TRADE. 



In connection with the fisheries of Virginia there is a considerable 

 wholesale trade in fishery products. In 1897 there were 56 establish- 

 ments or firms in 21 different localities of the State in this branch of 

 industry. The investment in shore property and cash capital utilized 

 in the business was ^640,560, and the number of persons engaged Avas 

 3,079. The total value of the products handled was $1,663,956. 



Table showing, by localities, the extent of tJie ivholesale trade in fishery products of Virginia 



in 1897. 



Items. 



Elstablishments . . 



Cash capital 



Persons engaged . 



Lewisetta, 



Whealton, ^ . p . ^ 

 Sandy Bottom, west Point, 

 and Earnest. 



Hampton. I Suffolk, i Portsmouth. 



No. 



4 

 '366 



Val. ; .No. 



825,950 

 21,500 



4 

 "i97 



Val. 



No. 



Val. I No. 



$16, 000 5 $a5, 460 



29,000 1 37,000 



I 416 



Products handled. 



Oysters: ! 



Opened gallons.. 56,000 



In shell bushels 



Canned, 1-lb. cans.. number.. 480,000 

 Canned, 2-lb. cans do. . . 60, 000 



Oyster shells bushels 



Clams do. . 



Crabs: 

 Canned, 1-lb. cans, .number. 

 Canned, 2-lb. cans do. . 



Crab meut gallons. . 1, 280 



( "rab refuse tons. . 11 



Fish, fresh pounds 



Value of products. 



47,600170,500 



400 



30,000 



6, 500 



2,000 



896; 

 121 



85,117 



161, 725 %, 635 

 20017,000 



25 



3,975 



94,512 

 94,560 



105 

 166,000 



161,950 



79 



82,139 31,000 

 8, 100 4-2.5 



3,506 



14,177 

 22,064 



44,000 



1,155 

 1,970 



133, 111 



Val. No. 



Val. 



$5,000 2,$28,000 



4,000 12.000 



i 234' 



34,800 

 215 



126,550101,240 



1,100 



36,115 



190,000 



10,000 



3,800 



7,200 



112,240 



