338 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



WHOLESALE FISH TRADE AND SMOKED-FISH INDUSTRY. 



The wholesale trade in fishery products, and the preparation ol 

 smoked herring and haddock, the latter being known as " Finnan had- 

 die," are of considerable importance in many of the fishing localities 

 on the coast of Maine. The fishery trade, though widely distributed, is 

 centered chiefly at Portland, in Cumberland County, and at Rockland 

 and Vinal Haven, in Knox County. The fish sold in a salted condition 

 are purchased from fishermen fresh, and afterwards cured by dealers, 

 or salted on board vessels before landing. Fresh fish, lobsters, clams, 

 scallops, and a variety of secondary products are also handled exten- 

 sivel3^ The greater part of the pack of "Finnan haddie" is prepared 

 at Portland, while the smoking of herring is carried on principally at 

 Eastport and Lubec, in Washington County. 



In 1898, exclusive of fishermen and sardine canners who prepare 

 considerable quantities of smoked and pickled herring and Russian 

 sardines, there were 124 firms, employing 748 persons in these two 

 branches of industry. Their shore property was valued at $271,670. 

 The cost of materials utilized in the preparation of fishery products 

 was $89,645. The wages paid to employees aggregated $112,449, and 

 the cash capital employed in the business amounted to $410,625. The 

 products of the wholesale trade were valued at $1,899,191, and those 

 prepared in connection with the smoked-fish industry at $154,992. 



Table showing the number of firms, investment, wages, and persons employed in the wholesale 

 fishery trade and smoked-fish industry of Maine in 1898. 



Counties. 



No. of 

 firms. 



Value of 



shore 

 property. 



* Cost of 

 mate- 

 rials. 



Cash 

 capital. 



Wages. 



Persons 



em- 

 ployed. 



Washington 



53 

 12 

 14 



8 

 34 



3 



$35, 815 



14,160 



73,425 



8,200 



136, 570 



3,400 



$34,166 



8,875 

 16, 421 



4,445 



25, 353 



385 



$39,650 



32,200 



76,100 



7,000 



245, 600 

 10, 075 



$20, 937 

 6,502 



22, 966 

 5,840 



54,765 

 1,439 



324 



Hancock 



60 



Knox 



128 



Lincoln and Sagadahoc 



48 



Cumberland 



178 



York 



10 







Total 



124 



271, 570 



89,645 



410, 625 



112, 449 



748 







♦Includes salt, ice, wood, etc. 

 Table showing the products of the. smoked-fish industry of Maine m 1898. 



Products. 



Washington. 



Knox, 



Lincoln. 



Cumberland. 



Total. 



No. 



Value. 



No. 



Val. 



No. Val. 



No. 



Value. 



No. 



Value. 



Raw products: 

 Haddock lbs . 







2,500 



$25 







1,285,000 



$22, 113 



1, 287, 500 

 8, 580, 500 



$22,138 •» 

 29,612 ! 



Herring do. . . 



7,668,500 



$25,987 



912, 666 $3, 626 











Total 



7,668,500 



25, 987 



2,500 



25 912.000l 3.625 



1,285,000 22,113 



9, 868, 000 



51,750 ) 







1 



Manufactured products: 

 Smoked haddock- 

 Finnan haddie lbs 







2,000 



80 







800,000 



36,000 



802,000 



6,900 



869, 350 



9,150 



950 



36,080 ' 



3,450 ' 

 77,040 ' 

 35,572 i 



2,860 1 



Smoked herring- 

 Bloaters boxes 



6,900 



748, 150 



9,150 



950 



3,450 

 67,344 

 35,572 



2, 850 







Medium, etc do. . . 



Pickled herring ...bbls.. 

 Russian sardines do 







i2i,266 



9,696 









































Total value . . 





109, 216 





80 





9,696 





36,000 





164,992 1 











ii 



