158 



FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1908. 



the total value of the state product was from the dis- 

 trict designated as "All other counties," Essex County 

 being the source of nearly all the remainder. 



Whale products. — The value of the whale oil, sperm 

 oil, and whalebone reported from Massachusetts, about 

 two-thirds of which represented the value of sperm oil 

 alone, comprised 68 per cent of the total reported for 

 the United States in 1908. Since 1889 the value of 

 the whale products of the state has decreased more or 

 less steadily, the year 1898 alone showing a smaller 

 value than 1908. These products, which were exclu- 

 sively vessel fishery products, were taken principally 

 by the New Bedford whaling fleets and were reported 

 • solely from the district "All other counties," of which 

 they formed the leading product. 



Lobster. — In the catch of lobster Massachusetts was 

 second to Maine. The large increase in quantity and 

 value in 1908 as compared with 1905 is worthy of 

 note, compared with the gradual decrease in quantity 

 and slight increase in value shown for prior canvasses. 

 Over 95 per cent of the total value of the lobster 



product represented the value of lobster taken in 

 shore and boat fisheries. Fifty per cent of the total 

 value was contributed by counties included under the 

 head" All other counties," while 39 per cent represented 

 the value of the Essex County product. 



Oysters. — Though taken in quantities sufficient to 

 class them among the more important products of the 

 Massachusetts fisheries, oysters were of far less import- 

 ance than in states to the south. The quantity taken 

 has increased steadily, but the value of the product 

 has fluctuated greatly. Private beds furnished 96 per 

 cent of the entire quantity. Of the total value of the 

 oyster product, 45 per cent represented the value of 

 the oysters taken in the vessel fisheries, and 55 per 

 cent the value of those taken in the shore and boat 

 fisheries. The entire product came from the southern 

 counties. Forty thousand bushels of oysters, valued 

 at $47,000, were taken by Connecticut fishermen from 

 waters of Massachusetts, but are included in the sta- 

 tistics for Connecticut. 



