FISHERIES, BY STATES. 



203 



Clams* — In the yield of hard clams there was a de- 

 crease from 1904 to 1908 of nearly 27 per cent. Soft 

 clams, which are used principally in the cod fisheries 

 for bait, decreased 11 per cent in quantity between 

 1904 and 1908. 



Scallops.— The yield of scallops in 1908 amounted to 

 81,000 gallons, valued at $98,000, which represents 

 a decrease of 31,000 gallons in quantity and $48,000 in 

 value, compared with the yield of 1904. The state of 

 New York was second in rank with respect to the 

 value of the scallop product in 1908, the yields in 

 Massachusetts, New York, and Maine contributing, 

 respectively, 38, 31, and 30 per cent of the value of the 

 product of the entire country. The industry in New 

 York is carried on principally at the eastern end of 

 Long Island. 



Blueftsh. — The bluefish product was taken chiefly 

 with lines in the vessel fisheries. Compared with 1904 

 there was a decrease in quantity from 11,414,000 to 

 3,191,000 pounds, and a decrease in value from 

 $557,000 to $291,000. 



Butterfish. — There was an increase of 112 per cent 

 in quantity, and an increase of 129 per cent in value 

 in the yield of butterfish for the period from 1904 to 

 1908. 



German carp. — This fish, for which there is an in- . 

 creasing demand, was taken chiefly with seines in the 

 Hudson River. The apparatus to be used in taking 

 German carp in this river and the season in which the 

 fish may be taken are under the control of the State 

 Forest, Fish, and Game Commission. Larger quanti- 

 ties of German carp were caught in 1908 than ever 

 before, the yield of 406,000 pounds, valued at $31,000, 

 representing an increase over that in 1903-4 of 115,000 

 pounds in quantity and $14,000 in value. 



Cod.— The catch of cod in 1908 was 2,999,000 

 pounds, valued at $99,000, an increase over that for 

 1904 of 156 per cent in quantity and of 87 per cent in 

 value. 



Flounders. — The flounder catch shows an increase 

 in 1908 compared with 1904 of 154 per cent in weight 

 and 110 per cent in value. A product of 4,629,000 

 pounds, valued at $141,000, was taken in 1908, prin- 

 cipally in nets. 



Menhaden. — The principal uses of the menhaden 

 are for oil and fertilizer, but a few are sold for food. 

 This fish is taken chiefly with seines in the Atlantic 

 Ocean fisheries. Although it continues to lead all 

 others in quantity, there was a large decrease in the 

 catch, that in 1908 being 12,762,000 pounds, or only 

 about one-seventeenth of that for 1904. The value of 

 this small catch in 1908 was $22,000, or less than one- 

 thirtieth of the value for 1904, $694,000. 



Pike perches. — Under this term are included blue pike, 

 saugers, and wall-eyed pike. The greater part of the 

 product was taken in Lake Erie with gill nets, and the 

 yield of 2,001,000 pounds, valued at $68,000, in 1908, 

 shows an increase over that for 1903 of 905,000 pounds 

 in quantity and of $22,000 in value. The value of 

 blue pike constituted 95 per cent of the total value of 

 pike perch caught in 1908. 



Squeteague. — The squeteague taken in 1908 had more 

 than double the value of that caught in 1904. In 

 1908 the value of this species formed more than one- 

 fourth of the value of all fish proper reported for the 

 state. It was surpassed in quantity only by men- 

 haden. The catch was about evenly divided between 

 the shore and boat fisheries, where this fish is taken 

 chiefly in pound and trap nets, and the vessel fisheries, 

 where seines are the principal apparatus used. 



