A-6 



uses for the Chesapeake estuary. Approximately 110 million tons move 

 annually over the waterway and contribute, in large measure, to the 

 economy of an 11 state area, extending into the Midwest, (U.S.D.I., 1970) 



The port of Baltimore alone handles nearly 50 million tons 

 annually and if the annual increase in freight traffic in the harbor 

 is maintained, freight traffic tonnage will triple by the year 2000. 

 A recent survey showed that the commercial complex making up the port 

 of Baltimore directs $1.56 billion a year into Maryland's economy, 

 which represents 11.7 percent of the Maryland gross State product 

 (McHarg, 1972). 



The trend in commercial navigation is toward larger ships, 

 which in turn require deeper channels, posing greater problems 

 locating dredge spoil disposal areas. Modifying channel geometry 

 may cause increases in upstream salinity, and unwise disposal of 

 spoil can have marked effects on living marine organisms. It is 

 estimated that the raw sewage discharged into the Bay by ships in 

 transit is equivalent to that of a community of twenty-five 

 thousand people, constantly. 



Fishing is another important industry with Bay-wide significance. 

 The region is one of the richest fish and wildlife habitats in the 

 world and as such, it is a most important seafood harvesting area. 

 More than 400 million pounds of fish and shellfish worth $30 million 

 were taken from Bay waters in 1966. The weight of fish landed was 

 almost triple that of shellfish with nearly 304 million pounds of 

 fish harvested as compared to 125 million pounds of shellfish. But 

 the value of fish was only $7.3 million, or less than one third of 

 the value of the shellfish which netted $22.2 million. Oysters alone 

 represented $15 million, or one half the value of the total fisheries 

 harvest. Of the finfish the menhaden catch was the largest with 243 

 million pounds worth $3.9 million. 



TABLE I. COMMERCIAL FISHERY 1966 



Type Pounds Value 



Finfish 303.5 mil 



Oysters 20 

 Clams 8 



Crabs 95 



Superimposed on the heavy commercial seafood harvest is a grow- 

 ing recreational fishery. In 1966 it was estimated that Bay anglers 

 caught 22 million pounds of fish and generated about $10 million in 

 expenditures. 



$7, 



3 



mil 



15 







2. 



,1 





6. 



,8 





