254 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



fisheries, l)ut prineipalh' in the former, and the greater part of the 

 catch is sold fresh. 



Haddock. — The catch of haddock has fallen oti' considerably since 

 1898. The greater part of the yield is sold fresh, the price being 

 slightly lower than for cod. 



Hale. — With the exception of herring, the catch of hake was greater 

 than that of any other species, and shows a noticeable increase since 

 1898. This fish is taken generally during the summer and fall. Con- 

 siderable revenue is derived from the sale of the sounds, or swim- 

 bladders; the fishermen claim that on an average 100 pounds of hake 

 j"a-oduce 2 pounds of sounds. 



Pollock. — The catch of pollock in 1902 was more than twice as large 

 as in 1898, having increased from 2,129,450 pounds, valued at $19,364, 

 to 5,376,371 pounds, valued at §49,123. Pollock are taken generallj' 

 during the summer season, on hand lines. 



Halibut. — This species is taken on hand and trawl lines. The catch 

 was comparativel}^ small in both the vessel and shore fisheries and was 

 sold fresh. Most of the haliiiut taken in the shore fisheries are of 

 small size and are known as "chicken halibut." 



Herring. — The greater part of the herring catch is utilized in the 

 sardine canneries and smokehouses in Washington and Hancock coun- 

 ties. Compared with 1898 the returns for 1902 show an increase in 

 the catch in all the counties except Lincoln and Waldo. The increase 

 in Washington count}^ was from 18,205,050 pounds, valued at fill9,154, 

 in 1898, to 132,804,li6 pounds, valued at §353,848, in 1902. For the 

 entire state the increase was from 42,156,964 pounds in 1898, valued 

 at $263,477, to 162,404,266 pounds in 1902, valued at $510,189. Besides 

 being prepared as sardines and smoked, large quantities of herring 

 are also sold to fishing vessels for bait. Man}' are frozen for this 

 purpose. 



Macl:erel. — The catch of mackerel in 1902 shows a slight increase 

 over that of 1898, probably owing to the use of a larger quantity' of 

 apparatus. The principal forms of apparatus used were seines, gill 

 nets, and pound nets. The fisher}^ is prosecuted g-enerally during the 

 summer months, ver}- few vessels making the long trip south for mack- 

 erel in the spring. 



Sivord-fish. — The season for taking this species is usually from 

 Jul}' 1 to August 15. Owing to the long distance to the fishing 

 grounds, only large vessels, carrying crews of 6 to 10 men, are 

 employed in the fishery. The vessels are mostly engaged in trawling 

 during the remainder of the year. Compared with 1898 the catch of 

 sword-fish in 1902 decreased 235,506 pounds in quantity, and increased 

 $218 in value. 



Alt-wives. — Several of the towns in Maine own ale wife privileges, 

 which, during favorable seasons, prove quite remunerative. In some 



