150 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The vessel and shore fisheries . — The persons and property belonging to each of these 
branches have been shown in previous tables, so that it is only necessary in this place 
to consider the quantity and value of products accruing from each. 
The fisheries prosecuted with vessels are much less extensive than those carried 
on with small boats. The fishing- grounds are so close to the shores that the use of 
vessels is not so necessary as if long voyages in the open gulf had to be made; and 
the trouble and expense incident to the customs regulations deter many fishermen 
from having craft of over 5 tons unless they are absolutely required by the nature of 
the fishing. In 1889 the species taken with vessels consisted of mullet, shrimp, and 
oysters, but in 1890 no midlet were obtained, the vessel fishery for that fish being only 
irregularly followed. As shown in Table 48, the vessel fisheries in 1889 yielded 3,183,006 
pounds, valued at $68,773, and in 1890, 2,899,323 pounds, worth $72,234. Oysters con- 
stitute the great bulk of the output; in 1889 2,459,863 pounds (351,409 bushels), with 
a market value of $57,559, were taken, and in the following year 2,760,723 pounds 
(394,389 bushels), worth $69,610, were sold. The extent of the vessel fisheries in each 
county is also exhibited in the table; their importance in Harrison County is seen to 
greatly excel that of the other two counties combined. 
The products of the boat or shore fisheries are given in Table 49. The aggregate 
catch in 1889 was 5,750,333 pounds, valued at $182,111, and in 1890 was 5,232,078 
pounds, valued at $173,465. As in the vessel fisheries, oysters constitute the most 
important part of the yield ; in 1889, 3,458,658 pounds of meats (equivalent to 494,094 
bushels), worth $110,154, and in 1890, 2,884,623 pounds of meats (equal to 412,089 
bushels), valued at $97,062, were taken. The general tendency of the shore oyster 
fishery in recent years has been toward a substantial increase, but, as shown in the 
table, there was a diminution in the output in 1890 as compared with 1889 of 82,005 
bushels. This was due to a depletion of the oyster beds by freshets. The other most 
noticeable species in the shore fisheries, in the order of their importance, are trout, 
shrimp, channel bass, and sheepshead. 
Harrison County leads in the importance of its shore fisheries as well as in its 
vessel fisheries, although the other counties have extensive interests. 
48. — Table showing by species and counties the yield of the vessel fisheries of Mississippi in 1889 and 1890. 
Species. 
Jackson. 
Harrison. 
1889. 
1890. 
1889. 
1890. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
271, 343 
402, 800 
1, 871, 779 
$2, 171 
8, 119 
42, 979 
Shrimp 
Oysters 
Total 
38, 600 
379, 225 
$768 
9, 580 
49, 000 
403, 004 
$834 
11 633 
80, 000 
2, 077, 642 
$1,600 
50, 985 
417, 825 
10,348 1 452,004 
12, 467 
2, 545, 922 
53, 269 2, 157, 642 
52, 585 
Species. 
Hancock. 
Total. 
1889. 
1890. 
1889. 
1890. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
271, 343 
451, 800 
*2, 459, 863 
$2, 171 
9,043 
57, 559 
Shrimp 
Oysters 
10, 400 
208, 859 
$150 
5, 000 
9, 600 
280, 077 
$190 
6, 992 
138, 600 
12, 760, 723 
$2, 624 
69, 610 
Total 
219, 259 
5, 156 
289, 677 7, 182 
3, 183, 006 
68,773 | 2,899,323 
72, 234 
* 351,409 bushels. t 394,389 bushels. 
