86 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
In the size of vessels, it is seen that the average is 32.88 tons i n Maine, 39.20 tons in 
New Hampshire, 71.23 tons in Massachusetts, 22.61 tons in Rhode Island, and 25.34 tons 
in Connecticut. The general average is 53.18 tons. The average value of vessels is 
least in Maine, viz, $1,500, and greatest in Massachusetts, viz, $3,738, the average for 
New England being $2,993. The average value per net ton is also least in Maine and 
greatest in Rhode Island, the latter State having a considerable fleet of expensive steam 
vessels. Massachusetts vessels have a less value per ton than those of Connecticut and 
New Hampshire, Connecticut having a number of steamers which bring up the average 
and New Hampshire possessing a small fleet of relatively valuable vessels. The general 
average value per ton is $57. In the items of apparatus and outfit, Massachusetts also 
takes the lead, with an average of $2,739, followed by New Hampshire, Maine, Con- 
necticut, and Rhode Island, the last State being credited with $679, while the average 
for all the States is $1,958. The average number of men carried on vessels is 13 in 
Massachusetts, 9 in New Hampshire, 7 in Maine, 6 in Rhode Island, and 5 in Con- 
necticut, the general average being 10. Connecticut and Rhode Island easily take the 
first positions in the average value of catch for each man constituting the crews, owing 
to the use of steam in the oyster and menhaden fisheries ; Massachusetts ranks third, 
followed by New Hampshire and Maine. Rhode Island takes precedence in the matter 
of average gross stock per vessel, with $6,424, after which are Massachusetts with 
$5,867, Connecticut with $5,591, New Hampshire with $3,734, and Maine with $1,979, 
the average for all States being $4,888. For each net ton the vessels of Rhode Island 
and Connecticut take products to the value of $284 and $221, respectively, while the 
average for all the other States is less than $100. For each $100 invested in the 
vessel fishery, Rhode Island and Connecticut vessels stock $168 and $163, respectively, 
taking similar precedence over the remaining States. 
Consideration of the figures showing the percentages of value of products for each 
form of apparatus employed in the vessel fisheries discloses some important facts 
illustrative of the different interests involved in the fisheries of the several States. 
The seine is more important than any other apparatus in Rhode Island, in which State 
71 per cent of the stock of the vessels is obtained by this means, while in each of the 
other States the seine is to be credited with only 10 per cent or less of the value of 
products. In New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts hand lines and trawl lines 
yield the largest returns, the figures for these States being 86 per cent, 73 per cent, 
and 72 per cent, respectively. In Connecticut only 12 per cent of the value of prod- 
ucts is obtained with lines, and in Rhode Island only 7 per cent. Gill nets and pots 
are of greater comparative value in the vessel fisheries of Maine than elsewhere, 
although their general importance is slight. Miscellaneous forms of apparatus, as fyke 
nets, dredges, rakes, harpoons, guns, etc., are much more valuable in Connecticut than 
elsewhere, as much as 78 per cent of the value of the vessel catch in that State being 
taken in this way. Concerning New England as a whole, it is seen that 59 per cent of 
the yield of the vessel fisheries is taken with lines, 12 per cent with seines, 1 per cent 
each with gill nets and pots, and 27 per cent with miscellaneous devices. 
In the shore fisheries the average value of fishery products taken by each man is 
greatest in Rhode Island and least in New Hampshire, the general average being 
$286, a sum considerably less than in the vessel fisheries. For each $100 invested in 
boats, $536 worth of products are obtained, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine 
having more than the general average, and Massachusetts and Connecticut less. The 
