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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
IV.— THE FISHERIES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
GENERAL REMARKS AND STATISTICS. 
The fisheries of Massachusetts are more important than those of any other State. 
Especially prominent are the offshore bank fisheries for cod, halibut, haddock, and 
other ground fish; the mackerel fishery; and the whale fishery, which is prosecuted 
by fleets rendezvousing in, or refitting from, both Massachusetts and California ports. 
The shore and boat fisheries for alewives, herring, mackerel, scup,. sea bass, lobsters, 
oysters, clams, and algae are also of considerable magnitude. 
Statistical presentations are given of the vessel fisheries, the shore fisheries, the 
wholesale fish trades of Boston and Gloucester, and the arrivals of fish at these ports 
classified by fishing-grounds. The entire commercial fisheries of the State are 
embraced by the tables and discussions. Three general tables covering the fisheries 
of the State are first given; these relate to persons engaged; vessels, boats, appa- 
ratus and capital; and products and values. 
59. — Table of persons employed. 
How engaged. 
No. 
On fishing vessels 
10, 760 
91 
3,748 
2,639 
17, 238 
On transporting vessels - 
In shore fisheries ... 
On shore, in factories, fish-houses, etc 
Total 
60. — Table of apparatus and capital. 
Designation. 
No. 
Value. 
Vessels fishing (tonnage, 57,984.18) 
814 
$3, 042, 745 
Outfit 
1, 533, 398 
Vessels transporting (tonnage, 1,275.12) 
22 
55, 600 
Outfit 
7, 425 
Boats 
3,494 
254, 033 
Apparatus of capture— vessel fisheries : 
Seines 
235 
120, 600 
Gill nets 
1,049 
11, 459 
Snap nets 
27 
73 
Trawl lines and hand lines 
561, 746 
Pots 
" "i, 266’ 
1, 600 
Harpoons * 
Dredges and rakes 
108 
810 
42 
146 
Apparatus of capture — shore fisheries : 
Pound neis, trap-nets, and weirs 
224 
222, 583 
Haul seines 
58 
4, 245 
Gill nets 
3, 128 
32, 753 
Trammel nets 
4 
70 
Fyke nets 
15 
100 
Snap nets, dip nets, etc 
514 
991 
Pots 
27, 294 
38, 697 
Trawl lines and hand lines 
3, 770 
Harpoons and spears 
Dredges, tongs, and rakes 
569 
9,409 
Shore property 
Cash capital 
3, 058, 207 
4, 284, 200 
Total 
13,245,229 
* The harpoons, guns, etc., used on whaling vessels are included under 
“outfit,” and are therefore omitted from enumeration under this head. 
