FISHERIES OP THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 
399 
FISHERIES OF DELAWARE. 
Importance and general aspects of the industry. — The fisheries of this State are the 
least extensive in the Middle Atlantic region, although, in proportion to the length of 
shore line, the industry is of considerable importance and is surpassed in value by 
that of Pennsylvania by only a few thousand dollars. The rank of Delaware as a 
fishing State is 21. 
Delaware has a frontage oii the ocean, on Delaware Bay and Eiver, and also has 
a river of some size, the E'anticoke, tributary to Chesapeake Bay. Fishing is can'ied 
on along the ocean shore of the State, in Delaware Bay, and in the rivers mentioned, 
but is most extensive in Delaware Bay. The in'oximity of Wilnungton, Philadelphia, 
and Baltimore affords a good market for the fishery products taken. 
The oyster fishery is usually of greater importance than any other branch, 
although at times the shad fishery has become the most valuable. The taking of ale- 
wives, eels, perch, squeteague, striped l»ass, sturgeon, and crabs is also comp)aratively 
extensive. In the extent of its sturgeon fishery Delaware not only surpasses the 
other States of this section, but takes first rank among the coast States of the country. 
It is also noticeable as being the southernmost State in which lobster fishing is car- 
ried on. 
Condensed statistical statement. — General statistics of the fisheries of Delawnxre in 
1889, 1890, 1891, and 1892 are given in the three tables which follow. 
Of the total fishing population in 1892, 153 persons w’ere in the vessel fisheries, 
1,G92 in the shore fisheries, and 494 in menhaden factories and oyster houses. A 
slight annual increase in all classes of fishery emx)loyes is indicated by the returns. 
The !i?218,144 invested in the fishing industry of Delaware in' 1892 consisted of 
$42,540 in vessels and their outfits, $29,754 in boats, $50,050 in apparatus of capture, 
and $95,800 in shore property and cash capital. During the four years covered by the 
inquiry, the variation in the aggregate investment and in the individual items was 
slight. Comparing 1892 with 1889, there was a small increa.se in the number of ve.s- 
sels, gill nets, xiound nets, and eel pots, and a decrease in the number of boats, seines, 
fyke nets, and lobster pots. 
The Amine of the xR'oducts in 1892 Acas less than in any of tire three xirevicus 
■years, owing to a diminished catch of shad, squeteague, sturgeon, and xierch. The 
.'-omewhat larger yield of eels, strixied bass, crabs, and oysters was not sufficient to 
overcome the reduction in the other species. The fi.sheries resulted in the folloAving 
returns to the fishermen: 1889, .$250,980; 1890, $207,346; 1891, $255,423; 1892, 
$250,853. 
rer<ioiis employed in Ike fisheries of Delaware. 
Ho-fl- eiigngeil. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
In vessel (islieries 
103 
103 
103 
107 
Ill shore fisherievS 
1, 045 
1,009 
1,053 
1,092 
(hi transportiiiij vessels 
25 
41 
43 
46 
Oil shore, in factories, etc 
380 
300 
431 
494 
Total 
2, 153 
2, 179 
2, 230 
2, 339 
