BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
406 
/ 
A very extensive vliolesale trade in sturgeon, caviar, and sliad is carried on in 
Newcastle County by firms wlio purcliase the round fisli directly from the fishermen 
and ship the products to the markets. In the case of sturgeon, the fish are dressed 
before shipmeiit and caviar is prepared from their roe. The extent and principal 
features of this trade for four years are given in the following table. In other parts 
of the State the fishermen usually ship their own sturgeon and shad without the 
intervention of a wholesale dealer. 
Summarif of the ivholesalc sturgeon and shad trade of Delaware. 
Items. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
Number of firms 
4 
5 
6 
6 
Abilue of ])lants 
$4, 150 
$4, 300 
$5, 300 
$5, 300 
Cash ca])ital 
$8, OUO 
$8, OUO 
$10, 000 
$10, 000 
Number of men employed : 
'White 
12 
IG 
Colored 
8 
8 
9 
9 
Aniouut of wadies paid 
$2, ICO 
$2, 440 
.$2, 480 
$2, 300 
Number of sturgeon handled 
3, 900 
3, 740 
4. o:i5 
3,362 
AVeight (round) 
liouuds- . 
663, 00.1 
635, 800 
085, 900 
578, 540 
Value to fishermen 
$16, 080 
$17, 8.50 
$19, 368 
$12, 103 
Dressed sturgeon sold 
pounds.. 
370. 500 
355, 300 
383, 325 
313,390 
Value as sold 
$13,400 
$12, 8.^0 
$13, 920 
$11,425 
Caviar prepared 
105, 000 
103, 000 
98, 280 
59, 140 
Value as sold 
$16, 480 
$26, 150 
$20, 370 
8,565 
Number of shad handled 
140, 000 
190, 000 
175, 000 
115, 500 
A^alue to fishermen 
$21, 000 
$21, 000 
$23, 500 
$21,550 
Value as sold 
$28, 000 
$30, 500 
$31, 250 
$26, 780 
FISHERIES OF MARYLAND. 
General importance of the indufitry . — In the items of persons employed, capital 
invested, and quantity and value of products, Maryland surpasses all the other States 
of this region. The fishing population also exceeds that of any other State, altliough 
tlie value of the catch and the investment are less than in Massachusetts. 
The large extent of the fisheries of Maryland is due, in great measure, to the 
very favorable physical conditions. The State has been computed to have 2,170 miles 
of frontage on the ocean, bays, and navigable rivers. The shape of the State is such 
that a large part of it is brought into close relation, if not in actual contact, with 
waters containing commercial products, and few settlements in any of the tide-water 
counties are distant more than 5 or 6 miles from the water. In addition to an exceed- 
ingly tortuous cqast line which increases the Avater area, Maryland has jurisdiction 
over a large part of Chesapeake Bay — the largest inland body of salt water on the coast 
of the United States — and has within its boundaries or on its borders several A’ery im- 
portant rivers, chief of which are the Potomac, Sus(][uehanna, Patuxent, and Choptank. 
To the foregoing advantageous physical features is added an abundance of resident and 
migratory fish, crabs, terrapins, and the most productive oyster beds in the Avorld. 
Maryland partakes of the same advantage of proximity to excellent markets 
Avhich is enjoyed by the other States of this section. Tlie accessibility of Washington 
and Baltimore to steam and sail vessels, and the readiness Avith which the products may 
also be sent from the fishing-grounds by rail to these cities, as AA'ell as to the larger 
cities to the north and east, are important factors in the development of the fisheries. 
As is well known, this State leads all others in the extent of its oyster fishery, 
which represents OAmr 81 per cent of the Amine of the fishery products. This, however, 
is not the only branch in which the State is preeminent. Tlie crab fishery, the terrapin 
fisheiy, the alewife fishery, the catfish fishery, the striped-bass fishery, the AAdiite-perch 
