452 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The average price of tire sliad varies considerably with the apparatus and the 
State in which the fish are taken. Considering the aggregate catch, the fish obtained 
with seines have a higher valuation than those secured by other means, and the shad 
taken in New York bring the best price. 
The arcrarje prices received for shad in 1891, specified Inj States and hij apparatus in which taken 
states. 
Gill nets. 
Pound 
nets. 
Seines. 
Fyke 
nets. 
All other 
nets. 
Total. 
Cents. 
Cents. 
Cents. 
Gents. 
Cents 
Cents. 
21. 2 
24. 2 
20.2 
23 5 
21.1 
15.4 
14.8 
22.6 
20. 6 
16.4 
Pennsylvania 
14. 5 
19.0 
20. 8 
25.0 
17.2 
Delaware 
14.5 
14.1 
21.7 
14.3 
15. 1 
Maryland 
12.0 
12, 6 
12.9 
12.2 
18.7 
12.3 
Virginia 
10.3 
11.3 
14. 1 
9.2 
10. 3 
10.9 
Total 
14.4 
11.9 
16.8 
15.4 
22.8 
14.4 
THE GENERAL MOLLUSCAN FISHERIES. 
The taking of economic moliusks is the most important branch of the fishing 
industry of the Middle Atlantic States. More iiersons are engaged and more capital 
is invested in the shellfish fisheries of the region than in all other branches combined, 
and the value of these products is about four-fifths that of the entire fishery output. 
The moliusks which have commercial iiniiortance are oysters, mussels, scallops, 
quahogs or hard clams, soft clams, and several species of univalve shells locally 
known as ‘‘jingles” and “quarter-decks,” which are employed in oyster planting. 
The appended tables relating to 1891 indicate the various i>hases of the business. 
Of 19,653 persons engaged in the fisheries for moliusks, 21,878 were in Maryland 
and 10,352 in Virginia, in addition to the large number of employes connected with 
the oyster-shucking and oyster-canning trades, which are not now under consideration. 
The capital invested in the molluscan fisheries was $6,154,329, of which $2,562,178 
is credited to Maiyland, and over $1,000,000 to each of the States of Virginia, New 
York, and New Jersey. Of the 3,008 vessels employed in taking shellfish, 1,223 were 
in Maryland, 707 in Virginia, 516 in New York, and 496 in New Jersey. The trans- 
liorting fleet numbered 723, of which 611 Avere in Maryland and Virginia. Over 
21,500 boats were employed, of which 6,974 were in Virginia and 6,692 in Maryland. 
The value of the moliusks taken was $13,690,810. Of this amount Maryland 
had $5,304,092, New York $3,570,211, Virginia $2,560,378, New Jersey $2,059,481, 
PennsylAmnia $124,420, and DelaAvare $72,228. The quantity of iiroducts taken 
was 23,112,640 bushels, of AAMich oysters constituted 21,346,107 bushels, valued at 
$12,402,925, and round clams or quahogs 1,088,438 bushels, Amlued at $1,068,904. 
Oysters are taken by citizens of every State of this region, and quahogs in every 
State but I’ennsylvania, Avhile soft clams and mussels have commercial importance 
only in New York and New Jersey, and scallops and shells only in Ncav York. 
Persons engaged in the molluscan fisheries of the Middle Atlantic States. 
States. 
Pishermeu. 
Transporters 
Total. 
5, 970 
101 
6, 071 
4, 811 
233 
4,677 
233 
134 
205 
43 
308 
20. 434 
1, 444 
21, 878 
16, 352 
15, 642 
710 
47, 221 
2, 432 
49, 653 
