FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 
455 
THE LOBSTER FISHERY. 
Altliongli the taking of lobsters is not one of the prominent branches of the 
fishing iinlnstry of this region, it ])ossesses special interest in that the lobster here 
reaches the southern limits of its range as an economic product, Delaware being the 
southernmost State in which it is obtained. 
Eighty-four persons in the three most northern coast States of the region were 
engaged in this fishery in 1891 ; of these, 65 w’ere in New York, 27 in New Jersey, and 
2 in Delaware. The pots used numbered 3,2.35 and had a value of $4,987. The catch 
consisted of 338,957 pounds, for which the fishermen received $28,528. The yield was 
largest in New Jersey, but the value of the output was greatest in Ncav York. 
Extent of the lobster fishery of the Middle Atlantic States. 
Designation. 
ISTew York. 
New Jersey. 
Delaware. 
Total. 
Number. 
Value. 
Number. 
Value. 
Number. 
Value. 
Number. 
Value. 
55_ 
27 
2 
84 
Aiiparatus, vessels, and boats: 
2, 240 
2 
$3, 469 
8,020 
1,860 
1, 140 
955 
1 
$1,418 
1, 100 
375 
870 
40 
$100 
3, 235 
3 
$4, 987 
9, 120 
2, 235 
2, 050 
34 
12 
1 
40 
47 
14, 489 
3,763 
140 
18, 392 
Products : 
Lobsters iionnds.. 
165, 003 
15, 655 
105, 664 
12,463 
8, 200 
410 
338, 957 
28, 528 
THE SEINE FISHERIES. 
The seine is one of the most generally used forms of apparatus employed in the 
fisheries of the region, and in some States and some fisheries is more prominent than 
any other means of capture. The output of the seines is larger and more valuable 
than that of any other apparatus used in taking fish, considering the entire region. 
The extent of the fisheries thus prosecuted is shown in the following tabulations. 
The number of persons engaged in seine fishing in the Middle Atlantic States in 
1891 was 8,157 ; the number of seines used was 1,808, valued at $278,230 j the number 
of A’essels engaged Avas 80, A'alued at $.535,000; the boats used numbered 2,187 and 
were worth $131,425; the \mlue of the shore property wm.s $79,557; the total in A^est- 
nient was $1,113,210; the quantity of products taken was 278,159,491 pounds, for 
which $1,427,790 was recei\^ed. 
The most A^aluable fi.sh taken wdth seines is the menhaden; this is also secured in 
larger quantities than any otlier fish. The catch in 1891 was 245,861,226 pounds, 
Amlued at $580,677. Almost the entire yield is taken with vessels emiiloying purse 
seines. Tlie shad ranks next in Amlue, although the alewives are obtained in larger 
quantities. The production was 4,624,645 pounds, having a value of $215,666. Of 
alewives, 16,622,834 pounds Avere taken, wmrth $136,411; of squeteague, 3,176,675 
pounds, Amlued at $99,932; and of striped bass 893,065 pounds, with a value of 
$90,087. 
Of the iiromineut fish taken with seines, the menhaden is most valuable in Nbav 
Y ork, the squeteague and the yelloAv jierch in Nerr Jersey, the shad in Pennsylvania, 
the alcAvives, the white perch, and the striped bass in Maryland, and the spot in 
Virginia. 
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