244 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
the purchase of clothing, especially oilskins, and such other things as they may desire. 
Less than 12 per cent of these common hands are natives of Maryland, and many 
are unable to speak the English language. From the statements given by each man 
at the offices of the shipping commissioners in Baltimore, in 1892, I have learned the 
nativity of 2.438 of them, this being exhibited in the following tabular statement: 
Nativity of common hands on Maryland dredging vessels in 1892. 
United States. 
No. of 
men. ; 
Foreign countries. 
No. of 
Maryland 
292 
Germany 
461 
Pennsylvania 
257 
Ireland 
427 
New York 
226 
England 
112 
Virginia 
89 
Poland 
62 
Massachusetts 
66 
Russia 
46 
New Jersey 
42 
Scotland 
45 
Connecticut 
34 
Austria 
36 
Illinois 
23 
British Provinces 
18 
District of Columbia 
14 
Sweden 
17 
Ohio 
13 
France 
15 
Georgia 
10 
Switzerland 
14 
Delaware 
Denmark 
11 
Michigan 
7 
Spain 
8 
Rhode Island 
6 
Norway 
8 
California 
5 
Africa 
5 
Wisconsin 
5 
Italy 
3 
Alabama 
5 
2 
Maine 
4 
Holland 
2 
Kentucky 
4 
Wales 
2 
North Carolina 
3 
“At sea” 
1 
New Hampshire 
3 
Texas 
Vermont 
1 
South Carolina 
1 
Tennessee 
1 
Colorado 
1 
West Virginia 
1 
Total, United States 
1, 143 
Total, foreign countries 
1,295 
While this does not exhibit the total number of men shipped during that season, 
yet the total proportionate representation from the various States and countries does 
not materially differ from that here presented. The fact is here disclosed that less 
than one-half of these men are natives of the United States and less than 12 per 
cent are natives of Maryland, each of two foreign countries supplying many more 
men than that State. 
It should be observed that while it required only 1,964 persons to man the 221 
vessels hailing from Baltimore city in 1891-92, yet the number of men shipped on 
those vessels during that season was much greater. This is due to the fact that many 
men made only one trip and others but two or three. 
Prior to going on a trip these men are required to sign articles of agreement before 
certain officers, and from these papers it has been learned that out of a total of 992 
men shipped during one month in 1 892 only 413, or 43 per cent, were able to write 
their names. Of those born in America only 25 per cent were able to write, and of 
the foreign-born 55 per cent were similarly situated. The reason for the proportion 
of illiterate men being so much greater among Americans than among those of foreign 
birth is that many immigrants of fair education readily accept of this labor, while as 
a rule only the most destitute Americans resort to it. During the same season one 
vessel was manned by a crew of 9 men, representing 6 nationalities, and not one of 
the persons on board, including .the captain, was born in America, only 3 were able 
to converse in English, and not one Avas able to read or write in any language. This, 
however, was very exceptional. 
