326 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
entire catch consists of catfish, which are sold dressed at 8 cents a pound. The fish 
lose about half their weight in dressing. The season extends from May 1 to October 
20, during which time the nets are lifted once, twice, three times, or more frequently 
each week. Many of the fishermen lift only once a week. The average stock to a net 
in Philadelphia County is about $1.84. The fishery in the vicinity of Philadelphia 
owes its importance to the fact that the numerous vessels plying on the river would 
prevent the use of seines and gill nets. 
In the falls of the Delaware River, below Lambertville, N. J., about a dozen 
fykes, each provided with a pair of long wings built of stones, were fished some years 
ago by four fishermen from ISfew Hope, Pa. Catfish was the principal species taken. 
In the Susquehanna River this fishery is much less important than it was some 
years ago. In 1880, 3,000 fyke nets were reported to be fished in summer, in the Sus- 
quehanna River between Havre de Grace and Columbia, for perch, rock, and catfish, 
but at the present time, owing to legal restrictions, the number fished commercially is 
less than 100, and the principal fish taken are carp, eels, and suckers. 
The extent of the fyke-net fishery of Pennsylvania in 1891 is shown by counties 
in the following tables : 
Fishermen. 
Counties. 
Fyke nets. 
Boats. 
Ijo. 
Value. 
No. | 
Value. 
Bucks 
380 
$1,330 
25 
$585 
Delaware 
70 
140 
3 
60 
Laneastei 
43 
260 
7 
84 
Philadelphia 
2, 026 
3, 444 
21 1 
840 
York 
15 
90 
3 
35 
Total 
2, 534 
5,264 
59 
1, 604 
Products. 
Species. 
Bucks. 
Delaware. 1 Lancaster. 
Philadelphia. 
York. 
Total. 
Pounds. 
Value. Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
Pounds. 
V alue. 
Pounds. 
Value. 
. 
5,075 
300 
5,025 
3, 100 
675 
475 
12, 750 
970 
1, 625 
2, 225 
2, 125 
8R0 
$26 
24 ! 
352 1 
218 
68 
25 1 
811 1 
96 
98 
135 
122 
44 
5,075 
3, 800 
82, 025 
27, 400 
675 
475 
19, 450 
970 
1,625 
2, 225 
2, 125 
850 
$26 
199 
3,482 
68 
25 
978 
98 
135 
122 
44 
Tarp 
2, 625 
$131 
875 
$44 
flatfish 
5.000 
1.000 
$250 
55 
72, 000 
19, 000 
$2, 880 
855 
Eels 
3, 225 
194 
1,075 
64 
Shad 
5, 025 
125 
1,675 
42 
siSpOfLbVefi 
Siinnsh 
Yellow^pereh 
Other fish 
Total 
35,195 | 2,019 
6, 000 
305 
10, 875 
450 
91,000 
, 3, 735 
3, 625 
150 
146, 695 
6, 659 
