The Republican journal., 1882-05-11

The census bureau has published a summary
of the statistics of the sea fisheries of Maine,
prepared by X. Edward EARL of the fish COM
mission. special agent. In his letter transmit
ting the statistics to Prof. Goodc, special agent
i'll charge of the fishery investigation, Mr. EARL
says: From AN examination of the tables, it is
found that, if the oyster industry be neglected,
Maine ranks second only to Massachusetts in
the extent and value Of her sea fisheries. The
following figures show the extent of tn" fishing
interests Of the state in 50 far As they relate to
the sea fisheries Persons employed. 11.O1l !;
vessels employed, COG: tonnage of same. |, ,16;,-
260 fishing boats. 800: capital dependent on the
fishery industries, S3.3I1J,994 pounds of sea
products tS they come from the water 202, ,04S,
l49; value Of sea products as they come from
after being prepared for the market l16 ,l22 :
04S enhancement of valuNin process of prcpa-
ration, Sl,S23.329; value of sea products in
marketable condition. S3,614.11S.
y similar statement for the river fisheries,
as shown by Mr.. Atkins. would be- Persons
employed. 1891: capital dependent, S1s,30S
pounds of fish as they come from the water,
4.130. .2l pounds Of fish in marketable condi-
tlon. 3l!4, $50: value of river products a~ sold.
el25,046. BY combining the tables Of sea and
river fisheries we have the following totals for
the fishery interests of the State: Persons
employed, 1862 capital invested. S3,454,30 302
pounds OF fishery products as they come from
the water. 20G, :. .G93: pounds of fishery pro-
ducts in marketable condition. l1y .91G 22S; value
of fishery products in marketable condition 3d.
80, ,22+
The 1862 persons are all that can be con-
>dered a> actually engaged in the fisheries or
III preparation Of fishery products, and hence
are the only ones included in the tables, but, in
addition 4 large number are engaged in trans
porting the products to the larger markets, in
Il
and repairing sails, manufacturing boxes, bar
rcl> and cans for packing the catch This class
should be considered if we are 10 have a correct
impression Of the fishing interests of the State.
4 rough estimate would place the number of
people employed in this way at $500. making a
total Of over $1,000 directly and indirectly en-
gagged in the work. Assuming that 5000 Of
these have families averaging persons Ca wife
and three children) depending on them. and
that 5000 of the remainder are persons largely
dependent upon their own resources. we have
total of $1,000 people. equal to about !! per
cent. Of the total population of the state, dcriv-
ing considerable portion of their support from
the fishery industries
II should not be forgotten. however, that
many of the fishermen mentioned above are
not wholly dependent upon the fisheries for a
livelihood. Some of them have small farms.
from which they derive a considerable income
while others ship on the cOasting vessels or
find employment As mechanics or laborerS on
shore during those months when the fisheries
cannot be advantagcouslv prosecuted. This is
especially true of the river fishermen. who, as
a rule fish only for a few weeks OF months
during the height of the season. after which
they return to their farms or their shops.
The value Of the fishery products in market
able condition is shown to be So. 1139 pa. This
is as far aS accurate statistics will warrant us
i'll going, but it must not be forgotten that the
cost of the products to the consumer is greatly
increased in various ways, chief among Which