Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-22
Tho Fishery Interests OF the United
States.

We who dwell at distance from tide
water do not fully realize the extent and
value of the fishery interests of the
United States The facilities of transpor-
tatiOn, however, have made us more or
less familiar with the products of our
coast waters. 1t is not an uncommon
thing to find in our markets and fish
and game stores fresh blue-fsh, cod,
mackerel, halibut, Holsters, and othsr
varieties from the northern coast, red
snappers from Florida, white fish,
pickerel, salmon and bass from the
lakes, shad from the Potomac and Con-
necticut Rivers, salmon from Maine and
Oregon, and the ordinary fish found in
our creeks and rivers at home.
But the largeness of the business, the
number of men employed, the capital
invested, and the gross amount of the
product do not enter our imagination.
A few facts and figures from recent
census bulletin, giving statistics of the
fisheries of Maine, will help us to rea-
liZation of the vastness of this branch of
industry.
We find, for example, that, exclusive
of the oyster industry, 1900 persons
are engaged in the fishing business in
this single State; and that Coo vessels
are employed in it, with a tonnage of
100000 in round numbers, with an
employed capital of over S3,000,000.
The tribute of the sea to our food sup
plies is over 202, 100000 pounds gross,
or 116, 100000 pounds after being pre-
pared for market. The value of this
product, as it comes from the water, is
l,700, 900, and when put in marketa-
BILE condition over S3,600,OO0, an en-
hancement of value by the process of
preparation of more than Sl,S00,000.
We give these figures in round numbers
for convenience.
OF this food supply moro than 3d.
100000 pounds of cod, 34,000,000 of
herring, 3i,000,000 of mackerel, a.
O00,00O of hake, 100000 of haddock,
and 100000 of lobster are annually
furnished.
But the fresh-water fisheries of Maine
also yield a considerable product. More
than 1000 persons are steadily en-
ployed in them, with total apparatus
valued at $4,000, and upward of 5,000,-
600 pounds taken annually, valued at
S125,O00, and this added to the total of
the sea fisheries gives one some idea of
the value of this industry in a single
State of the Union.
While the varieties of fish already
named may be considered staple, by
reason of the abundance of the catch
and its comparative value, the list of
species is by no means exhausted.
Alewives, bass, clans, cunners, curk,
eelS, founders, mussels, oysters, pol
lock, salmon, sculpices, sea-weed, shad.
smelts, sturgeon, swordfish and tom-cod
(the latter used exclusively for bait and
fertilizing) are caught in considerable
abundance. 1t is doubtful whether any
other State can offer an equal variety of
fish to tempt the appetites of lovers of
"brain food"
The canning Of fish has grown to be
the most extensive branch of this in
dustry, though of comparatively recent
origin. Thus We find a grand total of
100000 pounds canned annually, at
the value of over Sl,000,OO0 annually.
Six million pounds of herring (prepared
as sardines), 100000 pounds of mack
erel, 9,O00,000 of holsters, are put up in
this form for market. Fish also in con-
siderable quantities are picked, smoked
and dried, and shipped in those forms to
every part of the country. OF the more
than 200,0U0,000 pounds caught, but
42,000,OOO, or less than one-fourth, are
sold fresh.-Cincinnat Commercial.