The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-06
OYSTERS AND FISH.
Their Capture an Industry in Which
New Jersey is Largely Interested.


In computing the fishing industry of
New Jersey the products of her rivers are
never omitted. for while her sea coast in
dustry is large the river output or drag
out is not small. New Jersey ranks
third among fishing States, of which
there are twenty-five, and the variety OF
her fish and their quality are the equal Of
any. The latest statistics are those Sc
cured by the United States Government
in 1883, but since that time the increase
has been slight. and the figures permit of
an accurate estimate OF the States rank
among fishing States aud the compare
tive value of its catch.
Since 1880 the fisheries Of New Jersey
have increased little in capital invested,
but in number of men employed the in
crease has been over 1900. The output
has increased wonderfully owing to I'M
provement in the method employed. No
product shows so great an increase as
sturgeon and shad, notably the latter.
The sturgeon fishery yielded tepfold more
in 1888 than in, 1880 Shad in 1880 seemed
about to become extinct. Its haunts were
depleted, and year by year the product
decreased until the United States Conn
missioner Of Fish and Fisheries was APP
pealed to for relief.
JUST THINK OF THESE BONES.
In 1880 the New Jersey shad fisheries
produced 100000 pounds Of the fish, valued
at S35, 900, and in 1888 the catch weighed
6,52l.447 pounds, valued at $301.4ll.
rms increase was due almost entirely to
the artificial propagation. The advance
in the States shelfisb industry during
the eight years after 1880 placed it at the
head of the fish producing States. An
other branch In which New Jersey ranks
first Is the hook and line shore fishery.
BIuefish and seabass are largely the pro-
duct of this method. On the other hand,
the menhaden industry has markedly de-
clined. perhaps owing to the laws against
the taking of his food fish. The value of
this catch in 1880 was one half less than
in 1855 Crab fishing has declined about
one third in value and weight since 1880.
The length OF the coast line where fish
ing may be protitably done is 7S0 miles.
This is comparatively short, but the
States location is peculiarly favorable
for the fisherman. The total annual
value of the fisheries is "a, 1876, $50. In the
number of persons employed the state
ranks fifth, the total being in vessels, on
shore and in factories, 10,476. In the
number of vessels the State ranks fifth.
SIS. and in the number Of boats third.
5,257. Its vessels are valued at $3.50, 1856,
and its boats at S354325. the former being
seventh in rank, and the latter second.
THE MONEY INVESTED
The materials nsed In. the industry are
valued at $1,544,s35. OF locations where
fishermen ply their work, Bridgeton
leads in the number Of vessels employed.
297; Perth Amboy next, with 1853; Cam
dem, with 49, Great Egg Harbor. II; Lit
tie Egg Harbor, Z, and Burlington, l.
Great Egg Harbor leads in the number
of vessels transporting the product, "a
vessels: Perth Amboy second, IL; Cam
den, 12; Bridgeton, II. and Little Egg
Harbor. 10. In the fishing vessels there
are ,727 men employed. of whom one
only is coloreG; in the transportation
vessels, 213 men, of whom four are col
ored. Seven factories for the canning of
menhaden fish are running continually,
and employ 202 men.
New Jersey is included in the Middle
Atlantic States. and this group, New
York. New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Della
ware. Maryland and Virginia, is the
centre of the oyster fisheries Of the world.
and Is first among the groups on this
continent. The Middle States represent
a shore line of about $500 miles, and in.
clude three large indtntations which are
centres of great fishing activity:-Prin-
cess, Delaware and Chesapeake bays.
The latter is the most prolific fishing
ground of like proportion in the
world. The fisheries of these States gave
employment in 1888 to 66.&04 persons. of
whom Is, 228 were vessel fishermen. 35-
SOB shore fishermen, ana 12.473 shores
men, perpetrators and factory hands. Tne
capital invested was SIG, 6,02S, ,6SS, of which
a. S43, 55S represented vessels, 81 ,0S2
hoats, 81, ,282.079 apparatus of capture,
S, ,6s7. 9e9 shore property and cash capital.
Tire yield of the fisheries was valued at
$13. 749, ,312 at first hand, and three fourths
of this amount WAS the value OF oysters
and other mollusks.