Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-03
FISHERIES OF THIS COUNTRY.
The Fish Commission Publishes an Inter.
eating Report Respecting Them.

| The Fish Commission Pubiishss an Inter.
eating Report Respecting Them.
THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION
Il has just published an interesting repor,
on the coast fisheries Of this country In gen
erai Incidentally il is shown that Maryland
which for so many years has held unquestioned
supremacy in the catching of oysters and other
shell fish. now falls into second place, being
surpassed by New Jersey. The advance of She
fisheries Of the latter state recently has been
due to the artificial planting OF oysters and an
increased output Of clans.
Another notable change is found in the whale
fishery. Massachusetts,. which has led in this
industry since its establishment in America,
now drops to second place, California taking
precedence. This is due to the fact that since
the Pacific railways were built il has been
found most convenient and profitable for the
Arctic and Pacific whaling aeets to rendezvous
In San Francisco, and vessels belonging to the
Atlantic ports have generally shipped <heir
product home by rail instead of sending it by
long and tedious passage around the Horn.
This has naturally led to the transfer OF vessels
and business from New Bedford and other
Massachusetts, ports to San Francisco.
The advance made by Connecticut in the
oyster fishery during the last ten years is
astonishing This state now ranks next to yir-
ginia in the value Of shell fish caught standing
NTH in position California also takes promi-
nent place in the crustacean fishery. while
massachusetts, has dropped from second to
fourth place, owing to the decline of her lobster
business. Louisiana. Mississippi ana Texas
have doubled their fishery product within the
last decade. chiefly owing to the developmept
OF the oyster industry and the opening Of vast
areas OF new oyster and other fishing grounds.
Inns advance Is due to the capital and labor
oh ,l1
the waters of the gulf, partly because of the
failure OF shell fish fisheries along the Allan tic
shore. Louisiana also holds high rank in the
crustacean fishery, ranking fifth on the list, and
states.
A most interesting table compares the catch
OF shad on the Atlantic and gull coasts in 1850
and 1883 In the former year. it will be re-
membered, this fishery was in such condition
that 1t was feared there would shortly be no
proht IN 1t, owing 10 the depletion of the sup
ply. Tie catch ia 1880 was Is, 600 900 pounds;
in 1883 it was 5000 coo pounds, or just double
me artificial propagation OF sEad on large
scaie by the fish commission was not undertak en-
until 1881; therefore. the effect of it upon the
abundance OF the species could not be obser rived
or felt until 1885. when the artificially Matched
nsn attained maturity and returned TO the
rivers Tor reproductive purposes. 1t will thus
De seen that the excess of the catch of 1888 over
that OF 1880 practically shows the result of arti-
hclal propagation in the third season after Its
effects could be noticed
There is great deal Of information in the
report quoted about the fisheries of MARYLAND
and Virginia The former state has 81. ISL
persons 16lS vessels Z, 7zS boats and Sc. 2s9 600
capital employed in such industries OF the
persons mentioned 22.C00 are occupied in the
actual capture of the prey for market They
caught last year $4,000 pounds of bluefish
l262. COO pounds of catfish, IL COO 900 pounds of
Aewives. $4,000 pounds OF cells. rs. 900. coo
pounds OF menhaden, LOCO. 900 pounds OF
white perch, 1,O00, 900 pounds of yellow perch.
o,Ouo,O0o pounds o. shad, l.l25 coo pounds of
striped bass and 800, 900 pounds of pike Be-
sides these they took in considerable auanti-
ties of mullet, suckers, founders. croakers.
sturgeon. sunfish, spots, &C. In addition they
caught 80, 000,090 pounds Of oysters, 2. 100. coo
pounds of hard crabs, $4,000 pounds of soft
crabs. $4,000 pounds OF CLAIMS, $4,000 pounds
OF terrapin. 25.00O pounds vi other turtles.
2Oco pounds OF frogs and 5000 pounds of
shrimps.
In Virginia Is. lis persons are employed at
nshing. The yearly catch of the eta:e includes
$50 600 pounds of bluetish, 5000. 600 pounds
OF siewives 1908 900 pounds of shad, /, 800. geo
pounds OF spots. 10000 pounds Of striped
bass. 100000 pounds of Spanish mackercl,
100 900 pounds of squeteagiIe 2O0. 900 poun as
OF hickory shad and 1000. 600 pounds of shad.
To these should be added 773, 900 pounds of
clans, $4,000 pounds OF crabs, 1896. GOO
pounds of oysters. IA. 900 poua ,s Of terrapin
anu &c, 0o3 pounds OF other turtles