Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-02-23
DELAWARE FISHERIES.
Shad Still Stands at the Head of the
List as Most Valuable.


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The Oyster Fishery is Dropping Gradu-
ally Out of Sight--hIenhaden Brings u
Great Deal of Money to Delaware
Fishermen as Also Does the sturgeon
Catch.
There has been little or no change, says
United States Fish Commissioner Mar
shall Mcdonald in his report Just issued,
III the general fisheries Of Delaware since
the census year, except in the oyster in
dustry, in which there has been remarka-
BILE decline all the noticeable because
Of the increase in this fishery in the neigh
boring state of New Jersey, on the opno-
site side Of Delaware bay.
The oyster Weld of 1883 was Al 1856
bushels. In 1880 it was 100000 or about
seven times as large.
A limited menhaden industry has been
developed IN recent years. Two factories
have been built by Connecticut capitalists
in IeweS, These have been supplied by
four or five fishing steamers hailinG from
Connecticut ports Their catch has neccS-
sarily been credited TO the locality where
they are owned. The shore industry and
the output OF the factory arc assigned to
Delaware. where they properly. belong
The difference in the results Of the oyster
fishery in the two states is ascrlbcd to the
varying methods of conducting the in
dustry. In Delaware the fishermen have
depended chiefly upon the crops from the
natural beds. while in New Jersey u large
amount Of artificial planting is done each
season.
THE MAIN POINTS.
| From this report the main points Of
interest, as gathered. are as follows: Our
| oyster fisheries look very like as il they
are destined to be eStinRnishcd. A men,
| baden fishery is developing. Our shad
/ iiaberv ia wDrth 1var Ibl 600. sturgeon.
$2S,0OO; oysters, $1,000; cayiare product,
S26,00o oil S+S 600; fertilizer. $50 900; the
menhaden sold $4,000; and the value to
the menhgdeu fishermen was over 5000
TABLES OF STATISTICS
Tie commissioner gives the following
~ Hshina ves.sls nsss, az. On trans
III lsnng vessels laas' ~ III. on y, . sSnrs
I'm factories ISo tntal Gg3
annars.,,s az co,;tai lVss.aIs fisbipo
90 ,annass soi a. vaine so5 i0n' nnif;,
..oi,,o - a.. ,,aa.ei, tra,,sr,rti,,T ! :. ~,
n r",uo An %, yaiue ia tbo omffit ya I'm
sS06 ' An,,aratns II cs,,t,re wassc
tis Iv 1881. seine value. S20
IA 80 fiasss 10. 49, 80 "a
I IinesH Gss7 Nt valne Il In shor
fisheries 1ssS)-seines, 2o0 value, $l2, l0l
gill nets, 1851, $40 l0l; pound nets, II
$3.50; fyke nets, 20, 81, Sb4 lobster and ee
pots, !, 1867, 81 .056, cast hoop and dip nets
II SOS; grabbing and terrupin outfits, I'll
$il2; t0ngs and rakes, l46, $G9i; lines
value, 500; miscellaneous apparatus, 81
Sll0; shore property, factories, &c, value
StaS6o 1 cash capital S'o'"oo' '"'ai cai'i'ai
s-o-'0oi' .,,,.-.
iAoLl ot thopuH4s
In the following table the species OF rs
and amount OF product IN pounds IS place
first and the value second Aiewlves, ~
9s6, slO, osa catfish Y. lo6, ~ 4 Groaker!
0nS7l, w rs eeis. 432,ol5, Wy, lGo; iiout
ders. 1880, $500; kingiish 400, y u
menhaden, ~, ~ y WIN muitet l6,14(
: Si3S perch, ~, S6s, Slt.9lI; PIKE, ~, ~.
; S2.O5li sea bass, l.5Oo' 80; shaa, l,Ss9, ~