The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-04-15
MARYLAND LEADS IN FISHING.
One of the Most Important Indust-
ries of the State.


Full statistics regarding the fisheries OF
Pennsylvania, comprising the fisheries Of
the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers,
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, during
the year 1897 have been compiled and sent
to the MARYLAND authorities by United
States Fish Commissioner George NJ Bow
ers, and furnish an interesting comparative
study of the wealth and resources of the
waters of the several states.
Maryland as usual, was the leader Of the
four in regard to the number of men and
vessels employed, the capital invested, the
value of the total product for the year, the
quantity and value of the oysters and crabs,
and various other items. While Virginia
was far ahead of Maryland on the quantity
Of fish ect, caught, the total catch in
Maryland surpassed that of her sister state
in value According to the report there
were -, SD men with 1,4l9 vessels and
outfits employed in the fisheries in Mary
land. as against %. PIG men aud 1850
vessels in Virginia; 1892 men and II
vessels in Delaware. and | sos men and
- vessels in Pennsylvania The value of
these vessels was Sl,344. 542 in Maryland,
S9l4. S24 in Virginia. S37, 500 in Della
ware and sol ,755 in Pennsylvania In
Mary land. : 500 oyster dredgers were EN-
ployed; in Virginia, SIG; IN Delaware,
,, $50, and in Pennsylvania, ,, 500. Nir-
GINA tongers were more active than those
Of this state. for -, 552 tongs were en-
ployed to II, 19l in Maryland. Delaware
had III, while Pennsylvania had none
In the value Of other apparatus, shore prop
erty and cash capital Maryland was well
ahead
Her shore property was worth 81 SIS,
669. and her cash capital was 5 64S, 30,
against S607, 6S2 worth of shore property
aud S424.750 cash capital in Virginia
SS2s, $40 in shore property and 1852, 90
cash in Pennsylvania, aud Sl96,374 in
shore property and SIS, 200 cash in Della
ware
The total investment in each the touI
states was a. follows Maryland, s.. S2l
500. Virginia. s.. sol. $50 Pennsylvania,
81 .G0l 52S aud Delaware, Sl0T. 1863,
the total for the four states being $40
30 li3 During the year the catch N
all four state, was $50, COL j33 pounds
valued at s., BOP. l67 This was divide,
a., follows Maryland. =, 5SS, OILS pounds
worth S3.6l7- 300. Virginia 27777. 627.
49, pounds. worth 81. l67 -66: Pennsyl
yania. ;. 60l 263 pounds, worth S2G9. 800
and Delaware, S,s3t,T97 pounds, wcrtl
S241. 4sS.
In all four states the oysters were tn,
most valuable part Of the d,heries and IL
this feature Maryland was slightly aheat
If Virginia
In MARYLAND :, pa, 934 bushels wer,
taken to the value Of 50, $50. 202. IN Nir
sinia. 7.O23. SIS bushels, valued at -,
OIL. 6S3 in Pennsylvania, 265. ISL bush
els. valued at SAB, 9Tl, aud in Delaware
1913, 40 bushels, valued at Sos, So 1t
the shad fishery Virginia was ahead, catch
ing / 5l3, 99l pounds, valued At S303
$50, 10 ; 100, $50 pounds, valued at $3.50,
365 in Maryland ;, 007 325 pounds sal
ucd At S63, 5S7 in Pennsylvania, aud !.
GO. 36i pounds, valued at St7 962 Il
Delaware
In crabs Maryland was ahead, hayin
Welded >. 34T. 5s5. of the value OF S2lT,
$50, Virginia supplied 10 i2S 5i2, worti
but SGS. 2i1. and Delaware 300. 100 val
usd at s.. $50