Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-03-25
MARYLAND
FISHERIES.
State Ranked Fifth In The United
States According To Census
Bureau Report.

Washington, d. c., March 20, 1911. =
In the forthcoming report of the Census
Bureau on the first general census of the
Fisheries Industry of the United States.
for 1908, prepared by Mr.. William NJ.
Stewart, chief statistician for manufac-
turers, it appears that in respect to fish
cries, Maryland stands high among the
states. ranking fifth IN 1908 with prod
uct valued at S3.306, 900. Likewise the
fisheries rank high among the industries
of the state. Chesapeake Bay and its
tributary streams. the Potomac. Susque-
hanna, Patuxent, Choptank, Nanticoke,
and lesser rivers. form the greatest oys-
ter area in the world. In 1908 the value
of the oyster product constituted two
thirds of the total value of the fishery
product of the state.
The fishing grounds of Maryland are
naturally divided into two districts COM
prising those of the Atlantic Ocean and
those of Chesapeake Bay and its tribu-
tary waters. AS the water front of the
state on Chesapeake Bay and its tribu-
taries is much more extensive than the
Atlantic water front. the Chesapeake
Bay fisheries are much more important
than those of the Atlantic Ocean. which
in 1908 contributed only per cent. of
the total value of fishery products for the
state. A general summary shows that
in 1908 the number Of persons employed
was Is, 1892; the capital invested, in ves-
sells and boats, including outfit. Sl,644.-
OOO. in apparatus of capture 1868, 900,
and in shore and accessory property and
cash, $4,000. The value of products
was So, ,3O6. 900.
All the shoremen were connected with
shore and boat fisheries. In this class
13, 1926 persons were employed. as COM
pared with only 4,O46 persons in vessel
fisheries and ,02O on transporting ves-
sells. Wage-earners outnumbered pro-
prietors and independent fishermen by
only a small percentage. The 9,94s
salaried employees and wage-earners
were paid in cash and provisions 81. 1885,
600, an amount equal to 81 per cent. of
the value of the fishery products.
OF the total capital invested, 1884,
900. or rs per cent. represented the value
of vessels and boats, including outfit.
OF the remainder, the investment in
apparatus of capture was the largest
item, having a value of 1869, 900, and
this was followed by shore and accessory
property. with value of $4,000
Oysters ranked first both in quantity
and in value. On the basis of quantity
the species next in order were alewivcs.
or river herring, with product of nearly
20. 600. 900 pounds; crabs, with over 2O,-
600. 900 pounds; menhaden, with over
IL, O00. 900 pounds; and shad, with nearly
1000, 600 pounds. On the basis of value
the leading species after oysters were
crabs, shad, and alewives, in the order
named. The heavy catch Of menhaden
stood relatively low in value, and was
exceeded in this respect by striped bass,
squeteague, and muskrat skins.
For the Chesapeake Bay district the
leading products. in the order of value,
were oysters. crabs. shad, and alewives;
while for the Atlantic Ocean fisheries.
all OF which were Of the shore and boat
class. the leading products with respect