Forest and Stream, May 2, 1889
VIRGINIA FISH COMMISSION.
Sea -- Finfish - Methods : Pound-netSea -- Finfish - Catch : MackeralSea -- Finfish - Catch : MenhadenNatural resources -- Conservation - ResourcesSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PlantingSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : PoachingSea -- Shellfish - Oystering : Yield
THE annual report of the Superintendent of Fisheries for the year ending Dec. 31, 1888, announces the completion and partial equipment of a new hatching station for salt-water fishes on the eastern shore of Virginia. The State now has two permanent hatcheries, one of them devoted to rearing salmon, trout, grayling, redeye, black bass and other fresh-water fishes. This establishment is leased to the U. S. Fish Commission, which pays a yearly rental and furnishes a certain supply of young fishes for Virginia streams. The superintendent, Mr. John T. Wilkins, Jr., has begun to investigate the fisheries in the tidal waters of the commonwealth. He finds a perceptible decrease in the average yield of traps and seines, and a falling off in the size and weight of the fish caught. The aggregate yield of the fisheries in 1888 slightly exceeded the product of preceding years, but this was secured by a greatly increased number of traps, with a corresponding increase in the number of men and the amount of capital employed. Pound-nets, which were not used before 1875, now occupy most of the available locations on both sides of Chesapeake Bay. In 1880 the number of pound-nets in Virginia waters was 162. The value of the fish caught, including menhaden, was $906,068. In 1883 the number of pound-nets had increased to 412, and the catch, including menhaden, was valued at $1,258,576. The number of pound-nets operated in 1888 was about 550, and their product, including menhaden, was worth about $1,265,000. This shows conclusively that the Virginia fisheries are on the decline, and the superintendent carefully studied the means of arresting this decline. He would not restrict the number of fishermen, nor establish a close season covering the spawning period, but recommends that the State encourage the artificial propagation of Salmonida and Cyprinida in streams and pounds, and make liberal appropriations for hatching and protecting the marine and anadromous fishes which constitute the chief objects of the fishery in the tide water section.
The menhaden industry, though of comparatively recent origin, has grown rapidly in the last decade. In 1880 the business was carried on by 102 sailing vessels, and the total yield was 88,213,800 pounds of fish which sold for $320,589. The fleet in 1888 numbered 180 sailing vessels and 17 steamers; the industry gave employment to over 6,000 persons, and its product is estimated at a value of $450,000. "There seems to be no limit to the supply of these ubiquitous fish, the annual catch varying year after year with conditions not well understood."
The oyster industry in Virginia is still very important, but is diminishing in value owing to illegal tonging and dredging. In 1886 the business employed 18,064 persons, and the capital invested was $1,361,106; the number of bushels of oysters caught and sold was 6,887,320. The earnings and wages amounted to $3,135,923. In 1887 the capital invested was $1,400,000; the earnings and wages amounted to $2,968,840 the number of bushels obtained and sold was 5,400,000, and 15,700 persons were employed. In a short time the Virginia people will be forced to cultivate the oyster according to the system adopted and successfully applied by Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. At present the uncertain tenure of planting grounds prevents the development of the industry.
The shipping of crabs and crab meat has become a valuable enterprise, in many localities assuming greater proportions than the oyster trade. The products of the canneries find their way now to markets beyond the Mississippi.
The new hatchery, known as the Glebe Hatchery, is on the eastern shore, between Hungar's and Nassawadux creeks. This location is convenient to the pounds and traps taking the largest lifts of Spanish mackerel, which is the species principally sought after for purposes of artificial propagation. The spawning season of the Spanish mackerel usually opens in Virginia waters about June 21 and lasts until the end of August, or rarely as late as Sept. 10, the greatest number of ripe fish arriving from July 1 to Aug. 15. In 1888 the best run of fish passed up the bay from June 10 to 25 and as this was close season for pound nets the hatchery could not secure the eggs until a later run of smaller fish came along: 4,000,000 eggs were secured, but the percentage of fertilized ova was smaller than was expected.
"It was observed that during the prevalence of east, northeast and north winds the run of Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano and trout (weakfish) materially decreased below the average, while on the other hand, during west and southwest winds, the catch was above the average. The largest lifts were taken, however, immediately after a west or northwest gale. Menhaden or alewives are observed by the lookout vessels to be more abundant in moderately calm weather, with southwest or westerly winds. Easterly winds do not seem to injuriously affect the in-shore catch of menhaden."
Mr. Wilkins recommends that the prohibition of pound net and fyke net fishing during the month of June be discontinued, as it entails a loss to the fishermen of $50,000 annually.