FISHERIES. The United States fishing industry originated in New England shortly after its settlement. and was gaining considerable promi nence until England attempted to place restric tions upon it. It also was seriously damaged by the War of 1812, as well as by subsequent con flicts between American and British interests. The extermination of certain species of fish has at various times seemed probable, due to a lack of definite knowledge regarding the habits of the animals, and the fact that there were no limita tions placed upon the number which could be captured. Measures have of late years been enacted which to a large extent have obviated these difficulties. (See FISHING LAWS.) The United States Fish Commission, by its establish ment of hatcheries and its investigations and ex periments. also, has aided greatly in the develop ment of the industry. (See FISH : FISHERIES ; and FISH CULTURE.) The chief centres of fish eries are naturally those States bordering upon the Atlantic, Pacific. and Gulf coasts and Great Lakes, the Mississippi Valley, and Alaska. The following table shows the status of the industry for the years 1880. 1390, and 1900, the figures for 1900 being estimates based on the latest re ports of the United States Fish Commission: In the New England States the principal prod ucts are cod, halibut, and mackerel. Massachu setts leads in the value of products, while Maine has the greatest number of persons engaged in the industry. Maryland ranked first among the iNlid dle Atlantic States which are especially con cerned in oyster and shad fishing. Shad and oysters are also the leading fish products of the South Atlantic States. The Gulf States- produce oysters and sponges. Among the Gulf States Florida holds first place in the fishing industry. Of the fish output of the Pacific States, about half is represented by salmon. Herring. lake trout, and yellow perch are the leading products of the Great Lakes division. The period of great est development in this region was from 1880 to 1885, when the number em!aged in the industry and the value of the production increased 100 per cent. The yield of the Mississippi Valley exceeds in quantity and nearly equals in value the com bined production of the remaining interior waters of the United States, except the Great Lakes. Buffalo-fish. catfish, and German cod are espe cially plentiful. Alaska is the centre of the fur
seal industry, and is also noted for its number of cod, halibut, and other deep-sea fish. (For further details, see the sev eral State articles: the articles on WHALE, SEALING, etc.; and also articles on the various fish species: Con, :MACKEREL. S1EN11AIlEN, etc.) The exports of fish and fish products have greatly increased in value since1,870,but during the period 1890 to 1902 they remained practically station ary. The value of the exports in 1902 was $7, 705,005. Europe was the destination of over half the output. Canned salmon formed the largest single item. The value of the imports of fisheries has increased from $5,457,785 in 1S92 to $8,537. 097 in 1902. The largest part of the import trade is with Canada. The main items of importation are pickled herring and dried cod ill the cured list, while lobster is the chief product in the class of fresh fish. In the census year 1900 there were 34S establishments concerned in fish curing, packing, and canning. The total value of their product was $22.253.749. The curing of cod, herring, and mackerel, the canning of sardines in the New England States, and salmon-packing in the Pacific States are the leading fish inter ests in the United States.
l'cliNixo. Prior to the nineteenth century the mining industry in the United States was quite insignificant, and it was not until nearly 1850 that it began to he important. Since that period the industry has developed with a rapidity equal to that of manufactures and transportation. It is significant that the production of the mines constitutes over one-half of the total freight tonnage handled by the railroads. In 1902 the United States had advanced to first rank in the production of most of the useful minerals, and the total value of the combined mineral ouput was far greater than that of any other country. The growth of the industry since 1880 is seen in the following table: To the above should be added an unspecified sum amounting in value to $6,000,000 in 1880, and to $1,000,000 in each of the other years given. The total mining output for 1901 was valued at $1.092,22-4,380. The United States probably has more mineral lands in proportion to its total area than any other country. Nearly every min eral that is needed in the arts is mined.