PRODUCTION, INDUSTRY, COMMERCE 485
The Massachusetts fisheries are important. According to the Census of 1905 they employed 16,796 men, inclading officers and crew, 1,309 vessels and 2,422 boats; the value of the products was 8,986,186 dollars. The fish caught included cod, haddock, mackerel, halibut, and herring, besides oysters and other shell-fish.
In 1905 the first census of mercantile trade ever taken in the United States was taken in Massachusetts. The returns showed that the total value of goods sold by all the mercantile establishments in the State was 1,384,241,388 dollars, of which amount the sum of 967,009,354 dollars was credited to Boston. The number of establishments in tlie State was 29,045, the total capital invested in them was 287,966,456 dollars.
There is very little mining within the State. Iron pyi'ites is worked to a limited extent in the west. Coal is found, but it is of little value ; asbestos, talc and soapstone, infusorial earth and emery are found. Marl, peat, sand, and clay are found throughout the State, and there are extensive brick and earthenware works. The output of clay products (bricks, pottery, &c.) in 1911 was valued at 1,700,287 dollars. There are lai-ge stone quarries at Quincy and Rockport. The output of granite in 1911 was valued at 3,691,747 dollars. Other quarry products were sandstone, trap rock, marble, and limestone. The value of all the mineral products (including pig-ivon from two blast furnaces) was 6,623,077 dollars in 1911,
A large foreign trade is carried on through the Port oi' Boston, which is port of entry for several foreign steamship companies. In the year 1911 (including the trade of Charlestown) the imports were valued at 115,662,053 dollars and the exports (including foreign, trans-shipped) at 73,913,325 dollars. The principal commodities imported, with valuation, were: Wool, 12,161,433 dollars ; hides and skins, 17,503,395 dollars; cotton, 19,549,494 dollars ; sugar, 8,519,150 dollars ; fibres and vegetable grasses, 13,698,313 dollars; chemicals, drugs and dyes, 5,325,112 dollars; and iron and steel manufactures, 4,060,486 dollars. The principal exports, with valuation, were: Meat and dairy products, 15,705,530 dollars; leather, 12,708,547 dollars; cotton, 10,576,830 dollars; breadstuffs, 8,104,516 dollars; iron and steel manufactures, 6,424,812 dollars ; and animals, 4,918,281 dollars.
According to the State census taken in 1905 the value of vessels (including outfit but not wharf pro]»erty, &c.) registered in Massachusetts and engaged in coastwise and ocean commerce was 21,652,277 dollars. The total earnings of these vessels was 30,513,157 dollars.
In 1911 the vessels engaged in foreign trade which entered the port of Boston had a tonnage of 2,907,821 ; and those which cleared, 1,891,754. The tonnage of vessels engaged in the coasting trade and entering the port of Boston was 11,905,887.
The total number of immigrants from Trans-Atlantic ports admitted at the Port of Boston during the year 1911, arriving at this port for the first time and intending to remain permanently, was 41,900, classified as follows : — Italians (principally South Italian), 10,498; English, 7,042; Irish, 6,699; Scandinavian. 4,534; Scotch, 3,331; Portuguese, 3,150; Jews, 2,132; Finnish, 1,054 ; all others, 3,460. Of the total number (41,900) 25,126 or 59 "97 per cent, gave their destination as Massachusetts.
On June 30, 1911, there were 2,111 miles of main and branch steam rail- roads in the State, The 3 principal railroads, the Boston and Albany (New x'ork Central and Hudson River, lessee), the Boston and Maine, and the New York, New Haven and Hartford, eacli having a terminus in Boston, have operated about 95 per cent of the railroad mileage and conducted over 98 per cent, of the entire passenger and freight business as expressed in gross income. On Juno 30, 1911, the total length of electric railways (main
