582 



GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF THE FISHERIES. 



Tbe capital invested is, perhaps, 875,000, bnt is applied to shrimp, lobster, and fruit canning as 

 well as oysters. In these establishments only about thirty male adults are employed, the openers 

 being girls, about ICO in number, all white and chiefly German and American in nationality, who 

 are paid from 4 to G cents for each kettlefnl, a "kettle" holding two quarts. Work is irregular, 

 because of the difficulty of getting oysters in sufficient quantity and when needed (owing mainly 

 to the indisposition of the oystermen to work in bad weather), and the total earnings of the openers 

 and employes during the "oyster run" in the factories, will probably not exceed $20,000. These 

 factories have not been long enough in progress to furnish more exact information than is here 

 given. Their capacity is far in advance of their present product, and they anticipate a highly suc- 

 cessful future, confident that they can secure the trade of the Lower Mississippi Valley, to the 

 exclusion of oysters canned in northern cities. 



STATISTICS. In the fisheries of New Orleans it is estimated that $38,300 are invested. The 

 average price here paid to the oysterman is $1.25 a barrel. The yield of the New Orleans oyster 

 fishery for 1879 was estimated at 116,100 barrels, valued at $145,125. 



F. THE FISHERY INTERESTS OF TEXAS. 



211. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION. 



Summary statement of persons employed. 



Persons employed. 



Number. 



Fishermen 491 



Shoremen 110 



Total 601 



Detailed statement of tlic capital invested and apparatus employed. 



Apparatus specified. Xnmber. Value. 



Boats 107 $15,000 



Other apparatus, including outfits 4,400 



Canneries and other shore property 23,000 



Total 42,400 



Detailed statement of /lie guaiitilits and ml IKS of the products. 



Products specified. Pounds. Value. 



Crabs 30, 000 $900 



Green turtle 24,000 720 



Mullet I 8,000 240 



Oysters 069,375 47,300 



Shrimp 637,500 27,540 



All other species 2,484,000 51,000 



Total 3,858,875 128,300 



