838 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



GENERAL CONDITION OF THE OYSTER 

 INDUSTRY PRIOR TO 1887. 



The condition of oyster industry of North Carolina, at 

 the time the present investigation (1886) was begun was 

 insignificant. 



The natural beds of the State comprise some 8000 

 acres. These beds produced in 1880, according to the 

 U.S. census, 170,000 bushels of oysters, valued at $60,000, 

 and afforded employment for 1020 persons and $68,500 of 

 capital. The yield of the beds was therefore about 20 

 bushels per acre, and the value of the ground in gross 

 income $7.00 per acre. As a considerable portion of the 

 area of the oyster-beds is non-productive at present, either 

 on account of the inferiority of the oysters or want of a 

 market for the particular grade of stock they supply, those 

 grounds that are worked must be yielding somewhat more 

 than 20 bushels per acre ; but allowing a margin of 50 per 

 cent, for non-productive areas, 40 bushels per acre are 

 secured. 



According to the report of the Maryland Oyster Com- 

 mission, the beds of that State comprise an area of 123,520 

 acres, and the census gives their product as 10,600,000 

 bushels, or an average of 87 bushels per acre. In 1880 

 the Maryland oyster-beds were already in a much impaired 

 condition, and consequently they produced much less than 

 a natural bed in a normal condition ; but comparing the 

 average yield of the Maryland beds with that of the North 

 Carolina areas, a difference of 47 bushels per acre is shown 

 in favour of Maryland. Either one of two conclusions can 

 be drawn from this comparison : the fishing in Maryland 

 was more systematic and thorough, or the beds of North 

 Carolina yielded much less for the same exertion. Natur- 



