312 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Oysters out of the shell, raw or canned : 



Bushels. 



To California 200, 000 



To Saint Louis 150, 000 



To other cities 310, 000 



To foreign ports 50, 000 



Total 1, G60, 000 



The season from 1859 to 1860 was an excellent one for the business, 

 which began and continued with great activity. In the month of Sep- 

 tember the demand for raw oysters, put up in ice, was very great, as 

 the oysters were superior to those of preceding years, particularly those 

 of large size, taken from banks far out in tbe bay.* The price of the 

 oysters continued good, and the principal merchants were busy night 

 and day. As to the canned article, prepared for foreign exportation, it 

 was also in great demand, and sold at a reasonable price, although 

 oysters in the shell had advanced in price. During this season, the 

 oysters consumed by the trade amounted to 25,000 bushels a day. 



One-half of the principal transportation dealers were specially occu- 

 pied with the sale of raw oysters and the other with that of the canned. 

 The number of vessels employed in supplying the market of Baltimore 

 was estimated at from 800 to l,200.t 



In the season of 1860 and 1861, notwithstanding the general prostrate 

 condition of commerce, the oyster dealers did a good business, espe- 

 cially during the first months. From the 1st of September to the 15th 

 of June, 3,000,000 of bushels were consumed ; that is to say, 10,000 

 bushels a day on the average. About two-thirds were sent to the West, 

 in a raw condition, packed in ice. 



The commercial statistics of that season were as follows: 



Number of the principal houses of transportation 30 



Quantity of oysters sold in the market of Baltimore, (bushels) 3, 000, 000 

 Amount of the reselling of the oysters at $1.35 a bushel. . . $1, 050, 000 



Number of vessels employed in the transportation 500 



Number of persons employed in the various labors connected 



with the transportation trade 3, 000 



Capital engaged $1, 800, 000 



Commercial value of the canned oysters $3, 000, 000 



To avoid repetition, I will not speak of the manner in which the va- 

 rious operations of the transportation trade are conducted, since it is 

 much the same as at Fair Haven. The oysters are generally opened by 

 colored persons, of both sexes ; while the white workmen are employed 



"These were taken from the great banks of the Chesapeake Bay, which, as they are 

 worked less than the others, yield oysters of larger size. 



tSome of the boats used in the bay for transporting oysters to Baltimore are called 

 "pungies." They are a kind of schooner peculiar to the Chesapeake, moving with 

 great rapidity, and holding from 300 to 600 bushels of oysters. 



