468 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



83« THE OYSTER IIVDUSTRV OF THE WOllliD. 



By G. BROWJV GOODE. 



[Abstract of a pai^er read before the American Fisliciiltural Association.] 



The oyster industry of the world is seated chiefly iu the United States 

 and France. Great Britain also has a few natural beds still remain- 

 ing, and a number of well-conducted establishments for oyster culture 

 which are supplied with seed oysters from continental oyster parks. 

 Canada, Holland, Italy, German^', Belgium, Spain, Portugal, ]3enmark, 

 Norway, and Russia have also oyster industries, which are, however, 

 comparatively insignificant, and in the case of the last two countries 

 hardly worthj^ of consideration in a statistical statement. 



Eecent and accurate statistics are lacking except in two or three in- 

 stances. A brief review by countries, in the order of their importance, 

 was presented. The oyster industry of the United States was shown to 

 employ 52,805 persons and to yield 22,195,370 bushels, worth $30,438,852, 

 and that of France in 1881 employed 29,431 persons, producing oysters 

 valued at $3,404,505; the industry of Great Britain yielded a product 

 valued at from two to four million pounds sterling; holland was shown 

 to have a considerable industry in the province of Zeeland, and to have 

 produced native and cultivated oysters to the value of $200,000; Ger- 

 many has an industry on the Schleswig coast valued at about $400,000, 

 while the products of other European countries mentioned were too in- 

 significant to deserve a place in this brief abstract. An estimate of the 

 total product of the world was presented as follows, the figures being 

 given in the number of individual oysters produced : 



United States 5, 550, 000, 000 



Canada 22, 000, 000 



Total for North America .' 5, 572, 000, 000 



France 680, 400, 000 



Great Britain 1, GOO, 000, 000 



Holland 21, 800, 000 



Italy 20,000,000 



Germany 4, 000, 000 



Belgium 2, 500, 000 



Spain 1, 000, 000 



Portugal 800, 000 



Denmark 200, 000 



Eussia 250, 000 



Norway 250, 000 



Total for Europe 2, 331, 200, 000 



