ECONOMICS OF THE FISHERIES 



413 



Each is unique of its kind in having no interchangeable substitute; both are, 



to an extent, luxury items, and have differed markedly in economic behavior. 



The Oyster has undergone the most serious economic deterioration in 



market importance of all the major United States fishery products. Table 



1887 1890 1893 1896 1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1917 1920 1923 1926 1929 1932 1935 1938 1940 



l€87 1890 1893 1896 1699 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1917 1920 1923 1926 1929 1932 1935 1938 1940 



Fig. 1 6. Market oysters, exclusive of seeds, Atlantic and Gulf coasts only, 1887-1940. Inadequate 



statistical record 1912-1920. 



57, Appendix, and Fig. 16 exhibit the statistical history of total oyster 

 production of the five regions which make the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 

 These series were arrived at by interpolation in each region in the void 

 years and the regions combined in the same manner as the main tables and 

 graphs of fish production, the early period extending from 1887 to 19 12, 

 the late from 192 1 to 1940, 



