FISHERY IlSrDUSTRTES OF THE UNITED STATES, 1921. 



87 



OYSTER INDUSTRY OF MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. 



The total quantity of oysters taken in Maryland and Virginia in 

 1920 was 8,511,040 bushels, valued at $4,640,081, of which 4,547,471 

 bushels, valued at $2,291,120, are credited to Maryland and 3,963,569 

 bushels, valued at $2,348,961, to Virginia. The decline in this 

 important fishery in recent years has been quite marked. In com- 

 parison with 1912 there was a decrease of 962,950 bushels, or 17.47 

 per cent, in Maryland and of 2,242,529 bushels, or 36.13 per cent, in 

 Virginia, the decrease in the two States amounting to 3,205,479 

 bushels, or 27.35 per cent. 



Following are statistics of the oyster industry of Maryland and 

 Virginia for various years and for 1920, by counties, and a graph 

 (Fig. 8) of the catch for various years in millions of bushels. 



Oyster Industry of Maryland and Virginia, Various Years, 1880 to 1920. 



Years. 



1880 

 1887, 

 1888 

 1890 

 1891 

 1897 

 1901 

 1904 

 1908 

 1912 

 1920 



Maryland. 



Bushels. 

 10, 600, 000 

 8, 148, 217 



8, 531, 658 

 10, 450, 087 



9, 945, 058 

 7, 254, 934 

 5, 685, 561 

 4, 429, 650 

 6, 232, 000 

 5, 510, 421 

 4, 547, 471 



Pounds. 

 74, 200, 000 

 57, 037, 519 

 59, 721, 606 

 73, 150, 609 

 69, 615, 406 

 50, 784, 538 

 39, 798, 927 

 31, 007, 550 

 43, 624, 000 

 38, 572, 947 

 31, 832, 297 



Value 

 U, 730, 476 

 2, 683, 435 

 2, 877, 790 



4, 854, 746 



5, 295, 866 



2, 8S5, 202 



3, 031, 518 

 2, 417, 674 

 2, 228, 000 

 2, 127, 759 

 2, 291, 120 



Virginia. 



Bushels 

 6, 837, 320 

 12,921,140 

 3,664,433 



6, 074, 025 

 6, 162, 086 



7, 023, 848 

 6, 067, 669 

 7, 612, 289 



5, 075, 000 



6, 206, 098 

 3, 963, 569 



Pounds 

 47, 861, 240 

 20, 447, 980 

 25, 651, 031 

 42, 518, 175 

 43, 134, 602 

 49, 166, 936 

 42, 473, 683 

 53, 286, 023 

 35, 525, 000 

 43, 442, 686 

 27, 744, 983 



Value. 

 ;2, 218, 376 

 1, 002, 901 

 1, 336, 012 

 2, 482, 348 

 2, 524, 348 

 2, 041, 683 

 2, 621, 915 



Total. 



Bushels 

 17, 437, 320 

 11, 069, 357 

 12,196,091 

 16, 524, 112 

 16, 107, 144 

 14, 278, 782 

 11,753,230 



3, 459, 676 12, 041, 939 

 2,348,00011,307,000 

 2,286,34011,716,519 

 2,348,961 8,511,040 



Pownds. 

 122, 061, 240 

 77,485,499 

 85, 372, 637 

 115, 668, 784 

 112, 750, 008 

 99, 951, 474 

 82, 272, 610 

 84, 293, 573 

 79, 149, 000 

 82, 015, 633 

 59, 577, 280 



Value. 

 56, 948, 852 

 3, 686, 336 

 4, 213, 802 

 7, 337, 094 

 7,820,214 

 4,926,385 

 5, 653, 433 

 5, 877, 350 

 4, 576, 000 

 4, 414, 099 

 4, 640, 081 



> Exclusive of the James and Potomac Rivers. 



The Oyster Fishery of Maryland and Virginia in 1920, by Counties. 



