SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES 



177 



Oysters . The production of 1.6 million pounds of meats was 11 percent less than in 1969 — con- 

 tinuing the downward trend that began in 1966. Landings were the smallest recorded since 1880. 

 The value was $974 ,000 — a decline of 10 percent compared with 1969. North Carolina was the only 

 State with landings greater than in 1969, but the increase was only 13,000 pounds. In October, 

 more oyster grounds became available when the Newport FUver was reopened to oyster fishermen. 

 They found it difficult, however, to market the oysters taken there because most prospective buyers 

 were aware that the oyster grounds had been closed the previous year because of pollution and were 

 often unwilling to buy them. In South Carolina, always the leading producer in the South Atlantic 

 States , landings of 852,000 pounds were the smallest since 1945 when 722, 100 pounds were landed. 

 In March and April , oysters were scarce and the South Carolina Wildlife Resources Department ex- 

 tended the spring season from April 30 to May 15. Landings did not improve, however, because 

 few oysters were available on the grounds . Compared with 1969, landings in Georgia (179,000 

 pounds) declined 30 percent and in Florida, East Coast (212,000 pounds), 12 percent. 



Other information . Seasonal variation in landings of fish and shellfish in North Carolina, South 

 Carolina, Georgia, and Florida can be ascertained from the monthly and annual landings bulletins 

 published in the Current Fishery Statistics Series by the Statistics and Market News Division in 

 cooperation with the respective States. Additional data on many aspects of the South Atlantic 

 fisheries may be found in the daily, monthly, and annual reports published by the NMFS Fishery 

 Market News Service in New Orleans, La. 



Acknowledgments . The following organizations helped collect the data appearing in this section: 

 North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development, Division of Commercial Fisheries; 

 South Carolina Wildlife Resources Department, Division of Commercial Fisheries; Georgia Game 

 and Fish Commission, Coastal Fisheries Division; and Florida State Board of Conservation. 



