434 



REVIEW OF CERTAIN MAJOR FISHERIES 



U.S. OYSTER FISHERY, 1970 



The U.S. oyster fishery yielded 53.5 million pounds of meats worth $29.5 million — an In- 

 crease of 1.4 million pounds and $ 1 .9 million compared with 1969. Landings Increased In all areas 

 except the South Atlantic States and the Gulf States. In the South Atlantic States landings of 1.5 

 million pounds declined 11 percent compared wflth 1969 . Gulf States landings of 17 .7 million pounds 

 declined 10 percent — reflecting the damage Inflicted by hurricane Camille In 1969. 



The Chesapeake States led in production with 24 . 7 million pounds of oyster meats , followed 

 by the Gulf States ,_ 17.7 million, and the Pacific Coast States, 8.0 million pounds. The Chesa- 

 peake and Gulf States accounted for 79 percent of the landings. 



Dredges took 29 .8 million pounds (56 percent) of the oyster landings , and tongs , 23 . 2 mil- 

 lion (43 percent). The rest was taken with rakes and forks, or gathered by hand. 



In Section 13 of this digest is a table which gives the volume of the bushel measures used 

 for oysters in the various Atlantic and Gulf States and the average yield per bushel. Supplementary 

 shellfish tables appear after the summary tables for each Atlantic and Gulf regional section. 



SUMMARY OF OYSTER DREDGE OPERATING UNITS, 1970 



(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) 



