180 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [474] 
flocculent mud, consisting largely of living microscopic animals and 
plants, Infusoria, Diatoms, &c. Such localities are to be found in most 
of our shallow estuaries, harbors, and brackish ponds, and on such 
grounds the oysters grow and become fat with surprising rapidity. 
The character of such bottoms is very liable to be changed by storms, 
especially in winter, either by the removal of the organic mud to 
some other part of the bottom or shore, or by the washing in of silt or 
clay in quantities sufficient to cover the bottom and destroy the living 
organisms. Thus it happens that a locality may be an excellent oys- 
ter-ground one year and comparatively worthless the next, or a poor 
locality may in the next year become a good one. And on this account 
the great reputation that the oysters of a particular locality often ac- 
quire in a favorable year may not belong to them in subsequent years, 
for the quality of the oysters changes with the character of the food and 
bottom where they grow. I have already mentioned several of the more 
important enemies of the oysters on former pages. (See pp. 306, 326.) 
The star-fishes, which are among the most destructive of these, do not 
flourish in brackish waters, and this is, therefore, a great advantage. 
The quantity of oysters taken from our waters is far greater than is 
generally supposed by those not familiar with this important business. 
The best statistics are necessarily very incomplete, but they are sufficient 
to show the almost incredible magnitude of this industry, which is, 
moreover, rapidly increasing as the facilities for transporting the oysters 
to all parts of the country, even to the Pacific coast, are multiplied. 
According to the official report of Hunter Davidson, commissioner, 
upon the oyster-fisheries, &c., cf Maryland, January, 1872,* the quantity 
of oysters taken in Maryland waters in the year 1869~’70 was 11,233,475 
bushels, which, at an average value of 35 cents per bushel, would amount 
to $4,051,716. To catch and convey these to market 8,070 men were em- 
ployed on the water; 7,190,400 bushels were taken by 642 vessels (ton- 
nage 14,436) engaged in dredging, and employing 4,060 hands. The 
balance, 2,043,075 bushels, were taken by 1,647 boats or ‘“* canoes,” using 
tongs and rakes, and employing 3,410 hands. 
In 1870-71, 597 vessels, (tonnage 15,425,) engaged in dredging, and 
employing 3,775 hands, took 6,686,400 bushels ; and 1,649 “ canoes” 
took, with tongs, 2,261,403 bushels, employing 3,907 hands ; making the 
total amount for the year, 10,947,803 bushels, valued at $3,831,731. 
Many of these oysters were sold at $1 to $1.50 per bushel, while 
others were sold for less than twenty-five cents, but it is probable that 
the estimated average value (thirty-five cents) is considerably below the 
actual value. 
The quantity taken in the waters of Virginia is probably quite as 
large as that from Maryland. 
Large quantities are also taken along the coast of New Jersey, Long 
* Report on the Oyster-Fisheries, Potomac River Shad and Herring Fisheries, and 
the Water-fowl of Maryland, to his excellency the governor and other commissioners, 
of the State oyster-police force, January, 1872. 
