474 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



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 rai^idity. 



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 sufQcient 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, 

 ui^on the oyster-fisheries, &c., of Maryland, January, 1872,* the quantity 

 of oysters taken in Maryland waters in the year 1869-70 was 11,233,175 

 bushels, which, at an average value of 35 cents per bushel, would amount 

 to $4,031,716. 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 14,430) 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 13,425,) 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 3,507 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. 



