CLXVI REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



enibly if proper iiH^isures are adopted to develop by more improved 

 method.stliebedsof the scallop which exist in deeper water, where they 

 are now almost undisturbed, owing to imperfections in apparatus. 



Notes ou the Oyster I'Mslieiy of Coiiuectient. (Bulletin, 18f)0, iJ]). 461-497, 8 



l.latfs. 



There is perhaps no State in the country in which the artificial rear- 

 ing- of oysters has commanded more attention and been carried to a more 

 successful result than in Connecticut. The very full account of the 

 history, methods, conditions, and statistics of the oyster industry in 

 this State which is given in this paper was therefore timely, and will, 

 it is thought, do liiuch toward promoting the oyster fishery in several 

 other States where tlie necessity for a change in present methods seems 

 to be clearly indicated if the perpetuation of the industry is to be 

 secured. Tlie report has attracted much attention and received favor- 

 able criticism in the oyster districts of the Atlantic coast, and there 

 has been an exceptionally large demand for it. The subject is dis- 

 cussed in detail under the heads of personnel, wages, etc.; vessels and 

 boats; historical notes; the oyster-grounds; methods of cultivation, 

 trade, fishing, e'c; unfavorable conditions, enemies, etc.; and financial 

 results, in addition to which very comjilete tabular information is given 

 for eacii town for the years 1887, 1888, and 1880. 



It is seen that in the last year the industry gave employment to 593 

 fishermen and 651 shoresmen. The capital devoted to the industry 

 amounted to $3,075,901, of which $1,237,095 represented the value of 

 oyster-grounds and $1,424,855 the value of the oysters thereon. The 

 aggregate expense of cultivating the beds and preparing the oysters 

 for market was $430,451. An interesting table is i^reseuted showing 

 the estimated value of the oysters on artificial beds destroyed by star- 

 fish, drills, and other agencies; in 1889 the loss by these means was 

 considerably less than during the two preceding years, but it never- 

 theless amounted to $401,709. From the cultivated oyster-grounds 

 1,412,011 bushels of oysters, having a value of $1,024,502, were taken 

 in 18S9, while the natural beds yielded only 73,850 bushels, worth 

 $31,305. The report concludes with a digest of the oyster legislation 

 of Connecticut, which has had more influence than all other factors in 

 promoting the industry. 



Statistical Review of the Coast Fisheries of the United States. (Report, 1888, 

 pp. 271-378.) 



As the title implies, this report is a statistical summary of the entire 

 commercial fisheries of the coastal waters of the United States, the 154 

 tables presented being supplemented with only enough descriptive 

 matter to properly elucidate them. The fisheries are considered by 

 geographical divisions and by States. In the introductory pages certain 

 comparisons, averages, percentages, etc., are given, having application 

 to the entire industry. The review shows that in the year specified 

 137,440 persons were engaged in the fisheries of the coast States, of 

 whom 37,811 were vessel fishermen, 70,708 were shore or boat fishermen, 



