PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 207 
Seed oysters brought from the Atlantic remain on the beds from 
three to four years, during which time they grow to the average size of 
the oyster of like age on the Atlantic. The original flavor is retained, 
although planted on the same beds with the natives of Washington, 
which are widely known for their small size and peculiar strong copper 
flavor, which they retain when brought and planted in California. 
Ten small sailing vessels are engaged in transporting the oysters, 
as needed, from the beds to San Francisco. On arriving at the city, 
the bulk of the oysters grown from Atlantic seed are opened, canned, 
and packed in ice, and are known to the trade as eastern oysters. 
They are distributed all over the west coast, meeting those from the 
Atlantic at Denver, Colo. 
In addition to the opening and canning of eastern oysters, consider- 
able business is done in supplying the large city demand for oysters in 
the shell. Both the eastern and native oysters show an improvement 
during the past few years; they have larger shell, plumper meat, and 
a better flavor. The only noteworthy feature since the more detailed 
report of 1889 is a slow but steady growth in the business. 
There is room for an increase in the business, but to accomplish this 
the industry, as at present carried on, will require large capital, and 
several years would elapse before the seed would grow and returns be 
expected. The freight on the seed from the Atlantic is a large item 
‘in the expense of the business. Firms now engaged are reported as 
holding several thousand acres of ground adaptable for oyster-culture, 
but not so used. 
The extent of the oyster industry of San Francisco during the years 
1889 to 1892, inclusive, is shown in the following tables. The persons 
employed at the beds (105 in number) and on shore and the capital 
devoted to the business were the same each year. 
Property and capital. 
Items. | Value. 
(a athe aeliteile te ego Bala Saal eee RARE ie Aaa 5 nia iar A eae a | $15, 100 
BEE EDLODELU YE aor ete es ae tft cee Oe Me unas uel ae Poet ein nopaann et aces smmocee Sa | 100, 000 
SRST AM ROSAS Gi Berge ets ae Cam is eM e Rare 21 th Sale ip St AeA Beate ae rem ee baat AYU (E10) 
Brum rial ts (sees mete ote het yak het. eee eat eek te ME ae Ts bs ee eect we ee oie | 75, 000 
Sita Galerie t soe sn rat eS S kL See heen eck wee Regn wi ies Scat acre ant ln aseiomee a | 290, 100 
Produces. 
Eastern oysters. | Native oysters. Total. 
Years. ee ae 
| Bushels. Value. 
Bushels.| Value. Bushels. | Value. 
120, 000 | $480, 000 26,150 | $91,525 | 146, 150 $571, 525 
125,000 | 500, G00 26, 325 92,137 | 151,325 | 592,137 
130,000 | 520,000 28, 130 98,455 | 158, 130 618, 455 
146, 000 | 584, 000 | 32,645 | 114,257 | 178, 645 698, 257 
