FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC 1 STATES. 



117 



Statement, by Counties, of the Catch by Clam Tongs, Hoes and Rakes, and 

 Crab Scrapes and Dredges in the Fisheries of Virginia i\ L904. 



a Includes 34 bushels, or 340 pounds, of soft clams, valued at 



NOTES AND DETAILED STATISTICS OF THE PRINCIPAL FISHERIES. 



Oyster. — In the oyster industry Virginia ranks first among the Mid- 

 dle Atlantic States in the quantity of oysters taken, but the value of 

 the product is less than half that of the New York output. The total 

 catch in 1904, including the product from natural rocks and private 

 beds and the seed oysters, was 7,612,289 bushels, valued at $3,459,676. 

 This sum is more than half the value of all other fishery products 

 combined. The catch by vessels was 2,075,567 bushels, valued at 

 $842,158; by boats in the shore fisheries 5,536,722 bushels, valued at 

 $2,617,518. Compared with 1901, there appears a decrease of 

 273,158 bushels, but an increase of $536,220 in value. The decrease 1 

 is more apparent than real in its relation to the actual supply, owing 

 to the fact that the severe winter weather during part of t he season of 

 1904-5 affected the quality of the oysters so that some of the planted 

 stock was not worth taking from the beds, and the tonging season on 

 the natural beds was curtailed to a considerable extent. The increase 

 in value was due in part to the natural rise in the price of oysters, in 

 keeping with other food products. During the winter months of 

 1904-5 the demand was great, and prices ranged from 50 cents to si 

 per bushel for oysters tonged on the natural beds. 



Oyster planting is a constantly growing feature of the oyster indus- 

 try in Virginia. Each year the available area is enlarged, and rent 

 is now collected on 59,029 acres, of which 13,190 acres are on the 

 eastern, or ocean side, of Accomac and Northampton counties. The 

 quantity of oysters taken from private beds in 1901 was 2,998,422 



