FISHERIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 285 



THE WHOLESALE FISHERY TRADE. 



The wholesale fishery trade of Maryland, as here presented, embraces 

 not only the handling of products of the local fisheries in a raw or 

 unprepared condition, but also includes^ the oyster-canning industry, 

 the opening of oysters and the shipment and sale of the edible part, 

 the preparation of crab meat, the salting of ale wives or other species, 

 and the handling of fish, fresh or salted, or any other fishery products, 

 at wholesale or on commission, regardless of the source from which 

 they are derived. The persons and capital employed have also been 

 included in the general fishery tables. 



This trade is carried on to a greater or less extent in 25 localities on 

 both sides of the Chesapeake and in 8 different counties. The number 

 of firms engaged in the various branches of the trade was 235, the 

 value of the shore property used was $1,759,391, the cash or working 

 capital amounted to $1,615,285, and the number of persons employed, 

 including proprietors, clerks, operatives, and laborers, was 15,788. 



The products consisted of canned oysters valued at $1,540,690, 

 opened oysters valued at $3,552,561, oysters sold in the shell valued at 

 $159,471, 03^ster shells and lime made from oyster shells valued at 

 $35,022, clams valued at $8,576, crabs, hard and soft, and crab meat 

 worth $288,956, shrimp valued at $328, terrapin and turtles of various 

 species valued at $43,444, fresh fish valued at $742,557, and salted 

 fish, which, with the exception of alewives, are chiefly the product of 

 the New England fisheries, valued at $292,682; the total value of the 

 trade aggregating $6,664,297. The great relative importance of the 

 oyster trade is apparent when it is considered that $5,287,744 of the 

 above amount was received for oyster products. 



The principal market is Baltimore, its trade being more than ten 

 times as great as that of any other locality. This is due principally 

 to the existence of a large oyster-canning industry and opened-oyster 

 business. There is also an important commission trade in oysters. In 

 addition to these branches large quantities of fresh fish and other 

 fishery products from all sections of the State are handled, the aggre- 

 gate value of the trade being $5,189,832. 



Crisfield and Cambridge rank next to Baltimore in importance. 

 Cambridge surpasses Crisfield in the extent of its oyster business, but 

 Crisfield is the most extensive market and shipping-point for soft crabs 

 in the United States. The trade of Crisfield, including all products 

 handled, aggregated $427,285, and that of Cambridge $376,804. 



The following table shows by localities the extent of the wholesale 

 trade in fishery products of Maryland in 1897. 



