PRODUCTS OF THE PRINCIPAL FISHERIES IN DETAIL. 



67 



oysters valued at over $2,000,000. Oysters were the 

 principal fishery product in 15 of the 21 states in which 

 oyster fisheries were carried on, viz, Alabama, Connec- 

 ticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missis- 

 sippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Penn- 

 sylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and 

 Virginia. 



The greatest yield of oysters from natural or public 

 beds was in Chesapeake Bay, the combined product 

 of Maryland and Virginia from public areas repre- 

 senting 47 per cent of the quantity and 58 per cent of ■ 

 the value of the total product from public areas. In 

 Virginia the cultivation of oyster beds was also car- 

 ried on extensively, and in fact over 57 per cent of the 

 value of all oysters produced in Virginia was con- 

 tributed by private areas. In Massachusetts, Rhode 

 Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, 

 Georgia, and the Pacific coast states, the majority of 

 the oysters were dredged from private areas, while in 

 Maine, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, 

 Florida, and the Gulf states, the oysters were taken 

 mostly from public beds. Of the product of Pennsyl- 

 vania and Delaware the larger part was taken from 

 public areas, but the product from private areas had 

 a greater value. 



The statistics of the quantity and value of both 

 market and seed oysters, by states ranked according to 

 the amount reported, are given in the foU owing table: 



> The oyster catch is credited to the state in which the home port of the fisherman is located. 



' Less than 1 per cent. 



