172 NINTH REPORT OF THE 



State in a year, as reckoned from the business of the carriers, is rather more 

 than less than the figures given. Reckoning the quantities of oysters sent to 

 market in the shell and "shucked," or opened, the total number of bushels 

 represented in the transportation companies' reports amounted to 6,275,000. As 

 the average wholesale price of oysters amounts to one dollar or more per bushel, 

 this represents, in round figures, a valuation of $7,000,000 annually. 



As indicative of the variation of the sale of oysters during the twelve months 

 of the year the following report of one year's shipment by freight on one trans- 

 portation line will prove instructive, remembering, of course, that these figures 

 are estimated and are intended to understate rather than exaggerate the volume 

 of business: 



Net tons. 



January 2,500 



February •..'..'. 2,500 



March 2,000 



April 1,000 



May . 290 



June 267 



July 200 



August 162 



September I ,37 2 



October 2,584 



November 3>5°° 



December 3>5°° 



Total tons 19,875 



One ton equals, barrels 9 



Nine barrels to ton equals,- barrels 178,875 



Three bushels to barrel 3 



Total bushels 536,625 



New ^Iorl^ Cit^ Ouster Rar^ef s. 



In New York City there are two principal oyster markets: the West Washington 

 Oyster Market and the Fulton Market. The business of the oyster dealers is 

 principally done in large house-boats, or floats moored at the water fronts. These 

 unique craft are familiar and picturesqe objects to New Yorkers. The use of these 

 boats has grown from the necessities of the business. Proper houses upon the 

 wharfs or docks are scarce and would be hard to obtain. The use of the floats 



