FISHERIES OF THE GULF STATES. 
171 
The shore industries . — The shore fishery industries of Louisiana are extensive. 
They comprise the wholesale handling of fresh fish and oysters, the drying of shrimp 
and fish, and the canning of oysters and shrimp. In the two following tables figures 
for these trades are given ; in order to avoid the exhibition of private business inter- 
ests, it has been necessary to present the information in a more condensed form than 
would otherwise be done. 
Table 65 shows the extent of the fresh-oyster trade and the canned oyster and 
shrimp industry. The twelve firms engaged in 1890 employed 335 persons, to whom 
$67,900 was paid in -wages. The amount invested in the business was $212,950. The 
total quantity of oysters handled was 189,895 barrels, the cost price of which was 
$250,701. From this amount 287,336 cans were prepared, for which $34,699 was 
received, and the remaining portion was sold fresh for $342,164, giving $126,162 as 
the gross profits of the oyster trade. From the 1,153,469 pounds of shrimp handled, 
447,738 cans were prepared, the difference between the buying and selling being 
$42,934. The total value of the oysters and shrimp after passing through the hands 
of the dealers was $454,401, which was $169,096 in excess of the price paid, the latter 
sum therefore representing the gross profits. 
The principal features of the wholesale trades in fish and shrimps are given in 
Table 66. Of the 9,592,230 pounds of products handled in 1889, 2,936,000 pounds, 
valued at $23,885, were shrimps; and of the 9,847,847 pounds handled in 1890, 
2,456,000 pounds, worth $19,905, were shrimps. These were dried and sent to San 
Francisco for the Chinese trade. In 1889 the dried shrimp had a weight of 346,000 
pounds, valued at $73,658, and in 1890, 293,600 pounds, worth $62,042. There is also 
a small business done in drying such fish as trout, redfish, sheepshead, and pompano, 
the quantity so utilized being 98,875 pounds in 1889 and 95,400 pounds in 1890, the cost 
value being $989 and $954, respectively. The resulting quantities of dried fish were 
34,500 pounds, worth $4,240, in 1889, and 32,160 pounds, valued at $3,860, in 1890. 
65. — Table showing tlie extent of the wholesale oyster trade and the canning of oysters and shrimp in 
Louisiana in 1889 and 1890. 
Designation. 
1889. 
1890. 
Designation. 
1889. 
1890. 
Number of firms 
Number of employ es 
Value of property 
Cash capital 
Wages paid 
Oysters handled barrels. . 
V alue paid 
Value of oysters sold fresh 
12 
330 
$104, 000 
$103, 000 
$74, 380 
216, 345 
$231, 323 
$322, 397 
12 
$108, 750 
$104, 200 
$67, 900 
189, 895 
$250, 701 
$342, 164 
Oysters, cans prepared number. . 
Value received 
Shrimp handled pounds. . 
V alue paid 
Cans prepared number. . 
Value received 
1 Enhancement in value of products . . . 
492, 102 
$52, 930 
951, 738 
$28, 285 
376. 672 
$65, 843 
$181, 562 
287, 336 
$34, 699 
1, 153, 469 
$34, 604 
447, 738 
$77, 538 
$169, 096 
\ 
66. — Table showing the extent of the wholesale fresh-fish and shrimp trades of Louisiana in 1889 and 189C 
Designatiou. 
1889. 
1890. 
18 
120 
$113,400 
$73, 300 
$36, 672 
9, 592, 230 
$334, 533 
$518, 532 
$183, 999 
18 
125 
$116, 325 
$78, 300 
$37, 264 
9, 847, 847 
$363, 626 
$550, 591 
$186, 965 
Cash capital 
Wages paid 
Products handled pounds.. 
Value paid 
Value received 
