FISHERIES OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES. 
309 
The principal opportunities for the development of the fisheries of the State prob- 
ably lie in the oyster- grounds and the facilities offered for their cultivation. A recent 
examination of the coastal waters of this State by the U. S. Fish Commission with 
reference to their availability for oyster-culture demonstrated the fact that the natural 
oyster beds are being depleted and that recourse must be had to artificial methods if 
the supply is to be maintained. The natural grounds surveyed occupied less than 800 
acres, but there are probably 15,000 or 20,000 acres of bottom now destitute of oysters 
that are suitable for planting purposes. Those persons who are interested in the 
subject should consult the report* in which the results of the survey are given. 
GENERAL NOTES AND STATISTICS. 
Three tables follow, in which the condensed statistics of the fisheries of this State 
are shown for the years 1889 and 1890. 
From Table 23 it is seen that in the latter year the fisheries gave employment to 
2,701 persons, of whom 74 were employed in the vessel fisheries, 2,503 in the shore or 
boat fisheries, and 124 in the shore branches of the industry. 
The aggregate capital invested in the business, as indicated in Table 24, was 
$127,762, of which $29,325 represented vessels and their outfits, $31,804 boats, $22,108 
apparatus, and $44,525 shore property and working capital. 
Table 25 gives the quantity and value of each product of the fisheries. The total 
yield in 1890 was 4,944,840 pounds, valued at $202,602, of which more than half was 
represented by four species, viz, shad, sea bass, oysters, and whiting. Besides these, 
shrimp, terrapin, and mullet are of importance. 
23. — Table of persons employed. 
How engaged. 
1889. 
1890. 
73 
67 
7 
2, 527 
42 
2, 503 
124 
2, 642 
2, 701 
24. — Table of apparatus and capital. 
Designation. 
1889. 
1890. 
No. 
Value. 
No. 
V alue. 
14 
222. 39 
$13, 300 
13 
217. 38 
$14, 800 
4, 450 
3,925 
10, 000 
2 
22. 60 
600 
31, 804 
143 
4, 008 
13, 958 
2,464 
419 
1, 116 
27, 525 
17,000 
1,234 
31, 147 
152 
3, 875 
17, 030 
2, 638 
452 
1, 036 
20, 125 
13, 000 
1,227 
Apparatus of capture — vessel fisheries : 
Apparatus of capture — shore fisheries : 
71 
1,551 
753 
74 
1, 380 
734 
146 
169 
107, 205 
127, 762 
*An investigation of the coast waters of South Carolina with reference to oyster-culture. Bul- 
letin U. S. Fish Commission, 1890, pp. 303-330, 7 maps. 
