214 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
cull law is becoming more popular and better observed, and it is now considered more 
valuable as a protection to tbe common fishery than any other, if not all other oyster 
regulations of this State. 
The total oyster product of Maryland during the present century, not including 
such as have been used for lime, etc., or those caught by citizens of other States, 
has probably amounted to about 395,000,000 bushels, for which the oystermen have 
received about $125,000,000, but the value of which after passing through the hands of 
the marketmen, transportation agencies, etc., has probably been $250,000,000 or more, 
over four times as great as the total present valuation of taxable property in all the 
counties from which the fishery is prosecuted, not including the city of Baltimore. 
The largest catch during any one season was probably made in 1884-85, in which, 
according to the best estimates, the quantity obtained amounted to about 15,000,000 
bushels. This large product was due to an excellent set obtained in 1883, the reefs 
in nearly all portions of the State being abundantly supplied. Judging from the 
records of a few oystermen and marketmen and from the number of men at work, as 
indicated by the license lists, there is reason to believe that the catch in 1874-75 was 
but little less than that of 1884-85, and, as the number of men oystering during that 
season was considerably less, the average catch per man was, of course, very much 
greater than in 1884-85. 
During the seasons 1885-86 and 1888-89 large catches were made, probably falling 
little short of the foregoing. The season 1890-91 showed a large decrease in the 
quantity of oysters taken, the dredging fleet suffering most. The oysters were scarce 
and the prices high, the profits to both oystermen and marketmen being small. The 
decrease may have been to some extent due to the destruction effected by the great 
freshets in 1889. Those beds near the mouths of rivers draining large areas are 
reported as having exhibited the greatest depletion. The Virginia reefs were in fairly 
good condition, so that, taking the high prices into consideration, the oystermen of that 
State reported it as one of the most profitable seasons they had enjoyed for many 
years. 
In 1891-92 the yield in Maryland was much better, the catch being 11,632,730 
bushels, an increase of nearly 1,700,000 over the preceding season. This increased 
production was generally attributed to the effects of the cull law adopted in 1890 and 
the gradual recovery of the reefs from the destruction effected by the freshets of 1889. 
In 1892-93, except that the dredging fleet again fared badly, the fishery seemed 
to be in much the same condition as during the previous season. The oysters were 
larger and fatter, but scarce. Up to December 31 the receipts at Baltimore were 
3,022,170 bushels, as against 3,013,600 bushels in 1891-92 and 2,349,140 bushels in 
1890-91. During January and February unusually cold weather prevailed in the Chesa- 
peake region and the oyster fishery was almost stopped thereby. Thousands of boats 
and vessels were u frozen up” in the harbors and nearly all the shucking- houses were 
idle. The price for oysters in Baltimore ran up to $1.50 per bushel, this being higher 
than was ever before known at that port for standard-grade oysters. But as soon as 
the freeze was over the oystermen went to work and the season closed with a total 
catch of about 10,142,500 bushels, 1,490,230 bushels less than that of the preceding 
season. 
