264 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
THE OYSTER MARKETS. 
General notes . — This branch of the oyster industry employs more capital than the 
fishery and about one-half as many persons. Baltimore is not only the most extensive 
oyster market in the State, but also in the world. About thirty years ago the trade 
in the Chesapeake was almost exclusively centered in that city, but the increased rail 
road facilities at the smaller ports along the bay shores have led to the establishment 
of many markets nearer the reefs. Crisfield, although handling scarcely one-fourth 
so many as Baltimore, now ranks second in extent, and following in order are Cam- 
bridge, Oxford, Annapolis, St. Michael, and many smaller places. Large quantities 
of oysters are also landed at other cities and towns situated on the tributaries of the 
Chesapeake Bay and there sold to retail dealers and consumers without passing through 
large shucking-houses. Among these places may be mentioned Washington, D. C., 
Alexandria, Va., Easton, Port Deposit, Chestertowu, Salisbury, and Pocomolre, Md. 
The marketing trade is divided into three branches, viz, the shell-oyster or barrel 
trade, the raw-shucking trade, and the steaming trade. Of these the raw-shncking 
branch is the most important, both as regards the quantity of oysters handled and the 
number of persons employed. Next in extent ranks the steaming trade, which is 
located entirely at Baltimore, at which place is prepared over nine-tenths of the 
world’s product of steam-canned oysters. Occasionally small steaming-houses have 
been operated at other ports in Maryland, but their product has never been extensive, 
and during the last four or five years Baltimore has had the exclusive enjoyment of 
this branch of the trade in Maryland. The marketing of shell or barrel stock oysters 
is comparatively small in Maryland, and usually no established wholesale houses 
devote themselves exclusively to this branch of the business. 
One of the most fruitful sources of trouble in connection with the oyster-marketing 
trade is the system of measuring the oysters as they are delivered at the markets. 
The shucking trade is extensive, but conducted on a small profit by reason of the 
great competition, and during some seasons a slight variation in the size of the bushel 
measure used may determine whether a firm may gain or lose by the season’s work. 
As early as 1860 regulations were made to prevent frauds in the measurement, but 
these were frequently amended or changed, and about the only heritage the industry 
now has from those enacted prior to 1884 are the regulations for the bushel measure 
and the provision for licensed measurers. The bushel measure is now required to be 
an iron tub of the following dimensions : Inside diameter at bottom, 16£ inches; inside 
diameter at top, 18, and 21 inches diagonal from the inside chime to the top, the same 
to be even or struck measure. The licensed measurers, each of whom pays $10 
annually as license fee, are required to measure all oysters sold in the various ports, 
receiving for their services the sum of £ cent per bushel, to be paid equally by buyer 
and seller. Each dealer may designate such measurer as he desires, as the number 
authorized is unlimited, and he usually has some one in his employ obtain license and 
attend to the work, thus saving the measuring fee. 
In 1884 (ch. 299) the governor was required thereafter, at each session of the 
general assembly, to appoint five persons for Baltimore and one person for each of the 
other oyster ports in the State, who should be kuown as general measurers of oysters, 
and whose duty it should be to see that the licensed measurers properly attended to 
their duty, and that all laws in respect to oyster measuring should be complied with, 
receiving as compensation 5 cents on each 100 bushels of oysters received, the same 
to be paid by the seller. This fee was changed in 1886 to 10 cents per 100 bushels. 
