THE OYSTER INDUSTRY OF MARYLAND. 
273 
The following tabular statement exhibits in a comparative form the total extent 
of the shucking trade during a number of seasons. The increase in the county 
markets at the expense of the trade at Baltimore is particularly noticeable : 
Table showing total extent of the oyster-shueJcing trade in Maryland. 
Items. 
1879-80. • 
1889-90. 
Baltimore. 
Counties. 
Total. 
Baltimore. 
Counties. 
Total. 
Number of persona 
6, 627 
2, 012 
8, 639 
8, 687 
3, 444 
12, 131 
Value of property 
$1,360, 966 
$75, 060 
$1. 436, 026 
$2, 044, 600 
. $252, 705 
$2, 297, 305 
Cash capital 
$2, 338, 300 
$154, 050 
$2, 497, 350 
$1, 935, 000 
$272, 950 
$2, 207, 950 
Wages paid 
$602, 427 
$175, 352 
$777, 779 
$727, 241 
$430, 037 
$1, 157, 278. 
$497, 541 
$126, 190 
$523, 731 
$411, 302 
Oysters shucked : 
Raw, bushel 
3, 769, 353 
1, 160, 948 
4, 930, 301 
3,206,177 
2, 994, 364 
6, 200, 541 
Value paid 
$1, 448, 040 
$300. 420 
$1, 748, 460 
$1, 899. 660 
$1, 325, 558 
$3, 225, 218 
Value received 
$2, 272, 240 
$453, 497 
$2, 725, 737 
$2, 662, 076 
$2, 032, 081 
$4, 694, 157 
Oysters canned : 
Bushels 
2, 689, 939 
2, 723, 191 
2, 491, 088 
2, 491, 088 
Vain© paid. 
$811, 208 
$818,488 
$1, 071, 168 
$1,071,168 
V alue received .... 
$1,244, 609 
$23’, 403 
$1, 268, 112 
$1, 728, 985 
$1,728, 985 
Total oysters handled : 
Bushels 
6, 459, 292 
1, 194, 200 
7, 653, 492 
5, 697, 265 
2, 994, 364 
8, 691, 629 
Value paid 
$2, 259, 248 
$307, 600 
$2, 566, 848 
$2, 970, 828 
$1, 325, 558 
$4, 296, 386 
Value received 
$3, 517, 349 
$476, 499 
$3. 993, 848 
$4, 391, 061 
$2, 032, 081 
$6, 423, 142 
Enhancement in value 
$1, 258, 101 
$168, 899 
$1, 427, 000 
$1, 420, 233 
$706, 523 
$2, 126, 756 
1890-91. 
1891-92. 
Items. 
Baltimore. 
Counties. 
Total. 
Baltimore. 
Counties. 
Total. 
Number of persons 
7, 830 
3, 463 
11, 293 
8, 523 
3, 585 
12, 108 
Value of property 
$2, 013,100 
$262, 525 
$2, 275, 625 
$2, 035, 000 
$270, 500 
$2, 305, 500 
Cash capital 
$1, 755, 000 
$285, 850 
$2, 040, 850 
$2, 050, 000 
$295, 000 
$2, 245, 000 
Wages paid 
$527, 150 
$397, 803 
$924, 953 
$646, 975 
$456, 350 
$1,103,325 
Other expenses 
$375, 030 
$405, 000 
Oysters shucked : 
Raw, bushel 
2, 331, 228 
2, 810, 292 
5, 141, 520 
2, 736, 342 
3, 362, 480 
6, 098, 822 
Value paid 
$1, 806, 129 
$1, 350, 782 
$3, 156, 911 
$1, 810, 120 
$1, 544, 610 
$3, 354, 730 
Value received 
$2, 373, 526 
$1, 917, 000 
$4, 290, 526 
2, 482, 000 
$2, 368, 130 
$4, 850, 130 
Oysters canned: 
Bushels 
1, 860, 792 
1, 860, 792 
2, 396, 763 
2, 396, 763 
Value oaid 
$1, 023, 436 
$1,023, 436 
$1, 201, 600 
$1, 201, 600 
Value received 
$1, 612, 572 
$1, 612 r 572 
$1, 856, 510 
$1, 856, 510 
Total oysters handled: 
Bushels 
4, 192, 020 
2, 810, 292 
7, 002, 312 
5, 133, 105 
3, 362, 480 
8, 495, 585 
Value paid . 
$2. 829, 565 
$1, 350, 782 
$4, 180, 347 
$3, 011, 720 
$1, 544, 610 
$4, 556, 330 
Value received 
$3, 986, 101 
$1, 917, 000 
$5, 903, 101 
$4, 338, 000 
$2, 368, 130 
$6, 706, 130 
Enhancement in value 
$566, 218 
$1, 722, 754 
$1, 326, 280 
$823, 520 
$2, 149, 800 
The oyster shells . — The disposition of the shells has always been an important 
item for consideration in connection with the marketing of oysters. As several 
hundred vessels are constantly employed during seven months of each year in trans- 
porting oysters to the markets, and as 1,000 bushels of oysters produce about 1,100 
bushels of shells, it can be imagined how rapidly these accumulate about the shucking- 
houses. The quantity of shells landed on the Maryland shores during the last ninety 
years approximates nearly 400,000,000 bushels, or 12,000,000 tons, twice sufficient to 
overload and sink every sail and steam vessel and barge and canal boat of America, 
and greater than the combined tonnage of all the sail vessels of the world. As three- 
fourths of the composition of the shell is carbonate of lime, the question that the Fool 
asked of King Lear — how the oyster makes its shell — appears almost unanswerable. 
Until the last two or three years the shells were usually given away without cost 
to the recipient and even then it was so difficult to become relieved of them that those 
marketmen with very limited areas attached to their shucking-houses spent thousands 
of dollars annually in having the shells removed. But the demand for them so greatly 
increased that they are now a considerable source of profit. It is estimated that in 
F. C. B. 1892—18 
