28

The hermetically sealed branch requires about 2,500, chiefly
white persons, of the female sex—for the reason that the new
process of steaming, renders the opening of the oyster so
simple that children may do it.

The number of cans of 1, 2 and 3 pounds each, hermetically
sealed daily during the active season is quite 75,000. Thus,
nearly 8,000j000 of cans are required for the oysters; and
during the fruits and vegetable season of summer, the daily
average is about the same for a period equal to the oyster
season of winter. So that some 15 to 16,000,000 of cans of
oysters, fruits and vegetables are the product of this indus-
trial pursuit, and these again require some 600,000 cases in
which they are packed.

The manufacture of the cans gives employment to upwards
of four hundred persons, and the value of the tin, solder, &c.,
used in the manufacture, is near a million of dollars.

The case-making requires some two hundred and forty to
fifty carpenters constantly employed, and the cost of them is
about $250,000.

The average cost of the oysters for the year has been about
50 cts. per bushel. The value of the hermetically sealed
oysters, fruits and vegetables is equal to $3,500,000, and that
of the fresh oyster branch more than half as much mo. e, or a
sum total in value of this trade upwards of $5,250,000.

The number of vesseli engaged taking oysters for the Bal-
timore market is more than 1000 of fifty tons each, and some
500 to 600 vessels of larger class are running them to market,
These vessels, 1500 to 1600 in number, require an average of
crews equal to four each, or some 6000 persons. Then dur-
ing the summer and Autumn, or the fruit and vegetable sea-
son, as many more persons are engaged pickling, boxing and
shipping them to market, by steameri and bay craft; and
when all these oysters, fruits and vegetables reach our whar-
ves there is a teeming hive of carters, carmen and draymen,
who derive a living from the delivery of the same.

This trade has so rapidly grown to prodigious proportions
within a few years, as to excite astonishment with those even
who have had most experience in it. The chief points of
shipment for these goods are to the West, far West, and
North and Southwest, while the trade to California, once so
large, has diminished down to more insignificence."

This by no means shows the full extant of the trade ai the
cities of the District, Philadelphia, New York and the North-
ern citier derive their chief supply from this section and the
quantity does not appear in the Baltimore Price Current.

LIVE STOCK IN THE TIDE-WATER DIVISION.

All domestic animals from the horse to the hog flourish
well here and attain the highest degree of perfection. What