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The number of Dred pes employed in the various states having a natural growth of oysters or maintaining nn oyster fishery is approximately as follows, the figures being the latest shown by our records and applying for the most part to the present time:
Rhode Island	70
Connecticut	1+75
New York	1,250
New Jersey	1,510
Pennsylvania	170
Delaware	105
Maryland	M50
Virginia	660
Florida	6
Total	8,396
The figures for Maryland include a large number of small dredges operated from boats and unregistered vessels.
As to the proportion of the oyster cat'ch taken with dredges, it is estimated that in the states in which dredging is done more than one-half of the production is the yield of Dredges. The total value of the annual oyster output in the United States is about
Si5,000,000, the value of the oysters tkken with the Dredge is about $7,000,000.
In all the states in vhich the Dredge is employed, a certain amount of restrictio is placed on its use, but I do not now recall any important oyster states in which the dredge is entirely proscribed, unless it be some of the Southern States whose oyster laws are not now at hand for reference.
I	regret that there are no documents in this office that can be sent you tearing on the subject of the effect of dredging on the atundance of oysters.
Very respectfully,
HERBERT A. GILL,
Acting Commissioner