it | : =e ar oe 7. a — \ weet aha a7) i re TP i y : F Te! eo! : ( <7 a iar, * $ ; ae A ie . id i 2 : is wil} 4 ’ : AAP), — = ‘ 6j f ; ‘ i ‘ vas | ae y A ba = i fie al ¢ | F | | JFISHERY INDUSTRIES | | PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF BY } 9 Py. f PROFESSOR 5S. F. BAIRD, U. 8. COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, ASSISTANT ets 8. NATIONAL MUSEUM, ° DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. TENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES. BEL ASIN‘ EES. “Ac WALK rR, SUPERINTENDENT. THE HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION , OF THE G. BROWN GOODE, AND A STAFF OF ASSOCIATES. fare eee er N DUSTRY: BY ER MES TEN GERS OL LE. WASHINGTON: | , GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1881. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. TENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES. FRANOCIS-A. WALKER, SUPERINTENDENT. THE HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FISHERY INDUSTRIES. PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSOR S. F. BAIRD, U. 8S. COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, LY G. BROWN GOODE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, AND A STAFF OF ASSOCIATES. epee wo! a -IN DUST Rey. BY ER hen SreSoN GE R-SO EL. E.. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. it, SeSh ee LUNE Gel Si, Title. I. THE OysTER-INDUSTRY—DESCRIPTIVE AND STATISTICAL REPORTS. Poms Ey Ex Kom VE ARMIES MED ERG) VIL CES © OLN CUAUNTA IDA eter tates etait = alata) =tnlotmle mteiniet nial = ain’ aol ai nicialeiale sed = malsicnin eels e'swmiefacnie aoe. sacle 2 Georraphicall position and character of theloyster-Deds) ~see 5. The time and causes of the extinction of the oyster in the gulf of Maine -....-....... 0.2. .---2. ---------- 6. History of the natural oyster-beds in the gulf of Maine since the settlement of the coast by Europeans. .---- 7. Oyster-culture in the gulf of Vsti eee es ete seen artes ee LE ETN amos oo tea veee ed veee ee 8. History and present condition of the oyster-trade at Wellfleet and vicinity ....-. SEBS SSD SES aEaH SNe SSS Choe 9. History and present condition of the oyster-trade of Boston .......----. .----- ------ eee e cee c ee wee eee ee neee 10° The oyster-trade of Salem, Massachusetts, and: vicinity ..22-. 22-2. oe 2c 5 cone cece ween one ence snc seeeeceeee- UPR ex oy Sher. pUsMessiOLaN END UR YM OLD a= ante carainelaictaratactaceis cele hacia -2at cnleadevaceseasccaetecacecces 17. Oyster-culture and oyster-trade on Massachusetts affluents of Narraganset bay --.-------.-----------.------ EEO CARTST OR MEODE SIS AND sets aise nfea ata sas inlcla= mains’ slsinipias oscieiecoe@ascec Vecaciescccccsecccsecacces cscesssennce Lemgieralrern lam ons ot Rhode Leland: oysterstiSNeryisscqines eee cece core cowces oscces reads cooctee cans wesews sone Lehn ani o-OTOUNGS Ok Natta AISOlED a yrrse = she sans Ssh a ScAs ES SosdcseS RaSonE a gedee oe | Do. do. ( lopile” 5) eee ee ee ee See er eer 48 aan Sa Seo eee ee = SeARSao es seo Do. do. do. 53-66 Do. don * dosibveres tee T Saat See eR Ee EE IE Os ge CHS SE EH ERO Ea Soe J 216 SECTION X—[MONOGRAPH B.] A REPORT ON THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES S BY ERNEST INGERSOLL. Vi + _ - ie _.: ¥ : 7 a Loe a g ny ag Le > : EL eR eee Creare’ tetas) Ae if PEO TEE bp he Dae ba bv . a . a I. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY—DESCRIPTIVE AND STATISTICAL REPORTS. A. THE MARITIME PROVINCES OF CANADA. 1. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND CHARACTER OF THE OYSTER-BEDS. DESCRIPTION OF THE EASTERN COAST OF NEw BRruNSwicKk.—It is well known that eastern New Brunswick and the adjoining islands are the home of a breed of oysters, separated from those of the New England coast by more than a thousand miles of shore line. In a study of the oysters of the United States, it is important to glance at this distant scene of their growth and industry, but more than a general view of the subject is not compatible with the purposes of the present repé6rt. The eastern coast of the province of New Brunswick is washed by the waters of the gulf of St. Lawrence. At cape Tormentine the coast trends eastward, along Nova Scotia, to the Gut of Canso, and then turns sharply north- ward, on the western side of Cape Breton island, which bars out the Atlantic. This part of the gulf is a great bight, with Anticosti island on the north, and Cape Breton on the east. Down in the bottom of the bight, so to speak, lies the long irregular shape of Prince Edward island, between which and the mainland flow the shallow but troublesome currents of Northumberland strait. The shores of New Brunswick and Prince Edward are, for the most part, low bluffs of reddish soil, and sloping meadows. ‘There is little solid rock, few prominent headlands, but a generally continuous line of shore, shelving very gradually into water nowhere deep. Many rivers come down along the coast of the gulf, and at the mouth of each there is an estuary or inlet, proportionate to the size of the stream, from the mighty channel of the St. Lawrence to the miniature bay of Bedeque. Wijh the exception of two or three of the greater ones, all these inlets are so shallow that it is easy to pole a raft anywhere, and they are usually protected from the swell of the outer sea and the fury of the gales by a barrier of islands, or by projecting headlands and bars. This condition of things seems highly favorable for oyster-growth, since nearly all of these inlets contain colonies of these mollusks. SHIPPEGAN AND CARAQUErTE TO Picrou.—Beginning at the north, on the coast of New Brunswick, the most distant point at which I could ascertain that oysters nad ever been discovered, was in the rear of Miscou island, at Shippegan, and in Caraquette bay, a harbor on the southern shore of the bay of Chaleurs. In 1849, Mr. Perley, the queen’s commissioner, reported to the government: Some oysters of very large size and good quality are found at Tabusintae; but those of the finest description are found on extensive beds in Shippegan harbor, St. Simon’s inlet, and Caraquette bay, from which localities they are exported every season to Quebec, The number of bushéls exported from the port of Caraquette during the last eight years, is as follows: (odes: eRe cea a Oe G0) 2s ee ee ee inal LAN a: os Neh ea Re i ae FEC Lyte: ihe eae NRE ee 12 1,915 ee pee ee Gb PI 2. SS Soi |i a a 425 i.e le ee ke Ss eee eee Ud Teo)» Ee tee ee a 5, 432 Twenty years later, Mr. Venning, inspector of fisheries, wrote: “In Shippegan and Caraquette, close time for the protection of the oyster-beds has, for the first time (1869), been partially enforced. These beds are extensive and widely separated, and it is a matter of much difficulty to prevent occasional violations of the law.” Again, Professor Whiteaves* was informed that oysters had been taken upon the flukes of anchors, in seven fathoms of water, “between Little and Big Caraquette banks, in the bay of Chaleurs.” I see no reason why they should not also be found at the mouth of the Nipisiguit river, farther up the bay, on the same shore. South of Miscou and Shippegan “ gullies” the coast seems too bold a one for oysters in great plenty, until Miramichi bay is reached, the whole interior of which is full of these mollusks. This is especially true along the south shore, where there are many islands, and at the innermost shallow extremity of the bay, where the Miramichi river comes in. 3ettaouin is a particularly rich locality. Taving rounded Escuminac cape, the headland south of Miramichi bay, a group - # = is Ee = rs) CRS sit >: * Ganaaian Naturatiat) Vii, 344, 4 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. of islands is soon reached, lying off the coast and parallel with it, under the shelter of which, in Kouchibouguae ana Richibucto harbors, tere is an abundance of beds. Passing on southward, along the shore of Northumberland strait, Buctouche, Cocaigne, and Shediac bays follow in productive succession, beyond which there are no beds reported, until cape Tormentine is passed and the shallow coast of Nova Scotia is reached, extending from Pugwash to Pictou. These last two localities are of small account, and close the list for the mainland. . PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.—Prinee Edward island, however, is almost engirdled with oysters and their remains, except at the western end, where the precipitous red banks that give so picturesque an aspect to this coast, are unsuitable for oyster-growth. The localities where beds exist, or have existed, on the island are: Cascumpeque, Richmond bay, Grand river, and the Narrows, in a group; Malpeque, the harbor of New London, Hillsborough bay and river near Charlottetown, and Bedeque and Egmont bays. In addition to these main localities there is an almost continual line of shallow and sheltered coves and inlets, around the whole eastern coast of the island, where extinct or semi-fossil beds of oysters are to be found, embracing nearly every tidal bay or outlet. Capp BREeTON AND Nova ScorrA.—Crossing now over to Cape Breton, a glance at the map will remind the reader that the whole interior of the island is occupied by the Bras d’Or, which enters by two narrow channels from the northeast, with Boulardrie island between them. ‘The Bras d’Or is the most beautiful salt-water lake I have ever seen, and more beautiful than I had imagined a body of salt water could be,” says Mr. Charles Dudley Warner, in Baddeck and That Sort of Thing. “The water seeks out all the low places, and ramifies the interior, rmmning away into lovely bays and lagoons, leaving slender tongues of land and picturesque islands, and bringing into the recesses of the land, to the remote country farms and settlements, the flavor of salt and the fish and mollusks of the briny sea. There is very little tide at any time, so that the shores are clean and sightly for the most part, like those of a fresh-water lake. It has all the pleasantness of a fresh-water lake, with all the advantages of a salt one. In the streams which run into it are the speckled trout, the shad,.and the salmon; out of its depths are hooked the cod and the mackerel, and in its bays fattens the oyster. This irregular lake is annee one hundred miles long, if you measure it skillfully, and in some places ten miles broad; but so indented is it, that I am not sure but one would need, as we were informed, to ride one thousand miles to go round it, following all its incursions into the land.” Here, as might be expected, the oyster lives in plenty, from St. Ann’s to Mira river and St. Peter’s bay. “The few oysters to be met with off Nova Scotia,” according to Purdy, ‘occur at Jeddore head, twenty or twenty-five miles east of Halifax harbor; also Country harbor, St. Mary’s river, and Liscombe canoe Guysboro’ county, on the outside, and Pictou harbor, John river, Wallace, Charles river, and Pugwash (mentioned above), in Northumberland straits.” This catalogue appears to embrace the whole region known where oysters occur. In none of his dredging expeditions upon the Dominion’s vessels did Professor Whiteaves meet with “traces even of oysters in any part of the area between Cape Breton and Prince Edward island, nor in any part of Northumberland straits, where the bottom is deeper than 5 or 6 fathoms—that is to say, not in any of the open parts”. In a letter printed in the Canadian Naturalist for 1874, hereafter frequently to be referred to, the Hon. W. H. Pope, of Summerside, Prince Edward island, reiterates this assertion, but adds: Some years ago I observed a quantity of oyster-shells on the sand at the north end of Tryon shoals (which are situated on the south sido of the island); they were about a quarter of a mile from the shore. Some of the shells were filled with sand more compact than some of our sandstone rocks. When I first observed these shells, my opinion was that they had been washed ashore from beds situated in the deep water of the straits of Northumberland. It has since occurred to me that they are in situ, and are the remains of an ancient oyster-bed which had been destroyed by the sand. The existence of a soft, muddy bottom in the vicinity of these shells, supports the supposition that at some period this muddy bottom was more extensive than at present; that the oyster-bed was then formed, and was destroyed by the encroachment of the sand forming the Tryon shoal. WUHITEAVES ON THE SOUTHERN FAUNA OF THE GULF OF St. LAWRENCE.—A suggestion of how it may be possible for oysters and so many other southern-dwvelling mollusks to inhabit a sea so far north, and apparently so exposed to the aretic ice and freezing currents that sweep down past Labrador, as are these, is made by Whiteaves in the following paragraph: On the admiralty charts of the gulf of St. Lawrence an irregular line of 60-fathoms soundings may be seen to extend from a little above the northern extremity of the island of Cape Breton, round the Magdalen group, and thence in a westerly direction to Bonaventure island. To the south and southwest of this line the water is uniformly somewhat shallow, while to the north, northwest, and northeast the water deepens rapidly, and in some places precipitously. Principal Dawson suggests that the subcarbon- iferous rocks of which the Magdalen islands are composed, and which appear again in the mainland, in Bonaventure county, may possibly cross up under the sea in the area between the northwest side of Cape Breton and the mainland of New Brunswick, as well as that of the counties of Bonaventure and Gaspé, in the province of Quebee. This may account for the shallowness of the water in the area in question. Whether this is the case or not, it seems not improbable that the submarine plateau inside of this line of shallow soundings may form a natural barrier to those aretic currents which sweep down the straits of Belle Isle in a southwesterly direction, and may tend to deflect their course in a bold curve into and up the river St. Lawrence. SIZE AND QUALITY OF CANADIAN OYSTERS.—The oysters of this region are of large size, and have thick, strong sheils. Oysters of eight or ten inches in length are not extraordinary. I have heard of shells dredged from extinct beds “as long as your forearm”, but I saw none of these monsters. The best are those which THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 5 have straight and narrow or evenly-rounded shells, and grow singly. When the oysters grow in clusters, the fishermen consider it a sign of degeneracy. That, as a rule, the oysters found nowadays are smaller than those taken by the last generation, is probably a tradition, without better foundation than other popular suppositions that we live in degenerate days; the old shells dredged from the mud show no gigantie proportions. The oysters differ in taste, and consequently in quality, with the locality. Those from Shediac, Bedeque, and Richmond bays are esteemed most highly, because they are of firm substance and strongly saline flavor. Those from the other beds are of fresher flavor, and some, for instance those in Hillsborough river, are disliked, because “thin and watery”. This seems due mainly to the fact that they are subjected to more fresh water than is good for them when the tide is out. The oysters of poorest quality of all, according to common report, come from the Richibucto region, although there is the deepest water in which I have known them to be taken.* CHARACTER OF THE BEDS.—The depth of water in which they live varies, from places so shallow that they are left quite exposed by the lowest tides, to a depth of 40 feet. This last is reported from Richibucto. Perhaps the average depth may be put at. 10 feet.t The oysters occur in beds of varying size and shape. Some of them will be only a few rods, others several acres in extent. The slow accumulation of living upon dead oysters, the drifting of the sediment, and the growth of other organisms, have built many of these beds almost up to the surface, leaving a deep channel betiveen neighboring colonies. The foundations of such beds have been proved to be in some cases more than 20 feet below their crests. Here and there, however, as in some parts of Richmond bay, and at Caraquette, the beds appear to be less well defined and of more modern origin. The height which the oyster-beds attain above the general level of the bottom, probably furnishes a solution of the well observed fact, that the ice becomes unsafe over an oyster-bank, while it is firm elsewhere; the ridge of the beds would form currents in the tides that would wear the ice over them with more force and rapidity than elsewhere. These oysters seem to have few enemies. In a list of animals found associated with this mollusk on the beds at Shediac, Professor Whiteaves marks the mussels, Mytilus edulis and, Modiola modiolus, the Natica heros, two starfishes and a sea-urchin, as “ more or less inimical”; but he adds: “So far as I could see, these do not exist in sufficient abundance in Northumberland straits to be of any serious disadvantage.” One of the old oystermen at Shediac told me he had only seen three starfishes in his whole life. The shells of all sorts of bivalves here are almost universally perforated by a sponge, but no harm seems to ensue to them when living. 2. MANNER OF PROCURING THE OYSTERS. EARLY OYSTER-FISHING.—The methods of procuring oysters employed in the maritime provinces are substan- tially those followed in the United States, so faras the summer fishing is concerned. But in winter, oysters are often raked through the ice. That this is an ancient custom, appears from a paragraph in Charlevoix’s History of North America: Oy(ters are very Plenty in Winter on the Coafts of Acadia, and the Manner of fifhing for them is fomething fingular. They make a Hole in the Ice, and they thruft in two Poles in fuch a Manner, that they have the Effect of a Pair of Pincers, and they feldom draw them up without an Oyfter. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY AT SHEDIAC.—The two most famous localities for oysters are Shediac and Summerside. Shediac is a village of about 800 to 1,000 people, situated on the south side of Shediac bay, an inlet from Northumberland straits. The harbor extends for about four miles inland, and into its upper end flow one or two small rivers. The outermost point of the harbor is Point du Chéne, where the terminus of the Intercolonial railway from St. John is located. The harbor of Shediac is commodious, and protected by Shediac island; but the depth of wateris not great, and the few foreign vessels that come here annually for deals, are obliged to anchor off the point. Their cargoes are conveyed to them, from the mills at the head of the bay, in raits. Shediac is an ancient settlement of the Acadians, and has been the scene not only of Indian battles, but of French garrisons, and of sanguinary conflicts between French and English, during the long contest which raged for the possession of these shores during the early part of the last century and previously. Once or twice, long ago, it was burned to the ground, and has suffered a third conflagration since my visit. At one time it was hoped to make it a port of importance, but its sole fame at present rests upon its oysters; and this is a fading glory, for the beds are nearly depopulated of the excellent bivalves that formerly flourished in such abundance. From the long railway wharf at Point du Chéne, itself founded upon oyster shells, the beds once existed in thick succession along both shores of the bay, and for some distance up the Shediac river, clear around to the * Oysters are abundant at Cocaigne, Buctouche, Richibucto, Burnt Chureh, and other places on the coast, but in general they are too far within the mouths of fresh-water streams, and their quality is greatly inferior to those affected by sea-water only.—PERLEY. Report on the Fisheries, 1849. ~ + You inquire: ‘‘Do you think oysters would thrive in somewhat deeper water than that in which they are now found, if sown there?” I think they would thrive in the deepest part of any inland water, if placed upon suitable ground.—Porr. Letter to Whiteaves, Canadian Naturalist, vii, 347. 6 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. : Grandique, a stream that empties into the northeastern corner of the bay. The number of these beds is said to be about fifty, and they cover the soft bottom of the harbor with great mounds. 4 Procuring the services and guidance of Frank Giuvien, I started out one dark morning to see the beds and the process of raking. It was raining hard, the wind was chill and fitful, and the general appearance of the surroundings somber in the extreme. The boat was a large, red, yawl-shaped one, and it lay some distance out in the water, hard aground, although the tide was well up. Pulling off their shoes and stockings, Giuvien and his assistant soon had it afloat, erected the mast, and then came to carry me on board ’poose-back. Having gone a third of a mile from shore, and crossed the deepest part of the bay (in water of 4 to 6 fathoms), we struck the first bed, finding it, by sounding with a pole, not more than five feet below the surface. Ramming the pole hard down we “hung” the boat by my holding on to it, while Giuvien thrust down his great rake, and his assistant his “tongs”. But nothing was taken alive except one or two quahaugs, and we movedon. Trying several beds, all coming within a fathom or less of the surface, and some being of great extent, we succeeded in two hours in raking a dozen and a half of small oysters and about three dozen fine quahaugs, besides some mussels. This was a fair sample of the condition of the whole bay. The rake and tongs used do not differ from those well known to oystermen in the United States, except, perhaps, that they are ruder, generally being of home manufacture. In the winter, when the ice forms over the whole bay to a thickness of three feet or so, the oysterman finds his way out to a position over some of the beds, with the location of which he is perfectly familiar, and cuts a large hole in the ice. Through this he lowers rake and tongs, and brings up load after load of living mollusks and dead shells. Here this is the most profitable time of the year for the oysterman; or, rather, it used to be. Twenty-five or thirty years ago, not to go further back, the trade in oysters at this town was extensive, amounting to probably about 1,000 barrels a year. Most of this crop was shucked and sent to St. John in kegs. In earlier times it was not uncommon for one man to rake up a sleigh-load of oysters, through the ice, in a single afternoon. Now 200 bushels a year is all that is produced, apd this in a very desultory fashion. No one devotes himself to it but the French fishermen, and farmers use their leisure in raking occasionally. At Richibucto the oysters grow in the channel, and clear across the inlet, in water as deep as 35 feet. There, consequently, rakes are used attached to poles so long and unwieldy that they require two men for their manipulation. This great bay has been nearly depleted, however. In the Canadian Fisheries Report, Mr. J. McD. Sutherland, local officer there, wrote to Mr. Venning, inspector of fisheries, as follows: There are a good many oyster-beds in the river, but with the exception of one at Indian island (uear to the south beach), the oysters are very small, and of so poor a quality, that none have been sent away for years; in fact, they will not sell. The only beds from which any are taken at present, are two at Kingston bridge, and one or two farther up the river, and only in very small quantities, as they are of so poor a quality that it is difficult to find sale for them. There is a very large bed at Indian island, and the oysters are very large and of excellent quality; but they are scarce and hard to get. Not more than 30 or 40 barrels were taken from it last year. A man may rake all day, and perhaps get only a bushel. There are hundreds of barrels of shells on this bed, and some farmers are making arrangements to get the shells off it as manure for their farms. If anything could be done to protect or increase the oysters in this bed, I think it deserves attention. The only suggestion I can offer is, that the shells and dead oysters be removed, and raking prohibited for a number of years. There are some beds on which the oysters are all dead, from which large quantities of shells are taken every year by the farmers.—( Page 76.) The present point of greatest abundance of the oyster on the mainland seems to be in Miramichi bay, at Bettaouin. In 1876, Giavien went there in a small vessel, with several others from Shediac, on a raking expedition. They found the oysters were distributed everywhere over the harbor so thickly, that every square foot of the bottom seemed to be occupied. They seemed to lie in little connected clusters right upon the sand, which was so soft that mooring-stakes were easily driven into it. They found on the ground ships and schooners that took away over 4,000 barrels during the single fortnight they remained. These bought their cargoes, at the rate of $1 a barrel, from the small boats (each operated by two men) that swarmed in the harbor. The ships took their cargoes to Quebec, various smaller craft carried loads elsewhere, and the 65 small boats that came down there from Caraquette all intended to go home with full loads when the selling season closed. Four years of this onslaught have now almost exterminated this great oyster-community. So much for the mainland, where, I believe, the tongs and rake used from small boats in summer, and the rake through the ice in winter, upon wild beds, every man owning his own implements and fishing for his own good at odd moments, comprise the whole of oystering. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.—Crossing now to Prince Edward island, a somewhat more systematic, if not more scientific, pursuit of this industry is to be seen. The headquarters of the business is at Summerside, a small, wooden, unattractive town of about 800 inhabitants, situated at the extremity of Bedeque bay, on the southern side of the island. It is a landing place of the steamers from Shediae, and also of the line to Montreal. This district was originally settled by French; but when the island was ceded to Great Britain, these people were expelled, and the inhabitants are now almost wholly Scotch and English. From Summerside are sent the famous “ Bedeque” oysters, so called from the bay in which they were found. The true Bedeque oysters are, however, now extinct, or at least so nearly so as to be entirely unprofitable for raking. The bay is an inlet half a dozen miles long, in which the water is nowhere more than 3 or 4 fathoms deep, THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. ri except in the channel that leads to the wharves of the fort. The whole sandy bottom of this bay is described as formerly one vast oyster-bed. At the upper end it was so shallow that, when the tide was out, even children might wade about and pick up oysters, which were often found clinging to the eel-grass, with their hands; such oysters were the best of all. Finally, the head of the bay became so choked up, that in the winter, at low tide, the ice was let down until it rested full weight upon the beds. But now the bay has lost its ancient suitability as a home for the bivalves, and few remain. ‘ Bedeque” oysters, therefore, like those of the once-celebrated “ Porier ” bed at Shediac, now come from elsewhere, but still pass in the market under the brand-name by which they attained their fame for excellence. The chief source of supply at present is Richmond bay, an inlet on the north shore formed by the union of several estuaries and filled with islands and sand-bars. That region, however, has many subdivisions. It consists of a great, irregular, interior basin of shallow water, sending its arms back into the country - in all directions, and receiving long, wooded capes that jut out and form sheltered bays in great number. The water-access from the ocean to this lake is through Malpeque bay and the Narrows. The term “Richmond bay” is really restricted to the innermost part of it, while the western portion is called Grand river. The shores are low, the bottom is soft, sandy mud, and no force of the outside storms ever penetrates these calm recesses. Here then, if anywhere, ought we to find oysters, and here they occur in vast numbers. The people who live on the shores of this broad estuary are of varied nationality, and nearly all own farms, or cultivate the land for others. They may therefore be called farmers, as a class. But in the spring for a little while, and from the first of September until November seals the water under its icy cover, they all become oystermen. A few of them own small sail-boats, two-masted or sloop-rigged, worth from $30 to $50, and of far more use than beauty. Asa rule, however, they go out to the beds in rude, flat-bottomed, square-sterned, awkward boats, called “flats”. These are worth $10 each, and every family owns at least one, with its oars and the anchor. Lakes or | dredges are not used at all here; only a pair of tongs, worth about $2 50. It does not require much capital, therefore, to enter upon the business.* Oyster fishing begins on September 1 and lasts until the ice forms. On this island no fishing through the ice is -practiced, and all that is done, with the exception of a few days in the spring, must be done at once. During this season, therefore, all else is pretty much abandoned, and four or five hundred persons will be found engaged in the work in the western half of the island; it is considered a good day’s work when a boat brings home in the evening two barrels to each of the crew. In so sheltered a place as Richmond bay the state of the weather, which is likely to be very rainy, chilly, and uncertain, makes little difference with the work. About one-half of the fishermen are heads of families, the other half being made up of boys and young unmarried men, and the vagabond element. Some of the more well-to-do farmers buy on the shore the catch of the latter class, to a considerable extent, and add it to their own stock, paying from 50 to 80 cents a barrel on the shore. The main part of the catch, however, is hauled day by day to Summerside, from 2 to 10 miles distant, at an expense of from 10 to 15 cents a barrel, and sold to the warehouses there. Sometimes the Summerside dealers go out to the shore and buy, but more frequently procure what is not brought to their doors, by sending out empty barrels to different persons and engaging them to be filled. The barrels used are second-hand flour barrels, worth 15 to 20 cents, and holding two and a balf bushels, or from three to four hundred oysters each. The price paid for these oysters varies from year to year. The highest rate ever reached was in 1875, when $2 50 per barrel was paid at the warehouse. Since then, partly owing to the stimulus given by the high price, and the consequent increased supply, the price has declined, until this September (1879) it went as low as 80 cents a barrel, but recovered before ‘the end of the month to $1, which may be called the average price. A stormy season will lessen the supply and augment the value. Little distinction is made by the warehousemen in buying in respect to locality, but in selling it is found that the fine single oysters from Grand river will bring a considerable advance over those from Malpeque and other points. The rule is: the deeper the water, the better the oyster. It is conceded that the old Bedeque oyster was the best of all. With the fall crop of oysters the farmer-fishermen expect to pay for their winter’s supply of provisions, chiefly flour. But little cash, therefore, is used in the transaction, the buyer exchanging a barrel of flour for from five to seven barrels of oysters. The average receipts of the oyster-fishermen are difficult to estimate; but those best competent to judge thought that the men who paid strict attention to the business received from $50 to $70 a year from it. This may be put down as about one-fourth of their total annual income. The working classes on the island think they are doing very well if they make $300 a year. Every one of them is a year in debt. When the warehouseman delivers his flour in exchange for the oysters, it is really the crop of the next fall that he is buying, for the oysters he has just received were owed to him for the previous winter’s provisions. It is so with all the mercharts in town, who obtain a good portion of the seasow’s catch for their own use, in pay for dry-goods, groceries, &c. The amount of cash capital involved in the business of oyster-dealing, therefore, is disproportionate to the apparent business done, since so great a part of it is by barter. In the vicinity of Summerside it is probably within = * The dredge has never, to my knowledge, been employed in the waters of Prince Edward island. Oysters are fished with “tongs” from depths varying from 3 or 4 feet to 12, and eyen 15, feet.—Porr. Letter to Whiteaves, Canadian Naturalist, vii, 349. 8 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. bounds to say that $25,000 would cover the capital of all the dealers combined; and they represent all the oyster- trade there is on the island worth mentioning. The business is not now so good as formerly, on account of the “hard times” that now oppress the Canadas; and a profit of 20 per cent. is considered large; but in former years 50 per cent. of profit was often realized without much risk. At the eastern end of the island the only locality for oysters, within recent times, is in Hillsborough bay and its tributaries. This water is on the south shore, and is the harbor of Charlottetown, the chief town of the province. Old men remember when oysters were so abundant there that they seemed inexhaustible. Rich beds were to be found along the west side of Hillsborough bay, over in Orwell and Pownall bays, along the channel into the inner harbor, and everywhere there and up Hillsborough, East and West rivers. The finest of all grew attached singly to the eel-grass at the heads of the various little inlets, where one could wade out and get them; and at certain places the beds were so crowded that a boat could take eight bushels in an hour. Now, however, these bays are almost depopulated of their oysters, and not more than $500 worth annually, it is said, are raked there. These are all used in Charlottetown, being raked and peddled by two men who make a scant business of it. Charlottetown, in addition, consumes nearly a thousand barrels from the western end of the island, esteeming her own of far poorer quality. Concerning the oysters of the Bras @’Or I could learn but little, but became satisfied that no trade in them existed, beyond a limited home consumption by those who fished and their neighbors. 3. FUTURE OF THE OYSTER-BEDS AND OYSTER-TRADE. FORMER AND PRESENT ABUNDANCE.—A few words ought now to be said upon the relative former and present abundance of the oysters of this region and the causes operating toward their increase or decrease. To begin with: I am convinced that if it were possible to make a comparison between the actual number of oysters on the beds fifty years ago with the number to-day, the disparity would not be great. The production has changed geographically, rather than numerically. Ancient areas no longer yield so fully, but new ones have’ been discovered. The most famous of the old localities was Shediac, where the “ Porier bed” sent to the interior settlements the best mollusks known. This bed lay between Shediac island and the north shore of the bay, and has been abandoned for many years; but a fisherman told me, he thought a week’s profitable raking might be done there now. After the exhaustion of the Porier bed, the large, salty, fat “ Bedeque” oysters were placed in the market, and acquired a high reputation. The demand soon exhausted them, but a few could at present be got anywhere in the bay, now that they have rested so long. Meanwhile the eastern end of Prince Edward island had lost its oysters, and those of the productive beds on the mainland were of poor quality. The shore-people began to think the era of good oysters had passed by. More thorough and careful search was thus stimulated, and the results were, first, the discovery that the beds in Cassumpeque, Malpeque, and Richmond bays were much more extensive than had been supposed, and, second, the disclosure of wholly new localities in Miramichi bay and elsewhere. The causes of the extinction of the old traditional beds are various. It is easy to see that the inordinate attack made upon the new locality of Bettaouin during the last four years will shortly be fatal to it. It has nearly proved so now, just as the other natural storehouses of these mollusks along the coast have been depleted by excessive and heedless use.* On the contrary, in the extensive region on the north side of Prince Edward island, whence the trade is now mainly supplied, there seems to be no doubt of a steady growth in numbers, and no degeneracy in size and quality. CAUSES OF EXTERMINATION.—The general law of the Dominion forbids the taking of oysters, at any point, between the 1st of May and the 1st of September, when they are spawning. This law excites great disgust among the fishermen, who assert that the proper way to afford legal protection to the industry is to prohibit winter-fishing. As a result, the law is constantly broken.t The summer-raking, they say, does more good than harm; it is positively beneficial, for it stirs up the beds and contributes to their widening. In the constant moving of the boat the tongs or rake must rarely strike the ground twice in the same or nearly the same place, and only a few of the mollusks are taken here and there. “Oysters thrive on muddy bottoms,” writes Mr. Pope, “ but they will not live if imbedded in the mud. Many oyster-beds have been destroyed by mud alone. The annual fishing of oyster-beds, if not carried to excess, improves them. In the process of fishing the bed is broken up, the shells and oysters lifted out of the mud, and a supply of material (cultch) afforded, such as the oyster spat requires, and without which it must perish.” This is undoubtedly true to a great extent, as has been proved in the United States. * The close time is now (1869) rigidly enforced, but these beds (in Shediac harbor) have been so much reduced by years of indiscriminate raking, that a long time will elapse before they are restored. * * * The oyster-beds in Richibucto harbor and river are now greatly reduced and almost valueless; and the only mode of restoring them is to prohibit raking entirely for a number of years, or to lease them for natural and artificial eulture.—VENnNiING, Report on Canadian Fisheries, 187076. t Oysters are caught and exposed for sale in every month in the year, and salmon are destroyed upon their spawning-beds with the utmost impunity.—Porr, Letter to Whiteaves, Canadian Naturalist, vii, 347. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 9 In fishing through the ice, on the contrary, every living thing, and most of the loose dead matter within reach of the long rake, are scraped up. A barren spot of mud alone is thus left upon the bed. In summer all the débris brought up by the tongs is thrown overboard, and is washed clean as it sinks waveringly to the bottom, forming a loose layer of clean shells, ete..—precisely what the spawn needs to find support upon and cling to. It is equal to putting down “ stools” It appears, however, that sometimes this throwing back is a great harm, because living ones may be so few and the proportion of dead shells so large. Thus the local officer, Mr. John McD. Sutherland, in Kent county, in 1869, wrote that the beds at Richibucto had been destroyed mainly through the practice of throwing back the shells and dead oysters, which covered the living ones and killed them. “I do not think,” he adds, “the digging of mud for manure in any way injures the oysters, as there are none in the mud so taken, but a large quantity of very small mussels.” The ice-rakers, contrary to this advisable method of throwing back the shells, pile the worthless stuff they bring up on the ice, where it either remains to be floated out to sea when the ice breaks up, or is carted away to be spread on the fields. The bed is not only scraped perfectly bare of its oysters, therefore, but nothing is left for even the spawn to attach itself to; present and future are both destroyed. This is a reasonable, and I believe a true, explanation of the decline of the yield at Shediac and at many other points where it has been customary to rake -in winter, so far as man’s agency is concerned. ‘The fact that the Richmond bay region, which is never raked through the ice, thrives under steady spring and fall work, supports this notion. The midsummer rest may or may not be worth the giving, but the strength of the law should certainly be opposed to working through the ice. Many beds have ceased to produce within historical times, apparently for no other reason, than that by the natural procéss of growth, one generation of oysters resting on the dead remains of the last, has built up the deposit until it has come too near the surface. The clearing of the country, and the consequent increased amount of drifted matter and sediment brought down by the streams that empty into the estuaries where the beds are situated, aid to bring about this result, by raising the general level of the bottom, clogging the surface of the beds, and thus lessening the depth of the water, until at some. unusually low tide in winter the immense weight of the ice is let down upon the bed, crushing and freezing all its life. This appears to be the case in the bay of Bedeque. As for the extensive submarine deposits of oyster-shells that girdle the eastern and northern shore of Prince Edward island, we do not know how old tliey are nor what killed them. Possibly the general geological elevation of this coast brought them all too near the surface at once. I put much faith in this hypothesis. It has been said that drifting ice tears up.the beds; but I, personally, could not learn of any appreciable damage ever occurring in this way. All the beds are well sheltered from the bergs and floes that swing up and down Northumberland strait, and follow the currents through the stormy breadth of the open gulf. It is said to be one of the most favorable conditions that conduce to the oyster-prosperity of the Malpeque region, that there the ice disappears earlier than from the confined southern coasts of the island. I find some discussion of this subject by the Hon. W. H. ee in his annem to Professor Whiteaves, from Prince Edward island, already quoted by me. He sz It is probable that many of the oyster-beds ceased to be eg of oysters ages before the settlement of the country by Europeans. Extensive deposits of oyster-shells are now found coyered by several feet of silt. How were the oysters upon these beds destroyed? The natural process of reproduction and decay would cause the oyster-beds, formed on the bottom, to rise so near to the surface of the water that the ice would rest on them. The weight of heavy masses of ice upon the beds would injure the oysters, and the moving of the ice, when forced by tide or wind across the bed, would soon destroy them. I have observed the more elevated portions of an oyster-bed over which the ice had been thus forced. Several inches of the surface of the bed, including all the living oysters, had been driven before the ice, and the shells and oysters so removed had been deposited in a miniature moraine on the slope of the bed where the water was sufficiently deep to allow the ice to pass over it. This crushing and grinding process would destroy many of the oysters; some would be crushed and broken, others smothered in the moraine. The gradual silting up of the river would prevent the running of the ice, and the oyster-beds would in time be covered, as we now find them. Deposits of oyster-shells (covered with mud) 20 feet in depth, are found in rivers in the deepest parts of which there are not 14 feet of water. Oysters upon natural beds are seldom, if ever, killed by frost. I have known oysters to thrive upon a hard and stony bottom, notwithstanding that the ice rested upon them once in 24 hours throughout the winter. Some of these oysters grew adherent to a small flat rock, about 8 inches in thickness. The oysters on the top of the rock were killed when they attained their second year’s growth, I think, by pressure, as those on the edges were never injured by ice or cold. Oyster-beds in rivers in which sawdust is thrown in large quantities, would probably be injured by it. The sawdust would, I think, be carried by the current over the beds, and the roughness of their surface would detain some of it. The interstices between the shells and oysters would probably become filled with sawdust and mud. Mud and decomposing sawdust constitute a most offensive compound. There is another harmful influence exerted upon the oysters, however, by civilization, namely, the mud-digging. The whole bottom of each and all of these oyster-bays is a comminuted mixture of decomposed shells and vegetable matters, which goes under the name of mussel-mud. No one has ever sounded the full thickness of this, I think ; but it has been dug to the depth of 20 feet by the rude horse-power scoops that are employed to dip it up. It makes the best of manure, and hundreds of thousands* of loads have been spread upon the neighboring farms *During the past ten or twelve years millions of tons of oyster-shells and mud have been taken up by our farmers from oyster-beds, by means of dredging-machines worked by horses on the ice. In many instances the beds have been cut through. and in some places the deposits of shell have been found to be upward of 20 fect in thickness.—Porr. Letter to Whiteaves, Canadian Naturalist, vii, 345. 10 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. every year. It is sold by the dredgers at 10 cents a load, and it costs from 10 to 15 cents a load to haul it. Three hundred loads a day might be raised, if demanded. In the excavation of this fertilizer two features work disadvantageously to the oyster. In the first place, the actual bottom is torn to pieces—the home destroyed and the mollusks themselves eradicated. Secondly, the operation sets free great quantities of fine silt, which spreads through the water far and wide, falls upon the oysters, and smothers or chokes them. The bay has lost its ancient purity, and is no longer a suitable place for oyster-habitation. When, however, the work of the mud-diggers is completed, the excavation they leave is gradually taken possession of again by mollusks. This has happened particularly at West river, near Charlottetown, where the whole bottom, for a long distance, was dredged up and taken away, oysters and all, and it encourages belief that perhaps whea Bedeque and the other bays are thoroughly robbed of their manuring deposits, the desirable bivalves that once inhabited them will return to their ancient haunts to begin a new era of existence and generation. OYSTER-CULTURE IN THE PROVINCES.—Nothing in the way of oyster-cultivation, properly speaking, has been attempted in the Provinces, that I could learn of. When the oyster dealers in St. John find themselves over- stocked in summer, they sometimes throw a lot of oysters overboard near Navy island, raking them up as they are wanted. An attempt to plant some there several years ago, resulted in all being stolen within a few months. Occasionally a schooner-load of oysters is brought down from Buctouche, Miramichi, or some other northern bay, where they are of poor quality, and are dumped for a few months in Shediac bay to “fatten”. The improvement is said to be very rapid and striking. Near Charlottetown, some years ago, a citizen took up a large quantity of oysters from a distant part of the harbor and laid them down near his home, forming a bed convenient to his hand, and the position of which was kept a secret in the family. oases once oc eeeae heen eee Seas ee eA D SAP eOOrE ECE | et) Took up in' two) years, 1,000 bushels, at/20 cents) cost, a-2 ssss=s<\esone se seeaeeeeenesesse eee eee Sane aeeneee se 200 450 Received for'l/000 bushels. 3... coo. oc coe oneit ace ee ccce cere coe aes xo See eee eee a ee tesa a aeeace coer dyeceg 1, 000 Profit‘aceriingin two. years: 133.04. pe aan SU sce Sate ae ee Sane meebe cite e nice ceases 550 This doubling of the investment in two years is not unreasonable, in my opinion, besides having a good growing bed left over; but requires a continuance of good weather and other fortunate circumstances, and takes no account of the numerous petty expenses occurring, from time to time, in the care of the beds. SUITABLE LOCALITIES FOR OYSTER-CULTURE NORTH OF CAPE Cop.—I have been asked in particular as *Thacher’s History of Plymouth, p. 170. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 23 to the probability of success in restocking the former haunts of the oyster in the rivers of Maine, and especially at Damariscotta. I learn that occasionally oysters, of what origin I do not know, have by accident been dropped into the tide-water below the bridge, in Damariscotta, and have afterward been fished out grown to a large size. The reader will remember, that about forty years ago, a great quantity of young oysters were found collected in the branches of a tree which had tumbled over into the river near the lower end of Salt bay. These facts go to show that some kinds of oysters will live and spawn there yet; whether anything but native seed would, or not, is doubtful. Furthermore, the site of the former beds is now so covered with mud and sawdust and eel-grass, that much of the space is rendered unsuitable, while the clearer bottom of Oyster ereek is liable to be drained so dry by some of the ebb-tides in winter, as to allow the ice to rest fairly upon the bottom, which would probably be fatal in that climate. Hereafter no sawdust will be thrown into the river and bay, if the law is enforced as it might be, but nothing can prevent the roiling of the water by a heavy rain. On the whole, I fear only a very limited cultivation of oysters is possible in that locality, even if a successful beginning could be made. The same dismal remarks will apply to George and Sheepscot rivers. In the former stream I am informed that an attempt at planting was made a few years ago, but failed. In Sheepscot river nothing has been tried, but it is hinted that, even if other conditions were favorable, every seed-oyster would be secretly transferred from river-bottom to frying-pan before time had been given to begin to spawn. Police measures would prevent this, however. At Portland, Mr. C. B. Fuller thinks the only suitable situation to attempt the cultivation of oysters, in that region, is in the mouth of the Presumpscot, where the water is shallow, warm, and comparatively fresh; but he doubts the ability of southern oysters to survive the winter. However, it is intended by one of the dealers to try the experiment with seed oysters from Prince Edward island. In the Great bay, behind Portsmouth, New Hampshire, beds of native, living oysters still flourish, and by judicious transplanting of these a large additional yield might be accomplished. There is much suitable ground, I judge. It is likely that the present inferior quality of these oysters might be greatly improved by cultivation. It is very probable, also, that Somerset or Wellfleet seed would exist through a winter, become acclimated, and prosper in this well-sheltered and firm-bottomed inlet. I wonder that some one has not yet made the experiment. Unless it be Mystic river or Barnstable harbor, I know of no other likely place for oyster-cultivation on the northern side of Cape Cod. Where rocks, mud, or ice are not obstacles, starfishes and other enemies are likely to annoy, or proper protection of the beds to be impracticable. 8. HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE OYSTER-TRADE, AT WELLFLEET AND VICINITY. EARLY OYSTER-CULTURE: HistoRy.—Realizing that their natural resources in oysters had disappeared, and that any attempt to preserve the beds by a system of propagation was unsuccessful, the people of the coast of Massachusetts bay turned their attention many years ago to replacing their oysters by importations from more favored regions, which should be kept in good condition during the warmer half of the year, by being laid down in the shore-water, and so held in readiness for the autumn-trade. This operation was called “planting”, but it is a misuse of the word, and the other popular phrases, “laying down” or “ bedding”, express the fact more truthfally. It is not oyster-culture at all, but only a device of trade to get fresh oysters and increase their size and flavor, which adds proportionate profit in selling. It is neither intended or desired that they shall spawn. Just when this practice began on Cape Cod—for Wellfleet, whence had come the latest and best of the native oysters, naturally became the headquarters of the trade—is uncertain ; no doubt it was some time before the opening of the present century. There is a gentleman now living in the village of Wellfleet, Mr. Jesse D. Hawes, who is eighty-four years old. He cannot remember when they did not bring some oysters every fall from New York bay, to use at home and sell in Boston. It is surmised that when the native beds became exhausted, the inhabitants got into the habit of going to Buzzard’s and Narraganset bays, then to the Connecticut shore, and finally to New York, and laying down more and more yearly in Wellfleet harbor, until finally a considerable business grew. Egg Harbor, New Jersey, was also a ground much frequented a little later by oystermen. By the year 1820, I am informed by Mr. I’. W. True, who made inquiries for me on this subject, 12,000 to 14,000 bushels were brought to Wellfleet yearly, and ten or twelve shops were opened by Wellfleet men for their disposal in Boston and Portland. This accounts for the striking fact, that there is hardly an oyster-dealer on the New England coast, north of Cape Cod, who is not a native of Wellfleet, and a certain small circle of old names seems to inclose the whole trade. Besides the citizens, however, many strangers came in and procured the privilege of bedding down imported oysters to fatten on the flats of this hospitable harbor. In 1841, Mr, Gould, the conchologist, wrote that the whole trade at Wellfleet then employed 30 vessels of about 40 tons each, and the services of about 120 men for three months of the year. This yielded to the town a revenue of about $8,000 annually. EARLY OYSTER-CULTURE: METHODS.—The process of “bedding down” was as follows: Each proprietor of a space upon the flats chartered the services of a vessel, in the latter part of the winter, to go to some specified oyster-ground and purchase a certain number of bushels, for which he gave the captain money. The vessel was 24 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. chartered at a round sum for the trip, or else was paid at a rate varying from 15 to 20 cents a bushel freight, on the cargo. When the vessel arrived home she anchored in the distant channel, and the oysters were unloaded into dories, 50 bushels to a dory. The dories then proceeded to the grounds, which had been already divided into rectangles a few rods square, by rows of stakes, and deposited a load of 50 bushels in each rectangle or “square”. In order that the oysters might be distributed as evenly as possible over the bottom, the dory was rowed to the center of a square, and anchored at both ends. The dorymen then threw out the oysters with shovels into all parts of the square. This was done when the water was high over the beds. When the tide was out the oysters were redistributed with forks or “spreading-machines”. The similarity of this procedure to the seeding of a field is obvious, and sufficiently explains the phrase “oyster-planting”. It afforded occupation to a distinet class of men, who did it by contract, the ordinary price being about 10 cents a bushel for placing them upon the beds. The season for bedding began in February, as soon as there was a surety of no further danger of hard freezing, and continued until April, the ground chosen being the hard surface of the flats in the western portion of the bay, where the beds would be left dry about two hours at each low-tide. The oysters had very little fresh water near them, and their growth was variable, seeming to depend on the weather, but in what way, or just how it effected them, I could not learn. In a favorable season they grew very rapidly, in respect to both shell and meat, so that the 100 bushels put down in April would fill 300 bushel measures when taken up in October. The percentage of loss was always considerable, however, probably never less than one quarter, and now and then amounting to the whole bed. Drifting sand, sudden frosts, when the beds were exposed, disease, and active enemies, were the causes that operated against complete success. I could not obtain satisfactory information concerning prices during the first quarter or half of the present century, and am inclined to believe they did not differ much from the present rates, except that selling rates were uniformly higher, and far more profit was realized than is now possible. Dr. Gould describing the winter-work in his Invertebrates of Massachusetts, states that in the autumn the oysters are taken up, selected, brought to market, and sold at wholesale for $1 per bushel, the cost of planting, attending, taking up, etc., amounting to 20 cents per bushel. Thus a profit of 30 cents on a bushel, or about 40 per cent. on the cost, is realized; and the town of Wellfleet thereby realizes an income of about $5,000 annually. INTRODUCTION OF VIRGINIA SEED.—It was asserted by citizens of Wellfleet, both to me and to Mr. True, that not until 1845 were any oysters brought to Wellfleet from Virginia, and that the cause of their importation then was the high price asked for “seed”, as the oysters purchased in the Somerset river, in Connecticut, and in New York, for bedding, were erroneously termed. William Dill is credited with being the first captain engaged in the Chesapeake trade. I think, however, that there is an error here, for Gould mentions in his book that in 1840, 40,000 bushels were brought to Wellfleet annually from Virginia, at a cost of $20,000. Nevertheless, it was not until about 1845 or 1850, that the business began to confine itself to Virginia oysters, and a large business to be done. At its height, about 1850, it is probable that more than 100,000 bushels a year were laid down in the harbor ; some say 150,000. One consignment alone of 80,000 bushels was remembered by Mr. 8. R. Higgins, who kindly gave me the many facts noted above. The favorite ground was at the mouth of Herring river. This great business gave employment to many men and vessels, and was eagerly welcomed by the Wellfleet people. Responsible men were accustomed to meet the incoming vessels and take contracts to bed the oysters. The ordinary price was 9 cents a bushel. They hired help at day’s wages, and often made a good profit. Fifty men would thus often be busy at once. During the summer partly, but chiefly in the fall, these great deposits, which would perish during the cold winter, but were now well-grown, were raked up and sent to the warehouses in Boston, Portland, and minor ports, in freight vessels and in packets. Usually the oysters were owned and bedded by dealers, who used them in their regular trade, but some were owned by speculators, who took them to market, or sold them to dealers as they lay upon the beds, the purchaser taking all risks. ‘The measure used for oysters in those days was a half-barrel holding a bushel, called a “ bushel-barrel”. DECLINE OF OYSTER-TRADE.—The war of the Rebellion, however, interfered somewhat with the oyster-trade, and it began to decline, so far as Wellfleet was concerned. Then the various dealers in northern ports, having learned something, began to bed near home in their own harbors, and so saved freightage. Finally, the steamers from Norfolk and the railways entered into so serious a competition, that fully ten years ago Wellfleet bay was wholly deserted by the oystermen, as a bedding-ground, though her vessels still continue to carry cargoes in winter from Virginia to Boston, Portland, Salem, Portsmouth, and the Providence river, to supply the active trade and fill the new beds, which the dealers at these various ports had learned could be established at home. : The reader thus discovers how important a part Wellfleet has played in the history of the oyster-trade of New England. A hundred thousand bushels of the bivalves once grew fat along her water-front, and thousands of dollars were dispensed to the citizens in the industry they created. Now, a little experimental propagation, of the value of a few hundred dollars, and about 6,000 bushels of bedded oysters from Virginia, worth perhaps $5,000 when sold, form the total active business. The oyster-fleet, however, remains, though greatly diminished and carrying its cargoes to Boston, Portland, and elsewhere, instead of bringing them to be laid down in the home harbor. It will be long before Wellfleet, and its neighbor, Provincetown, lose the prestige of old custom as oyster-carriers. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 25 WELLFLEET OYSTER-FLEET IN 1878~80.—The vessels registered at Wellfleet, that habitually take part in the oyster-trade, and formed the fleet of the seasons of 1878~79 and 1879~80, are the following, all schooners : Name. Tons. Name. Tons. Name. Tons. Nay giesl) sien Reber ec clocks sca OmeeL dw alo RiCheer ae seseene seman cenenen E14) Addie Ni Cole, <..t--smsckjsoncouenes 76 Nathan! Cleaveseercacecsss--= OU Ben] sOtn SAW ieee eae ee eae eee enn COlesh HeENOnionesss sees se. 2 seee ee. 57 George T. Littlefield. ..........-...---- 1123 Gertrude Summers) s-2-csseeeneec ecco OL Oa -vhreGMmanio— se cjoacc(ss—eoeeecs 59 Lucy M. Jenkins ........---..-- aa 7A) SPOR IS CLEC Sap ee prea o nn Pa Hao sence oe 74 Abby, Branktont-Sascenteid.. sos... 71 ASAE PELOBLOts cocs ccc ccs/ciecic cess << oe Q9T Ss Marta WeDSher case: cacanccceccecnecs 58 Maryib. WiWOLE - 0. ae a= Cece ln ase) -salelech eae lee eae ---- $40,750 11. THE OYSTER-BUSINESS OF NEWBURYPORT. SOUTHERN OYSTERS IN NEWBURYPORT.—The wholesale oyster-business at this port is small. About 3,000 bushels of southern oysters are sufficient for the demand. These cost from 45 to 50 cents per bushel when put down, and from an eighth to a quarter of them die during the summer. The bedding-grounds are in Parker river. About three families get their support from the business here, but the business is losing ground and is encroached upon by the opened stock from Norfolk. (Ohi GO) Gl Sadcon abacoSooe Hon noD See bed baS cocess AS55000 BISSE5 1S SSE SSCRS5 Son aso Se OSES Some deeds bushels.. 3,500 RVale tee eaten acaeele nate ainincacie= tains oem e sian nn) saisionaw/Jeaee seared ocicmas eae eran] eet nee ee eee $3, 250 Hamiulresipup ported anise tectsees ct sees aan cletie sec ins ea Selena aetna ie aoe n aac satan eee mten samete sea eee eee mete 3 12. THE OYSTER-BUSINESS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE COAST. THE BUSINESS OF PORTSMOUTH AND DovER.—In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, there are only two dealers who trade in oysters by wholesale and at first hand. They each send a schooner to Virginia in April, the voyage lasting about three weeks, and bring a load of 2,300 to 2,600 bushels each. Nearly the same course is pursued here as in Boston. The captain is given sufficient money to probably fill his vessel, and told to do the best he can withit; but he is not given a rate of freight per bushel, as in Portland, but hired at a given sum, which, in 1878, was $425. This amounts, however, to about the same thing as the 18 cents a bushel paid for freight to Portland and Boston. All these 5,000 bushels of oysters are bedded down on the banks of the river in Portsmouth harbor, a mile or so below the city, where the ebb-tide leaves them nearly dry. They last through to the middle of October, with the help of a few “fancy” oysters from New York for the retail-counter. The cost per bushel of these oysters, as delivered in the establishment, varies from 40 to 50 cents, and the average selling price, at wholesale, is 75 cents. In the winter no vessels come from Virginia, and all supplies are drawn from Norfolk by steamer to Boston, and thence by rail, or, in emergency, by buying in Boston or Portland. These are almost wholly opened oysters, in barrels and kegs. Not more than 1,000 bushels, all told, are supposed to come into Portsmouth during the winter, in the shell. These cost 50 to 60 cents. Of the others, I could get nothing better than estimates trom each dealer, which, added together, give about 45 barrels, or 1,550 gallons, as the combined importation. Perhaps 150 gallons more come from Boston, in emergencies. The whole consumption of Portsmouth, then, seems to cost about as follows : QOvysters:in vessels.;5; 000"Dushels’\ie- s.2--cceaecatsciecs cecsectzaus ees oes eeeeecomorcenteateeee Scan cosas ees $2,500 Oysterstin' shell, ‘otherwise 27-0 Se Sess S. . bene tases nea eee aaeeen peceen meee cose citeoaanics cccntoam en esemae 500 Oysters opened (about) ...--.... ee cpte eee Gna) datos ate see Rees eine ne Pee eta enya Rayasam ener see mice setae 750 Oysters; fancy andiextra: (about)! ack t bissticces che geeciasmat ses - ocisb eee eee mete eee ae Sees 750 THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. Bia] The oyster-establishments employ 6 men, paid from $6 to $15 per week. In all, 25 persons are supported by the trade. No planting has ever been done at Portsmouth, and even those bedded down in the harbor show little growth of shell or body. To supply Dover, New Hampshire, a few miles above, about 2,000 bushels of Chesapeake oysters are brought up each spring and laid down in Cocheco river, near the town. A proportionate winter-supply comes by rail. THE NATURAL BEDS OF GREAT BAy.—I was told by Mr. Washington Freeman, of Portsmouth, that this gentleman discovered an extinct bed of large oysters in the Cocheco river, some years ago, but no living ones are to be had there now. A few miles up from the mouth of the river Piscataqua, and the harbor of the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, an extensive bay reaches southward from the river into the lowlands. It is divided into two portions: first, Little bay, nearest the river, and second, Great bay, with which the former is connected by Furber’s straits, where Durham river comes in. ssese—a= $40 Sinccbaye, aU) Tose tian BO) Gants) ene So5 5 cog aa ooo Bese oS SEH OE EO BOSE EE CSCO CO SE DOPE S BSC Has Bee aSospredon 150 SPE Der Gin MOYER ie ecb casacooces Coen cose Hee ce S Ce SEOs COSC SEO DEB ECO COU CEOS CEE OBER SEE ca on Op mccece Gee Ont 55 Ling. Sani, AiG tering ieee ce csc igdo cemcce Coca Renee C05 COS AALC CODE: SDOCE SUC SCInes Cnt SOSH EUS DEEaSE Eee c 40 JiikG), (remas), Sinealle, Amel anal Eisse5 secon ecep asec ocICOC Led Sate CECEOS ECS EOEECE Ee SCOOP nace opeeeacrorccmeace ll) inerdentalsie-aesteseees eee coe cs anececicocee min ato sg HoOQSC Ee COO I OLOSROCO OCS OE Ot CAUS CONTIG SE goo BBSHOIDcispIoaD 46 65 Mota seas a= sodceroeess Hee bca CoSood nacea oasecs Shses Gaetto cons noes Ssd0 cane Soe Ssecsesset es socos cecees 360 One who is really going into the matter hopefully, must expect about this outlay before he considers his grant in condition to yield. If he puts down shells for the spawn to catch upon, as he probably will, it will cost him about 10 cents a bushel. = Formerly Virginia oysters were planted and bedded here, but did not do well. The prices received for these oysters, which are all picked over and shipped to Boston in good shape, vary from $3 50 to $6 a barrel. In 1878, the exports from the Buzzard’s Bay station by rail were 158 barrels. Up to November 1, 1879, 240 barrels were sent, making 300 barrels a probable total for that year. Besides this, in 1879, much opening was done by the oystermen to supply the neighborhood market, and about 1,000 gallons of opened oysters were carried by express companies, in small packages. OYSTER-CULTURE IN RED BROOK HARBOR (PoOCASSET).—Another oyster-locality in the town of Sandwich, is Red Brook harbor, six miles south of Monument river. The railway station is Pocasset, on the Wood’s Holl branch of the Old Colony line. This harbor is an indentation of Buzzard’s bay, about one and a half miles long by one-third of a mile wide, and it is separated from the outer bay by an island. A branch of the harbor, also, runs up toa landing known as Barlowtown. The name Red Brook harbor is derived from a little stream which flows into it, the bottom of which is tinged with iron rust; but this brook does not freshen the water to any considerable 42 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. — extent. The bottom of the main part of the harbor is hard sand, and the water is nowhere more than 8 feet deep at low tide. In some portions rocks and eel-grass exist. On the southern shore of this harbor, about a mile from its head, exists a living bed of natural oysters, some seven acres in extent, under protection of the town for public benefit. The oysters growing upon it are reported to be large, but not of extraordinary size, scalloped and roundish, differing in no respect from aged oysters grown after transplanting to another part of the bay. Excepting this natural bed, the whole harbor has been surveyed and divided into grants; all those good for anything have been taken up, and must now be bought at an advanced price, if any one desires to possess them. The largest owner is a Boston firm, reputed to have 75 acres, but beside it are a score of other proprietors, inhabitants of the shores. It is safe to say that $3,500 would buy out all the home interests in the whole tract, and $15,000 cover the total investment up to January 1, 1880. There is a spirit of progress here, however, which will lead to a great increase in the value of the property within the next few years. During 1878, for example, there were shipped from Pocasset station only 85 barrels; in 1879, 500 barrels. I spent some hours on these grounds with Mr. Edward Robinson, who exerted himself to make my visit instructive. He thought that one-half of the whole water-area was suitable for oyster-cultivation, and all of this is now appropriated, though only a portion has yet been stocked. The seed is mainly derived from the native bed in the harbor and from the shores where the native spawn has “set”, and is planted in the spring and fall. The only outside seed brought in thus far is 300 bushels from the Weeweantit river, across the bay; and 1,000 bushels from Somerset. The latter did not seem to do well. A long, sandy point runs out into the harbor here, which ebbs dry at low tide. This does not come into any grant, therefore, and hence is public ground for the gathering of seed. I saw upon the pebbly beach, in places, how abundantly this was to be had. Young oysters, at this season, from the size of a dime to that of a dollar, were strewed between tide-marks so thickly that you could hardly avoid stepping upon them, and they would survive the winter well in this exposure. These are gathered by everybody who wishes and placed upon their grants. In addition to this, many thousands of bushels of old shells have been laid down, the proper time to do this work being early in July, in order to have their surfaces clear and ready to catch the spawn which begins to appear about that time. In 1876, when there was the last good quantity of spawn emitted, the shells had been put down in May, and by July were so slimy that the spawn did not set upon them. They learned wisdom by that, but no good year for spawn has occurred since. The seed is planted in varying quantity, but Mr. Robinson said he should put it down shoulder to shoulder, so as to pave the whole bottom, if he had enough. I saw tracts where the growing oysters lay so thick as to conceal the sand, and you could gather a bushel from a square yard of bottom. The natives consider the seed here better than that at Monument river, for it is rounder and less distorted. When the oysters are three to four years old, and ready for market, Mr. Robinson takes them up and lays them upon a wooden floor near his packing-shanty, in water almost wholly fresh, which takes away the very saline flavor, fills them up in size, and makes them plump and hard. It is known as the “fattening” process, after which they are ready for shipment. Bought from the boats, a dollar a bushel is paid for these oysters, but the freight to Boston and the barreling make them cost about $1 30 a bushel to the dealer. Here, as at Monument river, fishing is habitually done through the ice in winter. The method is to cut a large hole and use tongs. The oystermen do not complain of it as especially cold or unpleasant work. In order to keep the oysters from freezing, they dip the bag which they intend to put them in when caught, in water, and hold it upright until it freezes stiff. It thus stands conveniently open, like a barrel, and no wind can blow through its sides to the detriment of the contents. CATAUMET AND FALMouTH.—Below Red Brook harbor are Cataumet harbor, Currant river, Wild harbor, and Squeateague pond. All of these are inhabited by beds of native oysters, and hence were granted in lots by the town (Sandwich) under the usual regulations. They differ in no important respect from the Red Brook region, are all of small extent, and the whole money-investment, all together, will not exceed $500. At East Falmouth there is a small business, the facts concerning which were kindly communicated to me in a letter from Mr. Frank C. Davis, which I take pleasure in transcribing: East Fatmourn, Mass., November 20, 1879. Dear Sir: There are no natural oyster-beds in our locality, nor have there been within my recollection, noris there any trace, so far as I am aware, of their existence in the past. Oysters are cultivated on a small scale here, but there is not room for a very extensive business. We have a few acres of tide-flats, but the oyster-bottom extends chiefly along the shore, varying from six feet to one rod in width. This bottom is composed of sand and gravel. Outside of this you have dead black and blue mud, where nothing will live except eels. Ishould judge there were 1,000 bushels of seed planted per annum, and about the same amount of oysters sold each year. The seed is obtained in Buzzard’s bay, and costs from $35 to $85 per 100 bushels. The ground is granted by the town of Falmouth to the tax-payers of said town, and all of it is taken up. The oysters grow well here, but are liable to die. Our oysters bring from $3 to $5 per barrel ; very choice, $6. Respectfully, F, C. DAVIS. Nrw BEDFORD AND viciniry.—A few words remain to be said about New Bedford and vicinity. The Acushnet river, just above New Bedford, has been found wanting in the qualities necessary to. make it good planting ground for oysters. The experiment has been tried, but has failed. No cultivation exists there, therefore. The principal dealers in the town buy yearly a superior stock of oysters in the Chesapeake bay, bringing one THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 43 eargo of 3,500 bushels for bedding, and another cargo for winter use; the schooner Hastings, of nearly 100 tons burthen, is the vessel used at present. These oysters cost 65 cents when laid down, but grow very little on these beds, since there is no fresh water to start them. In addition to this, one firm furnishes oysters from Providence river, Wareham, and elsewhere. The rest of the town, as calculated by them, use about 200 bushels and 100 gallons a week for 5 months. This makes New Bedford’s estimated consumption, annually, about 15,000 bushels. Five men are employed six months, as openers, at 17 cents a gallon. Just west of New Bedford is a little stream and inlet, known as Westport river. This was the locality of an ancient bed of native oysters, which has now nearly disappeared through too great raking. They are said to be very large and of good quality, but not more than 50 bushels a year can now be caught throughout the whole three miles from the “Point” up to the bridge, which sell at $1 50 to $2 a bushel in New Bedford. There is reputed to be good planting ground near the bridge. . A few miles west of Westport is the Dartmouth river, where, it is said, an oyster-bed has recently formed, but, as yet+is of little account. The bottom there, however, is regarded as very suitable for planting upon. Fifty bushels a year would cover the whole sipply from here. PLANTING IN Corurr AND WAQuort.—At Cotuit and Waquoit are considerable planting interests, under similar regulations to those existing on the eastern shore of Buzzard’s bay. From West Barnstable station, enough oysters were sent to Boston by rail, combined with what went elsewhere by water, to make the production of Cotuit amount to about 5,000 bushels annually; these oysters have a high reputation in Boston. Waquoit will produce half as much more, chiefly from Wareham seed. Both localities will give a census of 40 planters, and an investment of $40,000. There is a considerable fleet of sail-boats here. FORMER OCCURRENCE OF OYSTERS IN MARTHA’S VINEYARD.—In respect to Martha’s Vineyard, only a paragraph remains to be said, quoted from a description of the island in the Massachusetts Historical Collections, second series, 1807, page 58: The oyster is found in Newtown pond, and in two other ponds on the south shore, one of which is in Edgartown, and the other in Tisbury. It is fresh to the taste; but itis improved in its relish and rendered fatter, by digging a canal through the beach, and letting the salt water flow into the fresh-water ponds. As the southerly wind soon fills up the canal, the digging must be renewed four or five times In a year. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION. BUZZARD’S BAY AND VINEYARD SOUND: NEE IO Lap Aan Lord AROUND DELS ac awal= ol ale inn a\~ aia io Sac icine alos aiecelacisaisoss nesses sacema oscscoss-ssmaec 150 Pepe iO TOMN OL COLLL Yael eens set seeeiesmiearcte sae cess acleceiece sae sas eae en ccinete sts aasea cease docee cess acres... 500 Number of families supported -.-..... sac ESE diceod cope tocscobstespbernoses cooseD peoconossonccecs Goneenssc 400 NMI perOn wesselsyandisal DORtSi GNP RFCOl ss. ccnenteess aq sje ce aaireeeem lene = coer ae were nee me te re ee eee ee oe ieee eee ceo 420 00 2,940' bushels; bedded} jat Sicents Sse sen coe Se ere ae re ee eee mane 88 20 Total .5 S2s5s3e(ashergse Nese chs Sa Sees chew e ee es SoS acl aoe Boee Samae em ane aene a aateearene ate serene 958 20 Addicostiof 4ibubs << 22-5 coesetac sts oa Seraeas soak Baaie Santee wale eee ieee oe ee eee ee ees 4 00 Addubrandine 12 tubs jabio0icentsese cesses eee eros eee eee eee ease aiscticpeeuitclswoser sewers 6 00 Grand*totall cos cce ewe welssemr occ eclece cca elem cceteceie tse ete ee ee eee eee eee ee OO STOO DIARY OF CAPTAIN TOWNSEND.—Going back a little, now that this subject of transplanting has been followed to the end, the diary shows that Mr. Townsend conducted many experiments in propagating oysters during the summer. I copy the record of this practical study: May 25, 1870.—I have carefully watched the growth of oysters planted in the ditch. A large proportion of the first laid down have died, having been badly mudded; but the young ones, from the spat or spawn of the oysters, laid down in 1867 and 1868, have grown very rapidly. The shells are thin and generally thrifty. June 18.—I have this day been employed * * * running east and west lines, as per map No. 1 of oyster-grounds, in New Haven harbor within the limits of East Haven. [Here follows technical description of boundaries and ranges corrected from the survey of 1866. ] * * * TI have taken great pains to have this survey made, and spared no expense, as it is very important that some landmark should be made, as the ice carries away all stakes in winter, and it is remarkable that the one stake we have used has remained so long; but it is sure to go next winter, for the sea-worms have eaten it badly. June 23.—Laid down near the bridge 15 bushels very large and fine single oysters taken from lot 422. June 29.—Employed all day. Employed all day with two carts, three men, and Sergeant Maxwell, at the fort, carting oyster-shells preparatory to shelling the ditch. We have dumped 27 loads, of 25 bushels each, in piles 60 feet apart. Will spread the shells at the rate of 124 bushels to a space 30 feet square. We call the ditch 30 feet wide at the bottom. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 75 July 2.—Maxwell finished spreading shells in the ditch for the present. For the past week I have kept the ditch with about 4 feet of water in it in order to let the sun heat the water and make the oysters all spawn about the same time. I have also shut out the tide and let flow in as much fresh water as possible, as an abundant supply is supposed to benefit the oysters while spawning. July 10.—Examined shells and oysters in the fort ditch this morning. The native oysters of the ditch seem to be about half-done spawning, while those taken from lot No. 422—very large, fine, single oysters, say four years old—seem just ready to spawn. The shells put in July 1 are coated with slime, fine sea-grasses, and now and then a speck which looks as if it might be spat. At the end of July the author sums up his summer’s labors, and counts over 10,000 bushels of stools planted, at a cost of from 5 to 7 cents laid down, or a total of $688 590. July 28.—I have also laid down, as an experiment, what is equal to 50 bushels an acre of smooth stones on Jot 179, to keep the shells from shifting, and also to see if the spawn will set on the stones. We are offered any quantities of shells for 2 cents per bushel in the heap, or laid down for 5 cents. We have paid as high as 5 cents a bushel for shells brought from Fair Haven river, but can now get the same work done for 4 cents, and 34. H——-— G has planted 177 bushels of shells taken from the saltpeter works for 2} cents; William E. B——— furnishes shells, laid down, for 5 cents per bushel; and William G——— will let us have 5,000 bushels for 2 cents, or have them laid down for 5 cents. On August 1, Mr. Townsend tabulated hisestimated wealth in oysters—the season being now over—as follows: Bushels. Veo Saath gids) a SACI) oe Se Se Side sess ooeeseees sec er eboceenens sceces seccedyeectesceceeeeecueqs5e> setmee 8, 150 Old seed, river and Cove-.---- ------ 00-2522 ooo no ne nw ce me enn n= wens wn enn cannes ees 6, 000 TNO AS SO656 b- Goneeeao Sones eedene sebces e deee o paSe cn bon Ene aa saoeeeoue eeece Sa SSO SSE Cone Ae bc 1,500 SCAHLONIN 2 HOME COS te x nnis nial (inne a mln we ol aim ely a acinl el walel@nvin|nimn'm/s clnicivie)«inmin'ain\nnine n= omaim ne sain acc e CO SEIBODOL CE C2 Coe GET BER CICS SOCIO RCE CR ICE eS ene eee eae ee 28, 805 Allowing the growth of this to increase one-fourth this season, and adding this 7,000 bushels to the 28,805, we have 35,805 bushels of oysters actually growing. To this may be added 5,190 bushels of shells well set, to say nothing of the set on the shells laid down in 1870, which will amount to something. The estimate, therefore, sums up as follows: Bushels. Total oysters planted....-. SCODTA GaSe on CURSES DOORS BC SCO SRB DSS tne Bee ISSR ORS E SE Deen eEEe eee eee 28, 805 AELOUAO UDTOU MUS CTO Ue ena eie a seen owen oie a ala avo nissan ceeciasiessa/csscacaccazeiccecessincet sinc csoses 7, 000 DSLOOISaNOUSGU entre sen anata nalie ae mane eancayase ccconee,er enn Sees Maac meer eneers wen celeecens ceesmeeros 5, 190 Rotalipropertiyisas cose ssc as cee rate see eee eae Ser ee nee aes ee SACRE. aes eas eee Rea cire rs eee ¥995 August 19.—The spawning-season is now over, and I find this year’s experience should not advise laying down shells later than August 10 or earlier than July 10. The spawn seems to have drifted in flakes. Some areas have a better set than others. The drills and small black snails are killing the young oysters by the millions, and where it runs bare at low water it is worse. September 1.—I notice that where the spat has set on oyster-stakes in the eel-grass, that the grass sweep the young oysters off the stake; but out of the reach of the grass the oysters are solid and reach up within a few inches of the water-surface at high tide, and the grass seems to prevent the drill from getting up the stake to the young oysters. Oysters are very poor, except those laid in the sluice. September 25.—We have caught up, sent to market, and laid on the flats, about 500 bushels three years old. Oysters over three years old are now large enough for shell-oysters. I saved a specimen of oyster set on a stake, and will next year try brush for the spat to set on. EXTENT OF OYSTER-CULTURE IN NEw HAvEN.—Out of the seven or eight thousand acres “ designated” in New Haven harbor and its offing, only from 3,000 to 3,500 are in actual use as yet. The largest possession is Mr. H. C. Rowe’s; he operates upon about 1,500 acres. Several other planters have from two to six hundred, while many have a hundred acres under cultivation. The major part of this is in deep water, and is yet regarded to a great extent as an experiment, particularly by those who live in other parts of the state. Thus far the success has been encouraging. One gentleman calculates that he has 200,000 bushels of oysters of all ages on his offshore land. Another planter gives me his estimated wealth as follows: On 70 acres, 75,000 bushels, suitable to be sold as seed in the spring of 1880, at an average of 50 cents a bushel; on 50 acres, shells and a good set; elsewhere, in one tract, about 3,000 bushels of young spawners, on which shells are to be thrown; on another tract, 20,000 bushels of seed useful in 1880; and, lastly, an area holding about 5,000 bushels of “set”. A 30-acre lot yielded this firm 12,000 bushels in three years, which were sold at 70 cents. mollusks. 78 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. RAVAGES OF STARFISHES AND THIEVES.—As yet starfishes have not proved a resistless enemy to the outer beds, although individuals have suffered great harm through their ravages in isolated cases. There are not so many rocks and hiding places for them here as exist in the western part of the state, which may account for the present partial immunity. It is feared, nevertheless, that continued planting will cause a gradual increase of the plague, since elsewhere starfishes have increased in proportion to the expansion of the planting. A greater obstacle to success here is the liability of the bottom to move in gales and bury or seatter the beds. The drawback from thieving has already been touched upon. This nuisance has been greatly abated, and a much healthier public sentiment prevails, but there still remain lawless men who will watch their chance to push out from some coye, or come in from the sound, and steal the bivalves. Hence a watchtower has been built at Long Wharf, in New Haven, in which a man is kept night and day. Another is built on the flats that run out from the West Haven shores. Still others are kept off the Light-House point, and at a point off Branford harbor. The oyster-planters share the expense of such provisions for keeping their property from thieves, each paying according to the amount he has at stake. QUALITY OF OYSTERS IN 1879~80.—The present season (1879-80) the native oysters grown in all parts of river and habor, especially in the neighborhood of Morris cove, are of very unusually poor quality. I have heard suggested but one plausible explanation of this. During July and August, 1879, a series of heavy inland storms occurred, and the Quinepiac and its tributaries were swollen with successive freshets; as a consequence, the water of the harbor, throughout its whole extent, was so roily that in place of its accustomed purity it was thick and brown for weeks together; it does not seem improbable that such an unusual condition not only proved fatal to the spawn in all parts of the harbor, as something certainly did, for no set was obtained, but cut off also the food of the adult oysters to such an extent that they were unable to recuperate from the long fast. The fact that oysters will ‘fat np” in a day, under good circumstances, is opposed to this theory, which is worth only so much as a suggestion. 31. OYSTER-CULTURE AT MILFORD. HISTORY OF MILFORD AS A FISHING TOWN.—Leaving New Haven, the first stoppage for oyster-studies is at Milford, one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the state. It was settled in 1639, and long ago had an extensive West India trade and ship-building industry. The business in that line declined forty yearsago. The gulf, harbor, and estuaries have always been more or less prolific of shellfish. Milford long-clams have a good reputation. Milford point, at the mouth of the Housatonic river, was a famous oystering place many years ago. Old citizens remember a row of huts, built of wreckage and covered with banks and thatching of sea-weed, which used to border this wild beach. In these huts lived fifty or sixty men, who made here their home during a greater or less part of the year, and devoted themselves to clam-digging and oyster-raking. Many of these men, who were utterly poor, thus got together the beginnings of a fortune, which, invested in active agriculture, placed them among the most influential inhabitants. But for the last thirty or forty years such sea-industries as these have been declining, until nothing whatever was done on the water by Milford people, except the catching of menhaden, for the utilization of which two large factories have been built. EXPERIMENTS OF Mr. WiLLIAM H. Murwin.—About eight years ago, however, Mr. William H. Merwin, knowing what had been done about New Haven, began his valuable experiments in cultivating native oysters. He and some others had once before started an enterprise of raising oysters in the “Gulf pond” at the mouth of the Indian river. But the other stockholders, being older men, disregarded his advice, though he had always lived by the shore, and the effort failed. They insisted upon damming the river, so that the sediment brought down by the stream was deposited upon and smothered the oysters. It is this episode that gave rise to section 10 of the oyster-statute. Hight years ago Mr. Merwin resolved to try oyster-planting for himself. He took up a few acres off the shore in water 8 feet deep at low tide. He had just got his oysters well plated and had high hopes of success, when a storm destroyed them all. His labor and money got no return but costly experience. He then tried again, further out toward the sea, in 18 feet depth of water, near the government buoy. He got so heavy a set, and his young stock grew so well, that he estimated his crop at 10,000 bushels. Cultivators from Providence and Boston came down and bargained with him to take it all about the middle of April, but the last of March there came a gale which drifted so much sand upon the oysters that they had not strength, after the severe winter, to “spit it out”, and before they could be taken up so many died that only 3,000 bushels were sold. There had been an immense excitement over the seeming success of oyster-culture; a joint stock company had been formed and the whole harbor taken up; but this storm put an end to the enthusiasm, and everybody, except Mr. Merwin and his two sons, retreated. Mr. Merwin, however, saw that the trouble lay in the shallowness of the water. He therefore went down to Pond point, eastward of the harbor, and buoyed off 200 acres in water from 25 to 40 feet deep, upon a hard, gravelly, and sandy bottom. He placed upon this ground a quantity of full-grown oysters and shells and secured a large set, which has been augmented each year since, until he now has 100 acres under cultivation. In 1877 there was a very heavy set hereabouts; in 1878 less, and in 1879 least of all. TT pa a bee sata! otadl Sl Aeals mF Monograph—OVSTER-INDUSTRY. oa) Plate XXXII. ~ Zee ars oe SSS MBAS SS Ga Re ZR, OysTER TONGS AND NIPPERS. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 79 THE MILFORD OYSTER-STEAMER.—Having thus got assurance of a profitable farm, for storms no longer seemed able to affect him, Mr. Merwin saw that he needed more rapid and sure means of harvesting his crop than the row- boats and skiffs afforded. He therefore employed the firm of Lockwood & Co., of Norwalk, to build him a steamer for the express purpose of dredging, and introduced the proper machinery for that work. With this steamer, which is, to a large degree, independent of wind and weather, he can do three times the amount of work possible for the same number of dredges worked without steam (500 bushels is not an uncommon day’s result with two dredges), and do it best on the “dull” days, when it is too calm for his neighbors’ sloops to work. Its owners often find profitable employment for their leisure in chartering the steamer to other oystermen, who desire aid in dredging or in raking off the starfish that infest some beds. One single instance of the advantage the use of steam was to this firm will be pardoned. In the spring of 1879 a Rhode Island planter sent a sloop, capable of carrying 1,500 bushels, to New Haven to buy small seed. The Merwins were invited to contribute to the cargo, the captain of the sloop buying on the principle of ‘first come, first served”, until he had filled up, haste being the great desideratum. It happened, that upon the very day the sloop arrived a dead calm fell, and not a sloop from Fair Haven or Oyster point could haul a dredge. Meanwhile Mr. Merwin’s steamer was puffing back and forth through the quiet sea, without an hour’s cessation, and in two days placed 1,200 bushels of seed upon the sloop’s decks. LOCAL OPPOSITION TO OYSTER-CULTURE.—There are two rivers which come down to the sea at Milford, the pleasant Wepawaug, along whose banks the town lies, and whose upper waters turn numerous mills; and Indian river, which empties into the harbor close by the mouth of the former stream. Indian river debouches in an estuary called the Gulf, or Gulf pond. Except in one little spot no oysters grow now, or ever did grow, in this inclosed salt-water pond, although it would be the best possible place to cultivate them. But the popular feeling of the town is so strongly against the utilization of these advantages by private effort, that no ground is permitted to be set off, and any oysters put down there are liable to be seized as publie plunder. Once, indeed, the oyster-committee assigned to Mr. Merwin a tract in the gulf; but as soon as it was found out, an indignation meeting was held and mob law was loudly threatened. Cooler judgment overruled that, but any cultivation of this valuable ground, otherwise wholly useless, was sternly interdicted. PRESENT STATE OF OYSTER-CULTURE AT MILFORD.—Inspired by Mr. Merwin’s success and pluck, various persons have taken up ground in the vicinity of his tract off Pond point, amounting in the aggregate to about 750 acres, divided among eight owners. One of these gentlemen, in addition to 100 acres here, has several smaller tracts at different points along the shore to the westward; in all, about 400 acres, upon which some thousands of bushels of young oysters are growing. There is plenty of good bottom still remaining off this shore, however. 32. METHODS OF CATCH AND DISPOSAL. HOW GROUND IS OBTATNED.—The mode of obtaining ground under the new law of 1881, says a correspondent of the New York Sun, will be as follows: The person desiring ground must make application in the preseribed form of a blank, legally approved by the chief justice of the state, setting forth the quantity of ground he wishes, prescribing exactly where it is, and showing that it is not and has not been within ten years a natural oyster, clam, or mussle bed. A notice, which includes an exact copy of that application, is sent to the town clerk of the town opposite which the ground asked for lies, and must be posted in a conspicuous place in his office for twenty days, in which time objectors to the grant, if there are any, must file their objections with the town clerk. If no objections appear, the commissioners are authorized to give the applicant a deed of the ground, upon his paying the state $1 per acre therefor and the expense of surveying and mapping the lot, which is covered by a charge of ten cents per acre. If any objections are filed with the town clerk they must be returned with the application to the state fish commissioners, who will institute an investigation and decide the case as seems to them just and lawful. The grounds for objections are, either that the grounds applied for are natural beds, or that some person claims ownership by virtue of many years’ possession and enjoyment, or under a deed from the town. Fifteen years’ possession is held to confer rights of ownership. In the matter of forbidding the designation to private individuals of natural shellfish beds, the law is especially severe, prescribing that the commissioner who knowingly does such a thing Shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, and that the person illegally obtaining such natural beds knowingly shall lose his designation and forfeit all he has paid forit. Provision is made for the return of a purchaser’s money in case his designated ground proves to be unfit for the cultivation of shellfish, and to prevent speculators from getting possession of ground and holding it indefinitely for a rise in value instead of for honest work, there is a clause compelling the cultivation of ground within five years from its allotment. A clause in the bill prescribes that no person can hold ground taken from the state, or from a grantee of the state, unless he has been a resident of the state for one year prior to his entering upon such possession. This clause the commission will probably ask the legislature to strike out. Not only is its narrow proscription an offensive feature, but conditions are easily conceived in which it would work great injury to persons desirous of retiring from business, and to heirs, beside shutting out much desirable capital. The law provides for the plain marking out of designated grounds by the grantees by permanent “stakes, buoys, ranges, or monuments”, so that hereafter, or, rather, after operations are fully commenced under this law and commission, there need be no more confusions of property rights to ground under water than respecting real estate high and dry on a hill. 80 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. TONGS, RAKES, AND DREDGES.—In gathering seed near shore, and somewhat otherwise, tongs and occasionally rakes (those with long curved teeth) are used ; but the marketable oysters are nearly all brought from the bottom by dredges of various weights and slight differences in pattern. In the case of all the smaller sail-boats, the dredges having been thrown overboard and filled, are hauled up by hand—a back-breaking operation. The oysters themselves are very heavy, and frequently half the amount caught is composed of shells, dead oysters, winkles, and other trash, which must be culled out, thus compelling the oystermen to twice or thrice the work which they would be put to if there were nothing but oysters on the ground. The work of catching the oysters by any of these methods is, therefore, very tiresome and heavy, and various improvements have been made, from time to time, in the way of labor-saving, from a simple crank and windlass to patented complicated power-windlasses, similar to those commonly used in the Chesapeake boats. When a proper breeze is blowing, dredging can be accomplished from a sail-boat, with one of these windlasses, with much quickness and ease. Ina calm, or ina gale, however, the work must cease, as a rule. Under these circumstances, and as the business increased, it is not surprising that the aid of steam should have been enlisted; nor, perhaps, is the controversy which has ensued to be wondered at, since the introduction of novel or superior power into some well-traveled walk of industry has ever met with indignant opposition. Boats.—In former times all oystering was done by means of small row-boats. That this has not been wholly abandoned is shown by the fact, that there are yet to be found fifteen or twenty dug-out canoes at and about New Haven, devoted to catching both seed and marketable oysters. Some of these canoes are of large size and good pattern, but few or none are now made new, so that their number diminishes, and they will before long disappear. These canoes are to be seen nowhere else along our coast between Maine and the Chesapeake, and with their decay goes a monument, not only of old oystering, but of all aboriginal life in New England. The substitute for the old canoe is found in the square-ended skiff, which is only a small scow-boat. Of these, which are worth perhaps $10 each, a walk along the Quinepiac will disclose a hundred or more, all devoted to oyster-work, chiefly as tenders on the sail-boats in the planting of seed, the bedding down of Virginia stock, and the transporting of cargoes. Many of these small boats, however, are used by planters of small means, who cannot afford to run a sail-boat. The sail-boats of New Haven harbor are almost universally of the sharpie model, which is well known for its speed-giving and room-aftording qualities. It is the boast of the Connecticut oystermen, and to them the world owes the perfection of this admirable craft, which has been developed to supply the need of a large-stowing, swift- running craft, which, at the same time, should be flat-bottomed and draw so little water as to run safely over the scarcely submerged oyster-beds. There are nearly 100 sharpies in the harbor, worth perhaps $15,000. OYSTER-STEAMERS.—The first utilization of steam in this business, so far as I can learn, was by Capt. Peter Decker & Brother, of South Norwalk, about 1870. They first put a boiler and engine in the sloop Early Bird, to turn the drums in which the dredge lines were hauled, still retaining the sails for the propulsion of the vessel. After a time they extended their facilities, by inserting a small screw in their sloop, to assist in propelling her when the wind was light, and at length, after further trial, they took this machinery out and put in a larger boiler and engine, with special winding apparatus, and discarding sails altogether. These changes cost $1,300, and now, at an expense of 3 to 4 bushels of coal a day, this little steamboat hauls two dredges, and can take up 150 to 200 bushels per day. After the Messrs. Decker’s experiments, Mr. W. H. Lockwood, of Norwalk, not an oysterman, but an enthusiatic believer in steam-dredging, built the steamer Enterprise expressly for the business. Her length is 47 feet; beam, 14 feet; she draws 4 feet of water. She handles two dredges; has a daily capacity of 150 or 200 bushels. These were followed by several other steamers. Mr. Joshua Levinness, of City island, has a very large boat built for the purpose, and fitted with very heavy machinery; but it is said to be inconveniently arranged and expensive torun. She hauls four large dredges over the stern, and caught oysters so fast on the public oyster- grounds in the state of New York, that the owners of sailing-boats induced the New York legislature to forbid the use of steam on the publie grounds. The Merwins, of Milford, and Mr. Wheeler Hawley, of Bridgeport, also have steamers of large capacity, so that there are now in all seven in Long Island sound, but it is generally acknowledged that the most thoroughly equipped boat for this purpose, of the fleet, is owned by H. C. Rowe & Co., of Fair Haven, Connecticut. It is named the “ William H. Lockwood”, and is comparatively new, and cost between six and seven thousand dollars. The dimensions of this boat are: length, 63 feet; beam, 16 feet; draught, 54 feet. Her boiler is larger and her engine more powerful than usual in a boat of her size, and she can therefore be used for towing, and can force her way through heavy ice in the winter, so that her owner is sure of a supply of oysters for his customers when other dealers may be unable, with sailing-vessels, to get them. Beside her regular propeller engine, she has a double engine for hauling dredges, which hauls all four dredges full of oysters at once, and lands them on deck, two on each side, at the rate of 800 bushels a day, if needed. This employs a crew of ten men, who are protected from the weather by a housing which covers in the whole deck. OPPOSITION TO STEAM-DREDGING: GROUNDS OF OBJECTION.—Those who were not in possession of the steamers, however, quickly began to look askance at the rapidity and comprehensiveness of their work, and early. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. oly. began to attempt to form public opinion and secure legislation tending to repress this dangerous competition, An early success was had, in so tar that steam-dredging was permitted on public seed-ground in the sound only on two days of each week. Not satisfied with this, however, laws were sought which, if they did not prohibit the use of steam altogether, should at least restrict it to the designated planting-ground of the owner. The controversy which ensued then was long and bitter. In my inexperience it would be presumptuous in me to assume a judicial function; and here, as elsewhere, I shall restrict myself to a brief presentation of the arguments opposed, merely pointing out, before I begin, that this contest is apparently the same which has always been waged by hand- labor against machinery, and by poor machines against those more adequate to the work—a fight originating in ignorance and unprogressiveness, and perpetuated through jealousy and personal feeling. I do not say this of this controversy alone, but of the whole history of invention and progress in the arts. I have no doubt the Indians and first settlers thought the mollusks of the coast would be exterminated, when some enterprising Puritan or Knickerbocker brought the destructive rake and tongs or the terrible clam-hoe to bear upon them; and the owners of these again were filled with dismay, when the first dredge was explained to them and boldly thrown over, first from a row-boat and then from sloop and schooner. The transition to steam-power seems ouly another similar step, and the complaints against it are equally valid against superseding steam cotton-looms to hand- weaving, or the swift circular-saw to the old pit method. There is hardly any branch of the seine-fisheries now where steam is not profitably employed, having overcome opposition, and its service is widening every day. And as steam has won before, and approved its title to the crown by its results, so I feel confident it will again be victorious—for the worid does move. The arguments by which the employment of steam-power on Connecticut’s public oyster-beds is sought to be abolished are about these, as I gather them, chiefly from a minority report to the legislature of 1881, on a bill before that body: There are within the boundaries of the waters of Connecticut, at various points along the northern shore of Long Island sound, in-the aggregate about 6,000 acres of “‘natural oyster-beds” of the state. On a comparatively small portion of this area, lying in the channels of rivers and in shallow waters near the shore, oysters are customarily allowed to grow to maturity, and are gathered for market and for their own consumption by the poorer classes of the people. Onamuch larger portion of the natural oyster-beds the oysters are ordinarily collected when small, to be planted by oyster-cultivators as seed upon their private beds. The gathering of these seed-oysters is accomplished by means of dredges attached by ropes to boats in motion, and so drawn along the bottom over the oyster-beds. There are directly interested in this business of gathering and planting oysters, about 3,000 citizens of the state, most of them small operators with limited capital, owning from two to twenty acres of designated ground for oyster-planting—and small vessels propelled by sail or oars. Some of them own no ground at all, but gain their livelihood by gathering the seed and selling it to larger proprietors. Seven individuals of the entire number of our citizens engaged in this pursuit employ steam tugs or propellers in dredging. The state, by previous legislation, has prohibited this use of steam-power on a tract which includes about 633 acres of the publie natural erowth, leaving a tract which includes about 5,100 acres subject to such use. The object of the desired legislation is to prohibit the further use of this steam-power, and to place all our citizens on an equality in the means employed in the collection of this their common property from this common or public domain. Such legislative prohibition seems to be called for as a matter of fairness and justice to all persons who, by virtue of their common proprietorship, are equally entitled to gather oysters and other shellfish from the public domains of the state, and more particularly to that large class of our citizens who depend upon the prosecution of this business for the livelihood of themselves and their families. It has been found, from evidence submitted to state-authorities under oath, that by reason of the limited resources of this large class of our citizens but very few, if any of them, are, or are likely to be, able to provide themselves with steam-power; that by the use of this power a single vessel can, in a given space of time, collect of this common public property a quantity twelve times larger than can be gathered by an average sailing- vessel; thts being independent of wind and tide, a steamer can prosecute its work about twice as many days in each week, and many more hours in each day; that the earlier part of the dredging season is equally subject to calms, and that by a combination of these various causes, together with the fact that the annual crop of seed- oysters is limited, and in.any given season is liable in a great measure to be exhausted, the favored few, if steam- dredging on the public property is allowed to continue, will inevitably gain a vast and unjust advantage over the larger and poorer class, and practically drive them from the field, deprive them of their employment, in many Cases reduce them to destitution, and create a monopoly of the business in the hands of a few individuals. To this view of the case, it is objected, that though these facts may be undeniable, yet it is counter to the spirit of the age, and a blind and inequitable suppression of private enterprise, to deprive any individual of the free use of all the improvements which science and his own resources have placed at his command. This would have weight if the subject under consideration were simply a matter of private rights, if it were sigaply a question what muppoyements might be employed by individuals in connection with the use of their own private property. (0) 82 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. But it is to be remembered, that this is a matter of public and common right, and that it is not only the privilege but the duty of the state, in relation to this common property, to see that it is fairly and evenly distributed. among those to whom it equally belongs, and that no person or class of persons shall obtain more than a just share of its benefits. This principle is invariably recognized and acted upon in our legislation, relative to our inland fisheries; relative to game; relative to steam-dredging on private grounds in certain localities; relative to the taking of mature oysters, and even in the designation of grounds for the planting and cultivation of oysters, and any legislation that ignores this principle, by favoritism in the granting away of public land, or any other public property, is justly subjected to the reproach of its constituents. Further, it is for the preservation of the public oyster-grounds. We have seen that the area was limited, there being in all only about 5,728 acres of the 500,000 acres covered by the waters of this state. This comparatively small fraction of the whole is the sole natural nursery of all our oyster-growth; and the existence of this natural oyster- ground depends entirely upon the condition of the bottom. In order that any portion of the bottom may constitute a natural oyster-bed, it is essential that it should be composed of cobble-stones, gravel, shell, or other similar hard substance, from which, by the action of the water, slime and other impurities are naturally removed. Without these conditions the spawn, which is floating in the water, will not be deposited and adhere; no gerin will be deposited; no oyster-bed be formed. It is obvious, therefore, that any practice which tends to remove, diminish, or cover up this indispensable foundation for the bed, inevitably leads to the destruction of the bed itself, and reduces the area of the natural oyster-grounds of the state. The process of dredging necessarily removes, together with the seed gathered, some portion of this essential foundation of the bed; but by the style of construction and the comparatively light weights of dredges ordinarily employed by sailing-vessels, this objectionable feature of the business is in a large measure obviated ; while we find that by the different style of construction and much greater weight of the dredges naturally and almost invariably used by the steamers, they sink deeper and penetrate further into the bottom; they more readily overcome resistance; they gather up and remove much larger quantities of the foundation-material of the beds, leave the surface in a broken and uneven condition, more liable to be buried in sand and rendered barren by the action of the waters in a storm; and they plough under, smother, and thus destroy the seed-oysters they do not gather up. We find, from the evidence, that such has actually been the result of steam-dredging on certain portions ~ of public oyster-growth. Prior to the fall of 1878, on the tract known as the “Shippen” bed off Stamford, there had been for years a good annual growth. In the fall of that year a steam-dredge was worked over a very considerable portion of that bed, which portion, since that time, has been tried and found totally unproductive; but on other portions of the bed, immediately adjoining the place of her operations, a good supply has since been annually obtained. Prior to the fall of 1879 the “ Noroton” bed, a tract of some 300 acres, was for the most part yearly covered with an ample “set” of seed. A steamer dredged on a portion of that bed in the summer of that year, and thereafter the ground on which she dredged was found unfruitful. For many fears off Fairfield bar there had been a valuable bed. Two steamers worked it, and since that time no oysters have been found there. In 1879 two steamers dredged upon a.small tract of natural ground known as the “Pond point” bed, off the mouth of Milford harbor, which before that time had borne large quantities of oysters. It has since yielded nothing. The owners of steamers argue that they will go into deep water and make beds, and assert that “only a few years ago the natural bed off Bridgeport was only a little patch. By the work of the vessels it has been spread out until it is five miles long and nearly a mile wide. There is no reason why it should not be made four times as large by the introduction of steam”, In respect to this a citizen of South Norwalk remarks as follows, claiming to know whereof he speaks : The Bridgeport bed was discovered in July, 1867. Then it extended from Black Rock harbor to Point-No-Point, at least four miles, and was from one-half to one mile wide, covering about three thousand acres. Capt. Samuel Byxbee, Joseph Coe, and William M. Saunders were the first to go on it from this town. In one drift, in a light breeze, they canght over 300 bushels of seed. Capt. J. Levinness, in going across the bed three times, took 1,000 bushels. Capt. Barnes piled the deck of a fifty-ton sloop in one drift. Catching seed there was a constant letting go and hauling, and men became so exhausted they fell down from sheer fatigue. At one time 450 sails were counted at work on the bed and they had plenty of room. That number of vessels could not be set on three acres, place them side by side. Now the bed does not actually cover 40 acres, and is in small patches, scattered over the ground of the former bed. It has been worked almost to death, and it only needs one season of steamers to exterminate it entirely. This same gentleman expressed the sentiment of many of his neighbors, too, when he wrote to the Sea World in 1879: Permit me to say that your correspondent uses sophistry in his argument that steam and machinery have the right of way, and that manuul labor must quietly submit to be displaced by it. It is the right and duty of every citizen of this state to ask that the legislation be for the benefit of the many and not the few; in the interests of labor rather than capital; the weak rather than the strong; and that the public domain be reserved for the benefit of all its citizens. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 83 On the other hand, in the language of the minority report referred to above: No evidence has been offered to show, and it has not been claimed, that similar disastrous consequences result, or have anywhere resulted, from the operation of dredges drawn by sailing-vessels, but, on the contrary, sailing-vessels in the act of dredging, being compélled to pass beyond the borders of the beds (a movement not necessary or customary in vessels controlled by steam), thereby enlarge the borders of the natural ground, and so far work a common public benefit. As to the effect of steam-dredging on the general public, it appears to us that in the event, either of the monopoly heretofore suggested, or of the gradual extermination of the natural oyster-grounds menaced, the price of oysters would ultimately advance, to the detriment of the consumer. In addition to the foregoing considerations, and as a fact of very great consequence, it is to be observed that some states of the Union having large oyster-interests, particularly New York and Maryland, have totally prohibited steam-dredging within their waters; and other states, to wit, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia, have gone even further and prohibited all dredging of every kind upon their natural beds. Lastly, it is asserted that one or two considerable dealers have tried steam, and given it up as unprofitable. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF STEAM-DREDGING.—Opposed to this, those in favor of the use of steam as a motive-power in dredging, set forth the following facts and arguments : The number of steamers now in use is seven only, yet this small number has extended the cultivation, increased the production, and as a consequence, has materially reduced the price of oysters. Prior to the introduction of steam, oyster-dealers of Connecticut were obliged to purchase oysters in other states to supply the home demand; now the production within the state is sufficient, not only for local demands but also for a large export. A business so increasing is of benefit to the whole state, particularly in enlarging the supply and reducing the cost of an important article of food. The owners of sailing-vessels engaged in this business, and having interests on the shores of Long Island sound, west of Bridgeport, are the only opposers of steam, and they have local, political, and selfish reasons, outside of the merits of the case. Is it the duty of law-makers to pass a law prohibiting this use of steam, to the injury of the people of the state, to gratify the jealousy of a class, and thereby hinder the development of the oyster-culture and discourage enterprise and progress? In the same way the introduction of steam in the manufacture and transportation of cottons, woolens, grain, and for many other purposes, was bitterly opposed by those with whose labor it came into competition; yet no one doubts the wisdom of its introduction, because the sequel has proved that the application of steam-power to any branch of industry decreases the cost of the product. The claim that steam, as applied to this business, was objectionable, is effectually disposed of by these indisputable facts: 1st. That the steamers are used by their owners on their own private beds ten months of the year. Does any man of sense believe they would be so used if they damaged the beds? And if the private beds are not damaged, how should the public ground suffer? 2d. It is ridiculous to claim that an iron bar, dragged on the bottom by steam-power, will have a materially different effect than if dragged by wind-power. On the contrary, the motion of a steamer is more steady and certain than that of a sailing-vessel, and a dredge drawn by it must, of necessity, leave the bed smoother than one drawn by any power less steady and certain. The dredges used by steamers are not heavier than those used upon the larger-sized sailing-vessels without objection by any one. “It was proved that twenty-two sailing-vessels from New Haven and vicinity dredged on the Bridgeport bed during 1880, using a dredge as heavy as the average dredge used by steam vessels.” * 3d. The “Bridgeport bed” has yielded a larger catch this last season; was greater than it has been since the year of its discovery. Steam-vessels had dredged all over this bed during the preceding season, and seem to have increased rather than diminished the size and productiveness of the bed, while many of the beds from which the steamers were excluded had an inferior set. 4th. The statements made against steam have been assumptions. It has been asserted that the dredging would injure beds and oystermen not thus operating; but no evidence appears that it has hurt either in any part of the state. 5th. To follow the example of New York and other states would be anti-progressive, since before they adopted this policy they sold thousands of bushels annually to Connecticut; whereas now Connecticut largely supplies the seed for the beds in both those states. *These are the words of a majority report made to the Connecticut legislature in 1881, but it is extremely difficult to get at the truth. A year previous a letter from South Norwalk contained the following statements: “Sailing-vessels use dredges weighing from 15 to 35 pounds, which hold at the most but three pecks. Steamers use dredges weighing from 60 to 100 pounds, holding a barrel. One goes over the bottom lightly ; the other subsoils it, burying everything it does not cat ch. In the fall of 1878 W. R. Lockwood’s steamer worked three weeks on the Shippen bed, taking off 1,600 bushels of seed. During the entire summer period Adison Merrill worked with a 22-feet sail-boat on the same bed and caught but 500 bushels. After the steamer left sail-boats could not dredge at all. The bottom had been so subsoiled the light dredges filled with sand and could not be hauled. During that spawning-season men with small boats worked on ita long time for the sole purpose of cleaning the bottom for the spawn. As soon as the spawn set the steamer came, cauglit, and destroyed it all. The next spring nothing could be caught on that bed. In the summer the sailing-vessels stirred it up again. The spawn set—Hoyt Brothers’ steamer worked on it a few days and the seed was either on their private beds or smothered. The same thing was done at Roton point, destroying that bed entirely.” 84 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. CONNECTICUT LAWS REGULATING STEAM-DREDGING.—The existing law at the time of this controversy was the “Compromise Act”. It allowed sailing-vessels only to dredge on natural oyster-beds west of the Bridgeport bed, and permitted all classes of vessels to dredge upon Bridgeport and other beds. This law was accepted as satisfactory to all interested, and was regarded as finally settling the controversy in this business between steamers and sail-vessels ; and, acting upon that assumption, investments have been made in steamers by various persons who asserted that they would suffer greatly if steam was prohibited in dredging. Nevertheless the legislature of Connecticut, at their spring session in 1881, adopted in place of it the following, which is now the law: AN ACT regulating the dredging for shellfish and shells. Be it enacted, ete. Section 1. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to use a boat, or any other contrivance, dragged, operated, or propelled by steam, in taking up or dredging for oysters, oyster-shells, clams, or other shellfish in any bay, river, or other waters within the boundaries or jurisdiction of this state ; Provided, however, that this section shall not be so construed as to prevent the use of steamboats in taking up, or dredging for, oysters on private, designated grounds in any such waters, by the owners thereof. Src. 2. Any person who shall violate the provisions of the preceding section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished, in the discretion of the court, by a fine not exceeding the sum of one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, or by such fine and imprisonment both. Src. 3. Prosecutions under this act may be heard and determined by a justice of the peace, subject to the right of appeal by the accused to the superior court, as in other criminal cases. Src. 4, All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. Src. 5. This act shall take effect from its passage, but shall not affect any suit or prosecution now pending. FRESHENING OYSTERS.—It is customary, on bringing the oysters in from deep water, to throw them overboard into the fresh flood of the Quinepiac and “give them a drink”, as the oysterman expresses it. To this purpose some planters devote wholly their river lots. - Others have small areas near their shore-houses where the bottom is planked ; while some put the oysters in large floats which are moored by the wharf or shore. New HAVEN pPriIcEs.—During January and February of 1880 the following prices were asked at Fair Haven: 1G Wineries, Cleahe, jase MLO Qo oaes co moe sees ce nsebOs sobn Sees BSS ce Se oo nonioen os Seesocs oseeca 75 to 85 cents. Iaore \rneabnersh tebe bye rap ill ea Ss ohn aoe eo seas sososod SsoseonS KISH n bt Sebbadoonsesese 90 cents to $1 00. IGPMANVEs Comm, eewP NG Hog oe so scseeoc cacces cope sn Ste cee coed cosas sedscoscden oSctooce $1 00 to $1 25. Hor mabiyes) Dye PUSH elements rale see alee ete a ate slate ete ate ate eee eee eee ates $1 00. OYSTER-OPENING AND OYSTER-OPENERS.—AS nearly all of the trade in Virginia oysters is carried on at Fair Haven, so to this locality alone is confined the business of opening the oysters for shipment to any considerable extent. The openers or “shuckers” are mainly women of all ages, though some men are constantly at work. They are mainly American in nationality, and many of them are in good circumstances and only work to provide themselves with pin-money. It is an occupation no refined girl would choose, nevertheless, for the whole person becomes at once spattered with mud and water, and the hands are inevitably bruised and lacerated beyond repair. The method used in opening the shell originated here, but has spread elsewhere, and is known as ‘‘ breaking” or “eracking”. The shucker stands or sits before a stout bench (which may be a long table partitioned off into working spaces for each one, or may be an individual bench that can be moved about) and has her oysters in a pile before her. Immediately under her hand is a block of wood into which is firmly inserted an upright piece of iron about two inches long, one inch high, and a quarter of an inch thick, called the “cracking-iron”. The shucker is also provided with a square-helved double-headed hammer, and a stiff sharp knife in a round wooden handle. On her left hand she wears a rough woolen, rubber, or leathern half-mitten, known as a “cot”, to protect the skin. Seizing an oyster in her left hand, with the hinge in her palm, she places it upon the cracking-iron, and with one blow of the hammer breaks off the “bill” or growing edge of the shell. In the fracture thus made the strong knife is inserted and pushed back between the meat and the shell until it cuts off the attachment of the adductor muscle to the flat “upper” valve, after which, with a quick, dexterous twist, the other “eye” is severed, the meat tossed into the receptacle, which stands handy, and the shells are dropped through a hole in the bench into a barrel or tub placed underneath. Practice teaches extreme celerity in this operation. The knife and hammer are held in the same hand when the oyster is cracked, which does away with the expense of time and trouble in dropping one to pick up another; and the knife hilts very soon have a Jong spiral groove worn in them by the chafing of the hammer-handle. The oysters, as fast as opened, are flung into a tin receptacle called a “measure”, holding five quarts. Much of the liquor of the mollusk also goes in with the meat, and when the measure is full it is taken to the foreman and poured into the “skimmer”, the shucker receiving in exchange a tin or brass check, entitling him to a shilling or 124 cents, at the rate of 24 cents a quart. There are also “half-measures” of 24 quarts. This is ralled “liquor” measurement; if all the liquid was strained out only about two-thirds of the measure would be filled. One shucker told me that five quarts of large-sized oysters counted about 475 in number. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 85 A good day’s earnings for an oyster-opener at Fair Haven is $150; this, of course, is often exceeded, but the books of one firm showed me that the average wages for a whole season was only about $20 per month. It very frequently happens that no work 1s done at one or another establishment for several days, or only a little opening each day. Hence about 350 openers serve the whole business by moving around. Men, as a rule, earn more than women. In regard to the population supported by the oyster-business in this neighborhood, I find it extremely difficult to get accurate statistics. It is a variable and partial quantity. I estimate the number of principals—planters, dealers, and shippers in and about New Haven—at 125; of laborers (men), at 135; and of openers (chiefly women), at 340. PACKING AND SHIPMENT OF OYSTERS.—AS soon as the oysters are opened they are placed in a flat pan with a perforated bottom, called a skimmer, where they are drained of their accompanying liquor. From time to time a quantity is dipped out and put into a large colander, or conical basin with perforated bottom and sides, which is placed over a tall cask. Here a stream of water is turned upon them, and they are stirred about until washed clean, after which they are put into wooden tubs for shipment, or tin cans for local traffic. The tubs are all labeled with the name of the owner, and are returned by the customer. Their covers fit with exactness, and lock with rivet and seal in such a way that they cannot be opened on the road without certain discovery. The expressage of oysters from Fair Haven to the interior of New England is so large that the afternoon trains have one car, and sometimes two cars, devoted exclusively to the carriage of these goods. Large shipments were formerly made in wagons to Albany and thence westward, especially to the large towns in central New York. Now these oysters go by rail, of course, but also much farther westward, even to Cincinnati, Chicago, and San Francisco. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR NEW HAVEN HARBOR, CONNECTICUT : Number of planters, wholesale-dealers, and shippers ...... .----6 - .--- ---- see een -- one een one ene 135 extent of pround cultivated. <2 a= man iameown wee mee == a ~ oan omens ane meee en e= wena = ene acres.... 2, 600 Walue of shore property, -.- <<. - =< <<< wceene gene eee man coc ceeien n= wnewes enn = enn eas anna wane won mene enna $100, 000 Number of vessels and sail-boats engaged : SUGRINE Soote oe ec Soba DocOOE SAU BEE SanHeoaseor KGa. cero eS ecO COE MRO DanC COS ScOdoos Shed pEOSe erence 2 Sil) boatiseeserisseki sera ses cee tela chee, «oes Uasblos cco ts.cosie sbobee’sccdd A Roeebensecced eaeeos 100 TIERS 2 6am Gabe be beda baeane econo Getons CCOCHG SeOmiE one POCECOReEsOo sconce Goossagsoe BScoee 150 — 252 Walierotesaime,. A DOUtes sce so-so seme ewe sincic a ee Een eps as neale sn seiscin mle caeiscsiaa alu sie’e $30, 000 Number of men hired by planters or dealers ..---- See ee ee ee eee eine eer oeaceccicuee moceccce cuss 200 Amn calearniners Of SamG ee. a- she [saa fe ae Sarl oatnln eo wenn cece Soeecenccce. sencisnes\eecclna= ser aere cewciens> $50, 000 NGTNOO barvOnie ns ited mecea teen at meme a cena eels eee lanee casa /o=matoelatn melatwinn siemin->[5=-1--==ushels.---), 450,000 Talc (EP DS: oe cp a ee as a ee ee een eee hai0m it!) Total value of oysters sold annually... ..-- .--2- o0 == 22 -w on oe == on one ne wn w= www eneene neo non = G400, 000 G. THE HOUSATONIC AND SAUGATUCK REGIONS. 33. OYSTER-FISHERIES OF BRIDGEPORT AND WESTPORT. NATURAL BEDS AND SEED-OYSTERS.—Having passed to the westward of New Haven and Milford harbors, we come upon a new feature of the oyster-business. This is the systematic dredging of natural beds in the sound and along the inlets of the shore, for seed to be placed upon the artificial beds in the eastern part of the sound, in the East river, and on the south shore of Long Island. This department of the business will demand more and more attention, as I progress toward its headquarters at Norwalk. The most easterly natural bed which these dredgers attack is one off Clark’s point, just east of the mouth of Oyster river. (In Oyster river itself, by the way, no oysters have ever been known, within the memory of tradition, although that name appears in a map drawn prior to 1700.) The next natural bed consists of a reef, five acres in extent, on the western side of Pond point. Beyond that, off Milford point, at the mouth of the Housatonic, lies the Pompey bed, which afforded sustenance to the sea-hut colony that used to frequent Milford point, and where now a crop can be gathered about once in five years. 86 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. Upon the opposite side of the entrance to the Housatonic lies one of the principal seed-grounds in the sound ; that side of the Housatonic river is one vast natural oyster-bed all the way from Stratford light up to the bridges, a distance of about three miles. There are many persons who live along the shore in Stratford, who devote almost their whole time to the gathering of the young oysters and selling them to the vessels, which in summer throng the bay. They get from 15 to 25 cents a bushel, and there are perhaps 50 men who make this a business. SEED-GATHERING AT THE MOUTH OF THE HousATonIc.—In May sloops and small schooners begin to come after the seed, which is of a year’s (or less) growth. They hail principally from Norwalk and its vicinity. This fleet gradually increases, until in mid-summer there are sometimes to be seen from 75 to 100 vessels at once in the mouth of the river. These vessels do not dredge for the seed. They anchor near the bed and send out skiffs, with a crew, who tong the oysters up until their skiff is full, when they take it to their vessel to be unloaded. From one to half a dozen skiffs are employed by each vessel, which is thus able to load up quickly, go home with its cargo, and be ready to return. To avoid any loss of time, however, in voyages back and forth, some owners of beds keep one or more vessels anchored in the Housatonie all the while, upon which the crews live, who load other vessels that are constantly passing back and forth. The rapidity of this work is shown by the fact, that one man with two assistants will put upon his sloop a full cargo of 500 bushels in two days, and be off and back in another two days, ready to go at it again. Persons who live upon the shore, and who claim to found their estimate on trustworthy facts, say that 400,000 bushels of seed were taken off these Housatonic beds between May and November, 1879. ; OBJECTIONS TO PRESENT METHOD OF SEED-GATHERING.—Notwithstanding this heavy and long continued drain, these nurseries do not seem in danger of depletion. Few oysters, of course, manage to reach maturity, but there are enough to furnish spawn to repopulate the district, which the constant scraping fits in the best possible manner for securing a set. The people of Stratford, however, are beginning to object to longer allowing an unrequited privilege to everybody to rake the beds. Such an indiscriminate crowd embraces many loose characters, and frequent petty annoyances, with some serious trespasses, have occurred on shore. There seems no way to get rid of the nuisance, however, except to declare the whole ground available for culture, and stake it off. This is urged by some of the shoremen, who think they see in this plan some chance of making the meadows and river- bottom a valuable property, and a blessing instead of a curse to them. This meets with considerable opposition, however, and the old foolishness about “natural beds” seems an insurmountable obstacle. Every year the staking-off and cultivation of this river-bottom is delayed Stratford loses by it in a way she will one day regret. Stratford also possesses along her front very good deep-water ground, running from Stratford point to the Middle Ground, which remains to be utilized. The Housatonic seed, however, could not be utilized on this outer ground, since it is the long, fresh-water variety, which would not flourish in water so salt as that of the outer sound. OYSTER-BUSINESS AT BRIDGEPORT.—At Bridgeport there is a small but flourishing oyster-business, participated in by three firms of planters. The natural oyster-producing ground off this harbor extended from Stratford to Black Rock, a distance of about five or six miles, but by 1850 it had become exhausted of all salable oysters, and even became of little value as a seed-producing area. Previously to that seven boats were owned at Bridgeport, all of which, since 1850, have been obliged to go elsewhere or change their work. Long ago, however, a air Haven man utilized ground at the point of the beach at the mouth of the harbor, to bed down southern oysters, and his example was followed in a small degree by Bridgeport men. The first planting of native seed, however, was not until 1844, young oysters being brought from the Saugatuck and from Westport. At present Stratford and Housatonic seed is chiefly used. For opening purposes the Housatonic river seed is regarded as the best, because it becomes salable one year quicker than the sound seed; but for shipping in the shell the deep-water seed produces more profit, though of slower growth, the mature stock being single, shapely, and of large size. The practice of catching seed-oysters on shells prevails here with much success, but will be so fully discussed in a future chapter, that I refrain from doing more than mention the fact here; and add that Mr. Wheeler Hawley, the largest planter at Bridgeport, believes himself to have been one of the first, if not the first, to adopt this method of oyster-culture in Long Island sound, putting the date of his experiments at 1853. Replying to my questions in regard to methods and cost of following this practice in this harbor, one of the planters informed me that, in his case, he counts expenses per acre in preparation of oyster-bottom as follows: 500) bushels)shells) (“stools”) jatioicents|< se aoa aeelama ee aeiele ae se eae atti a aaa ee le ohm lle are $25 00 50 bushels of ‘‘spawners” (unculled)......---...--- Beene tad so eo coo caigcee 6d {co Ben EnCReceOrcIc 12 00 Total’ cost of seedint ss.cacsccs cccsas ce mesccteees cose ds aces aaa aeaeeta cea te ee cance eer UU, From this, he thought he ought to take up 1,000 bushels of seed to the acre of marketable oysters after two years, with a remainder left for the third year. The cost of taking up would be about 20 cents a bushel. If seed- oysters are bought to be placed upon the ground, from 25 to 60 cents a bushel must be paid for them. The total acreage under cultivation at Bridgeport, for which a rental of $2 an acre is paid to the town, is about 110 acres. On this ground there were raised in the winter of 187980 about 8,000 bushels, which were mainly sold in the shell to New York buyers, at an average of about $1124 a bushel. These oysters were large and fat, often opening six quarts to the bushel, as I was informed. In 1857 they brought $12 a barrel. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 87 The fleet employed by the oystermen here consists of nine sail-boats, worth, perhaps, $2,500 in total; the care of the beds and running of the boats give support to about a dozen families, and occasional wages to others at the height of the season, the pay being about $2 a day. OYSTER-BUSINESS AL WESTPORT.— Westport, Connecticut, is a little harbor on the Saugatuck river, one of the most beautiful of the many charming streams that debouch along this part of the coast. The river has long been celebrated for the abundance, large size, and excellent flavor of its natural oysters. They grew almost continuously, in favorable seasons, from the mouth of the river up to the village bridge, a distance of about four miles, and the farmers who lived along the river were accustomed to gather them in any desired quantity, without a thought of exhausting the supply. The depletion came at last, however, and now few marketable oysters, native to the Saugatuck, are ever procured. Some years ago, when attention was first called to the desirability of transplanting oysters and raising them upon artificial beds, the Westport men staked off a large area at the mouth of the Saugatuck. No ground within the river, however, was allowed to be assigned, the town reserving all this as ‘common ground”, where seed might be gathered by poor men and everybody, to be sold to the planters. The amount of seed thus procured annually varies greatly with different years. The highest trustworthy estimate given me for any one year (and this not recently) was 50,000 bushels. Last year, however, only about 4,000 bushels were caught; half was planted locally and half sold to outside buyers. In midsummer a score or so of men in skiffS may often be seen in the river at once, raking seed-oysters, but these work only occasionally, and there are less than a dozen men who really derive their support “by following the creek” (chieily oystering), in the whole town. The seed used is between one and three years of age, and it 1s sold by the skiffmen for 35 or 40 cents a bushel. Smaller mixed stuff sometimes sells for 20 cents. There are only two or three sail-boats devoted to this work. The first efforts at planting were made in the mill-pond east of the village—a pond of salt water about 40 acres in extent. The bottom of this pond is a soft mass of mud; not barren, clayey mud, but a flocculent mass of decayed vegetation, ete., apparently inhabited through and through by the microscopic life, both vegetable and animal, which the oyster feeds upon. Although the young oysters placed there sank out of sight in this mud, they were not smothered, on account of its looseness, but, on the contrary, throve to an extraordinary degree, as also did their neighbors, the clams and eels, becoming of great size and extremely fat. Ten years ago oysters from this pond sold for $3 a bushel; and for one lot $16 50 is said to have been obtained. Before long, however, a rough class of loungers began to frequent the pond, and the oysters were stolen so fast, that planting there has almost wholly ceased, and prices have greatly declined. Something over 500 acres of oyster-ground have been set apart in the waters of the sound belonging to Westport. This ground lies in the neighborhood of Sprite’s, Hay, Calf-pasture, and Goose islands. Two-thirds of it is owned by Norwalk men and other non-residents, and therefore the town has derived no revenue of consequence from it. The principal planter in town is Mr. Eli Bradley, who gave me the most of the information obtained here. He has been long engaged in the business, and has planted many thousands of bushels of seed upon his beds, as, also, have his neighbors, but there has been so much litigation concerning boundaries, so much actual thieving, and so incessant persecution by the starfishes and drills, that not much has been realized. Last year (1879) no oysters whatever of consequence were placed in the market from these beds. Outsiders, however, shifted certain oysters into Westport waters, temporarily, and saved a good crop, the figures relating to which appear elsewhere. All the residents at Westport assert strongly the extreme suitability of their ground for successful oyster-raising, barring the damages inflicted by the starfishes, which, they think, they can keep free from with sufficient labor. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR THE HOUSATONIC AND SAUGATUCK REGION: Nombevotplanters:andshippersiecsssc acces osass-pseneeenoceesiessa seen as sincaceclesceodiensnisascnclecue = 6 HIMTeoOtePROUnAICNI VAC «oc accra ca wajasee anaslesaacae messes cause baeaaclc ods oemincscaemcecece acres... 110 Seal terol eS HOLE -DLOPOLIY se .- eons ss aaea en cat nena kas Seca as bctacmactaese ete reccssstccpechacueee $3, 500 Nim pero vessels and! sail DORtS eng a Ped |. - - jose e ae aciewen as =/enesloce em cuesieene coceincucteccsescsus- 12 MAIN OROLER Sit Gere ee ce = nase cRIE cto ne cote ree ate See ee Bic ae ee ee ene ae Bec eS Sete o Sewsies SOC 833000 NimberEom men) hiredsb yap lan vers\ac4\ mas ems acest ectsoaneecioe sitet oacin aa eset wnsaeaeineeaeseccelmces 15 PRATT OMAP STOLEN AI OMY saeve aa cs nite sieeln my cs tee ofotemie eat nie ale ewlalaee sles ae cinjs naacicoee'a nie and eennt $5, 000 Arann MpeTO Tames SUDPOLLEM, < cacic < slow daab omemjnas siciecn Seis vicwelcelecds ese, onsclsssicce(oescccccecse 21 Annual sales of— INGLY ClO Valet Nraena sacle tose sos veces ne ecs Nacsa eeeeeee if ats eee ee et oc aceeat bushels.. 9, 000 We ELO RESIN GENS TNS He cet we Aan. Soheicb: Spat Sere, Waele 8 seco wa ce cose acobeebek $11, 000 motal-valueton oxstersisold annnally:.. 22: ccc. coocceceeensicataveseseees ces twece eicebleneremeccleee saci =e $11, 000 88 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. H. THE EAST RIVER AND PECONIC BAY. 34. OYSTER-INTERESTS FROM HELL GATE TO PORT JEFFERSON, NEW YORK, AND NORWALK, CONNECTICUT. EAST RIVER DEFINED.—To oystermen, and for all the purposes of the present report, the East river is that narrow part of Long Island sound, at its eastern end, which extends from Hell Gate to the Norwalk islands on the Connecticut shore, and to Port Jefferson on the Long Island side. It is a district very old in the annals of oyster-gathering and culture, and one which contributes largely to the trade. EARLY HISTORY OF OYSTERING.—Traditions concerning the beginning of oystering as a regular industry are very few and faint. I am indebted to Mr. Theodore 8. Lowndes, of Rowayton, Connecticut, for some pleasant reminiscences. Tt seems not to have been until about 1814 or 1815 that much attention was attracted to the oyster-beds of the East river, as a source of business advantage. At that time it was considered a degrading thing to rake oysters for a living, yet the father of my informant, Mr. Edward William Lowndes, went energetically into the enterprise, with several of his neighbors—William Price, Drake Sopers, Stephen Jennings, James Jennings, and Benjamin Totten, the last named having returned from loyal participation in Commodore Perry’s victory on lake Erie. All of these gentlemen lived on City island, and their descendants are still to be found among the leading citizens ot that community. .At that time there was no occasion to plant oysters, the bivalves being plentiful upon their natural beds, and easy of access with dredges, rakes, and tongs, very similar to those now in use. Mr. Lowndes writes me as follows: The oysters caught nearest Hell Gate were in Flushing bay, between Barien’s island and Fisher’s point, and I’ve heard my father say that he had canght oysters below Blackwell’s island, on the edge of the flats at Newtown creck, on the Long Island side, but they were only a small lot. My father was often annoyed, in his day, by local laws and prejudices against oystermen. On one occasion, as I have heard him tell, while he was at work off Shippen point, on Long Island sound, he was taken ashore at Stamford, and had aride given him into the country. When brought back his vessel was unloaded, and he was told to get out as soon as possible, which he was glad to do. On returning to New York, he went to the collector of the port, General Morton, who sent Captain Calhoun, commanding a revenue cuter in the United States navy, to inform the captains of some packets that plied between New York and Stamford, that if any oystermen should be disturbed again in that locality, he would come up with the cutter and protect them; but there was no further trouble. My father was concerned in several such vexatious adventures. Mr. Lowndes and his fellow-citizens showed it possible to work at this with so much diligence and pecuniary success, as to put.this occupation in a more favorable light, and caused many more of their neighbors to enter it. The result is, that probably two-thirds of the population of City island, to-day, derive their support from the oyster- interests owned there. The same is true of the north shore of Long Island. Natural oyster-beds once existed in greater or less abundance all along the shore of Westchester county, New York, and the opposite coast. Though the Harlem riverand the region near Hell Gate have long been abandoned, through over-raking and the unfavorable conditions which have followed the incessant commercial use of these waters, now within the great city of New York; a little farther up, the raking is still practiced. The passenger on the Harlem and New Rochelle railway, can see from the cars, the boats of men catching oysters in all the little nooks and corners of the coast above Port Morris, and across toward College point. ‘The steamboats run daily across seed-ground, and make landings amid plantations. East CHESTER BAY.—The first oyster-ground of any consequence, however, going up the river, is found in East Chester bay, which surrounds City Island. Off Throge’s point, at the southern end of this bay, are great natural banks, which have withstood long and steady raking. In these waters are the oldest artificial beds in the East river, for the regular planting of oysters (inaugurated, according to tradition, by Mr. Orrin Fordham) was begun here half a century ago. ' The planters all have their homes on City island, and are about sixty in number. In addition to these sixty planters, there are perhaps a dozen more men who get their living out of the business. It is safe to say, at any rate, that half a hundred families derive their support from the oyster-industry in this one community. The total production of East Chester bay, last season (1879~80), may be placed approximately at 55,000 bushels. In order to catch the seed of these oysters and carry them to the New York market, where all the crop is sold, there is owned here a fleet of one steamer, specially fitted, about 45 sloops, some 25 floats, and at least 100 skiffs. All of these craft are of excellent quality, and represent a value of something like $35,000, which, with an addition of about $5,000 for shore-property, may be taken as the amount of the investment in the industry at City island, exclusive of the value of the stock now lying under the water, on the various beds, and which is a sum hardly possible even to guess at. PELHAM TO Miuvon.—At Pelham, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Rye, and Milton, the business does not attain much dignity, although a large number of families, fully 100, are supported partly by it and partly by digging THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 89 clams (mainly Mya arenaria), catching lobsters, and in other sea-shore occupations distinct from regular fishing. The ground oceupied is embraced in little bays and sheltered nooks, for the most part, and is not of great extent. There are about 20 planters, who, at an average of 250 bushels—a large estimate, probably—would furnish a total of 5,000 bushels a year. Nearly if not quite all of this goes into the hands of peddlers, who dispose of it from wagons throughout the adjacent villages. Many of the planters, and some summer residents in addition, lay down seed wholly for private use. There is a large seed-bed off this part of the coast, which furnishes small stock, not only for local use, but for the towns both east and west. About $5,000 would no doubt cover the investment between City island and Port Chester. Port CuEStER.—Port Chester is the last town in the state of New York, East Chester, just across the bridge, belonging to Connecticut. The exact boundary of the two states was long undecided, and was the cause of much annoyance and dispute among the oystermen of the contiguous waters, who were incessantly charging one another with violation of law and their neighbor's rights, by crossing the imaginary line, and so invading the property of the other state. In consequence of this a joint commission was appointed to settle the boundary between the states, the definition of which, so far as it relates to the waters of Long Island sound, is as follows: Beginning at a point in the center of the channel about 600 feet south of the extreme rocks of Byram point, marked No. 0 on the appended United States’ coast survey chart; thence running in a true southeast course three and one-quarter statute miles; thence ina straight line (the are of a great circle) northeasterly to a point four statute miles true south of New London light-house ; thence northeasterly to a point marked No. 1 on the annexed United States’ coast survey chart of Fisher’s Island sounds, which point is in the longitude E, three-quarters N. sailing course drawn on said map, and is about 1,000 feet northerly from the Hammock or N. Dumpling light-house ; thence following the said E. three-quarters N. sailing course as laid down on said map, easterly to a point marked No, 2 on said map; thence southeasterly toward a point marked No.3 on said map, so far as said states are continuous. Provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing agreement contained shall be so construed to affvet existing titles or property, corporeal or incorporeal, held under grants heretofore made by either of said states, nor to affect existing rights which said states or either of them, or which the citizens of either of said states, may have by grant, letters-patent, or prescription of fishing in the waters of said sound, whether for shell or floating fish, irrespective of the boundary line hereby established, it not being the purpose of this agreement to define, limit, or interfere with any such right, rights, or privileges, whatever the same may be. At Port Chester and East Chester lives a considerable colony of oyster-planters. In all, about 25 families derive their chief maintenance from this industry; but four-fifths of the planters find it necessary to supplement their profits from this source by other labor, in order to get a living. The total product of the locality was about 9,000 bushels last year, only a fraction of which is sent to New York. The price is now 80 cents for the small and $1 for large size. In 1878~79 it was 20 per cent., and in 187778, 40 per cent. higher. There are eight sloops, with floats, arks, ete., owned here, which foot up an invested capital of about $7,000. Before leaving the New York waters of East river, however, it will be well to mention some laws applying to this coast. In the Revised Statutes of 1875, under Title XI, Fisheries, are the following sections applying here, in addition to the general important law prohibiting steam-dredging : Section 5. Forbids taking oysters in Harlem river during June, July, and August. Sxc. 6. Provides jurisdiction in case of offense against section 5. Sec. 7. Permits any owner or lessee of lands adjoining Harlem river to plant oysters in front of their property, where the ground is not oceupied; but he must put up a plain sign, stating (with owner’s name) that this isa private oyster-bed. No person except the owner shall take up oysters on such ground. Penalty, $50. Ste. 8. Empowers constables of either Westchester or New York counties to seize boats and implements of offenders against section 7. Src. 9. Defines how arrests are to be made and offenders prosecuted. GREENWICH.—The next point eastward is Greenwich, where, at Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Greenwich cove, Cos Cob, and Mianus, a large business is done and a large number of persons is engaged, though oysters are not now raised here to as great an extent nor of so fine quality as formerly. The mouths of all the rivers and each of the many coves that indent this rocky coast are filled with planted oysters, though a general feeling of discouragement, arising from various causes, prevails. In all about 800 acres are under cultivation, all in shallow water, and the total annual product for last year, of the whole region, may be set down at 33,000 bushels, the majority of which was taken to New York in the boats of the respective owners, and sold to the dealers at the foot of Broome street. The number of families supported in this township, out of this occupation, it is hard to state. I estimate it at about forty. The craft employed amounts to one steamer, about 30 sloops, and perhaps 100 small open boats. These, with other estimated fixtures, foot up an invested capital approaching $30,000, exclusive of oysters now growing on the beds. SramMForD.—The next oyster-producing point is Stamford, where, also, I found the planters bewailing the decline of their fortunes. The number of men raising oysters is about a dozen, and perhaps as many more are employed. From about 150 acres of improved harbor-bottom Stamford yielded for market, in 1879, about 5,500 bushels of oysters, the majority of which was shipped to New York. Their fleet counts up 9 sloops, which, with boats, floats, and so forth, are stated to be worth about $15,000. The principal men at Stamford are A. M. Prior and Capt. Joan Decker. : DARIEN AND RowAyron.—At Darien, three miles beyond, about 3,000 bushels a year are sold from about 250 acres. They have ten or a dozen sail-boats, and a value in oyster-interests, generally, of perhaps $5,000. 90 THE FISHERIES OF HE UNITED STATES. The next point is the very important station known as Five-Mile-River or Rowayton, where the cultivation of oysters has been systematically pursued for many years. In all, at present, there are about 35 planters or firms, and nearly or quite as many families are supported. The little creek-mouth is perfectly filled with oyster-boats, and the other conveniences of this pursuit. I find upon my list of the oyster-fleet 28 sloops and sail-boats, which belong here, some of them very large and well built. I estimate the value of these “sail” and the other floating and shore-property at Rowayton, directly concerned in the oyster-trade of the port, at not far from $30,000. Rowayton produced, in 1879, which was considered a very poor year, something near 50,000 bushels. How far beneath occasional crops, if not beneath the recent average, this is, is shown by the statement made to me, that about five years ago a single dealer in New York city bought 32,000 bushels of Rowayton oysters. Little of the stock raised at this point fails to reach New York, and within the last three years Rowayton has supplied a large proportion of the oysters sent to Europe, partly by direct shipment. Like all other parts of the Hast river, the oysters are sold here wholly in the shell; and almost always by the barrel or bushel—the selling “‘ by count” belonging to the region further west and to the Long Island shore. SourH NorwaLKx.—Just eastward of Rowayton lies the city and harbor of South Norwalk, one of the most important oyster-producing localities in Long Island sound, as well as one of the “oldest”. The bay at the mouth of the Norwalk river is filled with islands, which protect the shallow waters from the fury of the gales. This whole bay, in old days, was full of native oysters from the sound, all the way up to Norwalk itself. Long before the elaborate means for growing oysters, at present in vogue, were thought of, therefore, Norwalk supplied the people of that region with fine, large, natural oysters, just as it had for centuries been a storehouse of shellfish food to the Indians, the remains of whose feasts and feasting-places are still to be found. About forty years or more ago, however, the natural beds in the vicinity of Norwalk harbor had become so depleted that they no longer afforded to anybody employment that amounted to anything; nor was it until toward the year 1850 that any transplantation of seed, or anything in the shape of the propagation, was attempted. The business of oyster-growing here, therefore, which at first sight seems of immemorial age, is only about thirty years old. The history of its growth need not be given here. It will be sufficient to publish the statistics I have accumulated in regard to the present status of the business at this point. The principal planters and shippers at South Norwalk (with which I include its suburb, Village Creek) are the Hoyt Brothers, Graham Bell, Oliver Weed, C. Remsen, Raymond & Saunders, Peter Decker, the Burbanks, and several others who raise more than 1,000 bushels a year. In addition to these there are many men who have small beds, which they keep increasing as fast as circumstances permit, and who make a part of their living by working at wages for planters whose operations are more extensive than their own. There is one firm, for instance, which employs the services of 18 or 20 men nearly all the time, and in some seasons largely increases this number. These smaller planters sell their little crops of from 100 to 1,000 or 1,500 bushels to the half a dozen shippers, chief among whom are the Hoyt Brothers and Mr. G. Bell, wisely preferring cash, at a small discount, to the trouble and risk of themselves taking their oysters down to New York, or elsewhere, in hopes of a slightly larger price. During the present season (1879-80) the price paid at the Boe has averaged about $1, taking little and big together. The culling, as a rule, is done afterward, and the prices the shippers have received, after culling and packing, have been as follows—it is understood, of course, that these are sold in the shell and shipped in barrels, going chiefly to New York: Per hundred. Per barrel. Pomiraal,.26ol socal Aases coh sore ea atl -euiepimtaatienetieeen’ woe ea cemteerem en ae $1 40 $5 25 BOX Se cree soe ob cess eee ok oe Si ote a cote d oc ledaciveazee siealtowoeResmencic venue actrees 90 to 1 00 5 25 Cus: -ociseissaescrcesscvains Sa5.cusneticwaeweseralscenisee sonic eels weclon s cocienwcmcenceelaicese 45 to 50 4 25 Cullenteens te e.ac.coccecepeoeeee eaceue sate Soe e ee Se Cee ee see ee tee Dee eee en ane eeeete 35 425 Barrels are valued at 25 cents each. The total number of bushels produced in 1879 (to which time my statistics refer for the sake of completeness), as well as this year (1880), makes a sum which is asserted to fall far short of what is considered an average or a high estimate. Nearly every man said to me: ‘Well, this year was a poor one.” How much of this is to be attributed to modesty and a timid desire to belittle the figures, and how much is truth, it is hard to tell. Iam inclined to think it pretty nearly true. Prices, at the same time, are much lower than formerly, owing to the unusually poor quality of the oysters of these waters this year and last; but I do not think that this is a permanent depreciation in fatness and excellence of taste (as I fear is the case from Stamford to Port Chester), but only a temporary misfortune. Between scarcity and inferiority, the oystermen of Norwalk find themselves much less cheerful just now than they are wont to be. The total production of this locality, during the season of 1878~79 (the present season, 1880, will probably be found not greatly to differ from it), is given at about 65,000 bushels. These oysters, as I have said, were the property of 50 planters, which gives an average of 1,300 bushels to each one. It is probable, however, that as many more persons got their living out of these oysters, from first to last, so that I do not hesitate to say that 100 families in South Norwalk and its immediate vicinity, are supported by the cultivation and sale of oysters there. The estimate of 200 families, which I have often heard made, is undoubtedly too high. This question is ever a hard one to answer, because, in many cases, the head of the family depends only THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 91 partially upon his professional means of support, the attention he pays to it and the income he derives, varying with each good or bad season. Most oystermen are also fariners or fishermen. Many of them, also, keep summer hotels, and thus add largely to their income during the dull season at the beds. Every supposed available spot for oyster-operations, probably, is now set apart for that purpose, not only inside of the Norwalk islands, but also in the outside waters of the sound off the mouth of the harbor. Only a portion of this is in use, however; in all, about 680 acres out of 2,300, in round numbers, which have been designated in Norwalk harbor. The average production at present, therefore, is less than 100 bushels to the acre of land actually cultivated, and only about 28 bushels to the acre of bottom held for the purpose of oyster-cultivation. I see no reason why future years ought not to see ten times as large a proportion. The fleet of Norwalk used by the oystermen in their business, consists of 2 steamboats, a dozen sloops, and about 30 sharpies and sail-boats, of less size and value than the “sloops”, most of them being without decks. Besides this there are skiffs innumerable. This disparity in the number of large sloops between so important a place as Norwalk and some of the small ports westward, is explained by the fact that the planters here do not often themselves take their goods to New York. What shall be given as the amount of the investment at South Norwalk is a difficult question. The answer can hardly be more than guessed at. There are several large warehouses and offices devoted to the work. Extensive wharves have been built, and arrangements for landing are made. There are 25 or 30 “arks”, as they are termed, or floating oyster-houses, made by housing in half a canal-boat, a scow, or some old hulk, and there is an extensive outfit of boats and tools. I judge that the following table represents nearly the truth of the case: 2,300 acres oyster-ground, worth....-.............---.-- TESS Raes FeSO COSSONS GoOe CODE OO COMES OEE OECOLS $6, 000 SURES OR ICT? TOMI GS SETS Snes oSSASc HOO RS aR OSes BUDE OS AOBO LE OS) Hoc od GEE Ean Boe nee Seeeoe ese 10, 000 SPA ie Oe RCO SOURS tonearm ee ans ae inne stem meemclarie'acleainnacicse se ajece alana cic owleeceeelew sen c on 5, 000 ROG PH TaIOs OLMOLANOLUS snee lene mens ce mtane eer scotia e eciets «ae iaat ae ee cess me eee cee sete eces see oot ten 95-000 SIEMENS cococe. pode peas coos BEd Boe. Pe RhOSCICHODCHO CABee6 COUE CARESS Se ndScer CENCE SSO SEE BBC BEeGS Sa Ssorooe 6, 000 ALOIS OTEO MES LOD) S MCL Creat ateetemtne slate eiewlesis isla anise at ser an)aiel Solaenisie/saieat esc lo aceccinee=eciecwciaeda® 1Os000 55, 000 This, of course, leaves out all estimate upon the value of the oysters now upon the beds, or the money which has been spent (and sunk) in improvement, up to this time. This is a matter which it would be exceedingly difficult to ascertain, and of small importance, because constantly varying and undecided. I suppose about $50,000 a year are reinvested in the beds at Norwalk, counting the time of the planters as so much money ; if it were cash expended, however, instead of their own labor, they could not follow it. Few can afford to hire help, except occasionally, for a few days at a time. Wages, in that case, are from $1 to $2 per day. SADDLE-ROCK OYSTERS.—From a particular part of Norwalk harbor, many years ago, came to Tom Donan’s famous old shop in Broad street, New York, the original “ Saddle-rocks”, named from the reef around which they grew. These oysters were so large that 25 would fill a bushel basket; yet they were tender and luscious, and often sold for from 15 to 30 cents apiece. But they were not very numerous, and the raking of them was so profitable that the supply was quickly exhausted. Like the generous host who gave them name and fame, they have long ago departed, except from the branding-iron and sign-board of the dealer, whose “Saddle-rocks” now may have come from anywhere except Norwalk. That is the story as I was told it at South Norwalk; since writing it Ihave seen an article on the subject, taken from the New York Observer, and vouched for by the Rev. Samuel Lockwood, who speaks of the writer as “our friend, Dr. O. R. Willis”. This article places Saddle rock on the opposite shore of the sound. It reads thus: The original Saddle-rock oyster was not only very large, but possessed a peculiar, delicious flavor, which gave it its reputation. And it received its name because it was discovered near a rock known as Saddle rock. A high northwest wind, continued for several successive days, always causes very low tides in Long Island sound and its bays. On the farm of David Allen, situated near the head of Great Neck, on the eastern shore of Little Neck bay, is a rock about 20 feet high, and from 15 to 20 feet in diameter. The shape of the top of this rock resembles somewhat the form of a saddle, and from that circumstance is called Saddle rock. At low water the upper or land side of this rock is left bare, while the opposite or lower side is in the water. In the autumn of 1827, after a strong northwest wind had been blowing for three days, a very low tide occurred, and the water retreated far below the rock, leaving a space wide enough for a team of oxen to pass quite around it. "This extraordinary low tide reyealed a bed of oysters just below the rock. The oysters were very large, and possessed the most delicate flavor; we collected cart-loads of them, and placed them in our mill-pond (tide-mill). The news of the discovery spread among the oystermen, and boat-loads soon found their way to the city, where, on account of their excellent flavor, they commanded faney prices, even reaching $10 a hundred!—an enormous price for those days. In a very short time the locality was exhausted, and for more than forty years there has not been a real Saddle-rock oyster in the market. SOUTH SHORE OF EAST RIVER. —On the southern side of Long Island sound the “ East river” extends as far as Port Jefferson, which lies nearly opposite Bridgeport. Beginning at the Narrows above Hell Gate, as before, we find the remains of ancient native oyster-beds all along the shore. This was one of the favorite points of market-supply for New York years ago. Its traditions remain, as witnessed by the following paragraph from DeVoe’s Market Assistant: ~ In the month of September, 1959, a discovery of a great oyster-bed was made at Eaton’s Neck, on the Long Island shore, by five fishermen from Darien, Connecticut. It is stated that “ they found themselves too far out, and dropping overboard an oyster-dredge to 92 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. bring their boat to anchor”, when ready to draw it in again on board, they found it very heavy, and after raising it to the surface they had it filled with fine large oysters, when they soon loaded their boat, and entered into a mutual compact of secrecy, but it was broken; the information was sold [for $500], and the valuable discovery was soon made public. Thousands of bushels were taken and replanted, and those which were planted in deep water produced some extra fine large oysters, which found a ready sale in our markets. For help in calculating the oyster-riches of this southern shore of the East river, I am indebted to the labors of Mr. Frederick Mather, of the United States Fish Commission, who also acted as a special agent of the Census there. FLUSHING BAY AND VICINITY.—The first point, beginning at the western extremity, is Flushing bay. Twenty men are engaged here in oystering and clamvaing, almost inseparable employments along this shore. There are oyster-beds staked out here, worth, counting seed and appliances, $8,000, and they produced last year 10,000 bushels of oysters. Six boats of four or five tons, cat-rigged, are employed. In addition to this four men, supporting three families, oyster in Flushing bay, but live at College Point, and sent to market 8,000 bushels last year, using two boats. All shipments are by boat. In Little Neck bay the oyster-beds are free of cost, but are staked off in private claims and planted, a condition respected by neighbors, but giving no legal sanction. The seed is obtained from near by, and is worth 25 cents a bushel. ‘There is a desire,” says Mather, ‘‘on the part of some of the oystermen to pay for their grounds and get some protection in return. Now their only claim is on the seed, and they can sue or prosecute a man for stealing that. I found a great difference of opinion among the oystermen on the bay in regard to the laws. Some holding that the statutes did, and others that they did not, protect the claimants of oyster-beds. A man’s heirs claim his beds and the claim is respected, but it does not appear that the beds are salable in the sense of giving a deed for a consideration. In a discussion on this point, which I encouraged in order to get at the facts, one man said, derisively: ‘1 would like to see a good bed found and have the town attempt to sell it. There’d be fun, and somebody would get hurt, sure, for when there’s a find we all go for it, and the one that gets the most is the best fellow.” One of the towns on this bay is Whitestone, from whence 4,500 bushels of oysters are sent; another is Little Neck, where 30 men make a living by oystering and clam-fishing, and raise an annual crop of 10,000 bushels. One sloop, over 20 tons, and seven over 5 tons, are engaged. GREAT NECK AND VICINITY.—At Great Neck there is considerable business—about 5,900 bushels a year, which go to market in boats owned at Little Neck. Off this coast, between Great Neck and Hell Gate, are very persistent natural beds of oysters, which annually furnish fair raking-ground, whence the planters in the vicinity obtain nearly all their seed. In the lower part of the river the oil and deposits from the petroleum refineries at Hunter’s Point, have injured or wholly destroyed the beds. The best ground is directly in the steamboat channel, where the cinders falling from the innumerable freight, “ sound line”, and excursion steamers that pass daily, furnish a capital cultch for the oyster-spat to attach itself to. This ground is gradually extending itself into a productive tract half way to Norwalk. The seed lies particularly thick here in a bed about three miles long, off Haton’s Neck. In summer this whole region is excellent clamming-ground. Ihave counted 100 boats, doing well, at once between Sea Cliff and Throge’s Neck. Many boats had two men, and this number was not unusual. This scraping of the bottom with the big, deep-cutting, dredge-like clam-rake undoubtedly contributes to the growth of young oysters as well as young clams there, by preparing the ground to retain the spawn, which is at that very season floating about. For oysters raised west of Great Neck, buying agents of New York houses paid the planters last season an average price of 75 cents per bushel. Port WASHINGTON.—Port Washington, on the other hand, a village upon Cow bay, in one of the most beautiful districts of Long Island, is the seat of a very large oyster-planting interest. It is a fine sight to look down from the hill upon the bay, crowded with its miniature shipping, dotted by the large floats which are anchored all along the shore, and its sunny surface enlivened by countless small boats moving about here and there in eager haste. At the wharves are usually to be found two or three sloops from New York buying oysters, with the names and advertisements of their owners painted in huge black letters on the broad mainsail ; or at a favorable condition of season and tide the whole trim fleet spreads its canvas and sweeps out to the dredging-grounds in beautiful array. It is more than thirty-five years since George Mackey first began the planting of oysters in this bay; now this industry is the main business in the town, and commands two-thirds of all the influence—out of 320 voters on the rolls, 200 being oystermen. Nearly all of these are heads of families, and as representative names I might mention the Mackeys, the Jarvises, J. J. Thompson, A. Thatcher & Co., Thomas Allen, Peter H. Holt, J. Van Pell, and various others. In order to carry on their business they have, perhaps, $10,000 worth of shore-fixtures, and from $40,000 to $50,000 worth of floating property, embraced in 70 sloops and sail-boats, averaging $500 in value, and in floats, skiffs, tools, ete. The amount of ground under use it would be impossible to say—I could get no notion of it—since it is scattered and is not measured for allotment asit isin Connecticut. Guessing at it, I should say there are 2,000 acres. The water is tolerably shallow—2S feet is the deepest told me of—and tongs are mainly used. The bottom, almost universally, is muddy, and no spring-shifting is resorted to. The total production last year (and THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 93 substantially the same will be true of 1880) was 75,000 bushels. These were sold on the spot, for the most part, to New York buyers, who paid an average of 75 cents a bushel. The yield of these beds this year was said to be unusually good, both in quantity and quality. These oysters were sold mainly at home, to buyers who came in sloops from New York. When disposed of by the bushel, they brought an average of 75 cents, or even less. Culled out and sold carefully by count, as was done often, the prices were: For the largest, 86 per 1,000; medium size, $3 per 1,000; poorest, $1 per 1,000. One firm alone in New York, at the Broome-street wharves, is reputed to have taken over 10,000 bushels. Formerly they must have paid 20 per cent. more than the schedule of prices given above. HEMPSTEAD BAY AND VICINITY.— Hempstead bay seems to be not so prolific in molluscan life as the preceding indentations of the coast. The planters go elsewhere for seed. In Roslyn about 30 men occasionally rake oysters and clams, and half as many families are thus partially supported. The year’s catch is reported at 15,0U0 bushels. At Glenhead 50 men are in the oyster and clam business, supporting 35 families. The product was about 15,000 bushels in 1880, nearly all of which went to New York by boat. Glen Cove is the home of 15 oystermen, who say they have $5,000 invested at present in seed-oysters, and $2,500 more in boats and tools. The shipment is wholly by water, and amounts to 20,000 bushels annually. Concerning the next inlet, Oyster bay, Mr. Mather writes that “it is a famous locality for oysters, and notwithstanding that the line between Queens and Suffolk counties strikes the bay at its eastern end, leaving Cold Spring on one side and the other villages on the other, the same law prevails. The oyster-beds are leased by the towns at 50 cents an acre; number of acres not limited. Some oystermen object to this, and a few of the principal ones refuse to pay, but stake off their claims and hold them by force. About three-fourths of the bay is staked oft, and the greater portion is planted. The seed is obtained from Bridgeport, Connecticut, at 25 cents per bushel of (averaging) 5,000 oysters. It is not necessary to buy much when the spawn ‘sets’, as it did this year [1880] and last. A few shipments are made by rail, but mainly by boat, and a few have been packed for Europe.” Bayviie is the first village on Hempstead bay to be considered, its railway station being Locust Valley. The oyster-interests here are said to contain an investment of $60,000, and 60,000 bushels go to markets in New York and Connecticut annually. As the yearly revenue from this is only $15,000, a large portion must be designed to seed other beds. The shellfisheries are said to support here about 75 families, and many women find irregular employment in opening oysters and clams. Thirteen sloops, of from 30 to 10 tons each, are employed, the total value of which is $13,000; 4 cat-boats, $400; and 100 row-boats, at $15, $1,500, making a grand total value of $14,900. Much of this is employed in clamming, however. At Oyster bay, $25,000 are invested in oyster-beds, and 75,000 bushels of oysters are taken annually. There are 23 sailing-boats, large and small, owned by these men, and to a large extent, at least, devoted to oystering and clamming, which together are estimated as worth $15,000. In Cold Spring there are 45 men oystering in the season, half of whom have families. The harbor is three miles long by one mile wide, and three-fourths of it, or about 500 acres, is planted with oysters. The total shipments reported from these beds in 1880, amounted to 25,000 bushels. Most of these went to New York by boat, except in freezing weather, when the railroad carried some. Seven sloops, counting 56 tons in all, and worth $6,000, belong at this port. HUNTINGTON BAY AND VICINITY.—Crossing over now to Huntington bay, another good mollusk-district is met with. The principal town is Huntington, which is well landlocked. Here the investment amounts to about $8,000, and $1,809 in small boats, by means of which 15,000 bushels of oysters are got up for market yearly. Perhaps 20 families are thus supported. Centreport contributes a larger corps of general fishermen and oystermen, 100 men being reported as engaged in the season, 60 of whom are married. Twenty-five sail-boats belong here, and are worth $15,000; while $100,000 are said to be invested in oyster-beds, that yield 50,000 bushels annually. In Northport and East Northport, 15 men are engaged, half having families, but their additional investments and contributions are already accounted for above. Very large interests are owned in Huntington bay by the Lowndes Brothers and others, of Norwalk, Connecticut, but the yield of their beds is not considered in the present account, because already counted at Norwalk. The ground is leased under local regulations at 50 cents a year per acre ; and there is no tax upon it until it becomes of distinct value to the owner. The town treasuries receive a considerable revenue from this source. Should all lessees pay properly, the sum would be larger; but here, as frequently elsewhere, a legal doubt exists as to the right of the town of Northport to rent the bottom of the bay, since these waters and the bottom are claimed by the adjoining town of Huntington, under charters from King George III. The matter now is pending decision in suit. A similar plea on the part of Brookhaven, in respect to the eastern end of the Great South bay, has been upheld by the courts, notwithstanding that the land fronting on much of the water in question was long ago set apart from Brookhaven into the town of Islip. The oyster-interests of Smithtown bay are very small, and chiefly centered at Stony Brook, where there are 16 sloops, worth $10,000, employed, and a further oyster-investment of about $20,000. The amount of oysters sold last year was 18,000 bushels. Out of the proceeds of this, large clam-grounds, and some fishing, 300 persons made a living here. 94 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. Port JEFFERSON HARBOR.—Going over to Port Jefferson harbor, we find several villages united in the improvement of a single piece of water, At Setauket are two planters, with two sloops, $3,000 invested, and 3,000 bushels produced. At East Setauket 50 men go oystering, 35 of whom are heads of families. There are 25,000 invested in the beds here, but business has been poor of late, only 30,000 bushels having been taken. From Port Jefferson 35 men are engaged on the bay, of whom 20 are married. The oyster-ground here is leased by the town at $3 an acre, and only four acres allowed each planter. This is the first season any systematic planting has been done, the seed being obtained from the Connecticut shore. At Mount Sinai, a little beyond, 800 bushels of oysters were sold in 1880. This is the last point of oyster-culture on the north shore of Long Island; beyond, the coast is abrupt and uncut by those sheltered and shallow bays so suitable for the business, with which the western end of the island is furnished. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE OYSTER-BUSINESS ON THE NORTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND.—In conclusion, some words of explanation or caution should be uttered in respect to the statistical statements relating to this north shore. The large array of men engaged (806), families supported (500), and sailing-craft (165) in use, does not compare well with the total of bushels raised, which is only 377,500, worth from $300,000 to $350,000. But it must be remembered that, in the large majority of cases, the oystermen are also farmers, and besides are engaged in the menhaden-fishing and various other sorts of seine-fishing; while they add to their income from their oyster-beds something like $250,000, derived from the sale of about 181,000 bushels of quahaugs, or hard clams, and 293,000 bushels of soft clams, annually. It therefore happens that many, most, indeed, of the “ oystermen”, are really at work only a portion of their time. NEw YORK OYSTER-LAWS, APPLICABLE T0 EAST RIVER.—Certain enactments by the legislature of New York must be quoted, applying to the Hast river and the north shore of Long Island. These are substantially as follows: Any person who shall * * * in any manner catch, interfere with, or disturb the oysters of another now or hereafter lawfully planted upon the bed of any of the rivers, bays, sounds, or other waters within the jurisdiction of this state, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Penalties, fine not exceeding $250, imprisonment not more than six months, or both. No person who has not been a resident of the state for six months may rake or gather clams, oysters, or shellfish, in any waters of this state; but an actual resident may employ any person to gather shellfish for his benefit. No dredging for clams or oysters within the state “with a dredge, operated by steam-power ”, is permitted, and no dredges are to be used exceeding thirty pounds in weight. In the general statutes the following sections apply to Queens county: SrcTIoNn 78. Persons who have been for six months or more inhabitants of Queens county, may plant oysters in any of the public waters of that county, except Hempstead harbor, Jamaica and Hempstead bays, and Oyster bay harbor; and may acquire exclusive ownership of such beds. Src. 79. Any person as aforesaid may use land under public waters in Queens county, as aforesaid, ‘“‘not to exceed three acres in a bed, and on which there is no natural or planted beds of oysters, for the purpose of planting oysters thereon”; but he must clearly mark and define the portion so selected by him, as a notice to the public, and shall not hold possession unless he puts oysters upon it, within six months, to the extent of at least 50 bushels to the acre. Src. 80. Forbids any persons taking or disturbing oysters on beds mentioned in section 79. Suc. 81. Penalty for violation of section 80, fine not to exceed $100, or 60 days in prison, or both. Src. 82. Process of arrest and trial. Src. 83. Oyster-ground is forfeited in Queens county by ceasing to use it for one year, or at the end of two years from his removal from residence in the county. Src, 84. Forbids dredging for oysters in any waters of Queens county, except in Oyster bay harbor, and in Cow bay; and no person, unless a resident of North Hempstead, shall dredge in Cow bay. Penalty, fine not exceeding $100, imprisonment not over 60 days, or both. * Sec. 85. Repeals previous laws inconsistent. Src. 86, “The natural growth or bed of oystersin * * * Little Neck bay, in said [Queens] county, is hereby defined as being between low-water mark and a distance of 500 feet therefrom, into the waters of said bay toward its center, beyond which, in the planting of oysters * * * the word ‘natural’ shall not apply.” METHODS OF OYSTER-CULTURE.—The Hast river is the scene of probably the most painstaking and scientific oyster-culture in the United States, and the methods in use there merit careful notice. It is impossible to ascertain when it first became a custom there to transplant oysters from the abundant natural beds along the shore to staked-in tracts off shore, nor is it of much importance to inquire. Probably the very first of this was done in the Harlem river. Half a century ago, however, City island was populated by oystermen; and in 1853 the New York Herald reported that the largest proportion of all the East river oysters, used in New York, came from there, ‘where there are extensive artificial and natural beds”. The same article stated that then City island owned a fourth of the 100 boats engaged in conveying Hast river oysters to the metropolis, and that 100 men and families on the island obtained a living by oystering. The whole amount of property invested there was estimated at $1,000,000. This included the value of the beds, and was supposed to represent one-third of the capital of all the East river interest. *Section 84 was repealed by chapter 402, laws of 1879, ‘‘in so far as the same relates to the waters of the county of Queens, lying on the north side thereof, except that portion of the waters of Hempstead harbor lying south of a line drawn from the center of Sea Cliff dock, on the east side of said harbor, to the center of Mott’s dock on the west side thereof.” THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 95 This writer asserts that twenty years previous—which would make it about 1833—East river oysters were almost unknown in New York markets; and that it was not until about 1843 that any planting was engaged in. The character of this planting is not indicated; but I have no doubt that, whatever was the date of its origin, the credit of first truly propagating oysters from seed caught upon artificial beds or prepared receptacles, belongs to the men of City island. It had been a matter of common observation, that any object tossed into the water in summer, became covered at once with infant oysters. The sedges along the edge of the marshes, and the buoys, stakes, and wharf-piles were similarly clothed. If the circumstances were favorable, this deposit survived the winter, and the next spring the youngsters* were large enough to be taken and transplanted. It was only a short step in logic, therefore, to conclude, that if objects were thrown thickly into the water, on purpose to catch the floating spawn, a large quantity of young oysters would be secured, and could be saved for transplanting at very slight expense. The next question was: What would best serve the purpose? Evidently nothing could be better than the shells which, year by year, accumulated on the shore from the season’s opening trade. They were the customary resting-places of the spawn, and at the same time were cheapest. The City island oysterman, therefore, began to save his shells from the lime-kiln and the road-master, and to spread them on the bottom of the bay, hoping to save some of the oyster-spawn with which his imagination densely crowded the sea-water. This happened, Iam told, more than fifty years ago, and the first man to put the theory into practice, it is remembered, was the father of the Fordham Brothers, who still pursue the business at Cityisland. In1855, Captain Henry Bell, of Bell’s island, planted shells among the islands off the mouth of Norwalk river, and a short time after, under the protection of the new law of 1855, recognizing private property in such beds, Mr. Oliver Cook, of Five-Mile river, Mr. Weed, of South Norwalk, Mr. Hawley, of Bridgport, and others, went into it on an extensive scale. Some of these gentlemen appear never to have heard of any previous operations of the sort. Discovering it for themselves, as it was easy and natural to do, they supposed they were the originators; but if any such credit attaches anywhere, I believe it belongs to the City island men. It was soon discovered that uniform suecess was not to be hoped for, and the steady, magnificent crops reaped by the earliest planters were rarely emulated. Many planters, therefore, decried the whole scheme, and returned to their simple transplanting of natural-bed seed; but others, with more consistency, set at work to improve their chances, by making more and more favorable the opportunities for an oyster’s egg successfully to attach itself, during its brief natatory life, to the stool prepared for it, and afterward to live to an age when it was strong enough to hold its own against the weather. This involved a closer study of the general natural history of the oyster. The first thing found out was, that the floating spawn would not attach itself to, or “set” (in the vernacular of the shore), upon anything which had not a clean surface; smoothness did not hinder—glass-bottles were frequently coated outside and in with young shells—but the surface of the object must not be slimy. It was discovered, too, that the half-sedimentary, half-vegetable deposit of the water, coating any submerged object with a slippery film, Was acquired with marvelous speed. Thus shells laid down a very few days before the spawning-time of the oysters, became so slimy as to catch little or no spawn, no matter how much of it was floating in the water above them. This taught the oystermen that they must not spread their shells until the midst of the spawning-season; that one step was gained when they ceased spreading in May and waited until July. Now, from the 5th to the 15th of that month is considered the proper time, and no shell-planting is attempted before or after. This knowledge of the speed with which the shells became slimy was turned to account in another way. It was evident that the swifter the current the less would there be a chance of rapid fouling. Planters, therefore, chose their ground in the swiftest tideways they could find. The mere manner of spreading the shells was also found to be important. If they are rudely dumped over, half their good is wasted, for they lie in heaps. The proper method is to take them from the large scow or sloop which has brought them ashore, in small boat-loads. Having anchored the skiff, the shells are then flirted broadeast in all directions, by the shovelful. The next boat-load is anchored a little farther on, and the process repeated. Thus a thin and evenly-distributed layer is spread over the whole ground. Just how many bushels a man will place on an acre depends upon both his means and his judgment. If he is shelling entirely new ground, he will spread more than he would upon an area already improved; but I suppose 250 bushels to the acre might be recommended as an average quantity. Having spread his shells in midsummer, the planter, by testing them early in the fall, can tell whether he has succeeded in catching upon them any or much of the desired spawn. The young oysters will appear as minute flakes, easily detected by the experienced eye, attached to all parts of the old shell. If he has got no set whatever, he considers his investment a total loss, since by the next season, the bed of shells will have become so dirty that the spawn will not take hold if it comes that way. Supposing, on the contrary, that young oysters are found attached in millions to his cultch, as often happens, crowding upon each old sheil until it is almost hidden, what is his next step? **There is no word in the northern states for infant oysters, except the terms ‘‘set”, “spat”, “spawn”, etc., all of which belong originally to the eggs or spawn of the oyster, and not to the young, but are frequently and confusedly applied as well to the half-grown mollusks. In the south the name “blister” (referring to its smooth, puffed-up appearance) is given to the infant oysters, and serves to distinguish them from “seed”, “‘cullens”, and ‘‘oysters”, which represent the successively larger sizes and stages of growth. 96 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. The ordinary way in the East river and elsewhere, is simply to let the bed remain quiet, until, in the course of three or four years, such oysters as have survived are large enough to sell, when the bed is worked—at first, probably, with tongs and rakes, getting up the thickest of the crop. This done, dredges are put on, and everything that remains—oysters, shells, and trash—is removed and the ground left clean, ready for a second shelling, or to be planted with seed, perhaps right away—perhaps after the area has lain fallow, exposed uncovered to the influences of the sea for a year. Oystermen have an idea (probably well founded, though badly theorized upon) that this improves the bottom for oyster-culture, as much as a similar rest would the soil of an upland field for agriculture. In the process of growth of the young oysters lodged upon the fields of eultch, when left undisturbed, there is, and must of necessity be, a great waste under the most favorable circumstances. Leaving out all other adversities, this will arise from over-crowding. More “blisters” attach themselves upon a single egg than can come to maturity. One or a few will obtain an accession of growth over the rest, and crowd the others down, or overlap them fatally. Even if a large number of young oysters attached to a single stool do grow up together equally, their close elbowing of one another will probably result in a close, crabbed bunch of long, slim, unshapely samples, of no value save to be shucked. To avoid these misfortunes, and, having got a large quantity of young growth, to save as much as possible of it, the more advanced and energetic of the planters, like the Hoyts, of Norwalk, pursue the following plan: When the bed is two years old, by which time all the young oysters are of sufficient age and hardiness to bear the removal, coarse-netted dredges are put on, and all the bunches of oysters are taken up, knocked to pieces, and either sold as “seed”, or redistributed over a new portion of bottom, thus widening the planted area, and at the same time leaving more room for those single oysters to grow which have slipped through the net and so escaped the dredge. The next year after, all the plantation, new and old, is gone over and suitable stock culled out for trade, three-year-old East river oysters being in demand for the European market. This further thins out the beds, and the following (fourth) year the main crop of fine, well-shaped, well-fed oysters will be taken, and during the succeeding summer, or perhaps after a year, the ground will be thoroughly well cleaned up, and prepared for a new shelling. All these remarks apply to a reasonably hard bottom, which requires no previous preparation. In portions of Long Island sound, especially off New Haven, it has been needful to make a crust or artificial surface upon the mud before laying down the shells. This is done with sand, and has been alluded to in the chapter on New Haven harbor. Just what makes the best lodgment for oyster-spawn intended to be used as seed, has been greatly discussed. Oyster-shells are very good, certainly, and as they are cheap and almost always at hand in even troublesome quantities, they form the most available cultch, and are most generally used. Small gravel, however, has been tried on parts of the Connecticut coast with great success, the advantage being that not often more than one or two oysters would be attached, and therefore the evil of bunchiness would be avoided. Where scallop shells, as in Narraganset bay, or, as in northern New Jersey, mussels and jingles, Anomta, can be procured in sufficient quantities, they are undoubtedly better than anything else, because they not only break easily in culling, but are so fragile that the strain of the growth of two or more oysters attached to a single scallop or mussel-valve, will often erack it in pieces, and so permit the several members of the bunch to separate and grow into good shape, singly. I am not aware that any of the elaborate arrangements made in France and England for catching and preserving the spat have ever been imitated here, to any practical extent. The time will come, no doubt, when we shall be glad to profit by this foreign example and experience. Although the effort to propagate oysters by catching drifting spawn upon prepared beds has been tried nearly everywhere, from Sandy Hook to Providence, it has only, in the minority of cases, perhaps I might say a small minority of cases, proved a profitable undertaking to those engaging in it; and many planters have abandoned the process, or, at least, calculate but little upon any prepared beds, in estimating the probable income of the prospective season. This arises from one of two causes: 1st. The failure of spawn to attach itself to the cultch; or, 2d. In case a “set” occurs, a subsequent death or destruction. The supposition among oystermen generally has been, that the water everywhere upon the coast was filled, more or Jess, with drifting oyster-spat during the spawning-season, whether there was any bed of oysters in the immediate neighborhood or not; in other words, that there was hardly any limit to the time and distance the spat would drift with the tides, winds, and currents. I think that lately this view has been modified by most fishermen, and [ am certain it greatly needs modification; but, as a consequence of the opinion, it was believed that one place was as good as another, so long as there was a good current or tideway there to spread shells for spawn, whether there were any living oysters in proximity or not. But that this view was fallacious, and that many acres of shells have never exhibited a single oyster, simply because there was no spat or sources of spat in their vicinity, there is no reason to doubt. ; Having learned this, planters began to see that they must place with or near their beds of shells, living mother-oysters, called “spawners”, which should supply the desired spat. This is done in two ways, either by laying a narrow bed of old oysters across the tideway in the center of the shelled tract, so that the spawn, as it is THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 97 emitted, may be carried up and down over the breadth of shells waiting to accommodate it, or by sprinkling spawners all about the ground, at the rate of about 10 bushels to the acre. Under these arrangements the circumstances must be rare and exceptional, when a full set will not be secured upon all shells within, say, 20 rods of the spawners. Of course fortunate positions may be found where spawn is produced from wild oysters in abundance, or from contiguous planted beds, where the distribution of special spawners is unnecessary; yet even then it may be said to be a wise measure. The successful capture of a plenteous “set”, however, is not all of the game. This must grow to salable maturity before any profits can be gathered, and it so often happens that the most promising beds in September are utterly wrecked by January, making a total loss of all the money and labor expended, that more than one planter has decided that it does not pay to attempt to raise oysters upon shells, so long as he is able to buy and stock his grounds with half-grown seed—a decision which may be based upon sound reasoning in respect to certain localities, but which certainly will not apply to all of our northern coast. To what causes the well-filled artificial beds of infant oysters owe the destruction which seems often to overtake them in a single night, cannot always be told; we are not sufficiently acquainted either with the oyster or the conditions under which he lives, to detect the fatal influence. It is easily perceived, however, that these propagation- beds offer an unusual attraction to all the active enemies of the oyster, such as winkles, drills or borers, and starfishes, since they find there food not only in a superabundance, but thin-shelled and tender, so as to be got at in the easiest manner. It has very frequently happened in the East river, that starfishes alone have not only eaten up many acres of young oysters in a siugle season, on shelled ground, but so colonized there as to ruin utterly that tract for any further use, so long as they remained. It is certain that the half grown transplanted seed is less attractive to oyster-enemies than the propagation-beds ; but when, as frequently occurs, the latter survive misfortune and attack, the yield of profits is so great as amply to compensate for the risk. Those who do not eateh any or sufficient seed for their purposes, upon areas of shells or other cultch, annually procure young oysters of natural growth, or “seed” with which to stock their beds. To this end they send their sloops from Norwalk eastward to the Housatonic beds, as has been described in a previous chapter, out into the sound off Bridgeport and to Shippen point, while the more westerly planters get their seed in the Hast river and off the Long Island shore. There seems to be little lack of supply, but the scene of good dredging and the amount gathered are continually changing. On the whole, however, there is a decrease of supply brought about by the largely increased number of boats now fishing every fall. More or less of the seed gathered here is sold by those who catch it, to local planters, and some goes to beds in Rhode Island and New York bay, or the south shore of Long Island. On the contrary, some little foreign seed, chiefly from the North river, is brought to Connecticut beds. The deep-water sound seed is the best. The seed is not usually culled, but is sold to the planter at about 25 cents a bushel, and distributed upon his grounds just as it is caught. Ina bushel of it, consequently, not more than one-fourth (in a fair run) will consist of living oysters, the remainder being dead shells and trash of all sorts. Of this mixed stuff from 300 to 400 bushels are put on an acre lot. If it were culled, even roughly, it would bring from 40 to 50 cents, and one-half the quantity would be enough for the same ground, since the danger of planting too thick must be avoided. Frequently this is done. Some planters here never disturb their beds until they begin to take them up for market; but others make a practice of shifting their transplanted oysters, when two or two and a half years old, to a new spot. There they lie for one year, and are then ready for sale. The cost of shifting is from 10 to 15 cents a bushel; but the increase, both in size and flavor, is thought to compensate for this extra outlay. The great drawback to East river oyster-planting of every kind, is the abundance of enemies with which the bedsare infested. These consist of drum-fish, skates, and, toa small degree, of various other fishes ; of certain sponges and invertebrates that do slight damage; and of various boring mollusks, the crushing winkle, and the insidious starfish or sea-star. It is the last-named plague that the planter dreads the most, and the directly traceable harm it does amounts to many tens of thousands of dollars annually in this district alone. Indeed, it seems to have here its headquarters on the American oyster-coast ; but as I shall devote to it a special description in my chapter on the Enemies of the Oyster, I will only mention here the fact of its baleful presence, which has utterly ruined many a man’s whole year’s work. DESTRUCTION OF EAST RIVER OYSTERS.—Nearly all the East river oysters are sold in the shell in New York. Those from the Connecticut shore and City island are generally taken to the city in the sloops of the owners, and sold to dealers at the foot of Broome street. This is partially true also of those raised on the Long Island shore ; but there the New York firms, themselves often co-planters with the countrymen, send boats to buy up cargoes at the beds at a small discount from city prices. 35. PECONIC BAY, OR EASTERN LONG ISLAND. THE EASTERN END OF LoNnG IsSLAND.—The whole extent of bays and inlets contained between the two promontories, Montauk and Orient, which terminate Long Island at its eastern end, is subdivided under several names, the principal being Gardner’s, and Great and Little Peconic bays. Though this region is highly productive in respect to the swimming fishes, and to several kinds of edible mollusks, yet oysters are not commonly found 7——o0 98 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. there, nor do they flourish when planted. This dearth seems to be due to the unfortunate abundance of enemies, especially starfishes, since there is evidence that anciently oysters were indigenous and plenty. At the extremity of the northern cape “ Oyster pond” and “Oyster Pond point” still preserve the recollection of what was once good tonging ground. Mr. Sanderson Smith, of the United States Fish Commission, once told me that he had found near there an extensive bed of dead shells of very large size, perforated throughout by boring-sponges. It is not surprising to learn these facts, but they point to a state of things now past, for there is no oyster-catching or planting at present in Peconic bay, which has any commercial importance. The collector of the port at Sag Harbor, Mr. W. S. Havens, has for several years kept statistics of the yield of the fisheries in this series of bays, from which it appears that in 1879~80, 5,000 bushels of oysters were taken; their value was $5,000. Of other shellfish (chiefly scallops), $22,400 is given as the value of the catch, which seems to me too low. At Riverhead a company of six men was formed in the spring of 1880. They put up $50 each, and stocked one acre a short distance below the village with 675 bushels of seed from New Haven; but it did not grow well. New Suftolk, Mattituck, and other towns in that neighborhood, do a large business in selling scallop-shells to Rhode Island and Connecticut fishermen, to be used as cultch on the propagating beds. The price is 24 cents a bushel, at which rate the 75,000 bushels of shells sold all alongshore brought in $1,875. At Southold oyster-culture has been begun by one man, who has planted 50 acres. At Orient 800 bushels of oysters were taken last year, and an insignificant quantity on the Napeague shore, inside of Montauk. In the center of Montauk poimt is a large fresh pond, which it is proposed to turn into an oyster-pond, by opening a sluice so as to admit the salt water. At Sag Harbor 500 bushels are reported as the local catch, and another 500 bushels at Southampton. These three reports add up only 1,800 bushels. I suppose the remainder of Mr. Havens’ total of 5,000 bushels were picked up at chance times by fishermen in various parts of the bays, and locally used. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR EAST RIVER (AND PECONIC BAY): Number‘ofplaniters«wholesale-dealers| =. 4.2. cae. aoclea-t eerie ane ce doe leer e eee eeeee ee ose 958 Waluejofish ore-properhyras sass sea ee aie eel ee ot ae eee ee ee eee eer eee eae $347, 200 Number of vesselsiand sall-boats|eno ae edser oat mea eee eee lee men oem alain arclele me ae ata 1, 268 Value OL Same =~ 3 < c2cnccece sacs osc saeene saaciee as coe.sne meee sem tatewnin wane ome sae empeacane neat eilease $218, 800 Number Ofeanen) hired hy planbers Or ealers=.-etse.<)ame cles see a= neta (ome eete enolate ae etree 125 Anna) earings of saimelss 22 222 Seen thee. ee mien ee cba a Sata e Selec eae nles lanes sete s anes Pe aaa estore $67, 500 Annual sales of— Native (Oy StOrden toss soe om see nia e elon mel tae alae ee eae tera bushels... 669, 800 Value of same .-.--..- (oe ses Gerd bans Seo Re aS eoHO Soe sae Coser saco Hose se se sseo cass ectocaresscese 708, 925 I. THE SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND. 36. THE GREAT SOUTH BAY DISTRICT. TOPOGRAPHY OF GREAT SouTH BAY.—“ Every schoolboy knows,” as Macaulay used to say with his fine contempt for illiteracy, that all along the shore of Long Island, between the outer fence of the rigid and pitiless surf-repelling beach and the habitable shore, lie a series of shallow lagoons. The largest of these—thirty miles or more long and from one to five miles wide—is the Great South bay. This water is the salvation of all southern Long Island. If the land ran straight to the sea, and Fire island was not an island but simply a shore, the whole great extent would be as uninhabitable as the bleak rear of Cape Cod, all the way from Prospect Park to Moriches. But the bay furnishes an abundance of harbors; it abounds in fish profitable to catch; it tempts the ducks to its sedgy shore, and so invites an annual migration of money-spending sportsmen; it is paved with the “luscious clammes and erabfish” which the old Dutch poet extolled; and it furnishes to the world that marvel of delicacies, the oyster. Hence, in place of a pine-barren and a howling, friendless coast, we find a string of populous and thriving villages, the winter-hayens of thousands of mariners, and the summer resort of city pleasure-seekers. This shallow sound communicates with the ocean through Fire island inlet and a few more openings to the westward. The eastern part communicates through a narrow pass at Smith’s point with East bay, which has no communication with the sea, and is almost fresh. The depth of water in the bay does not exceed two fathoms in its deepest part, and the rise and fall of the tide are very small, probably not more than a foot at the average. The bay receives considerable supplies of fresh water from a number of streams, celebrated for their fine trout. The western part of the bay has a sandy bottom, and its water, being in more direct communication with the ocean, contains more salt than that of the eastern part, where the bottom is a mixture of black mud with sand. ABUNDANCE OF OYSTERS, PAST AND PRESENT.—This Great South bay has been called the most populous oyster-ground north of the Chesapeake bay, but the natural beds are all confined to the eastern end, where the THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 99 mud-bottom is. They do not occur much eastward of Smith’s point, nor westward, in general, of a line drawn from Nicoll’s point across to Fire island. Occasionally temporary and inconsequential beds “strike” in the tideways of inlets farther east, but nothing with regularity or of importance. This south-shore locality has been celebrated from time immemorial, and as early as 1679 had become an object of an extensive industry, as is witnessed by the following local ordinance, which I find stated in Watson’s Annals of New York, (p. 284): Oysters: To prevent the destruction of oysters in South bay, by the unlimited number of vessels employed in the same, it is ordered that but ten vessels shall be allowed, and that each half-barrel tub shall be paid for at the rate of 2d., according to the town act of Brookhaven. This right of the town of Brookhaven to dictate regulations in this matter exists to the present day, and arises from an ancient colonial grant to the town by patent from the king of England. Recognizing this grant, there was made an agreement in 1767 between William Smith, who was at that time the holder and representative of the rights and interests of the fishing in Great South bay, whereby the town, in exchange for the right to control the bay, contracted to give to him and his heirs forever one half of all net income accruing to the town from the use of the bottom of the bay. This, of course, applied almost exclusively to oyster-culture, and the agreement has been kept, the revenue of the town from that source, in 1880, amounting to $1,032 95, half of which went to the heirs of old William Smith. OYSTER-LAWS OF GREAT SouTH BAY.—The present laws regulating oyster-matters at the eastern end of the bay are as follows: Section 10. The owners and lessees of land bounded upon that part of Shinnecock bay lying west of a line drawn due south from Pine Neck point, in the town of South Hampton, in the county of Suffolk [Long Island], may plant oysters or clams in the waters of said bay, opposite their respective lands, extending from low-water mark into said hay not exceeding four rods in width. No planting upon any “beds of natural growth”, however, is authorized, or will be protected; nor can any person hold oyster-ground unless it is planted and occupied “in good faith”. The locality of such planted beds must be designated by stakes and a monument on shore. To plant oysters or clams on such designated ground, without permission of the owner, subjects the offender to a forfeit of $12 for each offense, under stated processes of law. Heavy penalties also are inflicted upon persons who remove or deface boundary stakes. [This law, or legal permit, is practically a dead letter, since it has been found useless through the too great freshness of the water, and for other reasons, to plant in Shinnecock bay.| Sections 100 and 101 of the Revised Statutes of 1875, Title XI, forbid dredging in the Great South bay, Long Island, or having in possession instruments for that purpose. Sections 102 and 103 enjoin that “no person shall take any oysters, clams, mussels, or shells, or any substance growing on the bottom, from any public or private bed, or in any of the waters of the said South bay, except between sunrise and sunset on any day”. Section 104 forbids “catching any oysters, spawn, or seed-oysters” in Great South bay between June 15 and September 15. : The penalties for violation of the above-given regulations are a fine not to exceed $250, imprisonment up to six months, and an additional forfeiture of $200 for each offense; half the penalty goes to the informer, the remainder to the poor-fund. REGULATION OF OYSTER-CULTURE IN SUFFOLK country.—In 1879 a law was passed regulating the formation of corporations for oyster-culture in Suffolk county, Long Island. Whether this law has ever been taken advantage of I am unable to say. It is as follows: Secrion 1. Five or more persons who have leased or hold oyster-lots in Suffolk county may organize a company for the promotion of oyster-culture upon those lots, and shall become a corporate body, after filing prescribed statements, in writing, with the county clerk. Suc. 2. There shall be not less than three nor more than nine trustees, holding office one year. By-laws shall be made to regulate the business of the corporation. Every lot owner shall have one vote, and a majority of votes shall control all questions. Src. 3. The trustees shall have the superintendence of the several oyster-lots held by the members, and shall regulate the methods of conducting the business by by-laws, which shall be publicly entered on a book, and which may be changed at annual meetings by a majority vote of the members of the company. The trustees may employ persons, and make monthly assessments upon the members, for money to meet the expenses of the company ; and any member failing to pay such an assessment within 30 days may be sued by the corporation. Src. 4. If any member violates a by-law of the company, he forfeits $25, which may be recovered in an action against him by the corporation. Src.5. Whenever, under the laws of this state, an action shall accrue to any member of said company for trespass, or for penalty by reason of any act or thing done or committed by any person, to or in or about the oysters, upon the lot leased, occupied, or held by such member, and said member shall assent thereto in writing, said action may be brought in the corporate name of said company, and all recoyeries in said actions shall be the property of the company. Src.6. The oysters upon the several lots of the several members of said company shall be and remain the separate property of the said several members, except that any and all shall be liable to levy and sale, under execution, for all judgments recovered against the company. REGULATIONS OF OYSTER-CULTURE BY TOWN-LAWS OF BROOKHAVEN.—It will be known, of course, that Brookhaven does not consider any of these state laws as applying to her, since she regards the bottom of so much of the Great South bay as lies within her boundaries, as being wholly under her own control, and not amenable to state jurisdiction. The trustees of the town, therefore, make all the regulations thought necessary, which are not many in number. 100 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. A supervisor is appointed, who has charge of the letting of ground, in lots of one acre, to each male applicant of age, who is a resident of the town. The supervisor inspects the ground to see that it is not “a natural bed”, places it upon his map, looks after its proper staking-out, and collects a personal fee for his services. The owners of oyster-grounds then pay to the town $1 a year rent per acre, and pay taxes upon their floating personal property engaged in the business, and upon oysters admitted to be upon their ground. In addition to this, every man, cultivator or not, who wishes to wield oyster-tongs on Brookhaven oyster-grounds, must pay $1 a year license-fee to the town for the privilege. This fee is known by the curious name “toleration”, and it arose in this way: When the town ordered that every citizen might hold a lot, upon the conditions outlined above, it meant that no person should hold more than one. If, however, A got the use of B’s name, and so acquired the control of two or more lots, no one objected. The theory was that every man worked his own lot; but soon men began catching seed-oysters in Bellport bay, around Smith’s point, and elsewhere, and selling to the planters, who paid from 25 to 40 cents a bushel. In order to derive a revenue from this also, the town therefore ordered a “‘toleration-fee” of $1, to be paid by every man who handled a rake. In the fiscal year 1879~80 these license-fees amounted to $371 50, while the rental of oyster-ground in Brookhaven during the same time was $1,056; total receipts of the town, $1,427 50, of which “the poor” got one-half. Any seeming lack of sufficiency in the amount of the toleration-fees must be charged to the fact, that many, no doubt, took advantage of the custom of commuting for the fee, by throwing upon the public ground eight or ten bushels of seed, pro bono publico. RESTRICTIONS OF OYSTER-FISHING BY TOWN-LAWS OF BROOKHAVEN.—The stated restrictions placed by the town upon oystering are: that no dredging shall be done; no oyster-raking at night, nor between June 15 and October 1; and that no one not a citizen of Brookhaven shall be allowed to rake in her waters, or any person take or dispose of any oysters to be transplanted elsewhere. These regulations, being considered by those inside only as protective measures due to themselves, and being branded as an illegal and unkind selfishness and monopoly by those outside, have naturally caused considerable conflict between the oystermen of Brookhaven and their neighbors— a large part of the town of Islip, separated from Brookhaven before the full value of the oyster-bottom of the bay was appreciated. Brookhaven now claims that the water opposite Hastern Islip was not granted to Islip at the time of the separation, and that she retains control of it. To this Eastern Islip objects, and, with an additional reason, claims, with Western Islip, Babylon, and the state at large, the free right of Brookhaven waters. Brookhaven offers to let Eastern Islip men, in consideration of the old connection, rake with her own citizens, by paying a toleration- fee of $2, and anybody else for a fee of $3. This is paid by few or none, and Islip brought suit, which has long been pending, intended to break the monopoly. Meanwhile she and all the rest steal as much seed as possible—nearly all they need, in fact—from Brookhaven waters, the evidence required by the law being so very definite that they run small risk, even if caught, of being proved guilty in court. At the same time Islip and Babylon procured legislation authorizing the leasing of the bay-bottom in four-acre plots to citizens of those towns, for the purpose of planting oysters thereon, and it was made a misdemeanor for non-residents to tong oysters in any of the waters within their jurisdiction. This exclusion was a matter of indifference to everybody acquainted with the fact that no seed-beds of value existed in either town to tempt non-resident tongers. Brookhaven is now endeavoring to get aid from the state in securing to itself more protection. At alate town meeting one trustee made the astonishing statement, that during the spawning-season three thousand tubs of seed are weekly stolen from the bay and transplanted in the protected beds in other waters, those of Connecticut included. “As the seed is worth $1 a tub, the injury to the oyster-interests in Brookhaven is readily seen. While the oyster-planters of other towns are growing rich, those of Brookhaven are being made poor, and the time to seek protection was while something remained that was worth pocketing.” One speaker said he controlled several hundred acres of excellent oyster- bottom, but was prevented from utilizing it by the depredations of non-residents; at which the said non-residents grinned with saturnine glee. What will be the result of the struggle between exclusion and free-raking, remains to be seen. BROOKHAVEN BAY or “BLUE Porn?” OYsPTERS.—Having thus stated the conditions and regulations under which oyster-culture exists in the Great South bay, let us turn to a consideration of the natural supply there, the methods of artificial increase, and the results in market-produce and active prosperity. The natural, original growth of oysters in this sound, as I have already stated, is confined almost wholly between Smith’s point and Fire island—practically to the waters east of Blue Point, known as Brookhaven bay. This was , the home of the famous celebrity, the Blue Point oyster, which was among the earliest to come to New York markets. The present oyster of this brand is small and round; but the old “Blue Points”, cherished by the Dutch burghers and peaked-hatted sons of the Hamptons, who toasted the king long before our Revolution was thought of, was of the large, crooked. heavy-shelled, elongated kind with which one becomes familiar all along the coast in examining relies of the natural beds, and which even now are to be found by the thousand in all the mussel- lagoons of the gulf of Saint Lawrence. Now and then, a few years ago, one of these aboriginal oysters, of which two dozen made a sufficient armful, was dragged up and excited the curiosity of every one; but the time has gone by when any more of these monsters may be expected. In 1853 the New York Herald reported that the value of all the Blue Point oysters, by which name the Great THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 101 South bay oysters were generally meant, did not exceed yearly $200,000. “They are sold for an average of ten shillings ($1 25) a hundred from the beds; but, as they are scarce and have a good reputation, they sell at a considerable advance upon this price when brought to market. At one period, when they might be regarded as in their prime, they attained a remarkable size; but now their proportions, as well as their numbers, have been greatly reduced. There are about two hundred persons engaged in the business, including the proprietors and the hands employed in working the beds.” EXTENT OF SOUTH BAY BEDS IN 1873.—Twenty years later (in 1873) Count Pourtales, of Cambridge, made an examination of the oyster-producing districts near New York, at the request of the superintendent of the coast survey. In respect to this great bay south of Long Island, Count Pourtales wrote: The beds are of various extent, from a few acres to a hundred or more. They form large accumulations of dead shells, on the top of which the spawn attaches itself and produces a succession of crops. * ™“ *“ Among the beds visited by me, the following deserve particular mention: Smith’s point has been mentioned as being the eastern limit of the oysters. The water was found there to be only brackish, and the bottom of clear quartz pebbles, offering attachment to a small variety of oysters, tasteless though fat. They are only used for planting.* The Great bed (subdivided into North and South beds) off Patchogue appears to be one of the oldest. The tongs bring up large quantities of dead oyster-shells of great size, such as have been mentioned before. The living oysters obtained by a fleet of boats at work on it appeared to be generally about three years old, and were intended for planting at Rockaway until fall. Another celebrated bed is off Blue Point, which has a celebrity for the quality of its oysters in the New York and Boston markets. The California bed off Sayville is one of the largest, abont 100 acres in extent. It is the westernmost natural bed, and was formerly extremely productive, but has been very much reduced by over-fishing. The oystermen recognize the oysters from that bank by the abundant growth of red sponge and sertularias on them. The mussel-beds are the nearest to the inlet, and the greater saltness of their flavor is a consequence of it. The lower shell is more frequently ribbed and the edge scalloped in the oysters of these beds than those from beds in the eastern part of the bay. To the westward and between these latter beds, the bottom is more sandy, and the scattering oysters found on it are known as ‘‘sand” oysters; they are easily recognized by their clean shells, scalloped on the edge and somewhat striped with dark colors when young; the growing edge is very thin but hard, while further east it is generally flexible. This would indicate a greater proportion of lime in the water, but the reason is not obvious, since the eastern part of the bay contains a much larger quantity of shells in a state of decomposition. SIGNS OF EXHAUSTION IN THE OYSTER-BEDS.—It is nearly ten years ago that this inquiry was made by Count Pourtales, since even then apprehensions were felt, lest the supply of native oysters, once thought inexhaustible, should speedily find a sudden end. For a hundred years no one had thought anything like protection to the beds, or even moderation in raking, necessary. Boats had come from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, year after year, and had taken away unnumbered loads to be transplanted there, in addition to all the home-market consumption and the supply for Rockaway and Staten Island beds. Only 10 to 25 cents a bushel was asked for the seed by the easy-working catchers, and there seemed no bottom to the mine. This state of things attracted more and more men into the business of dredging seed and tonging marketable beds. All at once young oysters began to be hard to get, and the increase seemed to be almost at anend. The young men had little knowledge of the great armies of infant mollusks which the old men had seen speckling the gravel beaches and rocky shoals all over the bay a few years previous. It began to be seen that if any oysters were to remain, none must be sold out of the bay, and all oystermen must hasten to organize beds and encourage growth. Then came the attempts at help from legislation, but the trouble was too deep for that, and the oystermen of the present generation suffer a searcity that their grandfathers would have thought it impossible should ever occur. EXTENT OF OYSTER-INDUSTRY AT THE PRESENT DAY.—Nevertheless, the beds are not exhausted yet, as is evident from the great fleets that spring and fall operate to advantage in the waters between Moriches and Blue Point. I suppose that no less than 500 sail-boats spend their time on the bay at these seasons in gathering seed, carrying it away, and buying it for outside planters. To every one of these 500 sail-boats, mainly well-built sloops and cat-boats, three men may be counted, so that 1,500 men are probably employed in this industry alone at these times. How much seed is procured each season—the fall of 1879 or spring of 1880, for instance—it is impossible to state; but I should judge it to be not less than 100,000 bushels, or twice that amount for the annual yield; yet the amount is not large enough to supply the demands of the South Shore planters, who were compelled to bring in last year (1879) about 100,000 bushels of seed procured in the Newark bay, the North river, East river, and New Haven, Connecticut. This estimate is too small, if anything. DISPOSITION OF SEED-OYSTERS: PricEs.—The poorer seed caught is sold to a great extent in the rough— stones, shells, dead stuff, and all—just as it comes up, since on much of it there is clinging “spawn”; that is, young oysters too small to be detached. For this 25 cents was the ruling price last year. Much, however, is culled, boys going in the boat and picking the tongfuls over as fast as they are poured out upon a board, which is placed across the middle of the skiff, from gunwale to gunwale. For this from 40 to 60 cents is paid. The buyers are planters at Bellport, Patchogue, Blue Point, Sayville, and the towns farther west, and occasionally a man from Rhode Island or Connecticut, who wants this seed to work up into a particular grade on his home-beds. Count Pourtales mentions something I did not learn of in this connection, namely, “a class of men intermediate between the fishermen and the marketmen. They use sloops and small schooners, and buy up from the oystermen the produce of each day’s fishing as they come in at night. A basket hoisted to the masthead is the signal indicating a wish to *This seed, however, makes the hardiest and most preferred oysters for the Duropean trade, and is much sought after. 102 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. purchase.” This looks as if he referred to the well-known packers, of whom I shall speak later; but he shows that, partially at least, it is seed they buy, for he continues: ‘“ The price paid at the time of my visit was about 60 cents a bushel for all sizes and qualities mixed. These oysters are carried to Rockaway, Hempstead, and other bays near the west end of Long Island sound, near Captain’s island, where they acquire rapidly a better appearance and flavor. The men who simply carry them there to resell to planters, realize a profit of 15 cents a bushel for freight.” SCARCITY OF SEED AND INCREASE OF PRICE.—The insufficiency of native seed to supply the cultivated beds, complained of this year to a greater extent than ever before, is to be traced mainly to the cause which might long ago have been anticipated, and which has before been so ruinous to our oyster-interests—over-fishing. So long as oysters are permitted to grow for a proper time—say till they are four or five years old—before they are raked up for market, so long will they, in favorable places, increase with a rapidity that it would hardly be possible for a scarcity to occur. To an extent safe against ordinary demands, the more an oyster-bottom is “tonged” the more stock will be found. This is due to the fact that constant raking stirs up the bottom, rinses off the shells and gravel there, and so prepares it to receive the floating spawn. But here in South bay the oysters gathered for market- use are exceedingly small, many of them not larger than a silver quarter. They have not yet spawned, in most cases, and hence their removal is like digging plants up before they have left any seeds behind; it is destroying the root as well as the branches of oyster-growth. The seed imported from outside the island is of a different quality, if not inferior—two opinions exist on this point—not producing stock of precisely the flavor esteemed most highly on the South shore, and to which the original Blue Point and Oak Island bivalves owe their high reputation with epicures. Moreover, where formerly seed was to be had for the catching, or bought at 10 to 20 cents a bushel, 30 to 60 cents must now be paid for it. Such an outlay at the beginning makes an increase of the selling-price necessary. The shippers are loth to give the increase, since they do not see wherein the profit will return. Lately, indeed, money has been lost rather than made on oysters from the south side of Long Island, at least upon those grown at the eastern end of the bay, whence the stock is almost wholly sent to Europe. The question, therefore, as to the best way to restore the natural beds to their ancient productiveness, or whether it is possible to induce the formation of new seed-banks, is a very important one in this locality, and I endeavored to collect all possible information bearing upon it. REMEDIES FOR THE EXHAUSTION OF THE SEED-SUPPLY.—To begin with: It appears that there has been no season when there was a wide spread and abundant catch of spawn and successful growth of young oysters in 3rookhaven bay since about 1870. In 1872, it is said to have failed altogether. Every year, however, there is more or less spawning observed, and it is the belief of the baymen, that every fourth year this exceeds in quantity the intermediate three years; but the misfortune is that the spawn seems, year after year, to go to waste, or, if it attaches itself at all, to be killed by the winter-storms, which stir up and shift the mud of the too shallow bay, or by some other accident. It is my opinion, however, that nothing like the required number of adult oysters exist, undisturbed, in Brookhaven bay to supply naturally sufficient seed to keep pace with the accidents of bad weather and the fall-raking. Itisa well-known fact, that the oysters upon the transplanted beds do not propagate successfully. Though all the surrounding circumstances seem favorable, the shock they have sustained in being transplanted, or some other reason, limits their spawning; and if they do emit eggs, there is usually nothing near by for them to catch upon. It is to the wild oysters, then, that the planters must look for the annual renewal of the seed-beds. They are few in number, and every circumstance is against them. One source of trouble lies, I believe, in the laws intended to be beneficial, which, perhaps, present the only difficulty in the way of an entire restoration of the old productiveness. I consider that the prohibition of dredging is bad policy; that, on the other hand, dredging should be permitted all the year round, at least half of each week. It seems to me, also, that beneficial effects would follow the opening of the beds to free-fishing in summer, dredging included, and the closing of them, at least for a few years, from the 15th of July until the following spring, say up to March 1. The reasons for this have been indicated in previous chapters. The continued raking and dragging of the ground in summer, spreads and thins the thicker beds, keeps the bottom clean, and prepares the shells, gravel, and scraps there for the attachment of the spawn, by turning over and rinsing them, and this at the very time most necessary, when the oysters are spawning and the eggs are making their brief floating search for a foothold. But having thus been provided with resting places in abundance, over a continually widened area, it is necessary that the disturbance immediately cease and the young oysters be permitted to rest entirely quiet, until they have become strong enough to withstand the shock of change to new, private beds. This will not occur until they are at least six months old. The present custom of seed-gathering in’the fall saves that which is a year old, but it ruins an enormous quantity of small seed of the year only three months old, which has not grown to sufficient strength to withstand the change. I believe that the only seed which should be removed from its birthplace in the fall, is that which catches on gravel beaches between tide-marks or elsewhere, where it would surely be killed by cold during the ensuing winter; and that the abundance the succeeding spring would more than make up for the apparent loss of the opportunity at present made use of. If such a course as this were deemed - impracticable, then would it not be well to adopt a system of raking one part of the bottom one year and another THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 103 the next? Perhaps not more than a single year’s interval would be required; but I should hope that only a third of the bottom might be raked annually, so that each bed would have two years’ rest between times. The general characteristics of the Great South bay having thus been mentioned, it remains to describe particular districts, and offer such statistics as I have been able to collect. BELLPORT AND MoricuEs.—The most eastern point at which any oyster-operations are conducted on the south side is Bellport, and there they are only begun. East of this, in Moriches bay, seed-beds exist—there are no oysters in Shinnecock bay—but at Bellport land is now being staked off and planting has begun. Bellport planters will have the advantage of the best and hardiest seed close at their own doors, but are three miles or more from the railway. PATCHOGUE AND VICINITY.—The next point is the important town of Patchogue, the center of the Brookhaven. bay interests. More than any other of the thriving towns on the south shore, it owes its existence to the bay, but has distanced them all in point of size. Every other man you meet is a captain, though the craft he commands is rarely better than a sloop. With few exceptions, to be born and bred here means to be a bayman, and a curious result follows socially. The women of the village know a vast deal more than the men. As soon as a boy is old enough he is sent to school; but by the time he gets acquainted with the manners of the school-house, he has become big enough to “ go cullin’” in an oyster-boat, and that is the end of his education. Henceforth he sits in a skiff on the bay and assorts oysters, until he is old enough to handle a pair of tongs, when he “ goes tongin’” until he dies or has energy and savings enough to become a buyer and shipper. The alternatives to this are to go to New York to seek his fortune, or to become a clerk in a village shop. The girls, on the other hand, stay in school long after their brothers are taken away. They are pretty—that goes without saying—and healthy, because nobody is anything else down here, and are acquainted with fashion through seeing so many stylish people in the summer. Then they admire the honest, rugged frame and heart of a bayman, marry him, and become his confidential clerk in business. The chief business of the bayman at this eastern end, is the catching and cultivation of oysters, and there are about 1,000 acres of bottom under cultivation in front of the town. This area includes all the coast from Patchogue to Bayshore, thus taking in the settlements and railway stations, Bayport, Youngport, Blue Point, Sayville, and Oakdale. A part of these lie in the town of Islip and the rest in Brookhaven, and thus come under slightly different regulations, but otherwise they form together a homogeneous district, and the oysters they raise go to market under the general brand-name of “Blue Points”. The artificial beds upon which these oysters grow are all near shore, and in water rarely more than two fathoms deep, and often less. The bottom varies, but, as a rule, consists of mud overlying sand. The preference is in favor of water 6 to 10 feet in depth, which is deep enough to escape ordinary gales, and is not too expensive to work. The oysters fatten better there than in shoaler water, one planter said. The seed consists of the native growth, eked out by cargoes from New York bay, the East river, and elsewhere. The experiment of planting Virginia oysters as seed has proved a failure. The result is a shell which grows closely to resemble the natives, but the moment the oyster is opened the difference and inferiority of the meat is apparent, both to the eye and the taste. It has therefore been discouraged. Southern oysters will survive the winter in this bay, grow, and emit spawn; but most planters consider that they tend to reduce the quality and price of the native stock, and hence have almost ceased to bring any. To raise and sell them as “ Virginias” would not pay, since this region cannot compete with Staten Island. Whether native or outside seed grows faster is another undecided question, but all whom I asked said they preferred to plant all home-seed, if possible, on general considerations. The differences in the experiences related to me are no doubt due to the differences in the particular localities whence the seed was brought. Itis generally understood that oysters taken from the eastern to the western end of the bay grow more rapidly than those not changed. Count Pourtales remarked upon this district as follows: These beds produce oysters of different qualities, according to the locality; the cause of the variation is not known, but depends probably on the density of the water, supply of food, ete. The oysters grown on the beds are called bed-oysters, by the fishermen, to distinguish them from the broken-bottom oysters. The former haye generally a rounded shape; the second, which grow in scattered bunches on broken or muddy bottom between the beds, assume an elongated or spoon-shaped form, evidently produced by their tendency to sink in the mud by their own weight as they grow. The beds haye probably originated in the same way, as the tongs bring up from them frequently old and very large spoon-shaped shells of oysters, such as are not now found living there. The broken-bottom oysters have a much more rapid growth than the bed-oysters, being two or three times as large as the latter at the same age. The greater supply of food will no doubt account for it. At the same time the meat is more watery and held in less estimation until after it has improved by planting in other localities. The ordinary amount of small seed put on an acre is 500 bushels, chiefly laid down in the spring. In the fall the owner goes over them and thins them out, finding a great many which are large enough for market, though no bigger than a silver dollar. The rest remain down longer, and meanwhile constant additions of seed are made alongside. BAYsHORE.—As you go westward to the extremity of the “ Blue Point” district, in the neighborhood of Bayshore, you find a feeling of discouragement. The oysters there do not grow as fast or become as finely flavored as those to the eastward, and all the seéd must be bought or poached stealthily from Brookhaven. Large quantities of ground there, whicl\may be procured in four-acre lots at $1 a year rent per acre, are not taken up, although with the help 104 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. of capital it might be made productive, and there are very few out of the many planters in Bayshore who depend to any considerable degree upon their oyster-beds for their support, even if you add to this the profits they derive from clamming. THE USE OF “STOOLS” TO RECEIVE OYSTER-SPAT.—Following the lessening product of the seed-beds and the increasing appreciation of the oysters of this region, attention was turned some years ago to the possibility of saving a portion of the wasted spawn with which the imagination filled the waters of the whole bay, by giving it suitable “stools” upon which to rest. Tt has been the custom, therefore, for several years in Brookhaven bay, to spread down shells, serap-tin, and other cultch, in hopes of catching a quantity of oyster-spawn and so getting plenty of seed. This seems to have succeeded just in proportion to the contiguity of mother-oysters to the receiving-bed, and the success has generally been so uncertain, that no great dependence has been placed upon this source of supply, nor has the practice been systematically engaged in, as at New Haven and Norwalk. The experience of Mr. King Benjamin, of Sayville, for instance, may be given as that of the average planter in this respect. He told me that it was his custom to spread his shells at the middle of the spawning season, which here comes early in July, where the tide-currents were tolerably swift, and spread them lengthwise of the current. Then across the tide, near the middle of the bed, he puts a rank of spawning-oysters from the North river, and has rarely failed for ten years past to get a good set to a distance of 15 or 20 rods, but no further. The risk now begins, and it is rare that any considerable quantity of the seed so caught survives the breaking up of the winter, when the ice goes out and the northeast gales churn up the bottom of the shallow bay. A large proportion of all the oysters, large and small, in Brookhaven, which have lain in health all winter, are destroyed every spring. This is one argument used to sustain the propriety and profit.of fall-raking for seed. The spreading of shells, without placing among them mother-oysters, is steadily practiced, in the hope of some day catching a fortune, but up to this time this practice has hardlyrepaid the small expense incurred. On the other hand, in spite of ill-luck, those planters who have worked more cautiously, placing spawners among their shells instead of trusting to chance, have got plenty of young. There seems no reason, therefore, why the race of “ Blue Points” should become extinct for loss of seed, and no doubt a more urgent necessity than now exists will introduce into that locality the better methods of saving spawn and safely raising the young, which are surely possible. At present it is preferred to purchase seed of natural growth, or of somebody else’s raising. That the Brookhaven men consider the putting down of stools worth the effort, is evinced by their petition to the town-authorities in May, 1880, for additional ground for this purpose on the southern, and as yet, useless shore of the bay. After long discussion, this petition met with the following response, which opens a new field of industry to Patchogue, which there is every reason to suppose will prove of profit. The town decreed as follows: Whereas, there isa large portion of the South bay adjoining the South beach which is clean sand-bottom, and could be made available for raising seed-oysters by the spreading upon said ground shells for seed to catch upon, thereby making the flats and shoal- water ground productive to our citizens, and an increased revenue to our town: Therefore, be it Resolved, That this board of trustees lease four acres of such ground to the west of Blue Point and east of a line drawn south from Munsell’s landing, to any citizen of the town of Brookhaven, for the purpose of propagating and raising seed-oysters thereon, whether a lot for growing oysters in said bay has already been leased to him or her, or not, at the annual rent of $4 for the term of one year, with the privilege of renewal annually for nine successive years thereafter, and on the other conditions upon which the board of trustees are now granting leases for the purpose of growing oysters. OYSTER-VESSELS AND OYSTERMEN AT EAST END OF GREAT SouTH BAY.—The fleet and the number of persons supported by the oyster-industries of the eastern end of the Great South bay are very large, but it was impossible for me to get exact statements in respect to either. At Patchogue and neighborhood, however, an estimate of 250 boats was concluded upon after much inquiry. Eastern Islip will add to this 200 boats, and the shore from there westward to Bayshore from 100 to 150 more; say the lesser number, All of these boats are sloops or cat-rigged, and are of good size and quality, so that they will range from $600 to $1,600 in value. The minority, however, are of the more expensive pattern, and about $750 would probably fairly cover the average value. This would make the 550 sail-boats, built for the oyster-business and used from two-thirds to the whole of the time in that business, owned from Bellport to Bayshore, represent a present cash value of about $425,000. In addition to this must be counted, say 500 skiffs, worth, perhaps, $25,000. It is probable that $50,000 more would not more than cover the value of ground, sheds, implements, packing-tools, etc., required, so that the floating property of the oyster-planters from Bayshore eastward to Bellport, concerned in that business, must be estimated as high as half a million of dollars. This, however, is distributed among about 600 planters, 400 of whom live in Brookhaven and the rest in Islip. These are all, supposably, heads of families, and they employ, or otherwise support, perhaps 600 more men and boys to help them in the busy season, half of whom thus support families. It may thus be said that in Brookhaven 600 families, and in Islip 300—total 900—derive their sustenance directly or indirectly from oysters, though most of them, at the same time, are, to a considerable extent, farmers, or fishermen, or both. YIELD OF BLUE POINT OYSTERS IN 1879~80.—The past year (187980) has been a very poor one, both THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 105 in respect to quantity and quality, for Blue Point oysters, both the amount sold and the price received being small. The crops gathered at the different ports were approximately as follows: Bushels. Patchogue to Blue Point, about....-....-....---. ---------- ---- seenee sot cogdcdnd Hebidede Ba mak caeeabe 55, 000 TOMO AR CALOs ODOM beets oan huelecisewe on min ace aia ce se oe nee clea nelson ew el anlenie sian clean aa’ ancl e'cons case 80, 000 cone Samy lle se DOM ieee aban alaisio ie welineae ancients alan teenie seeidiee = «(taaaleninmeeicniaaleniiaaseesstsoect! 60;,000 ROMs AVSNOLe, QDOW to steno lawl owt aic oe ra em else moe lem einen fale ina olen = wa iminiel= om wimie ni nidl= [nme meni a oleae ee 20, 000 215, 000 About half of these were sent by rail, and the other half, or a little more, by water-sloops sailing to New York with loads of barrels. This traflic is very important to the railway, and the water competition has served the shippers the good turn of keeping freight-charges at a low figure, particularly as there were many advantages to be gained in shipping by boat. The average receipts by the railway, per bushel, for oysters transported in 1879, to New York, from all stations on the Great South bay, was between 8 and 9 cents. EXportaTion oF “BLUE PorntTs” TO EUROPE —The principal market for “Blue Points” is now, as for some years past, for the Buropean trade. Their superior flavor, round, thin shell, and small size, commended them when this shipping business was first begun, and they have retained their supremacy over all other brands, until the unfortunate season of 1879, when they proved so poor that the “Sounds” beat them in the estimation of the epicures abroad, and money was lost by shippers on Long Island. Another unfortunate thing which detracted from their success, was an attempt to substitute southern oysters, nurtured for one season in the bay, for native “ Blue Points.” As has been said before, the southern seed takes on in growth so close a semblance to the genuine Brookhaven product as to deceive any but the most expert eyes, so far as the shell is concerned; but the meat never looks nor tastes so well as that which is imitated. On this account, the leading shippers looked upon the advent of Virginia oysters to the bay with some anxiety, fearing that weak-kneed or unscrupulous persons would some day foist the imitation upon the London market, under the brand of genuine “ Blue Points.” One day an agent of one of the New York houses suspected that such an attempt was being made, but could not easily verify it. At the station, however, while the suspected barrels of oysters were being placed upon the freight cars, he procured an opportunity, unobserved, to look at their contents, and found them nearly all “ Virginias” mixed with a few natives. He telegraphed at once to his principal in New York, who forwarded a cipher dispatch to his agent in Liverpool. That merchant gave a hint to the customs authorities, and a watch was kept. When the adulterated consignment arrived they were seized by officers, their inferior character proved, and the whole stock confiscated; moreover, the agents of these people in Liverpool were arrested, charged with fraud in selling food under a false label, which is an offense visited with heavy penalties under the English law, and they only escaped through the intercession of American oyster-dealers there, who explained that the shippers probably thought southern oysters laid down in Blue Point waters might properly pass as “Blue Points.” Such a construction is plausible, but the inferior nature of the stock was well-known nevertheless, and would have tended to injure the reputation of these fine oysters irretrievably. Mr. George H. Shaffer, of New York, one of the pioneers in shipping to Europe, preferred “Blue Points” at first, and has continued ever since to be a very large buyer of them. To the kindness of his agent at Patchogue, Mr. More, I am greatly indebted for assistance in my investigations. Mr. More and all his brother-agents are known as “packers”, They are very busy men, traveling along the shore every day, in all sorts of weather, and striving against one another in the purchasing-boats for friendly advantages. Hach packer has asloop and crew with which he cruises on the fishing-grounds. That he has come to their vicinity, and is ready to purchase, is known to the oystermen by the signal of a basket hoisted at his masthead. They row up to him, measure out the “tubs”, each of which holds two bushels, and receive their cash-payment on the spot. Several thousand dollars a day are thus disbursed in this region all winter through. When this market-boat is full she makes for the shore and lands her cargo in her owner’s shanty, which, firmly secured against the wind and banked up with sea-weed, occupies a place just out of reach of the tide on the sandy beach. Here the oysters are “culled”: that is, assorted into three sizes. The largest ones, of small amount, are reserved for the home trade, while the two small sizes are snugly packed in barrels, well shaken down, to be sent abroad. The barrels used are old flour-barrels, supplies of which are sent down from New York, and they will hold a scant three bushels; but in the course of packing, discarding and waste occur, until it is estimated that every barrel of Long Island oysters sent to Europe represents fully four bushels taken from the beds. I presume the same will hold true at Perth Amboy and elsewhere. The residue of the packing, big and little, the packer throws overboard upon a plot of ground reserved for the purpose, near his house, whence he occasionally takes up such as are suitable for market, so that really there is little waste. ADVANCE-CONTRACTS FOR OYSTER-CROPS.—The system of contracting for a planter’s crop a season ahead, has been followed here by the packers to considerable advantage. The planter judges what he will be able to rake or procure from his neighbors during the winter, and contracts to deliver so many barrels to the shipper at such a price. Last season was disadvantageous for the contractors, owing to scarcity of stock, but as a rule they have done fairly well. The packers also sometimes advance capital to a man with which to start an oyster-bed, on condition 106 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. that he will sell only to them ‘and share the profits equally. This sort of bargain is encouraged by the shippers, anda diligent man need never fear to undertake such an obligation, since it is bound to be mutually profitable, if properly conducted; yet many cases have occurred where the offer has been refused, for no apparent reason better than lazy shiftlessness. Indeed, it is an unfortunate characteristic of too many of these seemingly shrewd and certainly hardy and adventurous baymen, that they are contented with the small supplies of the happy moment, unwarned by past scarcity to provide against future suffering, and are as reckless of advantages which might be improved, as they are of saving the money in hand. To this indifference may be traced their slowness to experiment toward the improvement of their oyster-grounds, or the preservation of more of the vast abundance of spat which, they all believe, whether it is the fact or not, is drifting just under the steely-blue surface of their beautiful midsummer bay. PRICES OF BLUE POINT OYSTERS.—The prices of Blue Point oysters have never been lower than at present; even a hundred years ago more money was paid for them than now, which shows the general public advantage of cultivation. During the season of 1879~80, the prices paid the producers by the packers ranged from $1 50 a bushel for small lots of “best selected”, to 60 cents for poor stuff. Much was sold at a dollar, but a fairer average would be 90 cents. Twenty years ago, according to Count Pourtales’ report, “$2 to $3 a bushel” was the selling price. For those destined to form foreign shipments, from $3 50 to $4 a barrel was paid, the highest prices ruling near Patchogue, and the lowest westward. This was from 20 to 30 per cent. above the prices paid at the same time for the “Sounds”, although the latter were better received and worth more in the English market than those costing more here. The profits in “‘ Blue Points” and ‘ Hast Rivers”, therefore, were small, while those in “Sounds” were fair, if not large. a AGGREGATE VALUE OF BLUE POINT OYSTER-CROPS.—Multiplying the 215,000 bushels sold between Bellport and Bayshore (‘Blue Points”) by 90 cents, the average price, gives $198,500 as the approximate amount of money put into the pockets of the oystermen along a strip of about 20 miles of shore. Dividing this among 900 families (see page 104) gives an average of about $215 as the season’s income for each. This takes no account of the two or three hundred single men, who earned $2 a day at oystering during a portion of the season, but a considerable part of whose earnings reverted to their employers or neighbors, in payment for board and supplies. BABYLON: “OAK ISLAND” OYSTERS.—At Babylon the business of oyster-cultivation is comparatively a modern institution, though Messrs. Udall and Oakley, with some others, have been at it for ten years or more. No natural oyster-beds are to be found in this town, or nearer than Brookhaven bay; nor have they ever existed, except that in the inlets and tideways through ine beaches and marshy islands opposite the village of Babylon, as in the neighbor hood of Fire island, occasional scattering patches of young sometimes “catch”. Unless taken up the same fall, however, they rarely survive, and no dependence is placed upon this chance supply. Now and then a few at Oak Island will manage to live and grow. They develop a remarkably fine flavor and bring extraordinary prices in the market. There are said to be about 1,000 acres of bottom belonging to the town suitable for oyster-culture, but only about 200 acres are at present improved. These are all alongshore and almost wholly around Oak Island, on the southern shore of the bay, since the central part of this broad, shallow lagoon grows full of eel-grass in midsummer, the bottom everywhere being muddy. The water is nowhere more than 6 or 7 feet deep at high-tide, and the larger part of the grounds are laid bare at low water. On this account there is great risk in trying to keep any oysters upon the beds through the winter, the ice often settling upon the beds at low tide, freezing fast to mud and oysters, and carrying both away when it drifts off upon the rising tide. The winter of 187879 was destructive of nearly all the beds in this way. Such complete devastation is rare, however, and the winter of 1879~80 was so mild that no harm was done. Men who cross to the beaches, shooting or wrecking in winter, often find a feast in the oysters which are frozen into the cakes of ice piled up on the shore, and these are the best, too, for the shallowest water produces the finest quality. There are at Oak Island 30 planters, each of whom cultivates 4 acres under the special state law enacted for Babylon and Islip. This law, which, in 1878, was made to take the place of previous statutes, comprises several sections, and reads substantially as follows: Srcrron 1. Any person of full age, who has been an inhabitant of Islip or Babylon, Suffolk county, for one year, upon complying with the ensuing conditions, may ‘locate a lot not exceeding four acres in extent under the public waters of the Great South bay, in either of said towns, where the taking of clams cannot be profitably followed as a business”, and shall have exclusive ownership. Src. 2. “For the purpose of ascertaining and determining what * * * portions of said bay may be taken for the purpose of planting oysters as aforesaid, a board of commissioners, consisting of two from the town of Islip and one from the town of Babylon, whose official titles shall be ‘oyster-commissioners’, shall be appointed each by the board of town-auditors * * * of his or their said town, respectively”. They hold office one year, their appointment to be certified to by the auditors and filed with the town clerk. Secs. 3, 4,5. Each oyster-commissioner must take an oath of office and furnish a bond of $200 or more for the faithful performance of his duties; in case of refusal to serve, or vacancy, the auditors may appoint a substitute. Src. 6. It shall be the duty of said commissioners * * * to attend and examine the lot applied for, and ascertain and determine whether the taking of clams ean or cannot be profitably followed as a business thereon; and if they shall determine that it cannot, then, and not otherwise, they shall locate the lot for him, which shall be clearly marked and defined. The commissioners must also secure maps and surveys of all ground allotted, and on all questions of boundary the decisions of the commissioners shall be final. On payment by THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 107 any applicant of the expense of locating his lot, which shall be determined by said commissioners, but shall in no ease exceed the sum of $10 and the additional sum of $1 per acre as yearly rent, they, or a majority of them, shall give to such applicant a certificate * * * which certificate shall entitle the person named therein to the possession of said lot, for the purposes of this act, so long as he shall keep the said lot clearly defined in the manner so directed by said commissioners; but if such person shall neglect to plant his lot with at least 100 bushels of oysters and shells during the period of one year from the date of his certificate, or shall neglect to pay said yearly rent on or before the first day of April in each and every year, his rights to the possession of said lot may be terminated at the option of a majority of said commissioners. Certificates of this fact (as well as all other documents) must be made in duplicate and filed with the town clerk. Src. 7. Each of said commissioners shall be allowed the sum of $5 per day for his services actually rendered under this act, the same to be paid only out of the fund received for locating lots * * * and shall not receive any additional fees or compensation from any person or persons whomsoever; and each of said commissioners shall, at the usual annual auditors’ meeting of said towns, account for and pay over all moneys in his possession * * * Sec. 8. It shall not be lawful for any person to retain possession of any such lot after he shall cease to be a resident of either of said towns of Islip or Babylon, but he may sell and assign his interest in any such lot to any inhabitant of either of said towns for one year; but no person shall acquire possession of more than one lot by purchase or otherwise. Sc. 9. A penalty of fine not exceeding $100, or imprisonment not over 60 days, or both, is provided for taking or disturbing of oysters on such lots by unauthorized persons. Of the thirty planters alluded to above, twenty-two have formed themselves into a protective association, and hire a watchman at $40 a month; but, in spite of this, complaints of theft are frequent. The old way of planting at Oak Island was to buy small seed and plant it in the spring. The following autumn the bed was thinned out, and more than half of it taken up and sold, chiefly to planters from Rhode Island, to be laid down again. What remained grew to better advantage and was ready for market the following spring, if the ice did not haul it off before then. About 1870 seed could be procured in Brookhaven bay in abundance, simply by the trouble of catching, or could be bought for 10 to 20 cents a tub. About 1875 Mr. Edward Udall told me young oysters were so plenty off Patchogue and Smith’s point, that a man could work profitably at 5 cents a tub. In 1877 he bought seed largely for 10 cents a tub, but in 1880 the same was worth 25 cents at Patchogue, and 40 cents when delivered at Babylon. The growth of oysters transplanted to Oak Island waters is extremely rapid. They have been known frequently to double their size in a single season, and are often sent to market at the age of fifteen months; that is, the second fall after their birth. This rapidity of growth is attributed to the freshness of the water, but undoubtedly is due to the excess of confervoid and other food in the water. I know no place where it is more abundant; and it is quite possible that the fishermen are right when they attribute the circumstance that oyster-spawn never catches west of Nicoll’s point, except around the mussel-beds in the inlet, to the great prevalence of slime in the water ; for this “slime” is the vegetable and hydroid growth that furnishes so much nourishment to the adult oysters, and everywhere covers the bottom with a slippery growth and deposition. The planting of southern oysters was tried here, but did not yield a profit, since a large proportion of the oysters died. They grew well enough, but few lived, the supposition of the oystermen being that the water is too salt. Experiments have been made to a limited extent in catching spawn upon artificial beds of shells. When it has always been possible to buy Brookhaven seed at 10 to 20 cents, and secure in one or one and a half years’ growth enough upon it to pay the planter from 75 cents to $1 a bushel, no other method was considered necessary. Now, however, there threatens to be such a scarcity of seed that shell-beds will probably be laid down extensively, and I see no reason why good returns should not follow. The enemies to be contended with are the ice, as before mentioned; rare easterly gales of sufficient power to disturb the beds; the borers, which are on the increase, and two years ago nearly extinguished the beds opposite Sayville; and the common erabs. In respect to the crabs, I had not heard before that they were injurious, but was assured that immense damage by them annually happens to the young oysters on planted beds; one man losing 500 bushels in one week. This matter is more particularly discussed under “‘Oyster Enemies ”. The Oak Island planters put down in 1880 between 15,000 and 20,000 bushels of seed, and their next crop will probably be a large one. This season, however, though their oysters were of superior quality, the amount was so small that not more than 2,000 bushels were sent to market. These chiefly went into the export trade, and were sold to Sayville shippers at $1 25 to $1 50 a bushel, which was a large advance upon the previous year’s prices. There is a feeling of discouragement at this locality. AMITYVILLE, SOUTH OYSTER BAY, FREEPORT, AND BALDWIN.—Going west from Babylon, the small producing points of Amityville and South Oyster bay are passed, and then you reach Freeport, where there is an old and extensive business in oyster-culture. The beds opposite Amityville, the most westerly point on the Great South bay, are a new property, and as yet yield small crops. The situation seems favorable, however. There are ten or a dozen planters (and as many sail- boats), the principal of whom are the Messrs. Ketcham. They obtain most of their seed at present from the East river, and have now planted about 5,000 bushels. In addition to this, about 1,500 bushels of Virginia oysters were laid down this year. The crop reported sold last winter amounts to 2,000 bushels. ‘No drawbacks” is the encouraging report. At South Oyster bay, four miles westward, a planting interest has grown up only of late. The name of the piece 108 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. of water and the village is derived from its being the southern part of the town of Oyster Bay, which owes its name to the ancient productiveness of its harbor, on the north shore, in our favorite mollusks. There are 22 planters here, 18 of whom are joined in an association for mutual protection. They rent ground under the laws of South Oyster bay, although many of the members are residents of Hempstead. They can each have as many acres as are wanted, for simply the trouble of staking out and recording. They have pursued a somewhat different course from their neighbors, buying this year (the spring of 1880) two-year-old seed at New Haven, which cost them 60 cents, put down. This they propose to take up and sell the succeeding fall, and expect by that time it will have doubled its size, so favorable are these grounds regarded for oyster-growth. These planters intend in future, nevertheless, to buy small seed, that is, when they can procure it at less cost and trouble than was possible last spring. I should think this locality ought to become a profitable oyster-depot. Five miles westward of South Oyster bay lies the considerable hamlet of Freeport, where oyster-planting has long been followed in the shallow bay of the same name opposite the town, about 40 acres of bottom being in use. About 35 planters are engaged here, all of whom live at Freeport, and make a pretty prosperous village of it. Besides these 35 owners, probably 25 families get their living out of the trade, so that the industry is very considerable here. The method of cultivation is similar to that employed eastward, except that considerable seed is got at Staten Island and in the East river, but no southern oysters are planted. The crop last season amounted to about 30,000 bushels. It was of high quality, and brought an average price of about $1 35 in New York. Nevertheless the Freeport men complain of a poor business and dim prospects. At Baldwin’s, two miles west of Freeport, there are 18 planters, occupying an acre each of the bottom of Hempstead bay, an inlet separated from South Oyster bay by islands, and about as many more who find steady employment. These planters get seed mainly from the westward, and in 187980 sold about 11,000 bushels at $1 50. They report their beds in “very fine condition” and their “prospects very bright”. At Christian Hook is a small business, also in the waters of Hempstead bay, in respect to which I was prevented by accident from getting and saving many particulars. I judge, however, that the business there is much the same as at Baldwin’s, and, therefore, credit its productiveness at about the same rate—11,000 bushels annually. 37. THE ROCKAWAY DISTRICT. TopoGRAPHY.—At the western end of the south shore of Long Island is a series of interlacing channels, through a great marshy lagoon, protected outwardly by Longbeach from the rage of the Atlantic, and separated from Hempstead bay, east of them, by large islands. This confusing net work of shallow, tidal creeks, ramifying in all directions through an immense expanse of sedge, lies on the eastern side of the township of Rockaway. West of the town spread the more open waters of Jamaica bay. In both these waters oysters are grown in great quantities; and as every village, beach, inlet, and channel in the whole region has the name Rockaway attached to it in some shape, it is not surprising that these oysters should take the universal name, too, in the New York markets, whither they all tend. The annexed map will show what an amphibious kind of region this is, and its relation to other localities. History oF PLANTING: LAws.—AlIl of the planters live at the village of East Rockaway, and within a mile of it on the western side, and are a different class of men, socially inferior to the oystermen of the Great South bay. Though a large number are engaged, no one among them is an extensive dealer, three or four thousand _ bushels being the largest amount raised by any one man, while the majority of the planters produce less than 500 bushels a year. The first planting was done here about thirty-five years ago, by Captain Samuel Pearsall and Mr. James Murray, as tradition relates. There were never any natural beds here, and they procured their seed at Patchogue, or wherever they could get it most easily. Nor were they particular as to eround oceupied. Later, however, when the business became one of importance, special laws were enacted by the state of New York, at the instance of the towns of Hempstead and Jamaica, to apply to these waters. These legal regulations, which illustrate the selfishness of all oyster-laws, govern not only the Rockaway oystermen, but also those all along the shore from South Oyster bay to Fort Hamilton. They are as follows: SEcTION.78. Exempts Jamaica and Hempstead bays from the ‘public waters” of Queen’s county. Secs. 79 to 87 are irrelevant. Src. 88. Persons for one year inhabitants of Jamaica and Hempstead, Queen’s county, may plant oysters in the waters of those towns, as heretofore provided ; but no person not a resident shall be allowed such privilege. Src. 89. Inhabitants of Jamaica and Hempstead can use three acres, but must mark, define, and make use of, as stated in section 79. Suc. 90. “Before any person shall occupy any lands under the public waters aforesaid, for the purpose of planting oysters, * * * he shall prove to the satisfaction of the board of auditors of town accounts * * * that the land selected is not a planted bed of oysters, or, if planted, is not planted by any person other than the applicant, and shall also prove, by at least five reputable residents and freeholders of said towns [Jamaica or Hempstead], that he is, and has been for one year preceding, an inhabitant of the town. All the aforesaid proof shall be taken in writing, and signed and sworn to, Such board of auditors, or a majority of them, shall thereupon give to such person a certificate under their hands,” embodying the facts stated above, which shall be filed with the town clerk. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 109 Src. 91. Persons obtaining and using oyster-ground in Jamaica or Hempstead shall pay to the supervisor of the town an annual rent of $5 an acre. Thismoney shall go to pay current annual expenses of the town, Any oystering or clamming on ground so set apart, without authority of the owner, is forbidden. Src. 92. Penalty for taking oysters, or disturbing beds in Jamaica or Hempstead, $100, to be recovered by the owner. Src. 93. Defines process of arrest and recovery. Src. 94. Forfeiture ensues when the owner of ground in Jamaica or Hempstead waters ceases to use the ground for one year, or at the end of a year after he ceases to be a resident. Src. 95. Persons given until January 1, 1872, to remove their oysters from the waters of Jamaica or Hempstead, or to acquire new rights. - Src. 96. Forbids dredging in the waters belonging to Jamaica or Hempstead, under penalties of $100 fine, or 60 days imprisonment, or both. Src. $7. Repeals the act of April 8, 1865, relating to this subject. Under these closely protective laws the whole town, nearly, has turned itself into oyster-growers, and the coming generation are taking the beds their fathers leave. They pay into the town treasury of Hempstead about $900 a year, and into that of Jamaica about $400, which, at $5 an acre rent annually, shows that few of the planters occupy the three acres which they are permitted to. This is not for lack of room, however; plenty of good ground remains. OYSTERMEN’S WAGES.—The total number of planters that one may count up in Rockaway varies from time to time, but there are not less than 150 constantly engaged, and devoting their whole time to their beds, except in midsummer. Besides these planters, properly speaking, there are as many more men who support their families by picking up the oysters that have drifted on to public ground from the planted beds, and selling them for market or for seed; who catch crabs, dig clams, and mend boats and tools, when not directly employed in assisting the planters make their beds or harvest their crops. It is particularly at the harvest-time that this help is employed, and the laborers receive from 20 to 25 cents a bushel for getting up and bringing in the oysters and culling them for market. It may safely be said, therefore, that 250 families, and many single men, in this village alone, obtain their support from the local oyster-industry. MErHops OF CULTURE.—Rockaway men get their seed from Brookhaven and Newark bay, but prefer East river seed to any other, and use the largest quantity of it. It is brought to them in sloops. Rockaway itself owns few large sail-boats; its channels are too shallow and devious to admit of easy navigation, but every man has a skiff, and all the planters, flat planting-boats. Virginia oysters have been tried, but have never done well. Now none are planted. They say the water is too salt for them. The growth of Rockaway oysters is extremely rapid. The mud in the bottom of these marshy channels, which is only sufficient to hold the oysters from being smothered, seems to be full of nourishment, and the oysters are always large and fat. Some few men deal only in “box” size ; but the majority of the planters sell, nowadays, much smaller oysters than formerly they were wont to, so that the average shipments now will run about 275 to the bushel. Lately, also, Rockaway has been able to contribute considerably to the European trade, selling what they term “French” stock, measuring from 1,500 to 1,700 to the barrel, and receiving $1 a hundred forit. I understand that these oysters have given very good satisfaction abroad. MARKETS AND PRICES OF ROCKAWAY OYSTERS.—When Rockaway oysters first began to get a name in the city markets, they were sent there by the packet-sloops that used to run for fast freight and passenger traflie from the south shore to the metropolis, in rivalry with the lumbering stage-coaches on the shore, and brought about 75 cents a basket. When the war of the Rebellion cut off the southern supply, northern oystermen profited, and “Rockaways” were so good and regular, that at the close of the war they were worth $4 for ordinary stock at the boats, after which they were carted to the city in peddlers’ wagons. This rate dwindled, however, very rapidly ; yet Rockaway oysters have always held a good place, and last season were sold readily at $1 25 for small and $2 for the larger sort. The quality was unusually poor this season. The total quantity raised annually by this community, I estimate, after much study, at 100,000 bushels, judging that 700 bushels is the largest average permissible, and counting 150 planters. NortHwest Pornt.—On the eastern shore of Jamaica bay is a little oyster-settlement calling itself Northwest Point, which disposes of its oysters as “‘Rockaways”. The beds here are in a swift tidal channel, where the water is shallow, and many beds are left bare at low tide. Here are from 40 to 45 families, chiefly supported by the business. Four or five of these are planters, raising from three to five thousand bushels annually; but the majority are small planters, who get from $150 to $400 a year out of their beds. They own here about 20 oyster-sloops, which do also a good deal of coasting, and in summer enter into the pleasure-excursion business at the beach hotels. The total crop of the locality, therefore, does not exceed ten or fifteen thousand bushels. Last year these were of poor quality, and were sold on the shore at $1 25 a bushel. As a rule, most of the oysters are taken by water to the foot of West Tenth street, New York, and there disposed of, generally to good advantage. Mr. Henry Wanser, to whom I am chiefly indebted for information, prophesied that the crop of 188081 would be a good one in quality, because the mollusks had spawned early, and therefore had time left them to get strong and fat before the cold autumn weather began. He thought oysters must be in good shape by August 20, or they would not be good at all. A few other planters are scattered singly about the shores, but they are of no importance, and eater chiefly to the hotels and local trade in summer. 110 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. GRAVESEND.—On the western shore of Jamaica bay is a small interest centering at Gravesend, in procuring an account of which I was greatly assisted by Mr. R. L. Van Kluk, postmaster of that village. There are no natural oyster-beds in this region, except that a few bushels are caught every fallin Garrettson’s creek, between Gravesend and Flatlands. Between Gravesend on the west and the western shore of Jamaica bay on the east, there are 22 or 23 planters, all of whom get their seed from Newark bay. This business and clamming, together, support about 25 families. Last season the crop amounted to. between 15,000 and 20,000 bushels, sold in New York at an average price of $1 25. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR SouTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND: Number of planters and shippers --....-..-.----...... SBOC OOO COT PSEA OCCU BOCES EHNS BREE SOSSS SSa6 800 Hxten tol eround cultivated: —=s\cioe Santos sie eelaae eee eee een ae eee see see ano eee eee acres -. 2,000 _ Value of shore-property, about.-.......----.----202--2-- eee bees heed uted sect ens ara eee eee ee $25, 000 Nim erto fv esses) Sosa seate alenie Messin sine Sate ee (tes ee ham wate eae ee ete oe 170 WWalluetot SAMO. 25. cmmtecjos game ser eate eictcle meee ee el tra a eer ee $136, 000 Value.of small crafti(S00boats)). eos Acr meme no aie eias onic nae as Se eeine teen ane einaes one cee a ate een ee $100, 000 Numberiof men hired byaplanters\or dealerse---e seo -m= see eae ioe pees aaa eee ee cies eaten ee eeelee aie eee 400 F7Nie wel GEV MMENES OE SCT Cocco na Sng MESS O Se SOD HERO HO OOO OSS SaeISro Cs SOS S=os SON REoU mo acho Gace sesc8 - $150, 000 Annual sales of— i IN@iive\oOySterseoneaees seen aes ade oor sees assed cose5 OScesososbeod one asoSsess5 buskels.. 400, 000 ' Value of sane. sn aessieeenieua clases! tncorciecssisaasinesticnesnereieseiresae Bonnett. 2. s.ceoes-se eee ates 12,42 Bliza and) Jane-...---- -.---. 3-2-2. 9.08 JAG TDS 1p ae ee eee sae eee 1oS20 i Dl lineyscaseass2aceesee ns eee ishiley = 1Dibes|f Seas eee Bocas ase eaosteh ooS 19, 89 PRU ite Yo Se aic es 3 aeisa aials Seems 750). Uelphinigy cce-messe eases Sean 11.66 annie Scofield -..-....-..... -..... 7.07 JSR 60 Soe) Fe SS p OR SEC EEE ene COTE Oh) Dolphin, 22. ~ 2.24 <= smaaene = os Ace is) LER all Shee sc oseeobeconecoae secEence 10.13 BU GOMIOLUO seem aia tae tea oie = elo alll Blizabethi dia Wriehtee-.ss--.5------ IRB) idler] AS Bee eceeecaceno Ss 2sec6stc 5, 39 BAENGL id ONES! a2-.) see see mension ans SEO) Sel bg 9) 0 Sn SO eke ae ee (eo Heat INOt ceceseeeeaes scocodcoocce se 5. 57 Blanch Ov arasannns tania foi oer LekO5y Ula Mleeterttescs se teneeet see 1S523Fe Mage. Less he Ae OE eee 7. 92 ISIE Sean Sao cose eosec mor acedc PaO0G. sen. Pare=ay:) ees. tet eeece ce Sh0¢ rr rank Hopkins! se secsciee cee ot =e 8.73 IER Ce Ree Sec Meee Ce Ob ace ae eee LOIS AS emMMOP ene 2 Se ee hss woe e TIGSG BSE VOTO ne sees cece cers = aoe 8. 89 DIV GRO Gkinca nc ss2senycnSee ixmec ods TOMO Gwbilla)) Wiesleve= os. assem waar Sc ase Up be ai pine OG Pe pee ce emseao aeceee 9, 48 Clore Chis Co) Cie eee eee soe Heee 1 (09712 ied Pa) SVAN Vay od Cy Cee eae a a HONG AS eH MANILOW CRMs cic re aieimicin = Salma simicinn 5.7) Crystal Mountain 2-2-2 22222). =4 cet) ME iphblineberies sc seco ss ce cre ONOS GeoreiaNaieccsasesnccsansaccceccsa- 19.0% Ms MOD ee ec set UE Lee ee LOL AD BN ce sae eee Ses. Ry .Ysee acer ~Georpe-.aWO0G..- = <-s--.-<5 5-266 7.28 ChanlesiWallls oo scjsccaeasjsece cece Saco em Eve Ob bith. aaee= eee eee e nas aes LoD du GCOLPINNG ss. cccaecceecwesscsceee 5.11 9. 10) 130 Name. General Taylor..-- = - <6... -2- carina General Putman ...-....--....--<<- Goldenshwle + ----s- es eae eee George D: Allen’... 2... .- 252-222 cco. George I’. Rogers -----:-- -.-=------ George P. Putman ....---.-------.- Howard Harrison) > 555-2 =. ----'- cose see eee eee 16. 85 Katie Wood ise. - seseeeneae tenet el esdo Kate iWiadle 22-22 pee eee ee ieeee 10.15 Iai. ease a eae eae aaa 13. 08 Gin Disa ss os ohsas4 soso See 10. 00 (header == 5 see ea oe aero eanio eee 13. 22 Bottie Elwood!=oc2 ce=csee= == -- eee 14, 84 Daura Hraices)|!See--- eee: 7.46 (sOnISR. Aeeete ee ersee seeie a == eee 7.36 IGE S8 son cacrd -oaeS hee sco oases 9.11 ews Weekes... occ. s- ae eee ae 7.14 eOn Riese a one ee eae sor Se eae 9, 04 ee eD ay cone sea ae eee naeio ae 12. 07 little Kateeeeecer see sees es eee eee 6. 22 Lydia Van Name- ..----..---------- 12. 37 Gb 7sAGwelendl: seen a sna aeo heen so TOSS SO 6. 21 BVO on oh te eee ie 11. 80 Mintr cos, ence exeeo= = ee eee ester ees 8.35 Millard F. Housman ..--..---.----- 11. 94 Marxigtian qa ceae se ean == ees oe 11. 64 Minnie Van Name...-----2..-.--... 16. 08 Mary Elizabeth ..---..- pecossescsoc 13. 99 Mary LO wi@ ieee aie aed 7.35 Minnie.and Irwitt.--------2-= === 14.13 Musi Ce see pene cece ee ceseee 7.42 Mermetora--=------- fe HPA et A 9. 48 May Plizabeth-2--2--.------e— -~-- 5. 45 Nelliogtinan ka eeemee onan nl seemeenie= 8. 66 Nellrei@ bowels sesenesianecimem 19. 01 Only Daughter------ ~~ =e ee 5. 90 ParagOn= ence ee === === = =i 16.18 ‘Pacific eee. alee eee 19.11 Pride of the Wave .--------------<. 10, 05 (Pera yio epee sete eee eee 18. 96 IPeerlessinc-- eee seesicoeee eee 5.79 VESSELS OVER TWENTY TONS. Name. Tons. Harriet M. Laskey -.-...---.-.----- 22.14 Elizabeth Jones.-.-. -----. <---.-- <. reecene ac osteeteeas 6. 92 Vaictorine 2 2s. ees. 5s ae oes 1138 Wiola Mays 8e S326-'2- ~~ ee ee 13. 52 Wm. H. Hoyt BAS AER occu. san0 10, 52 Willie 2.2532 ed oecie- ewes ode se bee ee eee Willow Bankjacininse shies = oie eee eee 11.30 Walter S. Lamance.......-...-..--. 16:23 Wim. A! Shamott .22..22225, 32. Steep ose Wm. H. Lissenden ....--------:---. 7.16 Wire Me NeonSho= see e= ee aie = eet 11. 68 Win... Billman-2s-¢-2 = ’ t=) Name. Eva. Races sass ee eeee ee ten ee eee Jacob I, Housman Robert Center MOTTO 1S Ghassan eee eee Mary Parker Amelia Tons. 80. 40 Name. Tons. INXCOL. atom aee cert scene oienee 40. 52 lgihemplO et ean esos Sse sssS5> 48, 23 Wm. H. Van Name..----...--. semen ole David Carlles-ststt ete eee eee ee 124.95 Win. Mazyi kate sss ce. neem ——en eee 75. 62 Wi, McCGeeeecesse ease ea sence 85. 99 Also the steam-propeller Minnie and Irvin. The jurisdiction of New York extends southward to Port Johnson, New Jersey; eastward to Patchogue, on the south shore of Long Island, and to Sag Harbor on the north side; and northward to Troy and Albany. In this large area a very much larger number of sloops than 177 are used in oyster-operations, but only so many are permitted or accustomed to bring cargoes of oysters to market. THE EUROPEAN EXPORT-TRADE.—F or many years the captains and passengers of steamers sailing from New Name. Tons. WWinls sOUn tee = one) han eee 67. 81 RR MaSO Ne soa nc 55-61 ee atone eee 50. 98 Barnett JONCS- .-=-- <= ---c1e--—— eee 92. 91 Wieha glo ti peeeeeee sees ceeoce SS 74.39 S. Bi Barnes © 3..22.3556 Sse eee Sidney Dorlon”=2--=ssece==- =e 36, 03 THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 131 York to Liverpool have been accustomed to take with them a barrel or two of oysters in the shell, to be eaten on the voyage. Passengers did the same, and occasionally an American living in England would have them sent over to him asa treat. In 1861, Lieutenant De Broca succeeded in shipping safely a large consignment, by way of England, to the French Acclimatization Society in Paris. With these facts as a guiding suggestion, about ten years ago Mr, George H. Shaffer, of Fulton market, New York, requested an intelligent friend of his, who was going to England upon business, to try to introduce American oysters into the English market, and sent over a dozen barrels as an _ experiment. They retained their freshness, were landed in good condition, and speedily sold. The agent telegraphed Mr. Shaffer to forward a larger consignment, which also was sold advantageously, and a regular trade was established. Mr. Shaffer, however, enjoyed a monopoly of it, and the large profits, which at first accrued, only a short time, for his competitors were wide awake, and also began shipping to Europe, so that almost at a bound the exportation of oysters reached its full strength as a profitable business—that is, about as many were sent as there are now—all the foreign markets will bear. The kind of oyster required for export is such as has not found favor in this country, where the “ Saddle-Rock” and “Shrewsbury ” are lauded above all others. The native European bivalve is small, rarely exceeding the size of a silver dollar, and is more popular than the American oyster. The English, with whom most of our trade is conducted, do not consider anything larger good to eat, and therefore we were obliged to accommodate this taste or prejudice, if we wanted to find ready sale. The oysters sent abroad, therefore, are all single (since they are to be eaten on the half-shell, and not cooked), small, and round; they are selected from the “ cullens” or smallest of the three classes into which our oysters are usually assorted, and have received the trade appellation of ‘“ London stock”. It is a much more fortunate thing for us that the foreign taste is for small oysters than for large ones, since, hitherto, there has been a slow market and cheap price for cullens, which now find a ready sale, if clean and of good shape. It enables a man to turn his money quickly by selling his stock before it has lain more than a year in the water, and also to avoid the ever-present hazard of total loss by some storm or other of the many accidents to which oyster-beds are always subject. On the other hand, I have heard many persons complain, with some justice, that the export-business had been decidedly harmful to the general interests of the oyster-trade, because it took away from the beds great quantities of young, which had not yet had time to spawn, as they would do if allowed to remain enough longer to make them of sufficient size for the home trade. This was cutting off not only the present, but the future of the oyster-beds which supplied London stock ; and, as the harm to one bed was indirectly harm to all its neighbors, the general good of the planters was imperiled. While this argument, which may be condensed into the ancient simile of killing the goose that lays the golden egg, is perhaps good for limited areas drawn upon with extraordinary persistence for the foreign market (Blue Point, for example), I do not consider that in general it overbalances the greater benefits derived. Nor do I apprehend, after a careful examination of the matter, that the European demand—even though doubled—is likely to overtax and _ruin any American oyster-beds which are properly watched and scientifically operated. Because the oysters, native and cultivated, which are grown at the eastern end of the Great South bay, on the south shore of Long Island, best fulfifled the conditions, they were the first to be exported to England, and have most largely, perhaps, entered into the trade. They are known both at home and abroad as “ Blue Points”, and acquired a reputation in England superior to all others, up to the season of 1879, when there was a falling off in their quality and a consequent loss of esteem. Besides the “Blue Points”, great quantities of oysters from the East river (particularly Rowayton, Norwalk, and Bridgeport), have been shipped, chiefly through J. & J. Ellsworth; a less number from Rockaway and Fire island; and large quantities from Staten Island waters, under the brand of “Sounds”. These last became the favorites abroad during the past season, the “ East Rivers” coming second, and the unfortunate “ Blue Points” third; and, inasmuch as they cost less than either of the other brands, money was made upon them liberally, while no one who forwarded “ Blue Points” received much if any profit, and many shippers lost money. The London stock having been picked out by the planter, is purchased by the shipper on the ground, where he sends his boats to buy daily, or keeps a permanent agent and packer. He culls it a second time, discarding about one-fourth, so that it is estimated that four bushels of oysters are caught for every barrel exported, since the barrels (second-hand flour barrels) hold scantily three bushels. The useless residue is not wasted, but thrown back upon the packer’s own bed to grow farther. The number of oysters in a barrel varies from twelve hundred to two thousand; the more there are the better the English retail-buyer likes it, since he sells them by count. This has had the effect of a steady reduction in the size of the oysters sent, until now much smaller stock is sent than at first, and more ground is given the grumblers than ever for their complaints against this line of business; but the limit has probably been reached in this direction. In packing the oysters they are placed as snugly in the barrel as possible, and well shaken down. Attention is paid, also, to placing the oyster with the deep shell down, so that the liquor shall not so readily escape. Some kind-hearted persons were greatly distressed, a few years ago, at the supposed suffering which the mollusks 132 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. underwent in their close quarters and long seclusion from the world while on the passage; they loudly demanded that holes should be left in each barrel and the contents deluged with fresh water daily, and that a plentiful supply of bran should be mixed with them to serve as food during the trip! This was an astonishing example of Berghism run wild, and did more credit to the hearts than the heads of the philanthropists, who were so concerned in the welfare of their bivalvular brethren. The length of a voyage to Europe in cold weather is no feat worth mentioning to a well-constituted oyster. In Prince Edward island I found it to be the common practice for citizens to purchase fifteen or twenty bushels of oysters, pile them in their cellars between layers of sea weed, and use them gradually all winter, finding the last ones alive and well in the spring. This used to be the universal custom in New York before restaurants came in fashion. Southern oysters en route from Chesapeake bay to Boston and Portland are frequently a month out of water, yet do not suffer, and grow well enough when returned to the water, though it is so different a latitude. Stock is frequently kept several weeks in the holds of the “‘arks” in New York, or in the cellars of wholesale depots, waiting for profitable sale. One gentleman assured me that he kept a quantity of “Blue Points” 107 days in his cellar, losing but a few of them, and these are not generally considered so hardy as some other sorts—those from the East river, for instance. The hardiness of the ‘‘Sounds” is well shown in the article upon the oyster-beds of New York bay, in relating the old custom of peddling them up the Hudson river in the fall. Packed so as to prevent injurious jarring, and stowed in the extreme forward part of the vessel, where they keep cool—the score or so of barrels of oysters smashed when the Arizona collided with an iceberg, found it really chilly!—the mollusks therefore find it a pleasant experience rather than a cruel hardship to cross the Atlantic. No time is lost in getting the oysters, when packed, into the steamer, and many are taken in sloops directly from the producing points to the steamer’s wharf, and thus escape the bother and expense of a second or third handling in New York. Some American firms have regular agents abroad who care for and dispose of the oysters sent to them. In other cases they are consigned by the shippers to commission merchants on the other side. Liverpool has been the great receiving point for Great Britain, because it was the nearest port. It was found that the extra time required, and the port charges on cargoes sent direct to London by steamer, more than overbalanced the slight saving effected in freight over those forwarded by rail from Liverpool. The amount of oysters sent each week, though not large, has sometimes been more than could be disposed of before the next shipment arrived. To provide against loss in this contingency, the largest dealers own spaces of sea-bottom, where the surplusage is thrown overboard to keep in good condition and drawn upon as required. Some thousands of barrels are sent annually, which are intended to lie and grow there from one to three years. American oysters laid down thus in foreign waters have never been known to spawn, so far as I could learn, but the conditions have never been favorable ; and no experiment, that I am aware of, has been tried, to ascertain whether seed-oysters from the United States, properly planted, would not grow into good health, emit spawn, and establish their race upon the European coasts. IT see no reason why such an experiment should not prove entirely successful. It is’said that the English beds are becoming so depopulated as practically to have become worthless. The eighth edition of the Uncyclopedia Britannica, speaking briefly of oysters (vol. xv, p. 348), under “Mollusca”, says that only about 30,000 bushels of “natives”, or oysters from artificial beds, and about 100,000 bushels of ‘“sea-oysters”, are annually sent to the London market. This seems extremely small, but the English people have not yet learned to regard the bivalves as anything more than a luxury, and heretofore they have always been beyond the purses of any but the wealthy. The demand, however, is increasing through the cheapening of this excellent food, and the acquired habit of eating and enjoying it. Nevertheless, it is easy to overstock the European market, and no little harm has happened to consignments, with dead loss to the owners, through being delayed too long before being sold, in consequence of an oversupply. This happened more frequently some years ago than it now does. One large shipper gave it to me as his belief, that London could not use more than 500 barrels a week, at the present time, nor the whole United Kingdom consume more than 3,000 barrels. Occasionally this year the market has been so crowded that sales at 5 shillings a barrel have been made, to avoid total loss. On the other hand, it is not always easy to obtain supplies in New York for the European trade, in midwinter, with necessary promptness, in which event those planters who are able to run into New York good stock realize large profits, and the agents in Europe make handsome returns to their principals. The winter of 187980 was so mild and “open” a one that this difficulty was not experienced, but previously it has been an important element in the trade. The prices received for American oysters sent abroad have been very various, ranging the past year from 5 to 40 shillings a barrel. Leaving out the various deductions necessary, it is considered fair to estimate $5 to be the average cash returned to this country for each barrel. At this rate the stated total of 63,300 barrels (about 175,000 bushels) would net the United States no less than $316,500 in gold, an amount which would by no other means be brought into our pockets, and which enriches the country by so much, since the value exchanged for it does not, in any degree, impoverish the country, but is a product of labor which would not otherwise be employed, and the disposal of a product not otherwise to be used. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 133 Comparing this with the exportations in previous years, it will be seen that there is no loss, but a rapid gain. A statement of the value of oysters exported from the United States from 1864 to 1879, inclusive, reads as follows: EH at Cece Oe Ce Senet ee CER. OSD) (ae) 6 SS ei ee eee $173, 711 GDS ee ee coh soe PE nn! acckadeces IPP MIGG AVE se ae see AO Oak ee 243, 723 TP Bs as, 6 eon Ro COs E eee Ee Oe aE EEE Ae Ee SLIDE AOR || eae meee emcee teensy Ml astern ey S82 rly Aire 2 223, 733 107 Tee ee fs See eek Pak te PstI ib|b TYE, acseet baace ie ace oe ee ee 170, 277 [RRS ee eee Leen ae ae LOI AGH et 7 Oe meee eee Meee, 35250 2S, 5 Sess 214, 196 TD weete cick eee Se ieee ie ee UI ON fe a eli oP P= ee 431, 230 yee ah ee gt ee ee 1SANGOUL ET Green eanene a eek SONNE Be AN 888 S522 393, 061 fevdeeee see. ae eee ae eee ee sos esa aye eS Rael Be ee eee 453, 306 The different customs-districts from which these exportations were, are as follows: IN ESSE on SO RCC aS toe CEE eRe oe eee Pie NG we OVO ANS een sem ee teeeian tetanic race alee ele 7 $103 TERT TREY 6 — oS bono 50 Bao NSO NEC e aU CoO ASO BER SnS 44,871 | New York........ Geena) scenes cieictlesils ta sincte *302, 732 Town, WG) se soca oSenecen cose ss conssensosess SHIBOS WES ALCHTOS ON. ING aint lal onan! aeletnlelelaln nla steal 12, 278 MostaH See re ae cee eee an aoa gesaessocces = ZroTee Rasa GOlON OLbG, Lex seme mlel om neice =seelaciselrioeaatml= 9 Brazos de|Santiago! <2---. --- =~ <8. 2 260) | Pe asseMAquod diy. Meera: -<--ccorlcsaseceac mente 712 Buitalo.N. Yo s-s----- =-= Saat aastsajcori taeetnas et AICOROS eb niladelphigten sass esses aaa ee eee en 9, 468 CapenvinconteNe\sceseccsacce sce on~ eaeecasam 4,210 | Portland and Falmouth, Me...-....-.........- 5, 224 CP SITIO WUD a sccseadcse cao Setecen eer oososece Ge Purest Sound Wash) ceee cots cicne lence ec cece 1, 673 eben p Laine Ne eee eee ee een eae reac LL OOO ni SMUN 2 LOS ncnlencamslc~cnaswaueas wmacicccuisece 26 (Clonee IN so pace cosaeddade anon cece conesoresS 24) | SansPranciseo; Cal <2 ao- ~ eee cs wsce cesses PACED CCCI OH ACAC Ee 4Ge||sVermont)=s. << oscce zee ses BOD SOCIO OACO wseae 4,556 ler phe ents otter ae seisteeas com Shs ocinee mes 62 —--—- Cleeses,, Sh WS oso ceo Soceeccoceresc oreo esccece 573 453, 097 WIN HERG alee me steno ealisecele seein eye eelee eae 5, 065 Of these almost exactly one-quarter were sent to Canada, leaving about $360,000 worth to be sent to Europe, and, in trifling quantity, to Mexico and the East Indies. Dismissing these latter, it is interesting to inquire somewhat into the statistics of our exportations to Great Britain and the Continent. The number of shipments in 1879, between November 1 and May 1, were: Ne Leiner eo eisoe cascotoonccdoceaereeng Soeses eae) ANGE Para oor aarigpsocne hase sconces eiaI05 noses odeess ‘L) Sti) ELSTON a aac oa cecncose aeicnonoceso sates - 18 | To Glasgow...-.. QSOOSe LOSS SO SoSH enen sotpce osHese 4) {RE ReRE 6 So son seocoseccbsorpolcesenose Saeseucsce Zo || AN Io 6 So odisoed poodessecssscadosessags e505 5 IND LOM 535 poe cop ooorecnsoeteasnens cosose cootse 1 Ro Cand tiie sapere eee ae eee at ane a ean 1 This gives an average shipment to Great Britain of 2,161.5 barrels; to Germany and France of 86 barrels. The date of the largest shipment was December 6, 3,558 barrels. The amount shipped from New York was 59,565 barrels, and the value returned by the New York custom-house, $515,933, which gives an average valuation per barrel of $5.30. These shipments were distributed, in consigning, as follows: Barrels. Bushels. TO) UI No ee eae aes Cee Ce OC RS SEICOO SES COCs SOS ae 28 IO ar ESDP eens COD SOE SPOrEeaccD 59,777 X 3=179, 331 To Hamburg... --- .--- ---- ---- 02-230 oon nw enn w ene nnn = one nnn ono enn nnn on ene nnn wa en anne 2,321 X3= 6,963 WR BER oS Boo asenee Sac Nese eo BSCE DSSCO) CiCGS Se SES RSE OS CED E DO SSSR ESSE mond SRL SB 993 Rar DG (5 Ses SS SG Sar etH Se 3 CREED BEERS GL OED BOER OES COBDS RSE E SiO SOD oe Ae SSeS 328 X $= 984 Th [PAWS ea teehee RHE Ode CAP eee pe seco cactc bos Sed DOSS SIC SECS EOCCOS CEErECSeeteee z 268 3 — 804 To Glasgow .----- ------ won cne woo ne cen e coe nws mons we coe ween nn case one ne cnn nee cnnne 5 200X 3= 600 Rog brisholee see aap eck cn = as de ou wie wcieiaee slocinins sieaes Gintic -SO CECE CECE CO EE CHE Ge ue Gens xo — 210 (Ro) @arditfs 22> Pll, GOO 140 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. These oysters were sent by from 100 to 120 shippers, which represent the number of planters. There are from 50 to 75 men in addition, who are hired, and so getting a living out of the oyster-interests here. The narrow-gauge railway company proposes to run a line, which may be finished by the time this report is published, down the bay shore to Somer’s Point, Beesley’s Point, and Ocean City. This will furnish so many additional facilities for shipping, doing away with the present necessity of hauling the oysters by team from one to seven miles to the station, that a large increase of oyster-production is anticipated. Many new men are engaging in planting, and the expectation seems well founded. Although I have reckoned all the shipments in the table printed above in barrels, yet in fact the use of sacks of gunny-cloth iscommon here. The sacks, I was told, cost from 8 to 9 cents, and will last for ten or fifteen trips, if they can be got back from the consignee in Philadelphia. Barrels are cheaper, since they can be bought at 10 cents apiece, in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, where the summer hotels consume enormous quantities of imported flour, and they will generally be returned for several trips. Twosacks are counted to the barrel, or 250 oysters to the sack. The prices received for Lake’s bay oysters last season averaged 40 cents, at which rate the total value of the crop, which may be very closely estimated at 130,000 bushels, would come to $52,000. Divided among 100 planters this would give an average income of about $520. OYSTER-FLEET OF SOMER’S POINT DISTRIOT.—I counted at Smith’s Landing about 33 pretty good sail-boats and about 50 garvies, ete. I judge from inquiries, that this was one-third of all owned between the railway and Somer’s Point, and that $200 apiece would be a large average estimate for the value of the sail-boats. Many of them devote much of their time, in summer, to raking clams from the extensive grounds at the lower end of the bay. In the custom-house of this district, situated at Somer’s Point, I find reported as registered on July 1, 1880, 59 vessels engaged in oystering and clamming, as follows: Name. Tons. Name. Tons. Name. Tons. AC RO DINSOD eee ee = nein alee e sae 30.87 Mary Ella...... efentoceeeeccs em=s 238502) LC aWiallacesecteso eee seee = 16. 61 Alfred\@ >) Harmer. --oo- csccce sane 22520 UR. BWecds 2 o-4-soseremeesesees 34.79 Lela...-- Seep taciie cee ceeacecmae : Bir, IW ei ns0Sas cubase pobooo basasboste 20n24 TS usaOMeacheeer asso essere enters 22.00 Linnie Norcross..... Soakaosncsaon 8.50 CMP Hotmantessessseseste see 41475) AEwolSistersa-2 -oesec ese ee ee eee QG4A8) Mhittle salle 222" seece setae ee 13.90 Charles Lawrence ...--..-..------ 21.50 Wallace M. French --......-.--.- QBa1O) WMI Zzie ee aa one teen eee areata 7.28 Cordelia R. Price -.---.---.-----. A230 igaelent aes a eee eeaeeeteeers : 7.46 Maggie Sutphen ......-...---.--- By pelos) IDRCEINGR Sosc=dasas onses pasenses 22.64 Andrew Luffbarry ..--..----..... 9.67 Major Anderson.--... ...-...---_. 17.51 LOGIN oo sanscoscsoscoesoiecos 2et6 A025 SeiBellej-eagasmcstessseesoceteoe anes P93" Malcom) ssscsc see noaces ae sees aD 5. 63 George 8S. Courtney .--... .-..---- Lolo, ChanlestHaightlessmcetaeceteseene 14 70F Ss MarpareteAnmnteresusisss sam emt 8.51 Tab JU Sree oeoe ogog0n Sodscos5 3123'* (Dan S00ys -2-j-ccess seeesle- eels = 15.49 Manetta Sheldon...........-..-.. 9.35 TEEN Morass Sacsiae aoseca noSs 5 SON03) Willa) Muse 22). cs cseasssear se ateses 1549 ONeill neha cess osisien a= eae 10. 95 Henny7 May iacesoe saa a nee 25.42) Hmily Smith) soo. se meme se o= 131095 \Ocean'Star ees sec. ee =e een 12. 69 As ds hime te hinessetescesceccec GIN25 5 Express =o- nen pace eee aes Woe IBLE naceeepsocosanesho ascse5 * 18.05 dis Cly CHAIR SS ss5 SS SopseeEsbess A3oee (GOldenwiiphtenccesaseatee soso sas 16.00 8S. M. Daugherty.......--........ 10. 99 miect Oo Mennt he seeraaeiseereriemae Bosses MELON en aeice tema ecne-eeeteces WOOD is SHAG i onae peecos canosdogecco 8. 47 James W. Lee ..----- -----.<----> 20588" Wdelwaldessecseace-rliesooncie ones ORS UNClesO an eeeamsieeseniaseaiee = ene 11. 49 JONDVATU A. — ela cays oececieee aoe ae PR We los USN 6 oa eon anoseo cee nce 16504 Viol anti eee ee eee tee eann 7.44 Josephiess te SA os tess ceses ea SLI70) AMoetta) -—2-\ coc e leo esse oe 12.60 William Albert ..............-... 6. 22 Margaret A. Amelia.-.-..--..--.. 23./80), i ONNEWiCS Gye = acon sio5 tamales WEG W@W Se 6s ssa nccscba cass es cece 7,49 Mary Disston .----...--.. Saas SS Pilshi* sawilbinyis IMGl pasa ageSscs Sesaees 3 11. 41 Tata Se Oe ae eee ik 165.60 The collector of the district, Mr. Thomas HE. Morris, adds: ‘In addition to the above there are some hundreds of small boats, under five tons, engaged in catching clams and oysters in this district, of which I can give no account.” I should say that about $75,000 would represent the total value of all the floating property, large and small, devoted to the shellfisheries in this neighborhood, which includes the coast of Burlington and Atlantic counties, but is practically restricted to Lake’s bay and Great Egg Harbor. GREAT EaG HABOR AND DENNIS.—Having crossed the Great Egg Harbor river, you find yourself in Cape May county, and still among oystermen. The Great Egg Harbor river and bay, with its tributary, the Tuckahoe river, contain large and ancient seed-beds, which supply a large part of this coast with all the seed transplanted. These beds have been greatly extended in area since they began to be tonged, and do not seem greatly to suffer in consequence of the yearly raids made upon them. In the Great Egg Harbor river several men have, within a few years, undertaken to raise young oysters by planting cultch (shells) and catching spawn. They do not use this themselves, but when it is a year old sell it to planters, who paid this year about 40 cents a bushel. There is no difficulty in securing such a supply of spawn every season. The abundance of seed-oysters in this bay formerly is proverbial. I was assured by more than one person, that years go it was the custom, at the beginning of the season, to anchor a scow upon the ground and not move all day. Continuous tonging in one spot, from sunrise to sunset, would not exhaust the bottom. The seed lay several inches deep, apparently, and from 100 to 200 bushels could be caught by one man in a single day. Now the seed is far thinner, but the beds are spread over a largely increased area, due to incessant tonging. Adjoining Great Egg Harbor and the neighboring coast is Upper township. South of it lies Dennis, which atretches across to the Delaware bay, and is bounded southerly by Townsend’s inlet. My information in respect to both is chiefly from Mr. Peter Watkins, a shipper, and one of the largest planters in the district. I ‘ TINGUSaT! j (MOALV'T (NV GSDOY-DNIddIHG AVG S,aNW] VW “AUSUAL MAN ‘AVG SMW] ‘ONTONV'T S,HLING ‘SUALSAQ DNINAHSAUAT YOM ,, MUOALWT 5, I f AIL r Ch oA ¢ =: 2 ', +2 yi eh y ka ar OH pag bs a —< Z 4a! “5 | min e " \ \ . : 218d A MISAANI-YALISA O—Ydvegouopy AITXXX THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 141 Dennis township contains Dennis ereek and West creek on its Delaware side, both of which abound in a natural growth of oysters every year, and in neither of which, consequently, is there any planting, more than perhaps a little desultory “laying out” in tributary creeks for private use. The laws of 1857 forbade dredging for oysters in Dennis ereek, and forbade any taking of oysters from natural beds there “to be sold outside of Cape May county”, with an especial injunction against non-residents. The natural oysters caught there grow in the mud, in a crowded condition, and hence are long, slender, and strap-shaped. They get the name “Stuckups” in consequence. Their shells are weak and thin, because of an absence of carbonate of lime in the soil of the surrounding region. The water here is very fresh; but the best of the full-grown oysters are annually peddled about the neighborhood, and regarded as of superior quality as a fresh oyster. The business, then, of this district, comprised in these two townships, lies in the sounds and thoroughfares on the eastern shore, between the mainland and the outer (Peck’s and Ludlam’s) beaches. The bottoms of these sounds are muddy—some tough, some soft—except upon the bars, which are hard sand. The ordinary depth at low water is less than two feet, while the bars go dry every tide. Oysters are planted in both places, but chiefly on the mud. The seed used all the way from Townsend’s inlet to Great Egg Harbor, is for the most part gathered in that harbor and its rivers. The price varies greatly. Planters used to give 45 cents a bushel, and got a heaping half-barrel for measure. In 1879 they paid 37 cents, measured in a scant basket, and this year the price has been 40 cents on the grounds, with 5 to 7 cents freight to be added. This is the year-old and larger clean seed, known locally as “plants”; the small “blisters” being little used here, since they never do well, nine-tenths of them failing to survive the winter, Nearly every man who lives along the shore is more or less concerned in the oyster-planting, yet as a regular business it is hardly more than ten years old. My informant counted 30 planters along the eastern water-front of the two townships, but not all of them depend upon oystering for even a majority of the support of their families. There are none, indeed, but who also conduct a farm; many are concerned in the fisheries, others employed half the year at the life-saving stations, and another portion spend the summer-leisure in raking clams. < = 2. 2-2. oo coe -. Mattie soy 2s oa. cia ee ean SLOOPS AND SCHOONERS UNDER TWENTY TONS. Tons. 15. 95 15. 29 Name. Tons Melvinaiec sasscase0 o- ce soe ene oeeeee 11. 49 MOrris RaGe seas se aa ae at eee 6.33 Nellie’... 222522. Sos Se ee INipiCatiaen=-sesecencos ste seele sae nee 7.53 Northern Light -..-.....-..--.------ 18. 69 Only Son ONG OT < soe seeacoseedooocsosese sa5- BASS Dp OLteeee =e = a= sfence eee eee Pathway Polk apeseeeiesae eee nae ater IBDOt eceatee mscteme sro tenie ial ene ee kh. D. Mitchell THER shawn oGoontAaaea sane Sato Seac6 Rattlesnake Rebecca Ge--2 eee oe oe eee eee Rebeces! <222.-.ecee bee eee Richard Silsbee Ringgold Rollin St-cesece=- = o5--seea cee se eeee Sarah: Cox oace aceeee oe ce soos eee 11. 43 Sarah Jane) 25+ 222 - aeese seen 9. 82 Sarah) Jane\-cs-.c-.-,---5-- esse emeee 9, 52 Sarah Sullivan -.- 2.2.22 o-2-eeeee 16. 22 Sarahidcibonnahes -seceee oe Seen 18. 24 Soa hlower-coses- coos. + aoe 8.98 Samuel Hanners).--- -csee-e- cose ee e= 10, 45 Shanp Shoonenseaoswes a= aoe saa 6.11 Speveen Clee see eaece see = ee 8.47 Staniof theswWesty--- ---.2----)---—===5 18. 94 Star Light---..--- Aicseaseecbsbaasss2 5. 24 SUM eerie s cette cs coe ee esae eames 16.19 Siete sees Pee ee 9. 62 MTACCR sooo sass sets Sod. os He ee 12.56 MTAdOiWANG. =~ sen- soeinoee na ese eee 6. 32 Winbrn e S6qeicee amid nose cee re eee 7.63 (homage. (SOLLy) eects eet eee 9. 98 Two Priends:: 22-2 tesscssoeeee eee 9. 92 (inyphoniae-.sesse esses sea eee 16. 99 (mion = 262.2 oe eee United States Wandalia,. 222222 co enceee on eeoe oe ee ee Wivelancerssaecsssc-seleee see = ae 5.76 Nalin pease eeseascceosed caeeeese Ssa2 10. 69 War Baple see seasons sen nn nie ena ete William AU Brooks eee) eee een 13.61 Willis iS -sROSbeba. ces sneeeeea =e 9. 56 THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 143 Many of these vessels are old and of less value than they once were. They are all of remarkably pretty model, however, and completeness of equipment. Experts assured me, that for those over ten tons (of which there are 81) an average value of $600 would bea fair estimate. This would yield $48,600. Probably the sum of $30,000 would cover the remainder. The discrepancy of 38 between this list and that of the oyster-association in the Delaware, described on a subsequent page, is due to the fact that many of the association vessels are registered elsewhere. Of boats less than five tons, and unregistered, there are probably 100 used in the district for oystering and clamming, and their value would add perhaps $20,000 to the figures above, making a total of nearly $100,000 invested in floating property by the Cape May and Delaware oystermen. MIDDLE AND VicrINITY.—Next below the district represented by Mr. Watkins’ statements, foregoing, comes the township named “ Middle”, where I happily supplemented my own observations by the intelligent statistics of Mr. Edward Hand. This district includes a great extent of sounds and thoroughfares upon its seaward shore, and there are also opportunities for oyster-growing along the western coast. The general characteristics of ground and methods of planting do not differ from those above. In this district there are enumerated about 83 planters, three- fourths of whom may be said to support their families in this way. This is more completely true than in Dennis township, because the business here is more extensive, takes more time, and yields larger results. The Bay shore is occupied by 14 planters, all of whom use exclusively southern oysters. They are brought as “ seed” (small) almost entirely from Hog island, and (of somewhat better quality) from Chincoteague. These men own ten sloops, ef from 30 to 60 tons burden each, which are used wholly in bringing oysters by the outside passage from the South, not only for their own use, but also to supply the men on the eastern shore and below them, and also to carry to Cape May or Philadelphia their own harvest, since the ocean-side men ship their crop by rail. On the sea-shore nine-tenths of all the oysters raised are of small southern seed, the rest being plants secured in the marshes about home (only about 4,000 bushels of this will be saved a year all the way from Townsend’s inlet to Cape May) and in Great Egg Harbor. It will be seen by this, that the planters of this district have a different idea of the profits in southern stock from those of Dennis. This arises from the fact, that they find their chief market in supplying the summer hotels and population of Cape May, and can sell an oyster of inferior quality to those raised in Dennis, all of which go to Philadelphia for “prime” trade. The argument of the “Middle” men is this: Last year (1879) we could buy Chesapeake seed at 18 cents, which became fit for market in two years. For northern seed, at the same time, we had to pay 42 cents first cost and freight, and had to wait three years for it to grow, all the time at the risk of destruction by ice. The selling-price of the two will not differ at the end in favor of the northern stock more than $1 25 a barrel. A glance shows how much more profit lies in the southern stock. One planter, a year ago, bought tolerably large southern seed at 38 cents a bushel. They are doing well, and he expects that eighteen months after putting them down he will sell them for $4 50 per barrel. Granting that he takes up as many bushels as he put down (highly probable), he will make $1 42 per bushel profit. Of the planters in this township— 26 sell a present average of 1,000 bushels a year -... ~~ 2 on ns nnn wns ce we nnn on ene wenn 26, 000 G7esellta present average) of 20 DUShelS) ap VCaliee ane m ancien m= oo cme eeeleenielnwwmimewaleee mas cmnainn non sicossiencens 16, 750 ihn! sybaeall Oyo as go scce Soe Ces e Sho ce des Soe Se SEES OS SES SEER SSeS S Soe oc Bees coe EO REe Sere 42,750 The planters get $1 per bushel at the shore for their oysters this season, many selling on contracts previously made with shippers to take their whole crop. A few send to market themselves. About one-fourth or one-third of this crop goes to Cape May; the rest (chiefly from Delaware shore) is sent to Philadelphia. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR NEW JERSEY (OCEAN SHORE): Nimberaheplantens: and) SHIP POLS .— toon cleceiesala DUsHelaE§ 5 2; 4005000 PATTON iO fe CKO DET TREU Pee eee tae 22 ao oc Sea Nee nel are errs clec iS a.cniaciniele aieis/-aj=siacns DUSNElA ass gt 15;600;000 B63 AC Gt eT rN a Si cn ee a cg reine Senin ant Santee a cot deeds ems gl 600)/000 AITO mI One MONCMeCOSRRI VGN cee esas con saacce see sep ean cess occ cnnc ce coe al nanleme:c cenit =n acres... 6, 000 IErabableracuutlac acme eee ta ke en See MS! jt zion t Sesajs eae eswcees cosecsie eee $50, 000 WESTERN SHORE OF DELAWARE BAY.—Let us now cross over to the western shore of Delaware bay, which is equally suitable with the eastern, and has long been employed in planting oysters. The business now is on the increase, but it is chiefly in the hands of Philadelphia firms. 148 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. The natural beds of oysters—“rock-oysters” is the local term—are confined practically to the shore between the mouth of Mahon river and Bombay hook. Though formerly far more productive, probably, than now, itis from an area of little, if any, greater width that Philadelphia, and the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware generally, have always obtained their oysters. Not forgetting this great food-resource, in advertising the advantages of his colony, the astute William Penn wrote, in 1683: Of fhelL-fifh, we have oyfters, crabs, coccles, conchs, and mufcles; fome oyfters fix inches long, and one fort of coccles as big as the ftewing oyfters. They make a rich broth. In Smith’s History of New Jersey is quoted a manuscript from the British Museum, and written in 1669, which notes: Two leagues from Cape Cornelius, on the west side of the river [the Delaware], near its mouth, there is a certain creek called the Heren Kill, * * * There are two small islands in it, the first very small, the last about half a league in circumference. * * * The two islands are surrounded with a muddy ground, in which there grows the best sort of oysters, which said ground begins near the first island, for the mouth of the channel has a sandy bottom, being also very deep, and therefore there are no oysters there. The locality of this is evidently Lewes-Town, at the mouth of the bay. Somewhat later, under date of October 8, 1745, Kalm records that “ the shore of Pennsylvania has a great quantity of the finest oysters. * * * They come from that part of the shore which is near the mouth of the river Delaware”. Three years later Kalm writes : * * Aged people * complained here [Philadelphia] and everywhere of the decreafe of fifh. Old people afferted the fame in regard to oyfters at New York ; for though they are ftill taken in confiderable quantity, and are as big and as delicious as can be wifhed, yet all the oyfter-catchers own that the number diminifhes greatly every year; the moft natural caufe of it is probably the inert catching of them at all times of the year. Only portions of this bottom, which extend over about 16 miles, are now productive when dredged, however, and Capt. D. C. Montgomery, whose experience is very large, considers that 500 acres would probably cover the total area of “oyster-rock ” in the whole distance. These beds are not now as productive as formerly, and are not spreading to any extent. This is considered due to the excessive working of them in both spring and fall, combined with absence of any dredging in early summer. They are thus allowed to become covered with drifted matter, and coated with slime for several weeks prior to the spawning season (July), and are thus in no condition to catch and save the floating young. As a consequence the greater part of the northern-born seed used is imported from outside waters. South ofa line drawn eastward from Mahon river the law (of 1871) recognizes no natural beds, “except such as may not be more than three feet below the surface at an ordinary low water”. DELAWARE OYSTER-LAWS.—The laws regulating oyster and clam catching and cultivation on this Delaware shore are voluminous, and I quote them with particular care, as annexed : STATE OF DELAWARE—DIGEST OF 1873—CHAP. 55. SrcTION 1. Forbids any person not a citizen of the state to take oysters or clams or terrapins in the waters of the bay without having a license, which license shall be granted at a cost of $50 by a county clerk of the peace, and shall be good for one year for the boat named. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor, fined $50, and the boat and tackle shall be detained for trial before any justice of the peace. Powers are given to sherifis to seize, and penalties for resistance of process are decreed at length. Src. 2. Makes it unlawful for any person not a citizen of the state to take oysters, clams, or terrapins from any “river, creek, or pond within this state, and put them on board of any boat cr vessel not wholly belonging to and owned by citizens of this state”. Penalties for violation as in section 1. Src. 3. All oysters caught in any such river, creek, or pond (except Misspillion or Murderkill creeks), shall be culled at the place where they are caught; and the young and refuse oysters there deposited. Sec. 4. Forbids taking away from any river, creck, or pond (except Delaware and Indian river), more than 20 bushels of oysters or clams at one time; and no vessel in any waters of this state shall be loaded from any vessels authorized by this section to carry 20 bushels or less. Src. 5. It shall be unlawful for any person to take oysters from any river, creek, or pond in this state, between April 30 and September 1, or at any time to be planted anywhere else in or out of the state, or to use a dredge there. Violation incurs fines and confiscation of vehicle and oysters obtained. Sec. 6. Prohibits selling more than five bushels of oysters from Misspillion creek to -be taken out of the state. Src. 7. Any citizen of the state may appropriate to his own use not exceeding an acre of bottom for planting oysters, and, having marked the same by stakes or other visible boundaries, and planted oysters therein, it shall be unlawful for any other person to take oysters therein growing, under penalty of forfeiting $50 to the owner of such plantation. But no place shall be so appropriated where oysters are growing, or so as to impede navigation ; nor shall more than 40 feet square of Lewes creek be appropriated by any person. Src. 8. Forbids laying out or bedding oysters on the flats, shore, or bank of any stream. Sec. 9, Protects terrapin eggs. Cuap, 551. SrctTron 1. Every person or company engaged in the business of opening oysters in this state for exportation, amounting to more than $500, shall take out a license. Src. 2. This license shall be granted by a clerk of the peace for $30, good for one year. Secs. 3 to 7, Instructions to officers, ete. Laws or 1871—Cuap. 9. SECTION 1. All oyster-plantations, not exceeding 15 acres, heretofore made in Delaware bay, shall be deemed the possession of the respective planters of them, and the oysters thereon shall be their private property, on condition that rent shall be paid as hereinafter provided, beginning May 1, 1871. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 149 Src. 2. Any person may appropriate not exceeding 15 acres of the free bottom of Delaware bay, south of Reedy island and west of Blake’s channel, for planting oysters, which shall be properly designated by stakes. This ground, and the oysters planted thereon, shall be private property. ‘“ But before any one shall avail himself of this privilege he shall apply, in writing, to the said collector for a license for that purpose, and pay to said collector the sum of $25 as the fee and price therefor, and also the sum of $3 per ton (custom-house measurement) for the vessel to be employed in the business of planting. The said license shall last only forone year. * * * The privilege granted by this, and the first section, shall not embrace any portion of the bottom which is a natural oyster-bed, and has been hitherto used and worked as such, nor shall it be extended beyond the mere right to plant oysters and hold them as property.” Src. 3. No person not a resident of the state, or a regularly licensed planter, shall dredge or otherwise take oysters from any public oyster- bed of this state; penalty, $100 for each day’s offense and forfeiture of all boats and tackle. ‘‘ The fee for license to dredge the public beds shall be $3 per ton (custom-house measurement), * * * but such license shall not be taken to anthorize the planting of oysters.” Src. 4. “ The different plantations shall be treated as numbered in the order in which the licenses to plant are issued under this act, and the boat or vessel used * * * shall wear that number painted in black, at least 18 inches long, in the middle of her mainsail.” And also ‘shall wear, in the middle of her mainsail, a Roman letter painted in black, 18 inches Jong, to be designated in the license”. Src. 5. For the purpose of protecting the oyster-beds in the bay, and those who plant oysters under this act, the collector of license-fees is instructed to purchase or hire out of the money collected a suitable ‘‘ watch-boat”, manned by a captain and two men. She shall be employed night and day from March 1 to September 1, or longer, and may call upon any other boat’s crew to help her as a posse comitatus, in the enforcement of this act against trespassers. The proceedings to be taken subsequent to arrest and upon conviction, with disposal of fines, are fully stated. Sxcs. 6, 7, 8. Instructions to captain of watch-boat as to powers and duties, and statement of form of proceedings against offenders, and penalties for those who resist the police. Sec. 9. Forbids any one dredging in July or August, or on Sunday, or between sunset and sunrise. Sec. 10. Taking of oysters from another’s plantations is designated to be larceny, and punished accordingly. Src. 11. Forbids depositing oysters in any streams in this state and taking them up in July or August, except with tongs. _ Src. 12. An oath is required of every person taking out a license, that he will not violate or allow his vessel to be used in violation of this act. Src. 13. A license applies to only one vessel, whose name must be stated therein. Sec. 14. The governor shall furnish suitable licenses in blank to the collector. Src. 15. The collector shall be appointed by thé governor of the state; he shall take oath of office and give penal surety. Src. 16. The duty of the collector shall be to enforce this act ; when so engaged the watch-boat shall be under his orders, and he is clothed with all needful powers. Src. 17. Creates a new justice of the peace at Little Creek Landing, Kent county, specially to administer this law. Src. 18. Compensation of collector fixed at 5 per cent. of moneys collected, not to exceed $1,000; of captain of watch-boat, $80 per month; and of crew, $40 per month each, they finding their own board, to be paid out of funds collected. Src. 19. Moneys collected to be for the use of the state, except what is needed for expenses under the act, Src. 20. Publication of the act. Src. 21. In case of the use of a boat of only two tons burden, the license shall cost only $25. Laws oF 1875. Srctron 1. Instructs all oyster-boats acting under Delaware laws not only to cease their occupation, but to be taken “‘ within the land” at or before sunset, and the captain of the watch-boat must enforce this. A signal for retiring shall be given from the watch-boat; and when that is shown there shall be an end, until sunrise next day (not Sunday), of all work upon the oyster-plantations or upon the public beds. Such signal shall be the lowering of the watch-boat’s flag. This flag shall be of navy-blue bunting, six feet by four in length, with a diamond of white in the center, haying a diameter of two feet between the points farthest apart. She shall always wear it at her maintopmast head during the working hours, and she shall never leave the planting-grounds, but shall cruise up and down the same, if the wind will allow, except when she is compelled, by floating ice, severe stress of weather, accident, or want of repairs or supplies, from remaining in the bay, it being the design of passing this act, as it was of passing prior acts, that honest parties who plant oysters under the shield of the state authority, shall be protected in the rights which were intended or are hereby meant to be secured to them; and that offenders against such authority shall be brought to condign punishment. Sxcs. 2, 3. Preseribes as penalties for violation of section 1, annulment of license, forfeiture of boat and equipment, and refusal of license for two years succeeding the offense. The exact method of procedure before the court, in executing trial and penalties, is set forth at length. Src. 4. Where a plantation license has been issued and a plantation appropriated, and the fee for any year is in arrear, no right to dredge or dispose of said plantation shall exist until all the back fees are paid up, and no sale or disposal of an oyster-plantation, or right to dredge it, or plant upon it, shall be valid until first approved by the collector, who shall not give his approval if, in his judgment, it will be prejudicial to the interests of the state, or of planters whose plantations lie in the neighborhood. Src. 5. No boat whatever shall be allowed to work, until her owner has complied with the law in regard to wearing her number, of legal dimensions, upon her mainsail; and if she attempt to do so she shall be seized by the collector or captain of the watch-boat, and held until her number is painted upon her sail. Src. 6. It shall be the duty of the person for the time being in charge of the watch-boat, to report at once to the collector all violations * * * , anda failure to do so shall be a forfeiture of any wages that may be dye him; and further, he shall not be allowed any longer to have charge of the watch-boat, and his place therein shall be vacant * * * . The possession or having the care and management of any oyster-hoat shall, for the purposes of this act, be deemed and taken to be conclusive proof of ownership * * * , and all persons on board of her at the time of such violation, shall be deemed and taken to be principal offenders, and be dealt with accordingly. Src. 7. It shall be the duty of the collector and the captain of the watch-boat to see that the name of any boat employed in planting or dredging for oysters, is plainly painted on her stern, and failure to do this, ora concealment of the name, shall be punished by annulment of license and a refusal of license ever after. Src. 8. It shall be the further duty of the collector and captain to ascertain, at least once every month, and keep a record thereof, the name of the owner of every boat employed in the oyster-business, and those on board of her shall give it to him, and the name given shall be taken to be the true namé of such owner, who shall be held * * * an accessory before the fact to any violation * * * of this or the aforesaid acts, and liable accordingly. In case refusal be made to furnish the name of the owner, or there should be reason to believe that the true name is not given, it shall be the duty of those officers, respectively, to immediately take the boat itself into his 150 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. custody, and detain her until the proper and right name be furnished ; and to that end he shall have power to call upon and require, as he may in every other case of necessity, the sheriff of the county to aid him, which sheriff may employ any force or means whatever for that purpose. Secs. 9 and 10. No license to plant oysters shall be granted, until the applicant shall furnish the collector with a statement of the boat or boats to be employed by him in the business, giving separate name and tonnage, and the name of the owner and the persons who are to work her. Sxc. 11. The state treasurer shall require from the collector * * * information, on the first day of June and September, of each year, of the names and residences of all persons having license to plant oysters or dredge for them, and the names of the boats used in the business. Sec. 12. When the captain of the watch-boat has knowledge of a violation of any of the provisions of this, or the other acts with which this is connected, he shall proceed immediately to seize the boat or boats employed in such violation, and bold her or them in his custody, until the collector has proceeded to enforce the provisions of this and the other of said acts. Src. 13. Neither the captain of the watch-boat, nor any of her crew, shall receive any pay for time not actually and actively spent in the discharge of the duties required by this act, and the act to which this is a supplement, but such time shall be deducted in the computation of their wages. Sec. 14. The captain and crew of the watch-boat shall be practical seamen, and part of their duty shall be to keep the boat, her apparel, tackle, and furniture, in good repair and condition, and this without extra charge; and no repairs involving extra expense, shall be made without the concurrence of both the collector and captain, and then only such as are authorized by law. Sec. 15. The collector shall issue no license, nor permit any boat to dredge, until the price or fee for said license has been actually paid, and the collector violating this provision shall not only be responsible for said license fee, but shall, in addition thereto, forfeit a like sum to the state. Src. 16. The collector shall keep a true, accurate list of all licenses issued by him, giving the name of every boat and captain thereof, respectively, with the amount paid for each license, which list he shall publish in at least one newspaper in Dover, the first week in April and October each year. Src. 17. The collector shall keep a separate account, in the Farmers’ bank at Dover, of all moneys received by him for license issued, and shall deposit weekly all moneys received by him therefor; and all disbursements which he is, or may be, authorized by law to make, shall be by checks drawn on said fund in his official capacity. Src. 18. When the boundary stakes required by the act to which this is a supplement, have once been set, it shall be neither a defense nor excuse for any person prosecuted for a violation of any of the provisions of this act, or the act to which this is a supplement, that they were not standing or visible at the time the alleged offense was committed; but if the person accused be proved to have taken oysters anywhere but on his own ground, he may be properly convicted. Src. 19. Repeals section 6 of chapter 363, laws of 1873. Src. 20. The sum of $300 is to be set apart annually, from the oyster-fund of Kent county, to the improvement of certain roads along the shore. ‘‘And in order to facilitate such improvement, it shall be the duty of all oystermen to land and deposit their oyster-shells on shore, at some convenient place to said road, so that they may be used in said repairs, and it shall be unlawful to empty or throw such shells into the water, unless the distance from the place shall be so great as to make it unreasonable to land and deposit them as aforesaid, of which unreasonableness the collector and road-overseer shall coneurrently be the judges.” Sec. 21. The foregoing act to be printed and distributed to owners of boats. Under the operation of these laws there were registered, in 1879, 62 boats. The proceeds of their license-fees amounted to $5,324. The statistics for 1880 were not available in time for this writing, but will not greatly differ from those of the previous year. Many of the boats take out a dredging-license only, and do not pay the extra $25 which entitles them to plant. Out of the whole 62 boats, only six or eight belong at Little Creek Landing, the headquarters of the native oyster-business, and probably there are not more than a dozen sail-boats, employing 50 citizens, in all Delaware, owned and engaged in the shellfisheries, the remainder belonging at Philadelphia and elsewhere. To a great extent, therefore, this trade is operated out of the same capital, by the same men, and contributes to the same total means of support, as the West Jersey planting. OYSTER-PLANTING: WEST SHORE OF DELAWARE BAY.—The western shore of Delaware bay is the great - scene of planting the southern oysters, which are brought annually from the Chesapeake and intended for the Philadelphia market; but, for the present, I will pass by this, and confine myself to an account of the less important business of raising northern oysters from native seed. As no work is done during summer, the oysterman’s year of labor begins on the 1st of September. It is in the fall that he procures nearly all the native seed that he proposes to plant, and his time is very fully occupied at that season. Though continual dredging is pursued on the home-beds where natural oysters grow, by no means sufficient seed is gathered there to supply the demand along this shore. I was informed that the inshore creek beds along the coast of the state furnished last year about 40,000 bushels of seed, which would count 800 to the bushel. The off-shore beds, in the deeper waters of the bay, but within state limits, yielded about 170000. In addition to this, there were planted about 160,000 bushels of seed that grew on the New Jersey side of the bay, the procuring of which, and sale by the Jerseymen, was an evasion of the New Jersey law, and was managed in this way: The New Jersey law prohibits taking any seed from her beds to be planted outside of the state. The Jerseymen, therefore, get a cargo of small oysters or half-culled dredgings, and take it to the general market in Philadelphia. If a buyer takes their cargo at a satisfactory price, it is regarded as no part of their business to inquire what he proposes to do with it; nor can there be urged any valid technical objection to this proceeding, since the law does not define what kind or size or condition of oysters shall be sold; or that oysters sold in open market shall not be replanted by the buyer, if he chooses, outside the state. So long as he is not a resident of New Jersey, the law can of course exercise no control over his actions in such a matter. This evasion, and its method, are perfectly well understood by everybody concerned, and if there is a way to put a stop to it—the extreme desirability of which THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 151 does not appear—no one exerts himself to do so. Another method in vogue, is, for the regularly licensed boat and crew of some man, who wishes to plant on the Delaware shore, to run out with the day’s dredgings and, under cover of night, transfer the deck-load to some old schooner chartered in the Chesapeake or elsewhere out of this region, for the purpose. The ostensible purpose, if discovered, is merely the trade in these oysters, but really she runs across to the western shore, and has thrown over her load before daylight, and returns the next night for a second venture in blockade-running. The courts and the sentinels are very vigilant and strict, however, and every now and then some of the Philadelphia men or some of the Jerseymen themselves are arrested and fined. It is a widespread opinion, however, that some of the provisions of the New Jersey law are unconstitutional, being violations of inter-state comity, and an attempt at jurisdiction beyond the state’s limits of power. The plea in defense is, that when New Jersey entered the Union she relinquished none of the old colonial rights reserved to her under the king’s charter. It is not my intention to discuss this matter, which remains to be decided some day by the Supreme Court of the United States. The Delaware, or “western shore” planting-grounds, lie chiefly opposite the central part of the state, the villages of Little Creek Landing and Mahon’s Ditch, close to Dover, being the homes of most of the oystermen. There is some desultory catching in Indian river at the southern extremity of the state, but of little consequence. The beds are chiefly so near shore as to be in less than 10 feet depth of water, though some are as deep as 15 feet at low tide. Various sorts of bottom occur, but stiff mud is preferred. In the course of a dozen years’ planting on such a spot, the mud, by accumulation of shells and refuse, is converted into a solid surface. It thus is made suitable for the deposit of spawn and the growth of young oysters, which, proceeding continuously, replaces the formerly barren bottom with a genuine natural bed or ‘oyster-rock”. The title to the plot is not disputed, however, as it would be in some districts, because of this change, and the ground becomes extremely valuable, since it forms a natural nursery for the farm. It is the custom to allow all northern seed to lie over two winters before sending to market. There are occasional exceptions, but to dispose of a native bed at the end of a single year’s growth is generally condemned, and with wisdom. Under this arrangement, however, a large part of the plantation must lie idle every alternate year; and in view of this, many of the Delaware men complain that the limit of 15 acres, defined by the state-law as the size of a single farm, is too small. It may be, considering the fact that, as I was assured, all the farms are cultivated at present up to their full capacity. The growth of the business may now properly call for an enlargement of the privileged holdings. TAKING UP OYSPERS: SEASON AND METHODS.—The season for taking the crop opens in September, and produces from Delaware waters from five to ten thousand bushels annually of natural growth, large sized, marketable oysters, but these are not always kept separate in shipment from the planted stock. In taking up the planted beds of northern oysters, it is calculated that they shall yield, at the least, an equal measure to the amount of seed put down. By count, however, there will not be more than half as many, showing that 50 per cent. of the blisters perish. The profit, then, is almost wholly on the growth; but as, after from eighteen months to two years’ waiting, the stock which cost, put down, say 25 cents, sells, bushel for bushel, at from 75 cents to $1 25, the return is a very fair one. It is not always, however, that as much (by measure) comes up as goes down, and I have estimated my total accordingly, at a deduction. In the process of taking up a bed of oysters, here, each dredgeful is culled immediately on board, and all the “trash”, that is, undersized oysters, shells, and refuse is saved, and at the end of the dredging is taken to the ‘“‘idle- ground”, where a field of seed is growing, and emptied upon it. Much of this trash is alive and will mature. When, six months (or perhaps not until eighteen months) later, this idle-ground is overhauled and culled out for market, it will be found to have been considerably reinforced by the ‘‘ trash”. A second good effect of this system is, that it thoroughly scrapes clean the ground from which the season’s salable crop is gathered—an advantage not to be lightly estimated. The season ends about May 1, when the sloops cease taking any more cargoes to market, for lack of stock to carry. It is needless to say that nothing but occasional lots, by express, goes from this coast to Philadelphia by rail. In accordance with the law, a watch-boat, in the shape of a fast schooner, once a pleasure yacht, and hence comfortably fitted up, patrols the beds every day and at night, whenever any danger is expected, but ordinarily comes into dock at Mahon’s ditch each evening. A résumé of the facts given above, in regard to the planting of native oysters on the shores of the state of Delaware, is as follows : Location of beds off Little Creek landing. Source of seed, both shores of Delaware bay. Market, Philadelphia. Price, 80 cents to $1 50 per bushel. Number of vessels (partially) engaged, 65. Number of bushels “ natural growth” sold, 5,000. Number of bushels “ northern plants”, about 300,000. 152 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. ENEMIES AND DISASTERS.—The only enemy of consequence on these beds, seems to be the small boring-snails, chiefly Urosalpinx, to which I have already frequently referred. The overhauling of the whole farm once every two or three years ought to give ample opportunity to keep this pest well in check, if sufficient care is taken to pick out the borers of every kind and carry them ashore. Incessant attention to this, for a few years, by all the planters, would practically extirpate an enemy which is likely at any time to become extremely destructive. Starfishes are unknown here, and conchs not regarded as anything to be specially apprehended. There are several fishes, however, allied to the weakfish and the drumfish, which at intervals make a raid on the beds and do much havoe. Occasional gales from the southeast also drift the mud injuriously. A strange manifestation in September, on these beds, is the abundance of what is known to the fishermen as “‘ sea-grapes”, and which seems to be the clustered egg-cases of some one or more species of squid. Tor a few days, at the beginning of the season, these clusters of eggs so crain the dredges as to interfere with and delay the work. Moreover, a hard storm, or even the disturbance made by the movement of the dredge, causes them to rise to the surface, so buoyant are they, and to float away, carrying with them the oysters to which they.were attached. Considerable loss is thus occasioned at times. Otherwise they do no harm to the mollusks, so far as I know. This shore is exposed to a long sweep of the winds and is wholly unsheltered. Gales, formidable enough to stir up the deep water in which the oysters are laid, are therefore liable to work great mischief. This is most likely to occur in the autumn. For example, in the latter part of October, 1878, a great storm destroyed many thousands of bushels by drifting them off the beds, or burying them under a bank of sand or sheet of mud. So violent was this gale, that 27 oyster-vessels went ashore at Mahon’s ditch alone, and several of them were set high and dry upon the marshes. Most of these could be relaunched by making a canal from their involuntary dry-dock; but one or two never could be got back to the water without more expense than they were worth, and were therefore dismantled and left to decay. PLANTING SOUTHERN OYSTERS IN DELAWARE BAY.—There remains now to be considered the great business of transplanting and maturing southern oysters in the waters off this shore. Though this stock is chiefly owned in Philadelphia and operated by Pennsylvanians, yet its consideration belongs properly here, since the beds are wholly in Delaware’s waters. The statistics I give in respect to this, were furnished me chiefly by Mr. J. ©. Cleaver, collector of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company at Chesapeake City, Maryland, and refer to the last half of 1879 and the first months of 1850, completing an “ oyster-season”. All the southern oysters which are brought to Delaware bay or to Philadelphia, both for planting and for immediate consumption, come through this canal, which leads from the Chesapeake. There may possibly be half a dozen outside trips made (all from Chincoteague island), in the course of the year, but this is a small exception. The vessels, as a rule, engaged in this traffic are ‘‘ wood-droggers”, schooners of light draught, and able to carry from 500 to 1,500 bushels. During the planting season they will average about 1,300 bushels per load, but when running direct to market, in winter, carry only 900 bushels, the difference arising largely from an absence of any deck-load in the latter case. The number of schooners thus used varies from year to year; but the number of trips during the season reported upon by Mr. Cleaver, was 868. At $100 a trip, charter-pay, these schooners earned that year, therefore, $86,800. Sometimes an even $100 is given to make the trip, and sometimes a rate of about $10 a day is paid, but it amounts substantially to the same thing. In addition, the charterer pays the canal expenses, consisting of entrance-toll, towage, and dues of 85 cents a ton on cargo, amounting in all to about $50. The canal thus receives an annual revenue from this source of about $4,340. The schooners range in value from $1,000 to $6,000. The owners pay the captain of such a schooner, who must know all the little creeks and oyster-buying nooks along the whole Chesapeake coast, and be a capable man at a bargain for his employers, about $50 per month. The men in the crews get $25. The provisions supplied by the owners are said to be abundant and of good quality. Among this fleet are about twenty-five “role captains ”, who own their vessels entirely, hire their own crew, get cargoes from the south with their own money, and plant on beds claimed and prepared by themselves. Attending to their plantations personally, they bring their cargoes to the market in the fall in their own schooners or sloops, and leave them to be sold there on commission. They are thus both planters and carriers. During the fall and winter months most, if not all, of the vessels go directly to the Philadelphia market, and their cargoes enter into the immediate consumption of the city. Sales are made from the hull of the schooner, without unloading into a warehouse. The number of trips made for this direct market consumption, makes only about one-fourth of the total recorded as passing through the canal. Three-fourths of the oysters brought out of the Chesapeake are intended to be planted, and find their destination in the beds along the western shore of the bay. The large dimensions of these receipts appear in the succeeding table from the Canal Company’s books: THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. RECORD OF OYSTERS IN SHELL WHICH PASSED THROUGH THE CHESAPEAKE CANAL IN 1879-80. During months— Segara ie wateel |)” eaeal eet ee eee ee eee eee nee eee a aadee nan Wan ewece= =n e na =aeersacese-sasenessenn=ss~-—~ sams = sSee= 31, 680 126, 720 158, 400 176 7, 740 30, 960 38, 700 43 = None. August..-.----- None. September | 6 October-------- 18, 900 21 November 10, 260 41, 040 51, 300 | 57 December 10, 800 43, 200 54, 000 60 DANUATY - 2 - ooo a en eee wee wee ecw nw ewe manne cman nee wnc ccc ce cece sec cnessenenas cn esescennn= 8, 280 33, 120 41, 400 46 February 11, 340 45, 360 56, 700 63 March 36, 400 145, 600 182, 000 140 oA he aon caececeneeue. 166, 400 166, 400 332, 800 256 287, 760 651, 840 939, 600 868 For Philadelphia From— For planting. and other markets. Maryland waters 488, 880 162, 960 SVANP UG WALOIS = a moa on ace nn dene se enna a ecnameenduwesencecccereanccecsnansanbuaescuns=-scrnncrunessan--snemesconcncenaccass 215, 820 71, 940 The planting of this 700,000 and more bushels of Chesapeake seed, is not attended with any features greatly different from the same industry and investment at Fairhaven or Staten Island. When a load of oysters for planting arrives from the South, the owner of the cargo sends on board the vessel all the men he has, and the schooner then sails back and forth around and over the designated ground. The effort in loading is to have as much as possible of the cargo on deck. It is an easy matter, then, as the vessel proceeds, to shovel overboard ; and as she is constantly changing her position, and the men shovel uninterruptedly until the whole load is overboard, the oysters are pretty evenly distributed. An ordinary crew of five will thus unload 400 bushels in an hour, for five or six hours in succession. Adding this expense to his first cost and charges, a planter, who puts down large quantities, expects the cost of his various lots of oysters, big and little together, will average about 25 cents a bushel, These Chesapeake oysters, it is scarcely necessary to say, are left down only until the succeeding fall, before being taken up for market. They have then grown into larger and fuller proportions, and have assumed a far better flavor than they originally possessed. Sometimes accident or circumstances will cause a bed, or a portion of it, to be saved through the winter and not harvested until the second fall; but this is rare, very risky, and not attended by a large increase of profits. Making a recapitulation of the western shore produce, I derive the succeeding particulars : STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR WESTERN SHORE OF DELAWARE BAY: Hxtenwor natural © OVStOL-TOCK) «sc=nsesa--n)cos sien as/o= ae sien cons Sana aame nse -Aciaen nen ~oceine ACLES=_ 500 Extent of cultivated ground, about..---. .----. ..--<- 2220-2 cen. coe noe cone cone nanan ns anne = neon acres... 3, 000 Numberof planters: mot counted elsewhere) -.. 2-2. a--- os toe ne oc ewes cacene fae sieneman ameiee nn eene -- =~ 40 Number of men employed, about-.----...--- aa ee Se ce ee ae Se ncrcc bs sec teseseeetaceeceetns 625 eipE Mua RpAnIOMHO ANC se eee en = eens slam eisame alae ae eee eee ata aalcods svcwecsasceeeessecleseseces $117, 000 Numberotmnen partiallysemployede son ---'enee ow elee ace mclne ine ee micccimee co nceniss cin caceesiccesi==—= 400 ETAT SOLIS HIN Gee eyes ee = lafaee= a) oie nin in ain ae aalaie eet sa= ae ee eirebe acest eineasloerlvleces lesa = [ene aaini- = $30, 000 Number of trips made after southern seed, about.... -.-. 2200 sn cces 2+ one wens cone eee ---- ---- =~ === 620 Prpbivearie dy SAC weeo a= ashe css aeie wie cm sani carisieaaelssnaiseas|s sain cs/aerelaceuicere cciane> nerwin--=.-5= $62, 000 Canaltchareealonieamepenea eee yee ae sane: leanne enanen as setsecocinetia= slsecinne ceccenn-saengcce----====5 $31, 000 Southern seed planted......-----... hr eee ee eis ok beataceeeoecercactc ste bushels. . 704, 700 POsiiot SaMewAD OUtnee mens alae oneis Geelan ae naa eanseAcae seeeiiase oreo cmistgeics senivisceslase aio soen=-siasee $176, 175 NONE nIseE diy ented aerate ae oe ee so oafeen sonore sabe =eeiecee awn ssinnsoslesse sss Jas,----DUshelas 370, 000 Coxieorisamey abouteer. seen cesses. c oe cas acco case es= Eee PG len Se SES an 8 Soc cece cw ceueceee $150, 000 SH RHeEnO Vs LOra nO laraninie yet ae aeiare eae lee neal ee mima ae acts wiecel cle wien ciiwien's/e sem == bushels. - 650, 000 Vani el hasan G ee eee ee ye ke oe ren nee eee Pea cisett cesececcsacs Scetcaccwscesssass $500, 000 Northern) oysters/sold annually +... <= -< <5 <..2- 226 co- en ennm een gee wane en ence coon e-ns cree eee nes bushels. - 300, 000 Pei TeTATCNE Sct T ia ee a ies We te fe hem ee BE eR ea Soe ele cee. cts can au snsltcweeQee $325, 000 TOTAL STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR DELAWARE BAY: Number of planters, wholesale dealers, and shippers ..---.-----. ------ -- +--+ 2-22 20 ce eeee wee eee eee ee 350 Extent of cround cultivated) 2... .--------caca- «secs cosecswecns SOE Sood Code seed HOsnsanseoenc acres. - 9, 000 Walmer oniname anon teens teeesieanaasapicccas cameleon eee bn x wim ats aiclemin icin sic) elsia imi Rien s)a'= nnn sensed $15, 000 Wallns@Pai@ueeemeyte dit setae Sadedc nodes sagoodse so accolosercee Her OS CSOC EAC Dae Se SOs 0ReEs pe pcepcne en - $123, 500 Number of vessels and sail-boats permanently engaged .......--...---------+---+ +--+ e222 2222 eee ee eee 1,365 AV AIC erO NAIC Ie ea eee A Ne ees a ail. ee a Seale cht bcos belcese Bee ceed et eee se eos Sos $350, 000 154 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. Number of vessels partially engaged .....---------.------- -«--0- ---- ---- +--+ ---------- sosossSeas 55555 100 Number of men hired by planters or dealers ---- ------ ooo on nn enn ne ene 1915) Annual earnings of same. -....--------------- ---- ---+ = +52 2+ = 22+ ee ene ne nee eee eens eee ene ee ee eee $614, 000 Number of sailors employed on Chesapeake vessels----..---- ---- ------ --5- <2 0-2 one ow enews 400 Annual iearmings (of Sames eee = seo ean mm alors me me =m am a am wm ll $30, 000 Total number of families supported, about.....-.---.----.------ «+--+. ------ ------ ---------- ------ ---- 2, 000 Annual sales of— TG NGM ON CLG H SESS See CES a SSA BOSE SED ADSES-OCEeHG Samrpo tac TaSee OS oocSe HOODS Ie C809 bushels... _ 1, 900, 000 Wilt OPP) coos psc5 Sos - SSI eso Bene oss CaSO CIOS SESE SEK Coss Sees GSSSoS HU Sod Saeed ose nHesS $1, 925, 000 MIC hesapeskke ssp lem bee eet ale ma lem =a mm ne bushels... 650, 000 Wine @ RRR asn6 coso Sen Sood Cee SE a SOD SS ence Ras anes SESS cos SbsSSdSso cconbes soo esos $500, 000 Total value of oysters sold annually....-.---.-----. ------ ------ ---- cone ne cone e pone eon = ones -- ee --- eo - $2, 425, 000 N. OYSTER-INTERESTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 44, THE MERCHANTS AND OYSTER-BUSINESS OF PHILADELPHIA. PHILADELPHIA AS AN OYSTER-CENTER.—It will already have impressed itself upon the mind of the reader, that this whole region is dependent upon Philadelphia for its market, and hence, for a large part of the capital employed in carrying on the daily operations of the business. The city of Philadelphia, therefore, takes a prominent position as an oyster-center, and deserves a careful survey. Yet here, more even than in New York, is the business centered and compact; or else it acts simply as a silent partner—a power behind the throne—in so many operations that have already been described in the review of Delaware bay, that little remains to be said except barren statistics condensed into small space. The region directly tributary to Philadelphia as a marketing point, extends from Barnegat around to and including the whole of Delaware bay; and it yields two millions and a half bushels annually, one quarter of which, probably, are transplanted from the Chesapeake seed-grounds. TRANSPORTATION AND ITS STATISTICS.—The transportation to the city from New York and the Atlantic coast of New Jersey is by rail, as also to some extent from the Delaware bay shore of the same state. This supply is carried almost wholly by three railways, the various sub-lines of the Pennsylvania corporation, the New Jersey Central, and the Philadelphia and Atlantic City narrow-guage road. Railway statistics, in all cases, were given me without hesitation by officers of the roads. The combined receipts reported by these roads for 1879~80, from New York and New Jersey, amounts to nearly 500,000 bushels, counting somewhere near 70,000,000 oysters. These cargoes weighed over 12,000,000 pounds, and gave an income to the roads aggregating over $27,000. By steamers from Baltimore, Norfolk, and Chesapeake landings, there were brought nearly 20,000 bushels, or perhaps 6,000,000 oysters, while the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore railway eclipsed all other lines, by reporting receipts for Philadelphia (including Southwark and Gray’s Ferry) of 182,980 bushels in shell, and 70,000 gallons of shucked oysters. For these figures I am indebted to Mr. Charles K. Ide, master of transportation. Adding these two sums, on the basis that a gallon is equal to a bushel, and that each will contain (of such stock as this road transports) an average of 300 oysters, we find that 71,000,000 oysters is the number annually brought to the city, by this line alone, every year. The net revenue derived from this freight in 1879~80, by this road, approached $30,000, while as much more accrued to its treasury from other carriage of oysters not coming within the scope of the present inquiry. Coming by sail-vessel from the eastern shore of Delaware bay, I find about one and a half million bushels yearly, while the western shore of the bay produces nearly another million bushels, a large part of which are southern oysters transplanted to those beds. Lastly, in winter, about 250,000 bushels are taken by sailing-vessels through the canal from the Chesapeake to Philadelphia, for immediate use. A summation of the supplies from all these sources gives as the total quantity annually handled in Philadelphia, as shown by the statistics of 1879 and 1880, to be in the close neighborhood of 2,680,000 bushels, or more than 800,000,000 oysters, worth, in round numbers, not less than $2,500,000 at wholesale. DISTRIBUTING TRADE.—But, of course, only a portion of these oysters are consumed within the limits of the city of Philadelphia. A large part is distributed widely throughout a region which includes the Delaware valley, the state of Pennsylvania, and to some extent the West, where Philadelphia competes in the shell-trade with New York and Baltimore. The Pennsylvania railway, for instance, reports that nearly 60,000 bushels went to Pittsburgh and intermediate stations, in 1879. Pittsburgh becomes, thus, a distributing point for its neighborhood, augmenting this stock by large receipts from Baltimore and New York. Philadelphia sends to New York and intermediate points, by the same railway, more than 100,000 bushels, and Camden distributes ten or fifteen thousand bushels in western New Jersey. There remains the draught made by the express companies and various railroads, from whom there is no report. To have ascertained, with complete exactness, the proportion of this two and a half millions of bushels which is sent out again, and consequently the proportion which is left to be consumed here, would have required weeks of time and needless trouble. But from all that I can gather in the way of data, I believe that the city of Philadelphia and its large suburbs, which together contain 1,000,000 people, will consume annually an equal THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 155 number of bushels or gallons, counting 300,000,000 oysters. This would require each inhabitant to eat about six per week the year round, or a dozen per week for half the year. A single “stew” would include this number; and for the few who would not find upon their tables one mess of stewed or otherwise cooked oysters in a week, I believe there are many who would see them in some shape every other day for six or eight months, especially among the working classes. Errorts At PACKING: SHUCKING: SuHIpPrInc.—It has been found that the extraordinary advantage which Baltimore enjoys in that direction, has made it useless for Philadelphia to attempt to compete in the packing-trade. The few attempts that have been made have all met with ill-suecess. Some fresh oysters are canned here, however, and sent out, chiefly to near neighborhoods. There is not enough of this done, however, to furnish employment to more than 50 shuckers among the whole shipping-trade of the city. These are mostly whites, and perhaps half of them are married. They come from the most ignorant laborers, and are reckless in behavior, Some are hired by the week at $10, others prefer to work by the piece, and receive 60 cents a thousand. The fresh oysters shipped are sent mainly in wooden “ buckets” of variable capacity, but often holding several gallons, a large piece of ice being thrown into the oysters and the cover locked. In addition to this there is some shipping of Maryland stock, opened at Seaford, Crisfield, ete., in sealed tins. These are square cans, holding one or two “ quarts”, but the measure is somewhat short. They are filled with four-fifths of solid oysters and one-fifth pure water. A “case” of these cans may hold two or four dozen. The cans are not manufactured in Philadelphia, but in Baltimore, where the large local demand enables them to be made from one-half to three-fourths of a cent cheaper than elsewhere. WHOLESALE TRADE.—The total wholesale trade of Philadelphia is now divided, so far as can be ascertained, among about 50 firms, which, if all dealt alike, would give to each a business of about $60,000 yearly. Of course there is no such equality. Most of these dealers are also planters, furnishing the capital with which their boats, registered in New Jersey and Delaware waters, and manned by crews, residents of those states, plant upon ground outside of Pennsylvania’s waters, and consequently held in some other name than that of their actual owners and operators. A large part of all the floating and shore-property credited to the shores of Delaware bay, and estimated in the preceding chapter, is really owned, therefore, in Philadelphia. To separate from this inter-state and partnership aggregate the capital invested by the oyster-dealers of Philadelphia, becomes as great a problem, therefore, as in New York. Some elements for the calculation appear in the following items : Value of wharf-property devoted to oyster-vessels, exclusively, about ----------- --------------------+---- $400, 000 Value of sheds and shore-property ....-.-.------ ---- ---- <2 22+ eee ene een wn ene cree ree ee eee nees 100, 000 Value of perhaps 250 vessels, ete.... .----- ----- + ee en ee eee eee ene cee ene eee ree ee ee eee ee ee ce ee 300, 000 Floating capital... ---- 1222 -- 0. 252 2223 cone ne ot n= cone eee ne ce nn rn ce ene nen cee anne wees ene ene e ne 400, 000 But all these are hardly more than guesses, and it is out of the question, under the circumstances, to separate the oysters planted by Philadelphia capital from those outside of it, I suppose. It is perhaps safe to say, roundly, that in the city of Philadelphia a million dollars are concerned in the oyster-business, outside of the estimates of values already credited to New Jersey and Delaware. Of this sum about $400,000 consists of outstanding credits and the bank balances needful to be maintained by the dealers. The fifty firms represent about 75 members. Each may be said to employ an average of five men as clerks, teamsters, and porters, amounting to 250 in all. To this again must be added the 50 shuckers heretofore spoken of, making a total of 375 men, representing from 300 to 350 families, finding their support out of the wholesale handling of oysters alone in the city. : RETAIL TRADE.—As to the number supported by the retail trade, that can be approximated with even less exactness. The latest business directory of the city gives: hotels, 150; oyster-houses, 376; restaurants, 441; lager beer saloons, 1,452. Supposing we say, that in order to meet the demands of the guests for oysters, cooked or raw, these establish- ments find it necessary to employ extra help as follows: 150 hotels, 2 persons each 222 o.oo ea one ween enw ee oe worn eww nn = wae = a= 300 376 oyster-houses, 5 persons each Ree See TUNE cee eotl are sree eee wets voces 1,680 AAV restaurants. ls person) Cathie opm -a-\-o5 shee poe ee weet saacle=a=clonnm eres === «se senienae = 441 1,452 lager beer saloons, one-half person each .... .-...----+ -----+ 0-2-2 eeee-eee eens eeee- 721 Taiiloe cance os eect SoH Se Bes eee C DSS Rosa ROS EEE B OR ESE aS ees Ree ae Cy 22 Add peddlers and curbstone-stands, 158 -....--.-------..0-.---------------------------- 158 3, 500 Many of these 3,500 persons are women and children, some of whom, nevertheless, assist in supporting others than themselves. In other cases various duties are combined with the service of oysters. But I think it within bounds to estimate 3,000 families maintained by this retail industry. Dealings in oysters in Philadelphia are chiefly carried on at the foot of Spruce street, at the foot of Vine street, and at the Brown street wharves. In each case the locality is determined by the presence of a large provision- market, and the business in general fishing centers near it. At Brown street there is an association of the owners of boats selling there for mutual protection on questions of wharfage and the like. Most of the business is done at Spruce street, where the Jersey boats chiefly go, and where some of the heaviest dealers have their oflices. 156 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR PHILADELPHIA: Number ofiplanters, wholesale/dealers; and shippers... =. -----\seceajereeeniese sae eee ee eee ete 75 Walue‘of shore-property---5- ccc1- 55 -ces ccid- a nince css cesclcsee 50 aminiGiley AT AMESROX 2a 5 oe koe eS lon Gases ck codaneecee ADEE One ernin meee ee ye. Ios cess Seca c eee 40 (ON) NENT SS Shige eae Sateen SOR On Patuxent cosets ds wstees sco sects soestes eas ecient cone 200 OnuePocomac and suribimtarics.<.~ —. 0. ncececeoeaconcceoessece 300 | On mouth of Potomac and Saint Mary’s ........---.---.---- 75 Ose Neeser erste eee aco ces accccs. de oniecdace ence ss 50 OniChoptank and Sharp’s islands: ........:-...--.---------- 100 tales ee = =o .aciee Ree Sciainateree aninet avalawieietatsia's'aepetate ts 1, 555 Each of these canoes should pay $44 a year tax. This, theoretically, yielded the state in 1865, $68,420. 46. PACKING AND SHIPPING TRADE OF MARYLAND. SHIPMENTS OF OYSTERS 1N SHELL.—I now resume the language of Mr. Edmonds’ report: “From the prolific beds of the Chesapeake bay immense quantities of oysters are yearly taken for bedding in northern waters, and also for immediate consumption in the principal cities along the coast, from the bay to Portland, Maine. It is not the West alone which is dependent upon the Chesapeake for oysters, for without the supplies annually drawn from this bay the Atlantic coast, from Delaware to Maine, would be but poorly supplied. The Chesapeake is the great storehouse from which several millions of bushels of oysters are annually carried to restock the exhausted beds of other localities. More than two hundred vessels, averaging in value about $3,000 each, are for eight months of the year engaged in the trade between the bay and northern markets. During the winter the oysters which are taken north are used for immediate local consumption, while those taken in the spring are used almost exclusively for bedding purposes. At Seaford, Delaware, there is quite an extensive packing-trade, Maryland oysters being used. It is well known that oysters are eaten during the summer at the North much more extensively than in Mary] and and Virginia. “Among many intelligent men, both in Maryland and Virginia, there is great opposition to the shipment of: oysters in the shell to northern markets. They claim, and justly too, that the packing trade of the two states 166 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. would be much more largely developed if northern cities were unable to bry oysters in the shell, and as the shucking of oysters gives employment to such a number of people, they hold that it would be a wise policy to heavily tax all oysters shipped in the shell. It is very questionable, however, whether such a measure would be constitutional. “Two great objections which might also be urged against the system, are that the majority of oysters shipped north are purchased late in the spring, when the packing trade is about over, at prices necessarily low, and that the beds are seriously injured by being disturbed after the commencement of the spawning season. The oysters purchased and taken north in the spring for bedding would, if allowed to remain until the fall and then sold for immediate use, bring nearly half a million dollars more than they now sell for; that is, there would be a yearly gain to the oystermen of Maryland and Virginia of nearly half a million dollars. “There being in the spring no home demand for them, they sell sometimes as low as 4 cents a bushel, and from that up to 12 and 15. In the spring of 1879 a vessel loaded in the Great Choptank.river with 16,000 bushels, cost $040, or just 4 cents a bushel. These oysters are taken north and planted, where they grow very rapidly, and during the following fall and winter they come in competition with oysters from Maryland and Virginia packers. STATISTICS OF SHIPMENTS FOR NORTHERN PLANTING IN 1879.—‘“ During the spring of 1879, Capt. Samuel M. Travers, of the oyster-police force, directed his deputy commanders to board all vessels loading with plants for northern waters, and obtain the number of bushels taken. He has favored me with the result, which is as follows: Shipped north for planting in spring of 1879. Bushels. From Tangier sound and tributaries ..---..------------------------- +--+ see 22e -2 ++ eee eee ee ee eee 353, 750 Nanticoke river and Fishing bay -.-----.----------- ------ ------ -- +--+ ---- eee ene + -- 2+ een ene ------ 125, 000 | Little Choptank viver:- 222. <--. 2 ~~~ -- <= 5-26 see iene a= cone cre enn en ens wane saa ness o~ =a neem 125, 000 Great Choptank river ---- 2... ---~ <2 ene ene ona ann am oe ne ews nin in = wen wa wine nnn wens aan eae 375, 000 FBastern bay ..------------- +--+ ---- ---- 2-2-2222 2 = en nnn ne ne en nnn ce ene nn cone cen e wenn ones 62, 500 (Ola em nye Oo onedodecce Ssccau cuss Eamo ee ohd 6 Ses cccsobee sand cgsicnd sneessarbasesedo sebasa cose coos 250, 000 Anne Arundel county waters -.---2. --.- == --.- - a = oon ons cee wn nn on eens wma SOSO0eea50 112, 500 Paton TMV OLA Okun Deb aRIOS | oe ae a aa ae eee int ee ee eee 150, 000 Potomaciriver and dributarieseses asses see =a ete ee ele eeeie aes lees eee an eee OS MOE Uo) Hb ios Sea aoe Ee eee ACAAS BE Jao SoS O Ses 00 CORE Bere aaO GOO Sas = oe OEE peesSe can BOaasacS 2, 178, 750 “The average price paid was 7 cents a bushel. Owing to the action of the state legislature, at its last session, in forbidding the eatching of oysters after April 15, the shipments from Maryland waters in the spring of 1880 were much smaller than for the previous year.” ESTIMATES OF SHIPMENTS IN 1879—80.—The estimates made of shipments from Maryland waters to northern ports from May 31, 1879, to May 31, 1880, are compiled by Edmonds, as follows. I think they are hardly to be closely relied on, or of much value, but I annex the table: Ops “ a8 a re Shipped to— | EI I "ey an 4 5 5 8 5 o io a | Bushels. | Bushels.| Bushels. Portland, Maine. .......--.---------- one n eee eee cree nn ene nn enn nnn cere cece en enn nnn cen enna nena en eaennneen ac nern nnn assaeees 9, 000 75, 000 84, 000 Fair Hayen, Connecticut. ..---- COS SSE Ie eobo “ASSor Cece stScmsacs 226 Sco See eS se oss nasoseesee ose Q 66, 000 50, 000 116, 000 Providence and Providence river 110, 000 30, 000 140, 000 Boston one ae eee nese eee see anancnioeaae's as Acid 80, 000 80, 000 Delaware bay -.....--.--.-.--.-.-.----==- Jeeeis sbcchoctc ponent ens ack ewe sen as ose ee eee ae eee ee ee al S66 (O60! anwar 488, 880 Tap ey6 (lh ae Peco cea mne seco MASI SM OSHS IPAS SORES SOS S Stes A 162, 960 162, 960 Seaford, Delaware (for packing and for local use) -.--------------+ ---<-- 22-222 eeee ee eee ene eee een e ee ten eee tne reeeee sees 200, 000 200, 000 New Works ee see se ee ee cea Salta w Sa Se ee ae ee See SRS oe soe ne Seine see ctalae he salem as nme > Sm ei nie meee let eet eee i Represent esoscooSs: 650, 000 "4, 921, 840 Per railiand| steamers. c-0s2<0 2 cone ccenencloceode luaenn dae a eepme rar nmnece sean dea demmenae-nonsscaninatuam =a Suniis ces mainte mms m= msl) atm eon i eae 100, 000 Mobals <2 Pas es es es en eae sow Be eae a pee eo a Se ois Tere eine fee sees 2, 021, 840 Lhave thrown distrust on this table, because I hardly think it possible to tell, with any accuracy, what went north from Maryland waters and what from Virginia. SHIPMENTS NORTHWARD IN 1865,—In 1865 Mr. C. 8. Maltby counted the shipments northward as follows: Hain cayenkConnechicubies: n= sheer ere cmee eee = ae eee ei rs Rene EES DEAT eee ae ee 700, 000 New: Work: =. one ee ee Saas Se as ae ee eet tet See iano ete 1, 050, 000 hited el phrases sees sae eee eee oe ee eee rn eS ae COO 5 nO Que aC OC OaCU San 400, 000 Boston, Massachusettsess.cse-1-s-scn estan celts e naan seis stein eiaae aim Teenie aie a ela ei eee 350, 000 otal See eee es Se ae ald 5 Pes ete sis beres 2 ac | te Ae SR es ew aneee 2, 500, 000 THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 167 The vessels engaged in carrying oysters from the Chesapeake to the North are generally owned in the cities to which they run; and it would duplicate statistics to include them in the oyster-fleet of the Chesapeake. It would, however, be equally an error to make no mention of them at all. From the best information to be obtained by correspondence with the owners of the vessels, I would put their number at 200, with a present aggregate value of $600,000. About 1,000 men compose their crews, and the wages of these will amount to about $140,000 a season. The oysters taken North for immediate use cost, on an average, about 25 cents a bushel; while plants, during the past season, probably averaged 10 cents a bushel, about 3 cents more than the price during the previous season. The dismissing of this subject will be excused by the reader, who has access to and has read the previous chapters, which treat of the use of Chesapeake “seed” and oysters in the waters of the Atlantic states. BEGINNING OF OYSTER-PACKING IN BALTIMORE.—“ Having given an account of the oystermen, their boats, etc.,” says Mr. Edmonds, “it is now appropriate to present some statistics of the number of bushels of oysters caught and the disposition made of them. The most important factor in this connection being the packing-trade, I will endeavor to show the extent of this business, as compiled from the books of the different firms engaged in it. “About 1834 or 1835 a small packing-house was opened in Baltimore, but it soon passed out of existence, and no record of it can now be obtained. The first important enterprise in this line was the establishment of a packing-house in 1836, by Mr. C. S. Maltby, a native of Connecticut. Mr. Maltby, who, by the way, is still in the business, confined his operations exclusively to the raw trade for a number of years. As his business increased, he established a line of wagons from Baltimore to Pittsburgh, and was thus enabled to supply the west with fresh oysters long before the Baltimore and Ohio railroad had stretched out its track to that then distant region.* BEGINNING OF STEAMED OYSTERS.—‘ Mr. A. Field was the first to develop in Baltimore the steam trade. He began a few years after Mr. Maltby. His oysters were steamed and then hermetically sealed in small tin cans. «“ Having been once established, the trade increased quite rapidly, and for some years oyster-packing, both raw and steamed, was very profitable; but as there is an abundant chance of financial success through dishonest means, with but little danger of detection, many unscrupulous firms engaged in the steamed-oyster business, and by packing ‘light weights’, 7. c., putting in a one-pound can about six or seven ounces of oysters, and filling the remaining space with water, and about the same proportion of oysters and water in larger cans, and either selling them under some fictitious brand, or else entirely omitting any name, they succeeded in gaining for the packing-trade of Baltimore a by no means enviable reputation. To enable them to compete with these ‘tricks in trade’, reliable houses were in some cases forced to follow their example, as in many places it was found impossible to sell standard goods at fair prices, while ‘light weights’ could, of course, be sold at much lower figures. In answer to the question as to whether ‘light weights’ were sold extensively in the west, I was lately informed by a gentleman from that part of the Union, that up to within a year or so it had been almost impossible to obtain full weights, but that some improvement had lately taken place in this respect. The same gentleman, on returning to the West, sent me the names of three packing-houses whose names appeared on the cans, and whose oysters were ‘light weights’. An examination proved the names to be fictitious, there being no such firms in Baltimore. Tur Union OystER Company.—“ Close competition, by causing a cutting in prices, helped on the trouble, and for several years previcus to 1878 the business was very unprofitable. In 1878, to save themselves, the packers formed a combination known as the ‘Union Oyster Company’, embracing all the leading firms engaged in the steaming business, with the exception of three or four, who, having well-known standard brands, preferred to fight it out alone. The formation of the Union Company was, in itself, an evidence that the trade was in a deplorable condition. The company was established with a capital of $300,000, the stock being divided among the twenty-three firms who entered it in proportion to the amount of business previously done by them. The affairs of the company are managed by a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and the twenty-three firms, who constitute the board of directors. In joining the company each firm entirely relinquishes their own steaming business (although they may still conduct the raw trade) and act merely as agents for the union. All oysters are bought and packed by the union, and then sold to the packers at a uniform price, thus placing every firm on exactly the same level. At the same time the union may sell directly to the trade. “The result of this combination has been to partially break up fraudulent packing, although it is still carried on to some extent. Outside of the union there are three or four extensive firms, whose oysters sell on the reputation of their brands, and it would obviously be impolitic for them to engage in packing light weights. THE RAW-OYSTER PACKING-HOUSES.— The raw-oy ster business has always been more profitable and less subject to the vicissitudes of trade, although there are many losses from spoilt oysters when the weather happens to turn suddenly warm. Raw oysters, after being opened, are packed in sinall air-tight cans holding about a quart, and * Tn 1850, according to memoranda furnished by C. S. Maltby, there were six houses engaged in packing oysters, to the extent of 400,000 to 500,000 cans a year. The price was $7 a dozen, and five to ten cases to one purchaser was considered a large sale. F ruits, ete., were packed to a siill larger value by the same houses. + Mr. GC. S. Maltby records that in 1865, 1,875,000 bushels of oysters were packed raw in Baltimore, and 1,360,000 bushels were preserved. In 1869 he ae rs in Maryland 55 packers who, at 500 to 2,500 cans per day, put up twelve to fifteen millions of cans in a season of seven months, using 5,000,000 bushels. Sixty “‘raw” houses that year employed 3,000 hands, while the packers gave employment to 7,500 persons, Large quantities of canned oysters were annually sent, at that time, by steamship to Havana. In 1272 the same notes record as opening oysters, 2,000 men; making cans, 300 men; box-makers, 50 men; clerks and laborers, 300. AJI these were in the ** raw” trade of Baltimore, 168 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. these are arranged in rows in a long wooden box, with a block of ice between each row, or they are emptied into a keg, half-barrel, or barrel made for this purpose. When the latter plan is pursued, the keg or barrel is filled to about five-sixths of its capacity, and then a large piece of ice is thrown in, after which the top is fastened on as closely as possible, and it is at once shipped to the West, usually by special oyster-trains or by express. Packed in this way, with moderately cold weather, the oysters will keep very well for a week or ten days. During the most active part of the “raw” season there are daily oyster-trains of from thirty to forty cars from Baltimore to the West, where nearly all the Baltimore oysters are consumed. J'rom the shores of the Chesapeake bay, as far as Detroit, there is scarcely a city or town (connected with any of the great trunk lines) which is not supplied with Maryland raw-oysters. Farther west, and to a considerable extent in European countries, the demand is supplied by steamed oysters. The oysters used in the raw trade are of a finer quality, and consequently command better prices than steamed. In fact, nothing in the shape of an oyster is too small to be available for the ‘steamed’ trade. And from this arises one of the great sources of injury to the oyster-beds. So long as dredgers are able to sell their entire catch, regardless of the size of the oysters, it will be useless to expect any improvement in the beds. Young oysters of a very small growth can be disposed of almost as promptly as larger ones, and while this is the case, it need not be expected that dredgers will have foresight enough to see the wisdom of throwing all small oysters back on the bars. During the past season the supply of oysters was often insufficient to meet the demand, and the ‘steamed’ trade was compelled to suspend work for a considerable length of time on account of a scarcity of oysters, all that were received being quickly taken by ihe ‘raw’ men at prices which would be unprofitable for steaming. STATISTICS OF THE BALTIMORE PACKING-HOUSES.—‘ Baltimore, the great oyster-market of the United States, annually packs more oysters than any other city in the world. It is the great center of the packing-trade, surpassing in that particular all other cities, and yearly handling more oysters than all the other packing points of Maryland and Virginia combined. During the season, extending from September 1, 1879, to May 15, 1880, the number of vessels loaded with oysters arriving at Baltimore, was 9,543. (or a daily average of 37 for the 257 days), bringing 7,252,972 bushels, which would make the average cargo 760 bushels. In addition to the amount brought by sail-vessels, there were 25,000 bushels received by steamers and consigned directly to hotels and restaurants, making a total of 7,277,972 bushels, of which there were packed raw 3,769,353 bushels, hermetically sealed 2,189,939 bushels, and used for city consumption 818,680 bushels. “Hngaged in oyster-packing in Baltimore there are 45 firms, with a capital of $2,338,300, occupying, in their business, houses and grounds witb an estimated value of $1,360,966. During the summer these firms are generally engaged in fruit-packing, and their capital and buildings are thus in active use during the entire year. “These firms employ 4,167 males and 2,460 females—total, 6,627; and during the season of 1879-80 paid to them in wages $602,427. The total number of bushels of oysters packed was 6,459,292, which required 25,546,780 tin cans and 929,614 wooden cases. The value of the oysters packed, including shucking, cans, etc., was $3,517,349. Por the tin cans $794,919 was paid, and for the wooden cases $102,622. ORISFIELD AS A PACKING CENTER.—‘“ Next to Baltimore, Crisfield is the most important packing point in the state. Had the oyster-beds in the vicinity of Crisfield not been so greatly depleted, I think the trade at that city would have increased much more rapidly than ithas. Crisfield is literally built upon oysters, or rather oyster-shells, almost the entire space now occupied by the business part of the city having been under water. The shells from the packing-houses have been utilized to make new ground, and gradually the city has pushed out nearly a half a mile into the bay. Atthe present time some of the houses are built on piles, and are entirely surrounded by water, having no means of communication with the land except by boats. STATISTICS OF THE OYSTER-PACKING IN MARYLAND, 1879~80.—“ From the books of the 98 oyster-packing firms of Maryland, the following table has been compiled, showing the amount of business done at each city from September 1, 1879, to May 1, 1880: Oyster-packing in Maryland, season 1879~80. | | | | By < Ss g 3 g 3 SE z 22 4 E = 4 ES 3 ae 3 ag J Bs : a ay, - 2 eBipe ee Sas! | ecu A ro 0 og Sip pel iss og Z Pa oO < F } eS oa =} 2 5 S (=| a as 2 = gs 25 25 Ss ea 2) =e A | 8 = ge 5 53 a g = i=} 5 s ao S 4 A 4 4 5 E | 7 | [Bal timOreseaen (c= So Seche osu tacos ose aeenaeeen saseoe ee eee eee 45 | $2, 338, 300 | $1, 360, 966 4, 167 2,460 | $602,427 | 3,769,353 | $2, 272, 740 Crisfield ... 16 39, 650 23, 800 65, 481 427, 270 165, £00 Cambridge 8 20, 300 10, 000 28, 757 205, 410 76, 658 Annapolis. - - 8 59, 600 17, 500 26, 482 156, 703 69, 555 Oxfords-.-s<-- a; 7, 000 5, 760 23, 258 108, 960 39, 986 Saat MICH RCL orc ceatetcs watere See ore he iech aoe ee ER ES 4 4, 500 3, 000 Oh is he ae re 4, 987 37, 788 14, 053 Sundry small places in Somerset county....-----.--.-+-ss-se0--+-- 10 23, 000 15, 000 387 |.------2---+ 26, 387 224, 817 86, 945 Eo taly tiene ea tel date Saar egal Be, Sob ui 98 | 2,492,350 | 1, 436, 026 6, 179 2, 460 777,779 | 4,930,301 | 2, 725, 737 if Plate XXXVI. Monograph—O VSTER-IN DUSTRY. BALTIMORE OYSTER-SHUCKING TROUGH. “iy ° SSS SS DRILIL KY SSX SSSR AKL ALY os £2 = ag i) 2 2 et} 3 a BS rein | 3 co co a aan 3 , g | S a | Poy = r) a As oe $s 2 a @ OS® g B22 = oo rc) 3 g - Rae é ol g E 5 6 ae é g a 2 a) 2 aoa = = ial teal 3 Ss £26 s FI a 3 cS] Ei oon ° iJ ° o & a aq A is) 1S) | TO UUIG pens sano S oO eee Bere pine ORO Oe SSCS OSE EE ESS SEEMS Roe 2, 689, 939 | $1,244,609 | 6,459,292 | $3,517,349 | 25,546,780 | $794, 919 | 929, 614 $102, 622 Crisfield oo | [SRS SsceS68) Hse 55 =e 427, 270 165, 800 |---.. ...... ecw ceccuceec|encaacemacss 3, 576 Cambridge.--...........<....- 13, 100 11, 320 218, 510 87, 978 5, 840 Annapolis - . <= = 20, 152 12, 183 176, 855 81, 738 |. 11, 097 (Op StS er ae a SS Se 8 6c Sha: SR SRS SS Cn PE EISS Sas sensac oe [Sasa e 108, 960 39, 986 |... 1, 257 Perri G leer by oes a ee Ses SR Oe See ea eeel Bem CCOm eee ey 37, 788 | 14, 053 |... 2, 530 Sundry small places in Somerset county ..--.-..-------------+-e-++|-+---+--0--- 224, 817 | 86, 944 1, 890 TG! ee eo Be Sat ceeoceo aU aGaaspaaanbbs sc ase 2, 723, 191 1, 268,112 | 7, 653, 492 | *3, 993, 848 | 25, 546, 780 794, 919 929, 614 128, 812 “ Baltimore is the only place where tin cans and wooden cases are used to any extent, shipments from other cities being made almost exclusively in bulk—in barrels, half-barreis, and kegs—and it was thought better merely to ascertain the cost of these without giving their number. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE “ OYSTER-SHUCKERS.”—“* As shown by the table, there are 6,179 males and 2,460 females employed in oyster-shucking in Maryland. During the season they receive as wages $777,779, this being an average of only $90 06. Very few of the shuckers are regularly at work, and while in one week an expert hand may make from $8 to $15, during the next week he may be idle. “Of the 6,179 males, nearly all of whom are employed in the ‘raw?’ trade, about three-fourths are negroes, the majority of them being comparatively steady workmen, while the whites are more generally disposed to be idle and intemperate. The few whites in the business are generally of a very low class of society. Within the past year afew females have essayed to shuck raw oysters, but their number is still very small, and will probably so continue, owing to the nature of the work. The 2,460 females are all employed in the steam oyster-houses of Baltimore. They are mostly white girls of from sixteen to twenty-five years of age, the proportion of older ones, as well as of colored, being small. These girls are almost without exception of foreign birth or parentage, the largest proportion being of Bohemian origin, with Irish probably coming next. Jew American girls, however poor, will consent to engage in this occupation, as in it both sexes must mingle indiscriminately, without regard to color, class, or condition. Owing to the thorough steaming the oysters are very easily opened, and the amount of physical labor required is comparatively light; but during busy seasons the work begins about daybreak and lasts until dark, and is of course exceedingly fatiguing. An industrious hand can make from 75 cents to $1 a day, but from the great irregularity in their work they are probably not engaged over one-half of the time. “Considering the class of the people employed in the packing-houses, I do not think it safe to estimate more than an average of two individuals dependent upon the wages of each shucker, at which rate there are in Maryland 17,278 people dependent upon oyster-shucking. THE OYSTER-PACKING FiRMS.—‘ It may be well to say that there are about 225 men composing the 95 oyster-packing firms of the state. A noteworthy fact in this connection, is that the large majority of them are of northern birth, and many of them, especially those in Crisfield and the smaller packing towns, reside in Maryland only during the oyster-season, returning every spring to their northern homes. More oyster-packers have come from Connecticut than from all other states combined. It is a somewhat singular coincidence, that both Mr. C. 8. Maltby and Mr. A. Field, who respectively established the raw and the steam trade, were both originally from Connecticut, and both are still living, the former in active business. There are about 1,125 individuals forming the families of the oyster-packers. “ During May, June, July, and August the packers of Baltimore are engaged in canning fruits and vegetables ; and the same girls who in winter shuck oysters, in summer pare peaches and other fruits. The male shuckers of Baltimore, as well as those of the cities in lower Maryland, having no regular employment in summer, work at whatever odd jobs may be found. THE MANUFACTURE OF CANS AND CASES.—“ The manufacture of cans and cases, an important industry in Baltimore, is so largely dependent upon oyster-packing, that an effort has been made to obtain some statistics pertaining to it, although the exact figures will appear in the census of manufacturing industries. About $250,000 is invested in the business, which gives employment to 400 men (on oyster-cans), whose wages for eight months amounts to about $100,000. This estimate is based on the number of cans used, as shown by the returns from the packing-houses, the workmen being paid so much per 100 cans. It was very difficult to obtain any satisfactory —— *Subtracting from this, cost of labor and packing-cases, about $1,827,000, gives the original cost of these oysters, $2,166,848. Add to this the value of the oyster “plants” sent north. $303,276, and you get $2,470,124. This is not quite the whole product of Maryland waters, however, and in my general summary I place $2,500,000 as the totai value annually of the state.—E. L x 2 170 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. statistics regarding the number of ship-carpenters occupied in building and repairing oyster-vessels, but from an extensive correspondence with ship-builders in various parts of the state, I think it will be placing the estimate too low rather than too high, to say that there are 300 workmen, including carpenters and sail-makers, with yearly wages amounting to $156,000. As can-makers, ship-yard workmen, ete., we then have 700 men, with about 3,500 people dependent upon them, receiving $256,000 in wages. THE RETAIL TRADE OF BALTIMORE AND OTHER CITIES.—“ It was found impossible to obtain the number of people engaged in the retail trade of Baltimore and other cities, as any statistics gathered from restaurants and hotels would be delusive, since they are not engaged exclusively in handling oysters. Under the circumstances the best estimates that can be made may be deduced from calculations based upon the local consumption in the cities. In Baltimore the city trade is monopolized by a number of commission houses, which handle all the oysters taken for local use, with the exception of the receipts by steamers. From the books of these firms it was ascertained that the sales of oysters from September 1, 1879, to May 1, 1880, for consumption in the city and suburbs, amounted to 793,680 bushels. Add to this 25,000 aenele received by steamers, and the total retail trade is found to be 818,680 bushels. The average price paid for shucking raw oysters is 15 cents a gallon; these being all of fine quality, val open a gallon to a bushel, and hence the amount paid for opening 815,680 bushels would be $122,802. Estimating the average amount made by the shuckers at $6 a week, or $192 for the season, it is seen that there are 640 men steadily employed for nearly eight months of the year in opening oysters for local consumption in Baltimore. There is, in addition to these, a large number of men who sell oysters around the streets; others who rent a cellar room and sell from there; some engage in driving oyster-carts; and a few are employed only during the oyster-season in restaurants as extra help. As near as can be discovered, the number of these may be placed at 500, with wages and earnings amounting to $96,000. Of these 1,140 men about 500 are negroes. CONSUMPTION IN BALTIMORE OF OYSTERS FROM OTHER STATES.—‘ In addition to its own stock, Baltimore annually uses a large quantity of ‘fancy’ oysters from northern cities. The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore railway, in 1879, carried to that city 273,120 pounds of oysters in the shell, representing about 50,300 bushels. In addition to this, a firm of Baltimore men has lately opened a large establishment near Cape May, New Jersey, whence last fali they shipped about 20 half-barrels of opened oysters daily, during September and October. A similar importation from planting-beds near Providence, Rhode Island, has been heretofore described. LOCAL CONSUMPTION OF TOWNS ON CHESAPEAKE BAy.—“ The local consumption of towns on the bay is about 200,000 bushels a season, the shucking of which pays $30,000 to 150 men. Estimating an average of five to a family, these 1,290 men who are engaged in shucking and selling oysters for local consumption throughout the state, represent an aggregate of 6,450 individuals. Knowing the consumption per capita of Baltimore and suburbs, and calculating that the inhabitants of the tidewater counties consume proportionately at least twice as many, it is easy to obtain an approximate idea of the total number of oysters annually consumed in the state, and not found in the returns from the packers. Of course the interior counties are not considered here, as they receive oysters from the packers which have already been noted. The estimate that the tidewater counties consume locally twice as many as Baltimore in proportion to the number of inhabitants, is based upon careful inquiry among well-informed persons. On this estimate, taking the population as returned by the present census, there are about 875,000 bushels annually consumed in the counties bordering on the bay, in addition to the 200,000 bushels consumed in the towns on the bay. These oysters are generally opened by the families who eat them, and hence there is no expense for shucking. OYSTER-CURRENCY.—“In some of the lower counties of the state, oysters often pass current as money, and in one town there is a weekly paper (subscription price $1), about 50 of the subscribers to which annually pay in oysters. As the editor thus receives from 100 to 125 bushels of oysters a season, all of which are used in his own family, I readily believe his assertion that he ‘was very fond of oysters.’” 47. STATISTICAL SUMMARY FOR BALTIMORE. RECAPITULATION OF NUMBER OF MEN EMPLOYED IN OYSTER-INDUSTRY.—Summing up the total of all engaged in the oyster-trade, we have: a Rs Estimated num- Occupation. Number en- | Wages and earn | “per of persons gaged. | ings of same. supported. | Sa a | ID EGE ee ence en see See aa BRR ene occa ab a= aeecic SoS CE NOUR CSS een ASa soso One conbrsbebe pear sa9 sages soSsSssssbe 5, 600 | $916, 300 MYC S ash: nim peepee Sener a Sec eae Se So 20 COGS Sten I A BAS EC ence ness Imeo comer ine ao spe madpoacensccacdsSaae 5, 148 1, 158, 240 Seraperse--s--.--- zs t 2, 200 297, 000 | { e220) ‘OR aMNeTS Meenas sos ac mews aos Le 800 166, 400 | J Employés of packing honda 8, 639 777, 779 17, 278 Can-makers and ship-yard workmen 700 256, 000 “3,500 Preparing for local consumption. .........-.-------.ceseee sano n oan nnn nnn enn nnn no name eww ne enn e nn ene nnn cnn n n= 1, 290 6, 450 24, 377° 3, 820, 521 82, 220 Individual packers=--222.et~as---cssee=seemeseue cae p en acebe sma e na smwnese memset a ane eeee at te ee 1,125 Mota saan = csi soe esse see ase ss cee aoe nem ee ee ee ee 83, 345 a THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. i | “Tn the above enumeration no account has been taken of the number of owners of the dredge, the serape, and the running-boats, as any attempt to obtain such would be futile, since not even the names of the boats can be ascertained. If it were possible to gather this information, it would swell the above figures to much larger proportions. From the $1,860,000, the present estimated value of these 1,450 boats (excluding canoes), there must be a yearly profit of at least several hundred thousand dollars. Some of the boats are owned by packers, others by the captains, and the rest are distributed among all classes of society and almost all professions and occupations. When the number of these are taken into account, it will more than counterbalance any overestimates, if such there be, in regard to the number of persons dependent upon the oyster-trade of the state. STATISTICS OF SEAFORD, DELAWARE.—‘ Seaford, Delaware, situated on the Nanticoke river, a tributary of the Chesapeake bay, has quite an extensive packing-trade; and as all the oysters are carried from Maryland waters, it was considered advisable to include in this report the statistics of the trade at that city. Mr. D. L. Rawlins, of Seaford, informs me that ‘the oyster-packing business at Seaford was started by Platt & Mallory (of Fair Haven) in the fall of 1859. Hemingways, Rowe, and other eastern packers came in 1863 and 1864, They put nearly all their oysters in small tin cans, which they shipped in eases holding about 52 cans each, a good proportion being sent to Fair Haven, Connecticut, to be reshipped from there. The business not proving as profitable as was expected, by 1867 nearly all the original packers had sold out and left, since which time a fluctuating amount of business has been kept up by various successive parties, with alternating failure and success. No cans are used now, shipments being made nearly altogether in bulk’. / “There are at Seaford seven oyster-packing firms, having an aggregate capital of $14,600, and occupying buildings estimated to be worth $28,500. From September 1, 1879, to May 1, 1880, 184,500 bushels of oysters were packed raw, giving employment to 170 males and 45 females, the wages of both for the season amounting to $14,230. The estimated value of the oysters, after being shucked and packed, was $71,350. When shucked oysters are shipped in bulk, the package (barrel or half-barrel) is returned after being emptied, and then refilled. On this account only 1,400 packages, costing $1,000, were bought by Seaford packers during the season of 1879-30. About 400 persons are dependent upon the oyster-trade of Seaford. The local consumption, added to the packing, gives a total of 200,009 bushels handled at Seaford. CAPITAL AND LABOR EMPLOYED IN MARYLAND OYSTER-TRADE.—“‘ The following general summary of the whole trade in Maryland will give a good idea of its extent: Capital in- 2 vested,real Number ot and per- persons aril employed. | THD PMI SIS ee an Shon Ere a Soccer ee ne DIL .cSE eR t ron Gnes SoC Oe Or CCG o eC St EB EO CE ONEB CES sE 62 Sse gS Scerc Ceo Cot Reh OScSaOEcocet scocseemoose $3, 928, 376 8, 639 PEMOVSEGR-DOALS) === cbi~ omeeice= >= )s- cemins< eweem aco cemcnewins sons aman cas doswee's onbacsesSmae own hsnna mee nmenscersersemesncresetasesamsnan- ssn 2, 042, 500 13, 748 Do) PERE, Gi asece cd Seek aectcc - ce Ae Sec CC ORC REEF SEIEC DCO O RHE EE SSE 32 J SO SEE On SEDER EDO A Se ES Set Sn OD SEO SSP Se ESC ao eee ree 250, 000 700 Tm tar img slS a eee | oe ee Se See SSS ae ae eS ee eC C OSE COSS EOC OSE CICS STOR SECO SE SCE SSE EEO e Roe ero noe *25, 000 | 1, 290 RR a ete ee eer ol ee alias mons me eel aincleee ew anlar eeime een nininie en mance nance a=n= ws ensnnivscemnasienson- 24, 377 * Estimated. YIELD OF MARYLAND OYSTER-FISHERY.—‘The number of bushels of oysters caught in Maryland during 1879~80, and the disposition made of them, is as follows: Bushels. Packed in the state, of Maryland oysters* .. 0.2... ---2- - <0 2. cee nn cn meee coe none eee se chasse doceon cece 6, 653, 492 MMP eORO UL OemiNO Stat Grae so eee [oem am ala ano ysis nin mintialala’einie! alalm =i o= == wis )e,niniw simian nina RBee Ooo HO One 2, 021, 840 moecal consump bion in Baltimore. ~~ 22 <= ~~ a6 ce ane eee cae imme ocean m wnwininw ee mewn ain === sin = = sae e n= 818, 680 Local consumption in other cities of the state ...-...----------- .--- ---- ------ +--+ ee enn ee ene one -e-- 200, 000 Hocalicousmm pron! an the) COUMMMES =o -~ elses se ste~ elenlnweel secs feceeaeisowes aniscs-\-moe come ces sooner en = 875, 000 INONLCd SetAne wa OVNLCLS Sea Seale slats ostesn~ os)smieis me, aniss seinle=|=cin eamee|e= elena =o AGcoss:cestoo does ecse 30, 000 TO one coe 226 5 cob SRO QAO MBOROR BCE ROS SECO BES Rer GLE CeneS de BE SnC CIOS SC eo EEOC SE er aCe 10, 599, 012 “PBxactitude is not altogether possible; the ‘round number’, 10,600,000, will, therefore, express the total well.” THE PLANTING INTERESTS OF MARYLAND.—The planting interests of Maryland have heretofore been very slight. Now attention is being turned to it more and more. In Virginia, however, considerable planting is done, and under the chapter devoted to that state will be found a study of the planting of the whole of Chesapeake bay. Important experiments are now being made at Saint James, under the directions of Maj. T. B. Ferguson, commissioner of fisheries for the state, who intends to introduce the best methods of European oyster-culture : STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR MARYLAND: NM ei Ole pins ecn anaes END Olam am ee Meee ee A A A a a ACCOMAC ...-- ~~. 22-2 enon one eee een ne eee ne eee eens ee nen ne nee ee een cen e cee n ee een nen seeees 545 925 282 1,176 2,101 BAD 21a eye tae eit DOSE EO See OOS HSE SEATON SAS Apes SE 8 ess Sco Sina OR ECG OAC eR CO eee ames! 170 510 40 160 670 IMSS OX eee ae eee eee eet es San oe eo ecG owen cues denen st sccet odaccd Sep ene nee ee ep rere eel ete aoe ere es soe ens ae ceeer 150 400 6 24 424 CGH C ET + na cS CROSSE CODD SRS TED SEL HERETO SEP SOA CEB SCO SSNS “SS SRC ISE EOS SS TOAD SC RE SES SSS EET ISDS SEESSt 410 530 28 112 642 PED GE WAT Os as cab oo HSS ACen SS CREE DOSES SEER COS SC EHS CERO CE ener ceeiase: Sat Ass ea sSss oneness tosses esosce 58 250 22 88 338 Lancaster .--. y 400 900 35 140 1, 640 Mathews ..-.-- 450 900 20 80 980 Middlesex -..- 475 950 12 48 998 SNGin BON ON eater is ae pe em Sele ie vet ere oe te ee 80 240 39 225 465 IS IGTE 1) ips eee so Se S0 SS 52 SSS 00S SSSR OS SESE OS SoSH ASS StS SSS ei ssesot na sco scessooc taco aceressecntsss 235 470 700 2, 800 3, 270 Northampton.......----- = =- 55 a 350 700 38 144 844 Northumberland 281 420 27 108 528 Princess Anne. - 100 130) See ie as es | eee 130 400 20 80 480 80 15 60 140 500 26 104 604 550 5 20 570 5 2 Vf 12 8, 860 1,317 5, 376 14, 236 NUMBER OF OYSTERMEN IN VIRGINIA.—Of the total number of tongmen there are 5,906 colored and 5,954 whites, while of those employed on the larger vessels only 1,792 are colored. The total number of each race engaged in the trade is, of whites, 6,538, and of colored, 7,698. About 200 white men, with wages amounting to $83,200 a year, are employed in buildirg and repairing oyster-vessels, making cases, etc. PROFITS AND EARNINGS.—Tonging in Virginia is probably equally as profitable as in Maryland, but there is more time wasted by the tongmen of the former state than by those of the latter. This is explained by the fact, that the proportion of negroes is larger in Virginia than in Maryland, and these people are more generally inclined to be indolent than the whites. There were many cases last winter where tongmen made as high as $500 during the season, but their number is comparatively small when the total number of those engaged in this occupation is taken into account. A close estimate of the average amount made during a season by each tonger would give $200, or $25 less than the average amount made in Maryland. Calculating on this estimate, it will be seen that the earnings of the tongmen of Virginia will yearly aggregate about $1,772,000. Those employed on the running vessels receive during an oyster-season of eight months $1,022,172, including their board. CANOES AND BOATS.—The canoes used in Virginia are much smaller and less costly than those in Maryland— their average value being about $50. At this rate their total value at present is $224,050. The larger vessels, exclusive of those owned in Norfollx county, average about 16.13 tons; but when the large number owned in the latter county is considered, the average is considerably reduced and amounts to only about 10 tons—making the total 15,170 tons. The aggregate value of these vessels is about $460,950, and the amount of money annually expended in repairing them is in the neighborhood of $125,000. A large part of the running trade in Virginia is conducted by boats owned in Maryland and in northern cities ; but as the statistics of these have already appeared in the Maryland report, it is needless to repeat them here. The number of people engaged exclusively in handling oysters for local consumption in the cities of Virginia, is about 300 (nearly all colored), whose wages will aggregate about $57,600 a season. OYSTER-PLANTING AT LYNNHAVEN BAY.—To the business of planting oysters Virginia men devote much more attention than do the residents of Maryland. The planting consists of little more, however, in any case, than the simple transferring of young “seed” oysters in the rough shape in which they are dredged from the beds of natural growth, to certain spots where ground has been staked off as private property, and where they grow under better conditions than in their native state. The extensive operations and elaborate methods of the northern states are not to be found in these waters. The southernmost, and at the same time one of the most famous localities for oyster-planting in Virginia, is at Lynnhaven, just inside of Cape Henry. The wide reputation and acknowledged superiority of the oysters raised in this river and bay led Col. M. McDonald to examine particularly into the methods pursued there; and he has kindly placed at my disposal the succeeding memoranda: Lynnhaven river is simply a branching arm of Chesapeake bay, and has been made by the tidal ebb and flow. It is fed by very little surface-drainage, the rain waters of the back country finding their way into it by percolation through the porous subsoils that form the banks. When the tide is out the fresh water flows out on all sides by infiltration, and dilutes the salt water in the coves and,all along the shores. When the tide is at the flood the saltness is in a measure restored. It is to these incursions of fresh water twice in 24 hours, that the extreme fatness and flayor of these oysters are probably to be attributed. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 183 Oysters for planting are obtained from Back bay and Linkhorn bay, tributaries of Lynnhaven river, in which there are natural beds. They are also obta ned from spawning-coves in the river itself. Oysters from James river and other localities have been tried, but have not done well. The seed-oysters are carefully separated and planted evenly and thinly over the bottom, by a careful hand-sowing, broadcast, with a shovel. Any bottom will suit, provided it is not sandy, so as to shift with the action of the tide and bury the oysters, and is not too soft to bear their weight. They remain in the beds six years or more, and are then sent to the market, where they bring from $5 to $7 per barrel, or from $2 to $3 per bushel. They are disposed of almost wholly at retail, in the shell, over the tables of saloons and hotels as “fancy ” stock. The amount now planted in this river is about 200,000 bushels. The amount marketed varies, of course, with the demand. For this year (1879-80) it is estimated by Mr. Joshua Garrison, one of the largest planters on the river, at 25,000 bushels, and the planters receive on an average $2 per bushel. All the coves of the river and a greater part of the bed are occupied by plants, and it will probably be found in the future that they have overtaxed the capacity of the river. Summarizing, we credit Lynnhaven bay with 25,000 bushels, valued at $50,000. OYSTER-PLANTING AT CHINCOTEAGUE.—Another point where planting has long been carried on successfully, is at Chincoteague bay on the ocean side of the peninsula. As described briefly by Mr. Edmonds, the whole bay is staked off in small plats, which are always salable should the owner desire to retire from the business of planting. Oysters are bought in the Chesapeake bay at prices ranging from 10 to 20 cents per bushel, carried by vessels to Chincoteague, and there planted, and allowed to remain undisturbed for two or three years. Sometimes they will remain very poor for several successive seasons, and at times it happens that the entire bed will be found on examination to be dead. The winter of 187980 was the most profitable one that Chincoteague bay has known for many years. The oysters were large, fat, and finely flavored, while for several preceding years they had been poor and almost entirely unsalable, and the trade, in consequence, had been very unprofitable. Chincoteague oysters are shipped almost exclusively to New York and Philadelphia, and during good seasons command high prices. From September 1, 1879, to May 15, 1880, the shipments from the bay amounted to 518,113 bushels, of which 166,113 bushels passed over the Worcester railroad, and 152,000 bushels were shipped in sail-vessels. Of those shipped over the Worcester road, 71,184 bushels were taken directly from the bay, while 94,929 bushels were taken from small creeks on the Maryland shore, where they had been transplanted and allowed to stay for a day for the purpose of fattening. During the season of 1879~80, Chincoteague oysters were in active demand at high prices, the average for the winter being not less than 60 cents per bushel, and in the latter part of May 99 cents was readily obtained. A feature of the Chincoteague trade is, that all oysters are sold by the thousand, and not by the bushel, as in other parts of Maryland and Virginia. This custom has been adopted in conformity to the usages of northern markets. OYSTERING AT CHINCOTEAGUE IN 1865.—The correspondent of the New York Times, whose letter I quoted a few pages back, accompanied the schooner to Chincoteague, describing the operations witnessed. Greenback is a town situated near Franklin, on the Chincoteague bay, the southern terminus of the Old Dominion Steamship Company’s railroads on the peninsula. Nearly every man living in Franklin, and every one in Greenback, depends on the oyster-business for his support. Both of these villages have grown up since the war, Greenback being the older place. It was so named by an old oysterman, one of three or four who first planted in the bay in front of the place, because the first season’s shipment of oysters returned to the oystermen such a rich reward in greenbacks. This was in 1865, and since then the quality of the oysters produced in this part of Chincoteague bay has been so generally good, that they have made a favorable impression on European shippers. Following is the quotation : When the Dennis had secured 3,500 baskets—called by the courtesy of the oystermen half-bushel baskets, but really holding over two-thirds of a bushel—the captain pronounced her loaded, and then all energy was used in getting under way, because the sooner the plants are returned to the water after they are removed from their natural beds, the less will be the mortality among them. In 36 hours after leaving the James the Dennis let go her anchor on the planting-grounds off Greenback, and one day sufficed to place all her cargo on the beds, staked ont, and, by Virginia laws, made the private property of those who so marked them. They will be left to remain on these beds for upward of eighteen months, and, although many of those planted will die before the gathering time, yet it will be a poor return that will not give to the planter a bushel and a half for each bushel planted, and sometimes as high as three and four bushels have been gathered from each bushel of plants. These plants cost the planter in Virginia 5 cents per bushel, and about 6 cents to freight, and, perhaps, 2 cents to plant, making 2,500 bushels of plants cost but about $300. The cost of taking these oysters up and preparing them for the market is about 20 cents per bushel, and as 2,500 bushels will almost always return 4,000 bushels, it will be seen at once that those planters who have favorable planting-grounds, have it always in their power to make their energy pay them a good profit. At no time for the past ten years have Chincoteague bay oysters sold, delivered on board of vessels in the bay, for less than 50 cents per bushel, and mostly for 60 cents. At the lower rate it will be seen that any one at Greenback, possessed of a working capital of $1,000, can realize a profit (if he owns share-privileges) of $800 a year from it, with a chance of doing much better. Doubtless such also is the case in all the bays and coves celebrated for their fine oysters, yet many places along the James and in the Chesapeake bay grow as fine looking oysters as can be produced anywhere, and quite popular at home, that will not sell for enough to warrant the expense of planting. OYSTER-INDUSTRY OF HAMPTON AND VICINITY.—In Hampton, and Elizabeth City county generally, Colonel MeDonald spent much time in investigation of the oyster-industries, and reports as follows: The fleet of larger vessels that fish, from Hampton, consist of 13 vessels, sloops and schooners, averaging about 25 tons burden, These vessels employ 50 skiffs and 100 men, and allowing the same average per man per season as deduced from the actual operations of 184 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. a crew in 1877, viz, 1,300 bushels, we have as the estimated product of this oyster-fleet 130,000 bushels. The number of canoes and small sloops engaged in tonging for oysters in Hampton and Elizabeth City county, may be safely reckoned at 150, The number of men engaged is about three to the boat, or 450 men and boys, each of whom takes an average of 400 bushels as his year’s catch. The planting interests in Back river, Hampton, and Mill creeks will add to the foregoing product about 30,000 bushels. Summarizing Colonel McDonald’s figures, I get: Nom erjOMPEPISUEreC myeSSe LS raya) ate este ele Ne a ele ele a el 13 Number of small craft .-...-.--- Sonos booncocogmos oooaaceates Sanat esoscscss Saotoessasudeces 200 === 213 Number of men engaged on vessels........-... -.-. -----.-----.------ «=== Scece-ocmascs snecee 100 Number of men in small craft-.-..----.-----------. BORSA Hasan SdaeSnonrce Spacno saseen na se5 450 —$—— 550 bushels ohoysters Marketed (=o. a= — =e ease seas ee es ee eee ee eee sstscorccces 310, 000 BS USELC NS Of OY SHOR AT OREN PD UREN LS tell ee a tl ell 30, 000 Totalucrop sce: ee seie oe Settee eee oreo ee a ee ea eee anaes eraeene etales Soe eea saa 340, 000 Value, :at:20;centsiperjbushel. <2 -. ci Js satoeiwse Gao wee e cia ero esas atoms bee ae lee Sele ee eee perenne $68, 000 Further particulars of this region appear as follows: Back river is the dividing line between Elizabeth City and York counties, It was once extensively planted with oysters, and the product bore a good reputation and brought good prices. For some reason the ground became unproductive—attributed by my informant to over-planting—and only in the last two or three years has it begun to recover. At the present time about 10,000 bushels are planted annually. The capacity of the planting-grounds is estimated by Mr. Booker at 100,000 bushels. Poquosin river, a few miles to the northeastward, in York county, has a planting capacity of about 175,000 bushels. The amount annually planted there is from 25,000 to 30,000 bushels, and the amount obtained by tonging from the commons is about 5,000 bushels. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL BEDS IN HAMPTON ROADS AND JAMES RIVER.—F'rom another gentleman, described as a “planter of intelligence and varied experience”, Colonel McDonald obtained information which enabled him to plot upon his charts all of the natural “rocks” and the planting-grounds in Hampton roads and the James river. The plantings specified, with their products, are these: In Mill creek back of Fortress Monroe : Bushels. Now planted me pen -y meneame oem See melee ecient alee etater eaten feeetet one sietelnte eter 5, 000 LCRA ORIGIN Soon Geeene Sede cob aod Ora OO SOTO Soe OCNOOSbe con Geko coSoSe oboe Soto ceSos Sons cHiooAge Soeess 10, 000 On Hampton flats, between Newport News and Hampton creek : WO my Ulam ee 66 509 Seecbo wesocs ooo ccoobone Sohesos doScce GeooSHceS Shed cbse n4osee Hoesen cose 5, 000 Capaettvrcsse a= oe seeree sae ee ee ciecee aes tammetlese close eee eee sae aces Srod codeoh sees Chee caoe sess 400, 000 In Hampton creek : Now plamtediee -sss.tee = selec oe etsiers alelateatsiel ole te lata ete ie apni eee ene eo te mene ola eat ete terete 10, 000 COPTER LOTR ap ge RO RB Oeed SOCE Ie Ode SSO Go SEO GHEE oa eC bce CaeeUS SHO SRO ROS HES SnUEOOU Depts noes apse aaeSsece 10, 000 On edge of Channel, back of Ripraps: INO Wiplantedices s-tpeist= so aso) ones) ae te cats sal se ree anaes sete ise ae eee ce sence aeenene eel tate ets 5, 000 In Willoughby bay, back of Ripraps: INOWwiplanted= 22s). chee cae sce Gos Be oyasecn se sentecasoreees Re OSes EQeEECeSCSS coco cabendEcee 50, 000 Up the James river are a few plants—probably 25,000 or 30,000 bushels—but thousands of acres are available for planting which, in a few years more, will be brought into productiveness. METHODS OF OYSTER-CULTURE ABOUT HAmpron.—The seed for this cultivation is chiefly obtained in the James river, and the favorite points are high up the river near the upper limit of the natural-growth of the oyster, which limit is at the Deep Shoals light-house, a few miles below Jamestown. The effort is always to get round, single, deep, thin-shelled oysters for planting; the smaller the better, if they can lie until of mature growth. The tongs employed are of three sizes—24, 32, and 36 inches in breadth of “head”, They are of the ordinary pattern. The size employed depends upon the rankness of growth of the bed. Where single, or ‘“‘ cove”, oysters are sparsely scattered over the bottom, a small pair of tongs, with eight or ten inch jaws, is employed to gather them. The use of these is impracticable, however, unless the water be clear and smooth, so that the oysters can be “sighted”, or seen and aimed at. This can readily be done in water from 4 to 7 feet deep. Such oysters are large, fat, and of good shape; they class as “ selects”, and bring “top” prices in the market, from 60 cents to $1 per bushel. The seed is obtained by the tongmen, who work with their own canoe or tools, or by the planters, who hire crews and equip boats of their own to go after seed. In taking the oysters for planting, little or no culling is usually attempted. The cost of planting oysters (culled) varies from 10 to 40 cents per bushel, depending upon the character of the seed. Rough oysters—the run of the rock—may be planted for about 5 cents a bushel. The amount planted on a given area is regulated by the time they are to lie. For one year about 30 square feet is allowed to the bushel; when the plants are to lie for two years about 40 square feet to the bushel. Where the oysters are simply shifted to fresher water to fatten, and lie but a few months, several thousand bushels to the acre are often laid down. Ordinarily, the increase after lying fifteen months is one-fourth; for small single oysters it is double, or 100 per cent. The rate of growth will vary with location and other circumstances. The best judges, at Hampton, think that plants ought not to lie less than two years in order to get the best results. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 185 THE “GREEN-GILL” DISEASE.—In 1880 what the oystermen call the “green-gill” began to affect the planted oysters in Back river, and Colonel McDonald inquired carefully into it. He learned that it began with the oysters lowest down the river and traveled up the stream. It was supposed by the planters to be due to the extremely dry weather, which caused the water of the river to be unusually salty, since the condition appeared first where the water was saltest. When the oysters of Back river were similarly affected many years ago, one man moved several hundred bushels around to the Bay-shore, and allowed them to remain some time in the salty waters of the bay without producing any change. ‘The salient fact, if true, is that the change began in the salt water. Furthermore, it is observed that this peculiarity only affects them when they are fat. The existence of it does not impair the quality of the oysters, but it does materially affect the sale, because people generally are ignorantly afraid of it. PREJUDICIAL OYSTER-LAWS.—One other feature of this district calls forth remarks from Colonel McDonald, which I quote herewith: The Hampton flats furnished a notable example of a condition of things that is beginning to prevail extensively in Virginia waters. Formerly they were covered with a natural growth of oysters that had great reputation and commanded a high price in the markets. They lay right at the doors of Hampton, and gave profitable employment to her fishermen; now these flats are exhausted, and though possessing a productive capacity of nearly half a million bushels annually under judicious planting, the law of the state prohibiting planting upon ‘‘oyster rock”, keeps them barren, when an annual income of not less than $125,000 is possible. There are not now, nor is it likely there ever will be again, any natural, wild oysters growing there. Yet 2,500 acres of fine planting-ground, at the very doors of the oystermen is compelled to lie idle through shortsighted prejudice. OYSTER GATHERING AND PLANTING IN YORK RIVER.—For information in regard to the oyster-fisheries and industries of York river, I am again indebted to Colonel McDonald, whom I quote: York river is the common estuary of the Mattaponi and the Pamunkey rivers. It is a broad arm of the Chesapeake, some 30 miles in length. At the head of it stands West Point, the terminus of the Richmond, York River and Chesapeake railroad, whence lines of steamers ply to New York, Boston, and Baltimore. The average width of the river is about three miles. At its mouth, between Yorktown and Gloucester point, the width rapidly contracts to less than 1,200 yards. Through this narrow gorge the tide rushes with great velocity and has scoured out the channel to the depth of nearly 80 feet * * * The natural oyster-rocks of York river are now. insignificant, compared to former days, and most of the oystermen who formerly worked on this river every season, now go to the Rappahannock and the James. Relatively, the oyster-planting interests are of greater importance, yet are insignificant now compared to what they were ten years ago. At that time the high price of oysters caused overplanting, which led to the impoverishment of the planting-grounds, while the sudden fall in prices ruined most of those who were engaged in the business. The plants for this river are obtained in part from James river, the larger part from the Potomac, and cost to bring and lay down from 15 to 20 cents a bushel. The same conditions of ‘‘ greening” characterize the oysters in this river as in Back river. The greening begun with those lowest down the river, and has traveled up. Captain Van Pelt states as a curious fact, that green oysters have never been found on the York side higher up than Sandy point. The planting grounds extend to about 25 miles above Yorktown, and are occupied by 15 or 20 planters, who raised about 550,000 bushels for market during the past season. The ruling price was 35 cents, which would make the total value $122,500. Including the hired help, a hundred families probably make a living out of oyster- planting in York river, with the help of tonging, clam-digging, and various land-occupations. The product goes in schooners to the New York and Boston markets. PLANTING IN THE RAPPAHANNOCK.—In respect to the Rappahannock, what has been learned of the planting- interests is rather discouraging. The extent of ground under use is a strip along the flats on both sides, averaging 100 yards in width. These extend from Ware’s wharf or Russell’s rock, which is about eight miles above the light-house, to the mouth of the river. The seed comes chiefly from the natural beds in the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers, with a few from elsewhere. The planters are roughly estimated by Mr. B. L. Farinholt, of Montagues, Essex county, Virginia, who kindly gave me much information on this district, at about a thousand; and taking into account the tongers who sell exclusively to the planters, and others employed, Mr. Farinholt thinks no less than 5,000 men are supported by this industry. Many of these persons come to the river from elsewhere to work during the season, but very few are hired at stipulated wages in any capacity. Last season the planted crop is roughly estimated at about 400,000 bushels, which sold at an average price of 50 cents. The season of 1880~81 was an exceptionally profitable one. Mr. Farinholt writes me in conclusion, as follows: Planting is largely on the increase. The natural beds are rapidly being destroyed, oysters are becoming scarcer, and prices are increasing from 20 to 25 per cent. each year for plants. Unless the season for catching is made shorter, or some heavy tax is laid on, or both together, it is my opinion that within a few years this interest will become a very small one on this river, simply from the depletion and destruction of the natural beds. THE PACKING-TRADE OF VirGINIA.—The packing-trade of Virginia is of much later origin than that of Maryland. About the year 1859 Mr. Edmonds states that Mr. Edward Fitzgerald opened an oyster-packing establishment in Norfolk; but the war coming on, the business was greatly hampered and restricted, and it was not until 1865 that the trade gave any evidence of ever becoming very extensive. As the transportation facilities of the city increased, and the ill-effects of the war began to die out, the oyster-trade showed a very marked 186 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. improvement, and during the last few years it has developed very rapidly. Mr. Edmonds’ report upon this phase of the oyster-business in Virginia is very complete, and I quote him as follows: In Norfolk, as in Baltimore and other cities of Maryland, the trade is largely in the hands of northern men, one difference, however, being quite noticeable, and that is, that whereas in Maryland the packers are principally natives of Connecticut, in Norfolk they are nearly all either New York or Boston men. The enterprise and capital of these gentlemen has largely developed this business, which now forms ove of the most important branches of Norfolk’s trade. The increase in the packing-trade of Norfolk has been instrumental in decreasing the shipments of oysters in shell by sail vessels from the bay to New York and Boston, as these two cities receive, by means of the Old Dominion line and the Merchants’ and Miners’ Transportation Company lines, the great bulk of Norfolk oysters. This important change in the course of trade has been very beneficial to Norfolk, as the shucking and handiing of oysters give employment to a large number of workmen. The trade of Norfolk is almost exclusively in raw oysters, there having been only 3,000 gallons of steamed-oysters packed during the entire season. Shipments are made in bulk in barrels, and, although, as previously stated, the largest part of the trade is with New York and Boston, there are considerable shipments to all points of the North and West. Although Baltimore is pre-eminently the great packing center of the bay, it is nevertheless true that, considering the amount of capital invested in the business, Norfolk handles proportionately a much larger trade than the former city. The number of shuckers employed and their wages are in about the same proportion in the two cities. The number of oysters packed at Norfolk during the season of 1879-80, was much larger than the combined totals of all packing points in Maryland, excluding Baltimore. The exact figures are as follows: Packed at— secede Crisfield, Maryland. -..--........--..---.---------- GOS 50 DOGHOS COM IA Hee SoS So HoDeST rotass GoaweSeean ses 427, 270 Cambridge, Maryland ..-....------------- ------ ++ +--+ 222+ -- 22 22 cee nn rennet nee eee ee eee 205, 410 Annapolis, Maryland....-..---- Resvieseisscetesmisa cece = SBoeea SAS bah Bodo odbeecas UaSees oSSce coESSeSess 156, 703 Oxford, Maryland .....---.----. ------ -- 2-22 ee ee wenn eee ene cern teens nee cee eee ene eee e en eee eee 108, 960 Saint Michael’s, Maryland ...--..----- ---- ---- ee00 220+ - 2-2 oe nnn on ewe wen oe eee ne sane “ook eee s 37, 788 Sundry small places, Maryland ....--...--. ---- ---- +--+ ---+ ---- 2222 coer cee ene nen eee ee een 224, 817 otalgee==seee—= 7 SARA SSSE Sains eaeiclaeejsace bese cess nase Seles nseinies selon mm eslsamini> = aia mie ee minnie =o 1, 160, 948 Norfolk, Virginia .....-.. -------. ---- 2+ eee eee 22 eens ene cee ne en cern cee cee cee cee eee ee eee ee 1,370,855 - Difference in favorof Norfolk. - oo) cece ces = nn seee wea a en 2 oe ow elnene = oneal e rer irlswimae\an =e anima el== Se ee; ni 2097907, Outside of Norfolk the packing of raw oysters in Virginia is very light. At several places a light business is done, but too small to be noted separately. At Hampton and at two places on the Rappahannock river quite an extensive trade in steamed or coye oysters is con- ducted. The word “cove”, as applied to oysters, has two entirely distinct meanings. When used by tongers it refers to large oysters caught in the small coves tributary to all creeks and rivers, while with packers and others it means oysters which have been steamed and hermetically sealed. Table showing the packing trade of Virginia for 1879~80 (by R. H. Edmonds). At Norfolk. in Vinaiie. Total. Number of firms 13 12 25 Capital invested $96, 350 $23, 000 $119, 350 Estimated value of buildings and grounds occupied $138, 500 $29, 000 $167, 500 Average number of hands employed...... .-.--------+---+-------+ -2ee ce ceeeee tere ne seen n ences teen ee ener escent sees 1, 027 501 1, 528 Wages of same ......---- 2 .-2e eee nee e eee cence eee ne eee cane ee enn e ee cone e ec nneeerenenscnrtncnseccns cent ae eres $154, 584 $46, 367 $200, 951 Number of bushels packed raw. ------..---- ------ 22-222 een nee eee eee nee ee eee n ne cer ser eeee eer n eee nen ns 2 1, 370, 855 58, 275 1, 429, 130 Value of same |. ..-.------+----+- ene ee eee eee eee e ee eee ene cere een ee 235 - r| $589, 127 22, 020 $611, 147 Number of bushels steamed ........---- -ncen0------ccnnee ccecenenee n= ee 38, 000 190, 000 193, 000 RVislue\ Of SRI Cpe seem aa ean S50 anos e $1, 500 $119, 400 $120, 900 Total number of bushels packed 1, 373, 855 248, 275 1, 622, 130 Valeo same ee ances tee eee eee ae $585, 273 $141, 420 $726, 693 Number of tin cans used... -. 2220 cone ne nnn nae een eee enn enn ne cen e renee wenn n eee eaten ene nncennnnnnccnesenn= 25 91, 000 620, 000. 711, 000° SVraltre of Same eae are a wee ee eee ae ae eel nan sete ean oo ope cane meine nee aetienee = ea Eine Sace ac $3, 615 $18, 500 $22, 115 Number of wooden cases, barrels, etc., used F 16, 871 1, 000 17, 871 iVraldelot Ramo Meaaeeaaeaecisnee oeeae eee ee eee ete ne cee a eae ROS e eRe Sal os CEE SSE erat ees aes see ae eters $11, 119 $1, 939 $13, 058 Since Mr. Edmonds’ visit to Norfolk, a large steaming-house has been put up there by representatives of the Union Oyster Company of Baltimore. This employs many hands, additional to the number counted above, and uses a large quantity of oysters which otherwise would rot, or at least not find sale to the “raw” houses. This conduces to the general prosperity of Norfolk, in that it makes the chance of selling at some price more certain than before, and thus induces a larger number of boats to come to the town and do their trading as well as sell their catch there. The steaming-house also gives employment to many girls and women. Previously, very few females had been employed in the packing-houses of Norfolk, but of the 501 shuckers in other parts of the state, 244 are females. I suppose this new establishment would add at least 10 per cent. to the totals of the above-given table ; but as I have no precise figures, I prefer not to enter into the summary of statistics. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 187 SHIPMENT OF OYSTERS IN THE SHELLS.—Although I have added from other sources a large additional amount of local particulars, no better statistics are available for Virginia than those furnished by Mr. R. H. Edmonds, in connection with his report on Maryland. The summaries will be found in the succeeding tables: Shipments of oysters in shell from Virginia for year ending May 31, 1880, For plant- | For imme- To— ing. diate use. | Total. Bushels. | Bushels. Bushels. CGN? WAniLrs coe ce gg oocenon fore cage Sees tne Spe eRe SRO ees Seo SES Regs 5 Osc E Re SSeS eos ere er BS ne co anc ee cr erences Soo ee secer pera saree 650, 000 BESTE AD AAAS E94 ER SNL ED OID CAL ER RSE Re lelectra lel al ee peed ee ee alee eee ae ae 215, 820 223, 940 439, 760 SUNLOM s cetcen machetes) ceceee ns so 5, 000 90, 000 95, 000 Providence and Providence river. .- 180, 000 50, 000 230, 000 LATS FC ea. Aas mae = 133, 000 | 150, 000 283, 000 PROD at ot OL One oie See te oe ett cae sap eias ceitcb amet aaG = tcipahieaeee hae sincmacme tacts abpeccbh ee cascct tess ssamcedenttesciwcas obcde ope 9, 000 75, 000 84, 000 (eS URI Ge By op as qse 2st R OSS SSE sn OS ence Goer BRCM Sere POs an JOSEPH BE GO APEC OE CBSE BEB eRe Ss cso Hee Deters taser Eps an sei! 317, 317 317, 317 Maryland ..-.-...--.. 1, 000, 000 1, 000, 000 By rail and steamers -.- 216, 113 216, 113 GUTIEY, cceeme sconce tances ne Han Sete SERS E ERASER Ore: BREESE SAAS SE ARISE ACESS E SORES BASSE SAE OE SE SOM EBAS GR r BS Anne POR A Ba Rn |: ante em bey aS See 3, 315, 190 YIELD OF VIRGINIA OYSTER-FISHERIES.—The number of bushels of oysters caught in the state during the year, and the disposition made of them, may be summarized as follows: Bushels. ackedinutherstat erases ese ter cate cmtiee cine ae Sar one een RE i Ae swt sme cosmeccies satsaiee. 1, 622, 130 Shippediontrotetherscauesine shells ean eee rer eote oe oa asec ea oes e Se occ Sap eé silo’ weenie 3, 315, 190 (Wsedkforlocaltconsumption ini theleivies of the: state. o2- «..22c6.-0-2-= snescacce< cous ecco eco ceeejceeele 275, 000 Used for local consumption in the small towns and counties of the state..............-..----.-------- 1, 625, 000 Mo tality emcees ee Hatee aii ianaaea es a cine ainda cee pis eat. ce Cnc oUsae fen oe Cokwiecceleodelcc/antn 6, 837, 320 STATEMENT SUMMARY.—The average value of these oysters from first hands, would be about 284 cents a bushel, or a sum total of $1,948,636 20. This is shown, by sections, in the following statement: Co) n we ALO a 4 ice <| = A 2 3 ea £ : g ad : nD co) so 2D 2 SH oR, a a Department of work. 5 °2 w3 rm 2 ws 13) a Se Sotas te] oq no Saas. g Fe % gSSs4 =) Ee s SRSSS Ss) A E a ENGIN Pie ne. on ca scans oe cme ace coins cocaessccecaeesacsistne conan lanacmacaeecesucus Rs cn eu ten ae cagatondese te PCE GI ee = teem osbeecx| | ppconesacetecs a Packing.... aS ese ree ase = 286, 850 1, 528 $200, 951 |.. PRON DAN aoe Jon scscecacesemne nec ccosen cect encase enacs 4 aA 224, 050 8, 660 Oi O00) | rate etait alate SERA ANN lea 2 tm oe ae os anim cine Secwe mee cewersacn ae 3 460, 950 5, 376 1, 022, 172 AAPOR Geo pe nha aaa wen ns Weaken can aswace sew eay eaubebpe s cleaseasiasdncdvecwecccodedsecadees 10, 000 300 57, 600 50, 000 200 83, 200 1, 618, 150 | 16, 264 | 3, 135, 923 Reducing this to the formula for summary used heretofore, it presents itself as follows: STATISTICAL RECAPITULATION FOR VIRGINIA: Nim benompackers, planters, and tONGOIS..scos- tase cme ccs aslo ce cic so mias ciccelncicc noice sinc cleeyeweacieisesics = 10, 439 Malieousiore-propenty, (aDOWL) 22. cesta: ssicce ee csctercenen sees ceeusls cacsc ace s-cccecesemscccerans $50, 000 Niambenofvesselsiand! sailboats engaged: sos. secede sata stele soe wlses tee cee tec sn actelccscececeesece 1,317 RViep STR aSeRI TG ee eee eee See 258 ety Bee Re eee epee eee 40 ee eee! oi Soc bul oceatecivetilt ee $460, 950 Number of canoes and skiffs .----...--- lest eae eee eee wee ateapetedt conde cence dSescsceecteesS os 4, 481 WHR GON ERIS - scams RE GcOHE AOR BBER ECHO OC EUR IDS BESS eo ee ORG SE ECO OE OEE SESE Sees e eeeeran $224, 050 Ninberonmensihired py, planters ox dealers 2.-~ -.)2-sc=isteeeons case ccisecs sec-55 -sanss cose esecce case 500 PATI A Men MOMBAINOMe asa kere > "= osiaee a cece e cies ae tien cece ace ace coe tea = cide cosa ceed sovisices ces eeee $140, 800 Numberjopsatlorsiemployedie soos. 24 22)35 ste cate taedesecese can Rodeos. pe cle sis :s)s Sete cleelews « Se eee 5, 376 Annual earnings of same ..--..----.-----..- Pit ites Pape Se ae tL pees ane nic ciec dies wateee ee ae Benes (61, 0225172 LOLA MUMpOTOlt AMOS SIP POITEO) smos osama ae saree een ation = ove <6 --aclscnien pia ocle = Sere cel © oh Z 16, 264 Annual sales of— ee Vly CLOVRUCUSpeeiteee facies sure - ols cracls ame entiieieniasivweuadiaccccces sexec~ cocese~ecess DUSDOIS.. . 6,837,020 Walueionsamolceeeatsoses. conse scoeee Re eb ee cio See elias wae deen Coens $1, 948, 636 188 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. Q. THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC COAST. 50. THE OYSTER-PRODUCTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. GENERAL ASPECT OF THE INDUSTRY.—In North Carolina the business in oysters and oyster-culture is of small proportions, and is confined almost wholly to the Neuse river, Beaufort, and Wilmington. The census of 1860, imperfect, of course, in both estimates, gives North Carolina only $2,100 worth of oysters, compared with $53,145 credited to Virginia, and $15,305 taken in Maryland. The inside of the outer “banks”, or the long line of beaches that protect the inner submerged area of nearly fresh water from the demolishing force of the ocean, is lined with oyster-growth to a greater or less degree along its whole extent, but these oysters are not always either edible or available for commerce. Currituck sound was closed from the ingress of salt water forty years ago, and of course all marine life has died out there. Albemarle sound is said to be the largest body of fresh water in the country, except the Great Lakes, and sometimes sweetens the water clear down to Roanoke island. Pamlico sound, on the contrary, has inlets from the Atlantic which make all its water, at least along its eastern half, thoroughly saline, and permits a luxuriant oyster-growth. This is availed of by the simple fishermen of these desolate beaches and islands in a way that shows how a primitive custom may survive for many years after the commonwealth in which it grew up has passed on to something more complicated and better fulfilling the same purpose. Of these fishermen there are about 300 between the middle of Core sound and Roanoke island,as I am informed by Mr. Rh. E. Earll, of the United States Fish Commission. Mr. Earll tells me that every winter, at intervals in their fishing, or in connection with it, all of these fishermen are wont to take partial loads of oysters, gathered on the outer banks, to the shore and river towns, perhaps 20 or 30 or more miles away, and there dispose of them, not for cash, but by a system of barter. The exchange is ordinarily made for corn, and the rate last winter was one bushel of oysters in the shell for one bushel of Indian corn in the ear. Taking this, together with what the families of the fishermen eat, and these people live on oysters the year round, and with small interruption, Mr. Earll considers that forty and perhaps fifty thousand bushels a year, worth, perhaps, $10,000, reckoned in money, would not be too large an estimate to put upon this consumption. One obtains from such a picture as this an appreciation of the importance of oysters, and the oyster-trade, to the people who live in the neighborhood of the beds, and of which little or no statistical account can usually be given. THE VICINITY OF BEAUFORT.—The first point of inquiry, which develops any systematic or commercial use of oysters, is in the vicinity of Beaufort and Morehead City, which Jie at the lower end of Core sound, and on opposite sides of Newport river, whose mouth and inlet from the ocean form Beaufort harbor, and separate Core sound on the north from Bogue sound on the south. The oysters brought to Beaufort come chiefly from the two sounds mentioned. They are almost always of natural growth, but the transplanting of seed has been done at a good many different points, and there will, no doubt, be considerable cultivation in a few years. An attempt was made in 1880 by a Baltimore firm to establish an opening-house at Beaufort, but inclination or circumstances caused its removal to Newberne. There is little regular business at Beaufort. therefore. I am in receipt of a letter from Dr. H. C. Yarrow, United States army, containing some notes on the oyster- interests in this locality in 1864. Dr. Yarrow writes: At the time I was in Beaufort the oyster was not cultivated, and all I can tell you is, that the best ones were found about 25 or 30 miles west of Fort Macon, in Bogue sound. These oysters, which were famous, brought 40 cents a bushel; ordinary ones only 20. Good oysters were also got up the North river and in a river, running a little north of Harkness island, which is near Cape Lookout. NEWBERNE.—More facts are to be ascertained at Newberne, where more business is now done. Newberne gets its oysters from various points in Pamlico sound. The marshes of the lower part of the Neuse are full of them, but little or no use is made of this seed. Bay river, on the shore of the mainland, gives a good thin-shelled and white oyster, with a deep “cup” and fine flavor, but the freshets in the Neuse are likely to ruin these beds. Smith’s creek is also a very good locality, and oysters of very fine flavor are caught opposite Fort Smith, but contain a great many crabs. Good single oysters, capable of being made very fine by planting, are reported to abound in the vicinity of the Royal Shoal rocks. Other good localities are Point of Marsh and Broad creek. The objection to all Core sound oysters is, that though of fine shape and good flavor, they do not seem to thrive under transplanting. However, this may be a libel upon them, since none but the crudest experiments have been made in cultivation. There is no reason to doubt that it would sueceed grandly, and with comparatively small trouble, for I have rarely seen shells come up so completely overgrown with infant oysters, as are those which are brought to Newberne. There is little hope that the fishermen themselves, who now live along the shore and work upon the beds, will ever become cultivators to any extent. Whether outside capital will ever find it profitable to undertake oyster-planting in these apparently highly favorable waters, depends upon a dozen outside considerations of market, means of transportation, possibilities of procuring labor, ete., which it would be futile to discuss, because they are constantly changing. It appears then that all the oysters—with occasional exceptions—sent to market from this district, are taken from the natural beds without any intermediate process of transplanting, or fresh-water fattening. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 189 NortH CAROLINA OYSTERMEN.—The men who supply the oysters are partly fishermen, few of them expecting to derive as much as half of their support from this occupation. In all, I suppose there are from 300 to 400 men tonging more or lessin Pamlico sound, but it is out of the question to arrive at any definite average of what each one earns. The main cash receipts go to the hundred or so chief oystermen. The boats are the same ones used in the general fisheries, and will average $200 to $250 in value. They belong chiefly in Core sound, and in all there are perhaps 50 or 60 of them. In spite of this array of natural resources, men and boats, only about 25,000 bushels were landed at Newberne, and about 5,000 bushels more at Beaufort, during the winter of 1879~80. Itis said that about half as much more (say 15,000 bushels) were bought by peddlers alongshore, who carted them back into the country and sold them from their wagons. The total production of this district, therefore, is about 45,000 bushels, which would be increased to 50,000 bushels if we counted the immediate consumption on the shore. Not only ought there to have been raised from the water a very much larger amount than this, when we consider the great area of the beds and the number of men employed, but a vastly larger amount would have found an immediate market at Newberne. There are two or three persons there who regularly ship in the shell as many good oysters as they can procure. Besides this there has recently been opened a shipping-house, which would be glad to consume 1,900 bushels a day during all of the cooler half of the year, if they could only obtain the stock. But unfortunately, the general laziness and improvidence of the oystermen are so great, that it is impossible to make a contract and expect to fill it. Not only has it proved extremely difficult to obtain oysters in sufficient quantity, and at the time they were needed, to make the running of this new packing-house profitable, but when by good luck a stock was on hand, there was incessant danger that the men hired as shuckers might suddenly desert their employer, without a single compunction as to their duty or responsibility under the circumstances. When it is cold, or the weather is at all rough, no one of these North Carolina oystermen can be persuaded or driven to go to work, notwithstanding that the beds are near shore and well sheltered, and in spite of his manifest poverty. The fact that some discomfort will attend his raking, is reason enough for him why he should stay home and sit over his miserable fire. Yet it is in cold and stormy weather that the buyers are most anxious to get oysters, and will pay a higher price, because then there is not only a greater demand produced by general scarcity, but the frosty air sharpens the appetite of their customers. The question of labor in opening presented an obstacle to success of the same nature. These men are paid by the gallon, and it was found that no reliance could be placed upon a large number of them. Both white men and colored were employed, but the latter have proved the more reliable of the two, and have nearly superseded white help. Many men would come to the house, beg to be taught the art of opening oysters, which was new to most of them, and be set at work.. For the first few days the novelty would keep them pretty steadily employed, then suddenly, when perhaps their assistance was most needed in filling an order, they would knock off. After that their promises proved worth nothing, and no reliance whatever could be placed upon their staying longer than was necessary to earn the 15 or 20 cents which would buy them a little corn meal and tobacco, to keep themselves and their families from starvation for a couple of days. So impossible have the proprietors found it to improve these lazy, unbusiness-like habits of the people, upon whom they must rely for their stock and their labor, that Newberne is likely to lose the benefit of an industry which, in a different community, would distribute much needed money among hundreds of families of the poorer classes. Some oysters bring as high as 50 and 75 cents a bushel in Newberne and Beaufort, but the average price during this last winter was not above 35 cents, if quite as high as that. At this rate the 50,000 bushels credited to the district was worth $17,500. THE USE OF OYSTERS FOR MANURE.—I must not omit to mention a custom which prevails in Pamlico sound in summer, and which has been described to me by Mr. Earll. It seems that when the weather becomes too warm for the fishermen to safely carry their catch to market, and there is no other employment for their boats, they catch up boat loads of rough “’coon oysters” and carry them to the farmers up the rivers to be sold and used as manure. They receive from 3 to 5 cents a bushel for this strange, but doubtless highly nutritious, fertilizer, but what is the total amount thus gathered and spread on the land each season, I am unable to estimate. OYSTERING ABOUT NEW RIVER.—South of Newberne and Beaufort oysters grow in nearly all the inlets, but there is no regular production until New river is reached, about half way between Beaufort and Wilmington. The main location of the raking here is right opposite Sneed’s ferry, beginning two miles from the bar and extending for three miles. The water here is only brackish, and of a uniform depth of about 9 feet. The crooked channel is full of “oyster-rocks”. The oysters are of large size, fairly regular shape, and for the most part single. They possess a most pleasing flavor; but when now and then storms drive the salt water up the river, their excellence departs and the oysters take on a greenish appearance, locally called “ green-gill”. When in this condition they are not considered fit to be eaten, but the disaffection soon wears off. The oystering here is done in skiffs, of which from fifteen to twenty are constantly busy for four or five months in the spring. As there are two men to each skiff or canoe, from 30 to 40 families get a living from the tonging. The law permits every man owning a water-front to inclose a large space of the adjoining bottom, if he wishes to plant oysters. About a dozen perSons have taken such plots and raise planted oysters, but the total crop this year will probably not exceed 2,500 bushels, and this stock was inferior to the natural growth. All these oysters, wild and planted, are sold to carters, who buy them at $1 a bushel, or from 60 to 80 cents a gallon, for a large part of the 190 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. whole product is opened there to prevent the carriage of the extra weight of shells. The wagoners carry them to interior towns and peddle them at various prices. It is thus that Wilmington is supplied, and the retail price there is $2 a bushel. Wilmington also receives oysters in small quantities from Myrtle Grove sound, where some experiments in planting have just been begun about two miles northeast of Fort Fisher. These are small, but fat and very choice specimens. Another point whence oysters of good reputation come, is Winbury, on Topsail sound. It is difficult to come at it, but I judge that from fifty to sixty thousand bushels is an estimate of all that the production of the New river and Wilmington region would require annually. Out of the perhaps 50 men who busy themselves regularly in this industry, as tongers, openers, carters, or shippers, there are none who are not also largely engaged in other sources of daily bread. It is believed by those best informed upon the subject, that the state law which prohibits dredging within the state is an injury rather than a blessing to the oyster-beds. They are probably right. Under proper restrictions which shall save the privilege from abuse—something hardly to be apprehended in this case, owing to the geographical conditions—dredging would aid both in the extension of the oyster-bearing areas and in the better production of good single oysters on the grounds where they now grow, but in acoarse, bunchy way. The permission of dredging might bring some evils, as in the Chesapeake, but the benefits following to North Carolina would probably overbalance any harm. STATEMENTS FoR NortTH CAROLINA.—Reviewing this, furnishes estimated totals as follows, for the whole state: Number of planters and tongers -.---- .------ 1-22 ------ 22-222 eens wee ene ene tee eee cone en enne 1, 000 Number of shippers ---- .--- .- 2-22 2-22 eee cence woe en enn enn cee ne enn nnn wens wa nee none che wee nnn ne 10 Viale) of) shore=propertiyjs case. soc eee ee cele esc eee ee el ne ee eee ae Bele eet eee ee gL 000 Numberof; vessels sacnnce soca es eaalonen oe cate inten ceiscie es setae = aie miecetel beta hale lm ele lem Mom malmied nite iad = hie aim C 90 Number of smalls poats= sana. eee ce eee seen icee cine = Slee eae BESS asada boabaey GeCo Sena AS SS BEA HASaaS 800 Wahi @? dileayy Macli@e hy s245 55 koee aguces oSaoss anos OSco Eco Roce ce Ses AaeeSeante S56 cS Ss Obeacsideackteacaac $53, 500 Number of shoremen hired s2-225 ssc s\-o-ncosee-es oe ee noe ese e seat ee wesc cee ed = ance seems /emnieim = l= al 10 Annual earnings of same .-.-..-..----- .----- +-----------+-- STS Ee ear oo eaae een teetene ane ne - $1,300 Families supported, partially ..-. 2... ---- --2. 2222 cone ce ene een ce ene monn ee en eee cee nee penne cone eens 1, 000 Native oysters annually sold --.- 2... ---- -200 220 en ne on cone nee mene cone wn ne een n enn sence ene bushels.. 170, 000 "Valties Of SAMOS cose cs oom ree Serre eee ene ee a thee a Bice ee eaine Soci cinw Soe nnices aeons emalars seis eee renee Re OU CUO 51. OYSTER-FISHERIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA. CHARLESTON AND VICINITY.—At Charleston all the business is confined to a little desultory planting around Sullivan’s island, and it is doubtful if there is any shipping of oysters done there whatever. The same is true of Port Royal; and I am convinced that 50,000 bushels, worth perhaps $20,000, would supply the yearly demand of the whole South Carolina coast. The interior towns of the state derive their supplies from the North or else from Savannah. 52. OYSTER-FISHERIES OF GEORGIA. SAVANNAH.—A somewhat unsatisfactory report of the oyster-business in the neighborhood of Savannah, was all that it was possible for me to obtain during my stay there; but it is a small industry at best, though the most important producing and shipping point on the southern coast. Savannah is situated upon bluffs on the banks of the Savannah river, just where the salt meadows and sea islands give place to the mainland. In the Savannah river, itself, no oysters grow above the immediate mouth. This is due to the great volume of fresh water which it pours out. In time of freshet, the red, turbid current is visible 25 or 30 miles at sea, and so completely freshens the water to the very outlet, that oysters will not flourish. Off Potato point, however, and in the shape of two elongated banks, marked by beacons, in mid-stream, oyster-beds are to be found, and are raked for seed, or, more than that, for marketable oysters, which are brought to Savannah. These beds in Tybee roads are mainly tonged by colored men, who are fishermen at other times, or do it in a desultory way. Their number and catch varies endlessly. RACCOON OYSTERS.—But everywhere in the thousand channels which intersect the marshy islands that border the coast, making a perfect net-work of salt-water tide-ways, the raccoon or bunch oysters grow in endless profusion. Let there be old shells, sunken fragments of castaway stuff, logs, or anything upon which it is possible for an oyster to catch, and it will be surely covered with the young shells before a single season has gone by. The oysters spawn here regularly from April till June, and seatteringly till a much later date. So prolific of spawn are they, and so favorable seem to be the conditions for their safe growth, that such an object as an old shell will become completely coated with the infant bivalves. As these grow (and with great rapidity) they sink and gather in the mud, and crowd each other for lack of room to enlarge. All these effects produce their slender and irregular shape, they being able to increase only in the narrow, outward direction. Before they are half grown a second season bestows upon them a new collection of young oysters, which must struggle in a similar way, and thus there arise clusters or bunches or columns of oysters, sometimes three or four feet high and several inches thick, which are closely agglomerated and of very heavy weight. These are called raccoon or ’coon oysters, and are collected, knocked to pieces, and sold in market, chiefly by colored men. Though some of them will not furnish a meat much larger than the thumbnail, they are sweet and well flavored when brought from a good locality. THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 191 PLANTING FOR THE SAVANNAH MARKET.—No oysters were planted for the Savannah market until about forty years ago, when, it is said, the first attempt was made by Mr. Andrew Nelson, who is still engaged in the business at Vernonburg. Now there are planted beds, also, alongside of his, in Burnside river and at Thunderbolt, about five miles south of the city. The Thunderbolt planters go for their seed chiefly into Wilmington river and Wassaw sound, and particularly along the southern end of Tybee island. The Vernon and Burnside planters go down the Vernon river and into Ossabaw sound, especially along the northern end of Ossabaw island, and at the southern point of Big Wassaw. Here they tong up their seed into batteaus, the water being so deep in some places as to require 18-feet handles. The law of the state prohibits dredging, or “‘any other instrument than the oyster-tongs heretofore in general use”. These tongs do not differ essentially from those made and used in the north. Only a portion of the seed obtained for planting, however, is tonged up from the deep-water beds, where it occurs singly, or nearly so. A larger portion is obtained from the shores of the various sounds and salt-water channels, and consists of incipient bunches of raccoon oysters. At low water the planter takes a bateau and four men and goes to the shore where he designs to work at the time of low water. Getting out upon the exposed mud, one or two of the men pull or rake up out of the mud the small bunches of oysters imbedded there, and the rest follow after and pick them up. The instrument used is a rude piece of iron of convenient length, bent at one end so as to act (as it is called) as a “hooker”. Old wagon tire is a favorite material out of which to make this instrument. One of these bateaux will carry 100 to 200 bushels, and four men can often fill it in a tide, breaking the bunches in pieces as they pick them up. GEORGIA OYSTER-LAWS.—It is only recently that the state has given legal sanction to oyster-culture. The law is brief, but very much to the point, and reads as follows: Where any person haying taxable lands on the banks or shores of any of the rivers or creeks of this state, shall plant beds of oysters upon them, it shall not be lawful for any other person to take from such beds of oysters: Provided, the same shall be distinctly staked or marked. When an oyster-bank, or beds of oysters, or natural formations, be within rivers or creeks, not exceeding 125 feet in width, and not used for purposes of navigation, the persons having the ownership of the lands on both sides of such creeks or rivers shall have the exclusive right to the usufruct of such banks or beds of oysters as aforesaid. PRE-EMPTION METHODS.—Under this law large amounts of public marsh and islands have been staked off, much of which (it is widely complained of) is not properly done, since bona fide planting is not carried on, nor are taxes paid. The truth of this charge of abuse, which must only exist by common consent, I did not investigate ; but heard several planters say that large portions of their most accessible seed-grounds had been thus shut off, compelling them to go a long distance, with much labor and pains, for their “plants”. The boundary marks used are stakes, upon which is nailed a board with the letter “‘O” painted upon it. One of these oyster-signs at the mouth of a narrow creek would prohibit any boat gathering oysters above it; and it seems to be universally respected, except by the vagrant negroes, who catch and sell oysters when they want a little money to prevent utter starvation, or to pay for some sport. METHODS OF CULTURE.—The seed thrown overboard is mainly about a year old; smaller takes too long to grow, and a much larger growth will not survive transplanting.. There are two classes of beds—shore-beds, going dry at low tide, and channel-beds, always covered—the latter producing the finer oysters. The bottom is mostly clay mud. After two years the oysters are taken up, the marketable ones picked out, and the rest thrown back; then another lot of new seed is thrown on the same bed. 7 Sample No. | Sample No. Sample No. Sample No. Sample No. Sample No. 328. 329. | 330. 328. 329. 380, Time ysis ciee'sacotes een ode eo ee 64. 47 53. 60 | 53. 82 | Chioriigs-faee es. £2 ee eb eivks 0. 04 0.02 0.01 NER ON SIA oc mtn once cee een oe eee eeeieeee 0. 41 0. 32 | (0/243) SPhosphoriciacid\s=s--e-- J } 9 SEE Sulphurie acid 0. 52 0. 69 | 0. 23 || 100. 00 100. 00 100. 00 In the subjoined statement are given the proportions of the various chemical compounds that probably exist in the samples: | | : | | Sample No. Sample No. Sample No. Sample No.) Sample No.) Sample No. 328. | 329. 330. 328. 329. 330, . is | Carbonateofilimetsesseecuesecsen cee eee eee 17.45 | 19. 73 50.52 | Sodium chloride (common salt) ..-.....-.--- 0. 07 0. 03 0. 02 Hydrate lofslime k= se sees ans = Scout eee 68. 64 | 52. 84 33. 29 || Oxide of iron and alumina.............----- 1. 60 1. 48 1.14 Smal phate sO fe lim @ oa.) e cess eee eens aetna | 1.12 | 1.48 O40 HST eo ae ier ph Deere emer ee ee rl ope | a a alee a peer on 6.12 Phosphate* of lime ,.c2.s2sescns sence seweccess 0. 37 0. 41 0938" Sand= ----.=--sse=—- 5. 08 2. 85 | Silicate tof lime jyiie2cw2s 3 <2 eae oes neko een: 4. 33 | AN66!||Ss5- S01. cee |: Goals: s43_ 25 2eMe= 0. 65 0. 94 2. 60 Marne sia ar oat he se eee ae 0.41. | 0. 32 0.24 Water 0.00 15.29 4.97 Carbonate of potash ..-....-....ceee: as 21 Bottom water, dead low tide, air chilly..-.....--.. -.--.... 56 22, Richmond bay: Bottom water on bed, 4 p. m., ebbing tide----.- --....--.----..----------------- 58 However, I had no opportunity to learn the minimum temperature which these oysters would survive. It would not be safe to say that the sole reason why oysters did not grow off Port Hood, for instance, was that the bottom water was as cold as 40° or 42° Fahr. There are probably various other reasons. I was told by fishermen on the island, and at Shediac, that they did not think the water could be too cold, short of actual freezing. They were united in the opinion, however, that ice had been the direct cause of the extinction of many of the beds. As T have said in my chapter descriptive of that district, however, I am sure that ice, or nature at large, has had less to do with this misfortune than the heedless greed of the oystermen themselves. FooD OF THE OYSTER.—The question of proper and sufficient food is also one of great importance, in considering the question of oyster-growth, whether in natural or artificial beds. The anatomical arrangement of the oyster’s mouth and stomach, have already been explained, and the general character of his miscroscopic, floating food alluded to. Some further details in respect to this may be of importance. In a paper published in the report to the British government on oyster-culture in Ireland, in 1870, Prof. W. K. Sullivan, of Dublin, remarked, that independently of the mechanical constitution of the shore and littoral sea-bottom, 7. e., deposition of sediment, the currents, the temperature, ete., the nature of the soil produces a marked influence upon the food of the plants and sedentary animals that inhabit the locality, as well as upon the association of species. Especially is it the case with oysters, that the soil exerts so much influence on the shape, size, color, brittleness of shell, and flavor of the meat, that an experienced person can tell with great certainty where any particular specimen was grown. ‘“ Were we able to determine the specifie qualities of the soil which produce those differences in the qualities of oysters, it would be an important step in their cultivation. Again, soils favorable for the reproduction of the oyster are not always equally favorable for their subsequent development; and, again, there are many places where oysters thrive but where they cannot breed. This problem of the specific influence of the soil is, however, a very difficult and complicated one. First, because it is almost impossible to separate the specific action of the soil from those of the other causes enumerated; and next, because, though much has been written on the subject of oysters, I do not know of any systematic series of experiments carried out upon different soils, and for a sufficient length of time, to enable accidental causes to be eliminated, which could afford a clue to the determination of the relative importance of the action of the several causes above enumerated, at the different stages of development of the oyster. * * * J believe the character and abundance of Diatomacea and Rhizopoda, and other microscopic animals, in oyster-grounds, is of primary importance in connection with oyster cultivation, The green color of the Colchester and Marennes oyster shows how much the quality may be affected by such organisms. It is probable that the action or influence of the soil of oyster-grounds upon the oyster, at the various stages of its growth, depends mainly upon the nature and comparative abundance of the Diatomacea, Rhizopoda, Infusoria, and other microscopical organisms which inhabit the ground. I have accordingly always noted where the mud appeared to be rich in Diatomacea, Foraminifera, and other microscopic organisms. A thorough study of a few differently- situated oyster-grounds, exhibiting well-marked differences in the character of the oyster from this point of view, by a competent microscopist, acquainted with the classes of plants and animals just mentioned, would be of great scientific interest and practical importance.” Of all the edible matter afloat in the water where the oyster lives, probably none is of greater importance to this and other mollusks than the Diatoms—microscopiec forms of aquatic plants which, in almost infinite variety, swarm in both salt and fresh water, in the pond and ditch, in river and estuary, and throughout the open ocean. The distinguishing feature of the Diatoms is their indestructible skeleton of flint, in the shape of a pair of THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 223 transparent glassy plates united at their edges. When the plant dies and the soft parts decay, this flinty skeleton falls to the bottom, but is not destroyed. Century after century they accumulate and form immense beds, contributing myriads of skeletons to the rocky mass. THE GREEN OYSTERS OF HUROPE.—The Diatoms are brown, when they possess any color at all. It is not due to them, therefore, but to eating the chlorophyl-tinted spores or the whole plants of other species, that the “oreening” of oysters, or the “green-gill”, is due. This has frequently been ascribed to some metallic absorption, which rendered the oyster unfit to eat. Iam, therefore, glad to be able to quote Professor Sullivan again on this point. He says: Asthe green color of the mantle of oysters from certain localities just referred to is commonly attributed to copper, and as such oysters are consequently believed very generally to be poisonous, and their value therefore greatly depreciated, I made the most careful search for traces of that metal in the muds which I had received from grounds known to produce green-bearded oysters. Oysters and other mollusca placed in solutions containing copper and other metals absorb them, and retain them in their tissues. I have had two or three opportunities of examining oysters which had assimilated copper owing to mine-water containing it being allowed to flow into estuaries at places close to oyster-beds. In every case the copper was found in the body only of the oyster, which it colored bluish green, and not in the mantle or beard, which was not green. In the green-bearded oysters which I have had an opportunity of examining, the body was not green, and no trace of copper could be detected in any part of the animal. The color, too, was not the same as that of the true copper oysters, but rather that which would result from the deposition of chlorophy] or other similar chloroid vegetable body in the cells. In the oysters at Arcachon, France, a violet tint has been observed, sometimes, which is due to a similar cause, although referred to the iodine and bromine of sea-water. Certain reddish alge were found, when washed in fresh water, to impart to this a brilliant violet tint; and by careful observation it was ascertained that even the spores of these plants, which constitute a not inconsiderable portion of the nutriment, were similarly colored. In ordinary seasons, the dilution of the salt water by the rains in the Arcachon basin is sufficient to wash out the color of the spores of the algz, but when the brine is strongly concentrated, there is no such appearance about the gills of the oyster as has been described. RATE OF GROWTH IN OYSTERS.—It is, of course, largely upon their supply of food and of lime that their growth depends. This growth, however, is very variable, depending on the season, and in some years the increase is very slight. In general, transplanting young oysters in water similar to that in which they were born, causes them to grow more rapidly; but if they are carried into different temperature and other strange conditions, they will grow slowly. Thus in New York bay, the East river, and Newark bay “seed” far outgrows that brought from Virginia. In the Chesapeake, no doubt, the reverse would be true. But the conditions affecting growth may vary greatly within the same district. At Bird island, in Boston harbor, for instance, bedded oysters grow but very little, while those on the muddy shores of Winthrop, in fresher water, add a great length to their shells, but improve very little in flesh, making them very profitable to sell by the barrel, but not to open. EFFECT OF WEATHER.—The weather affects their health somewhat. When heavy winds blow in from the sea, making high tides and cold, salt water, the oysters shut their shells and will not feed, but during off-shore winds they fill up well. Though a hard winter leaves oysters in a weak condition, the losses on the beds by death are greatest when the weather is changeable and high winds are frequent. A Baltimore correspondent writes: Thunder sours milk and kills oysters. You may load a vessel to its utmost capacity, start for market, and one good round clap of thunder will kill every oyster in the vessel immediately. Pounding with an ax upon the deck of a vessel, when oysters are thereon, or pounding upon the side of a vessel with a heavy weight, will kill every oyster that feels the jar. I am not sure of the precise truth of this last assertion; but I know, that on the Massachusetts oyster-schooners no wood-chopping is allowed, and I have heard it argued that steamers could never be used in transporting Virginia oysters northward to the planting-beds, because of the jar of the machinery. How sensitive oysters are to feeling, appears from the fact, that they almost invariably close, the instant a boat comes near the bed. It has been said that they see the shadow; but to dispose of this, it is simply necessary to remind the reader that oysters have no eyes. It is by perceiving the jar in the water that they are apprised of the approach of some body, and, acting on instinctive presumption that it is an enemy, they drop their visors. DESCRIPTION OF THE FLORIDA BAYS AND REHFS.—On the other hand, how oysters contribute to the advancement of the world of humanity, apart from the nourishment which men and various animals derive from their juicy bodies, is well illustrated on the western coast of Florida and elsewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. The extent to which organic, living agents are adding to the coast-line of this portion of the United States is remarkable, the more so as we hardly expect results so large and substantial from any means short of volcanic or geologic methods. All along the western or gulf coast of Florida, particularly at its southern end, are great numbers of bars of oysters, worthless (in their natural growth) for civilized humanity, but beloved of the raccoons, which nightly come to eat them, and hence called “‘coon-oysters”. Many of these reefs go bare at low tide, and you may walk about on them. They consist of nothing but masses of oysters so crowded and compact, that a solid and level surface (seamed by frequent shallow channels and spaces a few inches wide) covers over the whole reef, which may be 224 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. several hundred yards long and forty or fifty yards in breadth. You may count up the number of individual oysters, when I tell you that a square foot will often contain a hundred. When the reef has attained such a height that its crest is exposed to the air at low tide longer than it is visited by the water of the high tide, the oysters will cease to grow there, while still Hourishing around the edges. The dead shells, growing brittle, are soon broken to pieces by the waves, and finally reduced to such small fragments, that they are like a shingle beach, or even like sand. Such a reef also, opposing the flow of the currents, furnishes lodgment to all sorts of drifting sea-wravk, receives a growth of the alge and grasses which frequent such half- submerged levels, and is all the time built up at the top by the washing upon it of fragments broken from its edges. It is not long, therefore, before a sort of shelly soil is formed, and some floating mangrove stem or seed takes root there, and manages to get so firm a foothold that the storms do not tear it away. THE OYSTER AS A REEF-BUILDER.—This' done, the far-reaching and tangled roots of the bush form an eddy which deposits sand and floating stuff, until more mangroves have room to root themselves, and the bar ceases to be a “reef”; it has become a ‘mangrove key”. Now, the mangrove (of which there are several kinds) is a very curious tree. It has a low, branching stem, and is thus pretty much all head; you cannot see anything as you approach but a compact mass of brightly green, thick, shining leaves, trailing to the ground. A nearer view discloses another very curious feature. From the main trunk, near the ground, extend out on all sides, and at varying height, some branches which do not go upward and bear leaves, but turn downward, enter the ground, and become roots. There are dozens of these stays surrounding every stem, and holding it, like so many cables, against the fury of the storms which sometimes hurl both wind and waves against the groves. But this isnot all. Every low branch produces a considerable number of thick, leafless, straight twigs, which elongate straight downward through air and water, until they penetrate the soil and become rooted. The mangrove is not only braced upon a score of roots, therefore, but anchored from every one of its lower and Jarger arms. A perfect tangle and net-work of these roots and rooted stems thus surround each tree and eyery islet with an abatis often several rods in width. Such a network speedily verifies its likeness to a basket by catching outside matter. Along the solid edges of the key itself, and everywhere in the neighborhood, are living oysters which antiually send forth a cloud of young to seek new quarters. The mangrove stems afford capital resting-places, and speedily become encased in oysters which increase in size and number very rapidly. This suspended kind is known as the “mangrove oyster”; but I do not see that they are anything but progeny of the coon bars. Barnacles, too, in vast numbers, muscles, bryozoa, and many forms of minute water-animals cling to these half-submerged branches or flourish under their shelter, where the hard sand and the bare angles of oyster-rock are being buried under a coating of mud and decayed vegetation, which the basket-work of mangrove roots and salt-grass has caught and confined. An especially noteworthy member of such a colony is a marine worm of small size, which forms about itself a tubular, twisted case of lime very like that of the serpula. Along certain portions of the coast, south of Tampa bay, these worms are extremely numerous; and they build up their cases so closely together that they join one another, and so cover the foundation upon which they grow with limy tubes somewhat larger than a darning-needle, the partially coiled bases of which are in unison, but the enpurpled mouths a fraction of an inch apart from one another, forming a solid mass of lime with a bristling (and, at high tide, very animated and beautiful) surface. Without being sure that I am right, I suspect that these worms survive only a single year, and then dying, leave their indestructible cases to serve as the foundation upon which their progeny may rear their tier of tubes. Thus, by the additions of successive generations (as in the case of the coral-growth, only through a different history), this worm-structure increases into an extensive mass of heavy rock. I have seen pieces many yards square and two feet or more thick. Growing irregularly, its crannies afford a haunt for many species of mollusks and crustaceans that like to hide away in holes; and its mass is further enlarged by the growth of bunches of oysters and the filling of all its interstices with sand and broken shells, which become solidified along with the worm-tubes by the production of a native cement. Thus millions of tons of solid limestone, most useful for building purposes, is every decade added to the Floridian coast by despised worms. Attracted by the excellence of the hiding-places offered, and by the abundance of ‘small deer” lurking there, come to the mangrove roots many predatory sorts of aquatic animals in search of food—conchs, whelks, boring sea-snails, crabs of several species, and mollusk-eating fish, like the sheep’s-head. Where there is teeming life, death is frequent, and thousands of empty shells and fleshless skeletons sink into the animated ooze, and rapidly fill it up, until the water no longer covers it, except at the highest tide, and then leaves an important toll of drift- wood, and the adventurous water-loving mangroves must push their roots farther and farther into the sea. ’ Meanwhile a similar process has been raising the center of the island. Decay of grass and salt weeds, and mangroves and drifted wood finally brings a surface permanently above the water. Huge flocks of water-birds daily alight upon it to rest and feed, and their droppings increase and enrich the soil. Various seeds are wafted or floated from the mainland and build up its stock of vegetation; various land animals, chiefly reptilian, make the new key their home. They die and are buried there. The simple mangrove swamp is succeeded by an intermixture of oak, pine, and palmetto, and their rotting logs gradually make a wide extent of solid ground. Discovering this, Indians get into the habit of landing there to open and feast upon oysters, clams, and conchs, and from the debris THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 225 of these feasts accumulate mounds or ridges hundreds of yards long and perhaps forty feet high. When the white man comes along, he discovers the largest trees and most luxuriant undergrowth upon these mounds of shells. Recognizing the excellence of the soil, it is there he places his house and plants his farm. The old oyster bar is an island with a name on the maps. Now, the formation of keys just in this way has long been going on, and clusters of them abound all the way from Apalachicola to Key West. A group of islands, near such a coast as Florida’s, acts like the interlacing roots of a single mangrove key; the currents are stopped, tides slackened, shell-débris, drifted matter, and sand deposited, and great shoals, mud-flats, and sand-bars result. Given such an archipelagic condition, a straight sand-bar, or outer beach, is a natural result, and this, once it is formed, contributes still more to the shoaling of the channels inside, until they eventually become largely obliterated, and many of the islands join together and finally unite with the mainland. But, as I have said, this is wholly the work of animal life. Not until the oysters and their neighbors have really formed a “key”, do the mangroves, with their train of aids, take up the work; and not until this has long proceeded does the drifting of sediment down the rivers, or the washing up of bottom-sand by the outer waves, increase the bulk of the islands that soon add their well-prepared areas to the general coast. V. FATALITIES TO WHICH THE OYSTER IS SUBJECT. 61. LIVING ENEMIES OF THE OYSTER. THE STARFISH.—No creatures are so dangerous enemies of oysters, either in their wild state or when transplanted, as the members of the spiny-skinned tribe which naturalists term Hehinoderms. This tribe contains many members, but the one that concerns us as oyster-growers is the starfish. The starfish passes under various names among fishermen and oystermen. In England he is known most frequently as the “crossfish”, ‘‘sun-star”, and “sea-star”. In this country the name most often heard, is “ five- fingers” north of Cape Cod, and southward of there “starfish”, ‘“sea-star”, or simply “star”, to which it is abbreviated in the vicinity of New York. None of these names, however, distinguish between the various species, except in the case of the “ basket-fish” of Massachusetts bay, which is sufficiently different from the ordinary five-fingers to attract everybody’s attention; and the smaller varieties are often mistaken for the young of a larger sort. While this is unfortunate ignorance, it practically does not matter to the oysterman, since all the different members of the family are alike enemies, to the full extent of their individual powers and opportunities. The common name of the animal well describes its general form. ‘As there are stars in the sky so are there stars in the sea,” remarked old John Henry Link, a century and more ago. From a central disk of small dimensions radiate five pointed arms, composed of a tough substance unlike anything else that I remember anywhere in the animal kingdom. ‘ When it is warm in one’s hand,” wrote Josselyn, that quaintest of America’s advertisers, in his New England’s Rarities, 16, “you may perceive a stiff motion, turning down one point and thrusting up another.” This was all right, but he adopted an error when he added: ‘It is taken to be poysonous.” Examining the starfish more closely, you perceive that it has an upper and a lower side, essentially different. The upper side, or back, presents a rough surface of a greenish, brownish, or reddish-green hue, which, when it is dried, turns to a yellowish-brown. This is the leathery membrane covering the skeleton of the animal, which consists of small limestone plates united together at their edges by a sort of cartilage, so that they can move in a slight degree. This forms the frame-work of the arm, and acts as a chain-armor to encircle and protect all the soft parts within. Underneath, on the lower side of the starfish, this frame-work terminates in two series of larger plates, which are braced against one another like rafters, and sustain the whole structure by a sort of arch. This armor is sufficiently flexibie to allow the starfish to bend himself clumsily over or around anything he is likely to wish to climb upon or grasp. Scattered everywhere upon the upper side are a large number of blunt, short spines, which seem to have no special arrangement, and are longest and thickest at the edges of the rays, and upon the plates bordering the lower side of each ray. Each one of these spines swells at its base, where are fixed, in a wreath, several curious little appendages called pedicellariw, whose odd forms and movements can only be understood underneath a powerful microscope, on account of their diminutive size. They consist of a little pedicel which waves about, bearing upon its top a pair of (for it) huge toothed jaws, like the claw of a lobster, which waves about in a very threatening manner. Now and then it happens that some little particle of food or sea-weed will accidentally get caught by these valiant guardsmen of the spine, that towers up in their midst; but this to annoy rather than gratify them, and their functions are not yet explained. They occur in some form or other in all echinoderms, yet seem to contribute no service whatever to the animal. Outside of them, forming a second circle about each spine, is a set of water-tubes, whose functions will be explained presently. Near the center of the disk, on the back, notice the madreporic body, a small, smooth protuberance, filled with openings, like a sprinkler, and then turn the starfish over. 15——o 226 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. Though so tough and tuberculous above, on the under side it is soft and almost white in tint, except where the strong spines along the edges of each ray protect the soft parts between. In the very center of the disk is the opening of the mouth. It contains no teeth, but is surrounded by an elastic tube and guarded by the hard edges of the skeleton-plates which hem it in. From this center run five furrows, one down each of the arms. Throughout all this branch of the Radiates, observes Professor Forbes, the reigning number is five. ‘Among the problems proposed by that true-spirited but eccentrie philosopher, Sir Thomas Browne, is one, ‘Why, among sea-stars, nature chiefly delighteth in five points’? and in his Garden of Cyrus he observes: ‘By the same number (five) doth nature divide the circle of the sea-star, and in that order and number disposeth those elegant semicircles or dental sockets_and eggs in the sea hedge-hog’. Among the lower and the typical orders we find this number regulating the number of parts. Every plate of the sea-urchin is built up of pentagonal particles. The skeletous of the digestive, the aquiferous, and tegumentary systems, equally present the quinary arrangement; and even the cartilaginous frame-work of the disk of every sucker is regulated by this mystic number.” But this is a digression. To return: Each furrow is filled, with the exception of a narrow path down the middle, with small fleshy tubes, terminating in a disk, which are so evidently its means of locomotion, that you at once call them feet. This is true enough so far as their function is concerned, for Five-fingered Jack certainly does walk by means of them; but entirely wrong anatomically. No Radiate has “feet” properly speaking. In order to see how the little beast makes use of these hundreds of walking appendages we must dissect him. Having done this, it appears, that through the seive-like surface of the madreporic body, on the back of the disk, enters a constant current of pure sea-water. This is received into a system of circular canals, which branch out, on each side of every ray, and send out through minute openings in the broad plates on the lower side of the arm’s fibers, which, when swelled full of water, appear as the rows of feet-tubes already mentioned. These feet-tubes are called ambulacre, the grooves along each side of the arm, where they spring and where they are supplied with water from the main canal underneath, the ambulacral grooves, while the plates themselves, and the whole concave under-surface between the spiny processes bordering the rays, form the ambulacral tract. Now, the starfish’s body is always full of water; beside the large stream flowing in through the madreporie body, a constant inflow seems to take place by absorption through the thousand minute water-tubes that wreath about each spine, notwithstanding no microscope has yet been able to detect any opening in them. This insures that the ambulacr shall always be full of water; but the creature can control these, and when he wishes to take a step forward he places one, a dozen, or a score of these feet-tubes a little forward, and draws a slight amount of water from each, which causes a contraction of their sucker-disks, and gives them a firm hold. By a reverse process he lets go with his other feet, and by main strength drags his body up as far as he can. This operation frequently repeated would give a continuous movement to his body which is not ungraceful, as he dips down into a hollow or bends himself slowly over some obstacle. His movements are very deliberate, and he moves hardly as fast as the second-hand of a watch. It is to the fullness of this water-system that the animal owes its plump appearance. Take him out of the sea and the water will pour out all over him, in a fierce perspiration, which soon leaves him flat and thin on your palm. I may as well say here, that avy one can handle them without fear; the old idea that they were poisonous was a worthless superstition. In addition to this water-system, for locomotion, starfishes have a heart and system of blood-vessels. This consists of two circular vessels, one round the intestine, and one round the gullet, or heart, intervening between them. ‘There are no distinct respiratory organs, but the surfaces of the viscera are abundantly supplied with cilia, and doubtless subserve respiration; the sea-water being freely admitted into the general body-cavity by means of numerous contractile ciliated tubes, which project from the dorsal surface of the body.” (Nicholson.) 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