346 GEOGEAPHICAL EEV1EW OF THE FISHEEIES. 



Twenty men, with six cat-rigged boats, measuring 4 or 5 tons each, are engaged in carrying 

 clams and oysters. Few oysters are taken in the bay, the men being mainly clainmers. "Flush- 

 ing Bay clams" are larger than "Little Necks," and are solid and fat. The shells of the first are 

 dark, while those of the latter are light, a difference traceable to the dissimilarity of their habitats, 

 the former being embedded in the dark mud of the bay, while the "Little Necks" are found in the 

 sand. Last year 5,000 bushels of oysters and 30,000 bushels of hard clams were marketed, all the 

 shipments from this place being by boat to New York. 



Of the score of men interested in the fisheries fourteen are married ; including the families of 

 these, we find sixty-five persons dependent on the fisheries at Flushing. Oysters are planted and 

 beds claimed. The capital invested in the fisheries is as follows: In nets, $3,000; in boats, $3,000; 

 in oyster-beds, seed, tools, &c., $8,000. 



COLLEGE POINT. Four men from this locality oyster in Flushing Bay, using two boats of 4 

 tons each. Daniel Hill is the principal planter. Three of the men are married, having eight per- 

 sons depending upon them; $G,000 invested; product, 8,000 bushels. All shipments by boat. 



11G. LITTLE NECK BAY. 



OYSTER GROUNDS. The oyster grounds in the bay are free of cost, but are staked off in pri- 

 vate claims and planted. This gives a man a right which is respected by his neighbors, but he 

 has no legal claim upon it. The seed is usually obtained from the East River, and is worth 25 cents 

 per bushel. 



Edward Radelifle, of Great Neck, has 7 acres staked off, on which he plants yearly 50 bushels 

 of seed to the acre. He says it takes them three years to mature. At the time of my visit, Decem- 

 ber 8, it was too cold to work the night tides, and there had been only three of the day tides in the 

 past week when he could work. On these three he made $27. The clam grounds are free. Com- 

 paratively few fish are taken. Shad are caught in pounds, fykes, and seines. During the run of 

 shad there are five pound-nets set in the bay. There is not much other fishing, except for sport, 

 There have been no smelts, scallops, or terrapins in the bay for the past ten years. 



WHITESTONE. There are forty men here engaged in fishing, oystering, and clamming, of 

 whom twenty-two are married. There are, in all, one hundred and twelve persons dependent upon 

 these industries for support. Seven vessels of 25 tons are used, one of 15 tons, and five of 4 tons. 

 Some shad are taken in the spring, but not so many as formerly; 2,000 were taken last year, 

 together with 3,000 pounds of bass, and $2,000 worth of menhaden for manure; 4,000 pounds of 

 weakfish were taken in the fall of 1879. John Webster is a large oyster shipper. He ships 2,000 

 bushels per year, and other parties ship 2,500 bushels, making a total of 4,500 bushels, with 40,000 

 bushels of hard clams, and 100 bushels of soft clams, shipped annually. Capital in boats, $0,700; 

 in oysters, tools, &c., $32,000. A few shipments are made by rail, but the majority are sent by- 

 boat. In the year ending June 30, 1880, 67 barrels of oysters, 858 barrels and 2 bushels of hard 

 clams, and 100 pouuds of fresh fish were carried by rail. Most of the fish taken are consumed 

 locally. 



LITTLE NECK. There are two fishermen and thirty oystermen and clammers here. Of these, 

 eight are married, and, including their families, there are one hundred and ten people dependent 

 on the fisheries. Eight sloops, aggregating 75 tons, are employed, only one of which measures 

 over 20 tons. Not over 200 bushels of soft clams are taken, the principal part of these being con- 

 sumed on the island. The hard clams from this bay have a good reputation among epicures, and 

 are in great demand at the time when oysters are out of season. They are most esteemed when 

 about the size of a quarter dollar, and are usually eaten raw. The bottom of the bay is sandy, and 



