IO4 



THE OYSTER. 



Several years before Coste and De Bon commenced 

 their experiments, the oystermen of East River, hav- 

 ing observed that young oysters fastened in great 

 numbers upon shells which were placed upon the 

 beds at the spawning season, started the practice of 

 shelling the beds, in order to increase the supply, and 

 in 1855, or three years before Coste represented to the 

 French Emperor the importance of similar experi- 

 ments, the State of New York enacted a law to secure 

 to private farmers the fruits of their labor, and a num- 

 ber of persons engaged in the new industry on an ex- 

 tensive scale. Among these pioneers in this field were 

 Mr. Fordham, Capt. Henry Bell, Mr. Oliver Cook, Mr. 

 Weed, Mr. Hawley and others. 



The industry has grown steadily from that time, 

 and East River is now said by Ingersoll to be the 

 scene of the most painstaking and scientific oyster cul- 

 ture in the United States. The interest and import- 

 ance of the subject is so great that I quote the whole 

 of Ingersoll's account of its origin, development, and 

 present methods: 



' 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 recepta- 

 cles, belongs to the men of City Island. It had been 

 a matter of common observation that objects tossed into 

 the water in summer sometimes became covered 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 



