OYSTER CULTURE IN AMERICA. 773 



winkles, and other trash, which must be culled out, thus 

 compelling the oyster-men to do 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 labour-saving, from a simple 

 crank and windlass to patented complicated power-wind- 

 lasses, similar to those used in the Chesapeake boats. 

 When a proper breeze is blowing, dredging can be accom- 

 plished from a sail-boat, with one of these windlasses, with 

 much quickness and ease. In a calm, or in a gale, how- 

 ever, 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-travelled walk of 

 industry has ever met with indignant opposition." 



" The first utilization of steam in this business, so far as 

 I can learn, was by Capt. Peter Decker and Brother, of 

 South Norwalk, about 1870." 



"After the Messrs. Decker's experiment, Mr. W. H. 

 Lockwood, of Norwalk, not an oyster-man, but an enthu- 

 siastic believer in steam-dredging, built the steamer Enter- 

 prise 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. 



. 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 



