0YSTE1MNDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 289 



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chosen one which is very economical, and which yields excellent results, 

 as may be seen in the well-known "plantation system." Their mol- 

 lusks, like ours, require beds of miry sand, rich in animal production, and 

 sufficiently exposed to the open sea. The brackish water at the mouths 

 of certain rivers, into which the tide rises, constitutes one of the best 

 conditions for the success of this industry.* 



Chesapeake Bay, from which is gathered a large proportion of the 

 oysters cultivated in America, is a magnificent basiu in which Provi- 

 dence seems to have accumulated every necessary condition for forming 

 an admirable locality for the fishery. Its entrance, between Capes 

 Charles and Henry, opens from the east to the west; but the bay soon 

 changes in direction, and extends toward the north for a distance of one 

 hundred and fifty miles, with a width of from twenty to thirty miles in 

 the southern part, and from ten to fifteen in the northern. It is access- 

 ible to the largest vessels. A number of rivers empty into it, of which 

 the most important are the Potomac, the Eappahannock, the York, 

 and the James. The amount of fresh water which flows into this bay 

 daily from these streams, the smallest of which admits the rising of the 

 tide, renders the water of the Chesapeake less salt than that of the 

 ocean, a circumstance which we have already mentioned is favorable to 

 the natural production of the oyster. The shores of the bay are indented 

 by a multitude of gulfs, creeks, small bays, &c, in which are numerous 

 islands. The extent of shore is thus greatly increased, and innumerable 

 places of shelter afforded for the multiplication of fish and mollusks. 



The quantity of fish furnished by the fisheries is very great ; and 

 before the war the annual estimate at Baltimore was four hundred thou- 

 sand barrels of salt fish, principally herring and shad.t 



The oyster-industry is still more important; and the production from 

 the banks in the bay, in 185S, was twenty millions of bushels. At that 

 time about ten thousand persons were employed in the fisheries and with 

 work on the plantations. 



The oyster of the Chesapeake, in consequence of the favorable condi- 

 tions in which it lives, is in its natural condition so large, that, for the 

 most part, it does not need culture, but can enter the market immedi- 

 ately. At Fair Haven and at Boston, where, on account of the thick- 

 ness of the ice, it is impossible to secure a supply in winter, they are, 

 during that season, brought from Virginia in sufficient quantity to sup- 

 ply the needs of commerce. The schooners which transport them manage 



* Pearls are found in many American oysters, but of very inferior quality. They are 

 of a chalky white, sometimes having a faint violet tint. It seems that upon the coast 

 of New Jersey a bank of oysters was found a few years ago furnishing beautiful pearls. 

 The country was in a great state of excitement ; the fishermen supposed they had mado 

 a valuable discovery, but after a short time it was found that tho hopes excited wero 

 quite fallacious. 



t Chesapeake Bay abounds in fish of all kinds — mackerel, herring, perch, eels, red 

 mullet, cat-fish, shad of every variety, &c. In the Potomac, James, and other rivers 

 enormous sturgeon are taken, weighing from 150 to 200 pounds. 



