142 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



of oysters. These oysters were spread or bedded over the leased flats 

 of the harbor, where they' remained until the following fall, when they 

 were taken up for market. In this way the oysters gained in size by 

 the summer's growth, and were fattened for market. Considerable trade 

 sprang up in the carrying of oysters, and many vessels were engaged 

 in this traffic. In 1841 Mr. Gould, the conchologist, states that 120 men, 

 with 30 vessels of about 40 tons each, were employed for three months 

 of the year, and brought to the town an annual revenue of $8,000. 



In 1841 Capt. William Dill is credited with bringing into Wellfleet 

 the first cargo from Virginia, which started a large trade in Chesapeake 

 oysters. Mr. Ernest Ingersoll makes the following statement concerning 

 the Virginia trade : — 



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. ... The favorite 

 ground was at the mouth of Herring Eiver. 



The Rev. Enoch Pratt writes, in 1844 : — 



The inhabitants of the town tried the experiment of bringing oysters 

 from the south and laying them down on the flats, which succeeded well. 

 In the course of a year they doubled their size and their quality was much 

 improved. This soon became a large business, and a number of vessels 

 have been employed in the spring of every year in bringing them here. 

 The number of bushels which are now [1844] annually brought is about 

 60,000. Nearly all the oyster shops and stands in Boston, and other cities 

 and towns in this State, are supplied from this place, and are kept by 

 persons belonging to the town. This business affords a living for many 

 families. 



Mr. Ernest Ingersoll thus describes the decline of the oyster trade 

 in 1870 : — 



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 compe- 

 tition that fully ten years ago [1870] 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, Ports- 

 mouth and the Providence Eiver, 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 indus- 

 try they created. Now [1880] a little experimental propagation, to the 

 value of a few hundred dollars, and about 6,000 bushels of bedded oysters 



