122 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



River, which became so depleted that about 1S75 the river was surveyed 

 and divided into small grants. 



(12) Wareham. — (a) Wareham River. — Natural oysters are found 

 in the Wareham or Agawam River, which has been one of the most 

 productive natural beds in the State, and still furnishes a scant living 

 for two or three men. In view of the overfishing, it is surprising that 

 any of the natural oysters have survived, except on reserved areas of 

 the town, which are opened every three or seven years for the capture 



of " seed." 



(b) Weweantit River. — The Weweantit River, which lies between 

 the towns of Wareham and Marion, has a larger and better natural 

 oyster bed than the Wareham River, but this has also been depleted by 

 overfishing, except on the reserved areas of the town of Wareham. 



(13) Dartmouth. — A few oysters are found in Slocum's River. 



(14) Westport. — Westport River has also a few oysters. 



(15) Taunton River, Coles River and Lee's River. — These rivers 

 once had extensive beds of natural oysters, but now are wholly devoted 

 to growing oysters. Old records and laws show how important these 

 natural beds were, and also furnish an excellent illustration of the 

 effects of overfishing combined with water pollution from manufacturing 

 sources. 



II. Decline of the Natural Oyster Beds. — The above-mentioned 

 examples furnish abundant proof that the natural oyster beds of the 

 State, which once were sufficient to supply the wants of our fore- 

 fathers, have declined to such an extent that at the present time but few 

 natural oysters are tonged for the market. Where there were formerly 

 many acres of excellent native oysters, to-day there is scarcely an acre 

 that can be called good oyster fishing, except in a few eases where the 

 towns maintain a nearly perpetual closed season. No proof of the 

 decline is necessary; it is an established fact. 



There have been two principal causes which have ruined the natural 

 oyster beds; besides these two, — (1) water pollution and (2) over- 

 fishing, — certain geographical changes have doubtless occurred, which 

 have accelerated the decline. 



(1) Water Pollution. — The effect of water pollution through the 

 sediment deposited by sewage and manufacturing waste on the natural 

 oyster beds is well illustrated by the destruction of the Charles River 

 beds. This is also shown in a less degree in the Taunton River. 



(2) Overfishing. — The primary cause of the decline of the natural 

 oyster beds was overfishing. This is particularly true of the beds 

 south of Cape Cod and in Buzzards Bay, which were of large extent, 

 and unpolluted by manufacturing wastes or sewage. This overfishing 

 lias not been the result of the last few years, since records show that 

 as early as 1S24 Harwich passed an act to preserve the oyster fishery 

 of the town: and that Sandwich, in the part which is now the town 

 of Bourne, in 1832 passed regulations protecting the natural oyster 



