120 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



from this natural bed. About 1882 the experiment of fattening oysters 

 for market was made, and many bushels were bedded on the flats during 

 the summer by an oyster firm at Newbury. These oysters not only 

 grew well, but threw considerable spawn, furnishing a good set in the 

 river. Oyster raising was then tried, but the result was a failure, as 

 the oysters which were planted in too shallow water were killed during 

 the winter. 



(2) Mystic and Charles Rivers. — Mr. Ernest Ingersoll states that: 

 " In 1634 William Wood, in his ' New England's Prospect,' speaks of 

 ' a great oyster bank ' in Charles River, and another in the ' Mysticke,' 

 each of which obstructed the navigation of its river." He locates the 

 Charles River beds as either off Cambridgeport or near the site of the 

 Boston Museum of Natural History. 



Dr. G-. W. Field, chairman of this department, in his report in 1902 

 as biologist to the Charles River* Dam Commission, makes the following 

 statement about the Charles River oyster : — 



The oyster (Ostrea), formerly abundant, is no longer living, and, from 

 what indications I have been able to gather, probably became extinct 

 within twenty"-five years. Their dead shells are brought up by dredging 

 operations. Their peculiar elongated shape is the result of growth being 

 concentrated at the upper end, as a result of their closely crowded position 

 in the bed, or of an attempt to keep the opening above the accumulating 

 mud, and thus avoid being smothered. The fact that there are few signs of 

 small " seed oysters " tends to prove that the bottom was so muddy that 

 they found few places to " set." From the elongated shape of the shells 

 may be inferred that the amount of sedimentation going on in that particu- 

 lar region was rapid during the life of the group of oysters whose shells are 

 to be found in quantities in the material dredged between Harvard and 

 Brookline bridges. This sediment need not necessarily have been sand or 

 clay, or any material which is persistent, but it might have been flocculent 

 organic debris, which remained but a short time and left little or no evi- 

 dence, beyond its effect upon the shape of the oyster shells. 



In the above account Dr. Field not only locates the original oyster 

 beds of Charles River, but also furnishes evidence which indicates the 

 cause of their extinction, i.e., the debris and sewage, or waste poisonous, 

 polluting materials, of a large city emptying into the river. This is not 

 only true of the Charles, but also of the Mystic and Taunton river beds, 

 which have been destroyed in like manner. 



(3) Mr. Ernest Ingersoll. in his report on the " Oyster Industry of 

 the United States," in 1880 mentions that natural oyster beds were once 

 at Weymouth, Ipswich, Barnstable and Rowley. Nothing further can 

 be learned concerning these places. 



(4) Wellfleet. — An extensive oyster bed was found at Wellfleet Bay. 

 which not only furnished a sufficient supply for the first settlers, but 

 enabled Hie inhabitants of Wellfleet to carry on a considerable trade by 

 shipping them to Boston and other ports, until it was finally destroyed 



