OF MASSACHUSETTS. 147 



an area of 2Vb acres. Nevertheless, this was granted in 1895 for a 

 period of ten years. Two years ago the lease expired, and it is said 

 that the oysters have come in again in abundance. 



All along the south shore of the two towns " seed " oysters, which 

 have been washed out of Mill Creek, can be picked up. A small amount 

 of " seed " is raised on the grants, but this is not enough to furnish 

 the requisite amount required for planting purposes, so about 2,500 

 bushels is annually brought into the town from Oyster Bay, L. I. 



No damage is done in these waters by the natural enemies of the 

 oyster, as both the starfish and oyster drill are very scarce. 



One thousand bushels of marketable oysters, valued at $1,500, were 

 shipped in the season of 1906-07. 



Three men are engaged for a period of seven and one-half months 

 in the oyster industry. 



Capital invested, $5,175 



Dories, 2 



Value of dories, $25 



Tongs, 5 



Value of implements, . . . $50 



Value of shore property, $100 



Value of bedded oysters, $5,000 



The oysters are taken by tonging from dories, as the water is com- 

 paratively shallow. No dredging is done. 



Yarmouth is the only town in the State which requires a license for 

 taking oysters from a natural bed. 



Barnstable. 



Barnstable is the great oyster town of the Commonwealth, as it 

 has the twofold distinction of possessing the most extensive industry 

 and producing the finest quality of oysters. The causes which have 

 brought the cultivation of oysters in this town to so flourishing a 

 condition have been fourfold: first, Barnstable has a long coast line, 

 much cut up by bays and rivers, which give it a very large available 

 area; secondly, this area is remarkably suited for the cultivation of 

 oysters, as it is for the most part hard, clean bottom, in comparatively 

 shallow water and well sheltered from^ storms; thirdly, there is little 

 damage from the enemies of the oyster, — the starfish, winkle and 

 drill, fourthly, the waters of the township are notably pure, free from 

 contamination, and well adapted for the production of a rapid-growing 

 oyster of excellent quality. 



Barnstable township contains several villages, three of which, Cotuit, 

 Marston's Mills and Osterville, are prosperous centers of the oyster 

 fishery. Hyannis, a fourth village, once maintained a business of this 

 nature, which proved unprofitable and has now practically disappeared. 

 Oyster grants are scattered along the shores of Popponesset River and 

 Bay, in Cotuit harbor, Bluff Channel, South Bay, Osterville Narrows 



