22 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



harbor was projected by a company of tbirty-one persons, whose names are on record. Oysters were procured and 

 deposited in a certain place, deemed the most eligible, with the hope that they might thus be propagated ; but it 

 was ascertained by the experiment that the flats are left dry too long for their habit, which requires that they be 

 covered at all times by water".* 



Obstacles to successful oyster-culture in the gulf of Maine. — This coast is a precipitous and rocky 

 one, affording few suitable points for oyster-culture; most of these were occupied by the native beds, which have 

 succumbed. Other localities have been rendered unfit for oyster-life, by the pollution of the water, through various 

 agencies of civilization. The climate, also, appears to be too severe for any but native breeds. Virginia oysters 

 have frequently been left through the winter iu deep water, but have very rarely lived; and, if they did so, would 

 spawn at so late a day that the autumn chill proves fatal to the young. I have heard of a bag-full of oysters, 

 supposed to be from Virginia, surviving for several years in Sheepscot river, but the case is hardly authentic. All 

 attempts at the cultivatiou aud propagation of Virginia or New York oysters have, therefore, been abandoned as 

 entii'ely futile on the Maine coast or in Massachusetts bay, except at Wellfleet. The severity of the winters, the 

 violence of the tempests, the scarcity of good bottom, and the abundance of starfishes and other enemies, make 

 planting unprofitable, if not impossible. 



ExPERiJiENTS AT Salem AND Wellfleet. — As an instance of the data upon which I found my conclusion, 

 I give the following information, furnished by the Messrs. Newcomb, oyster-merchants in Salem, Massachusetts. 



In regard to the advisability of plauting oysters in the vicinity of that town, Mr. Newcomb had little 

 encouragement to offer. Some that had been brought from Fire island by his fatber, many years ago, and were put 

 down in the harbor channel, were found some years later to have li\'ed and to have grown very large and good. 

 The present firm put 1,000 bushels iu water five feet deep, at low-tide, in Bass river, one season, but every one of 

 them died during the winter. There is no very good ground for planting anywhere in that harbor. 



At Wellfleet, Cape Cod, however, something is being done, with good prospects. In years past it frequently 

 happened that the oysters bedded at Wellfleet would spawn and young ones attach themselves to stones, and to 

 the wharfs and bridge piers, in myriads. Most of these would be left exposed at low-tide, and consequently were 

 killed by the first frosty day. A large number, however, survived every winter, scattered here and there in 

 submarine and i^rotected situations. This induced the experiment of trying to preserve some throughout the year, 

 and causing them to perpetuate themselves. This failed as far as Virginia seed was concerned, but the Taunton 

 river or "Somerset" seed, tried by Mr. S. E. Higgins (the pioneer iu this work) in 1878, lived and throve. In 1879, 

 having sprinkled a portion of the bottom of the bay with clean shells to catch any stray spawn, he deposited a 

 quantity more of this hardy seed, and in 1880 will add largely to his stock, which, as yet, has suffered no serious 

 harm. He has been followed iu his enterprise by several other gentlemen in Boston and Wellfleet, and the 

 business bids fair to be an entire success. 



The planting grounds are off Great island, where there is from three to six feet of water over the beds at low 

 tide. The bottom is hard sand, uith a thin layer of mud over it, the kind of bottom most highly esteemed. The 

 enemies of the oyster are few, and the currents so arranged as to make a large catch of spawn probable. The 

 water is very salt, the growth of the mollusk rapid, aud the result a bivalve of high quality. The great drawback 

 is the winter, and this is not greatly feared. The harbor freezes entirely over, but the oysters are planted in a 

 depth of water so great as to be out of reach of the ice. However, even if the ice rests upon them, provided they 

 lie flat, it will only crowd them into the sand, and will not kill them under ordinary circumstances, but if it is 

 shifted about by wind or tide when upou the beds, it will tear them to pieces. There is not much chance of extensive 

 damage in this way. What will prove fatal to all of them, however, is "anchor frost", if it occurs under the beds. 

 But the chances are that this will not happen for several winters together. 



One of the gentlemen engaged gave me the following figures as an estimate of probable investment and returns, 

 but it was considered by other shi]>pers too sanguine a view. The cost of planting 500 bushels of seed from Somerset 

 woidd be $250. He calculated that they would at least be doubled iu number at the end of the ensuing year, 

 making 1,000 bushels, and that by the next spring (allowing 500 lor loss by accidents and death) there would be 

 1,500 bushels on the bed. There would now be 1,000 bushels of these ready to take up, at a cost of 20 cents or so 

 a bushel. These would sell for at least $1 a bushel, leaving 80 cents profit. Thus — 



Cost of original bed, 000 bushels $25" 



Took up in two years, 1,000 bushels, at 20 cents cost 200 



450 

 Received for 1,000 bushels 1,000 



Profit accruiug in two years - 550 



This doubling of the investment in two years is not unreasonable, in my opinion, besides having a good growing 

 bed left over; but requires a continuance of good weather and other fortunate cii cum stances, and takes no account 

 of the numerous petty expenses occurring, from time to time, in the care of the beds. 



Suitable localities for oyster-cultuee north of Cape Cod. — I have been asked in particular as 



•Thacher's Siatory of Phjmonlh, p. 170. 



