THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 23 



to the probability of success in restocking the former haunts of the oyster in the rivers of Maine, and especially 

 at Damariscotta. I learn that occasionally oysters, of what origin I do not know, have by accident been dropped 

 into the tide-water below the biidge, in Damariscotta, and have afterward been fished out grown to a large size. 

 The reader will remember, that about forty years ago, a great quantity of young oysters were found collected in 

 the bsanches of a tree which had tumbled over into the river near the lower end of Salt bay. These facts go to 

 show that some kinds of oysters will live and spawn there yet ; whether anything but native seed would, or not, is 

 doubtful. Furthermore, the site of the former beds is now so covered with mud and sawdust and eel-grass, that 

 much of the space is rendered unsuitable, while the clearer bottom of Oyster creek is liable to be drained so dry 

 by some of the ebb-tides in winter, as to allow the ice to rest fairly upon the bottom, which would probably be fatal 

 in that climate. Hereafter no sawdust will be thrown into the river and bay, if the law is enforced as it might 

 be, but nothing can prevent the roiling of the water by a heavy rain. On the whole, I fear only a very limited 

 cultivation of oysters is possible in that locality, even if a successful beginning could be made. 



The same dismal remarks will apply to George and Sheepscot rivers. In the former stream I am informed that 

 an attempt at planting was made a few years ago, but failed. In Sheepscot river nothing has been tried, but it is 

 hinted that, even if other conditions were favorable, every seed-oyster would be secretly transferred from river-bottom 

 to frying-pan before time had been given to begin to spawn. Police measures would prevent this, however. 



At Portland, Mr. C. B. Fuller thinks the only suitable situation to attempt the cultivation of oysters, in that 

 region, is in the mouth of the Presumpscot, where the water is shallow, warm, and comparatively fresh ; but he 

 doubts the ability of southern oysters to survive the winter. However, it is intended by one of the dealers to try 

 the experiment with seed oysters from Prince Edward island. 



In the Great bay, behind Portsmouth, New Hampshire, beds of native, living oysters still flourish, and by 

 judicious tran.splanting of these a large additional yield might be accomplished. There is much suitable ground, 

 I judge. It is likely that the present inferior quality of these oysters might be greatly improved by cultivation. 

 It is verj- probable, also, that Somerset or Wellfleet seed would exist through a winter, become acclimated, and 

 prosper in this well-sheltered and firm-bottomed inlet. I wonder that some one has not yet made the experiment. 



Unless it be Mystic river or Barnstable harbor, I know of no other likely place for oyster-cultivation on the 

 northern side of Cape Cod. Where rocks, mud, or ice are not obstacles, starfishes and other enemies are likely to 

 annoy, or proper protection of the beds to be impracticable. 



8. HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF THE OYSTER-TRADE, AT WELLFLEET AND 



VICINITY, 



Early otstee-ctjlture : History. — Realizing that their natural resources in oysters had disappeared, and 

 that any attempt to preserve the beds by a system of propagation was unsuccessful, the people of the coast of 

 Massachusetts bay turned their attention many years ago to replacing their oysters by importations from more 

 favored regions, which should be kept in good condition during the warmer half of the year, bj' being laid down in 

 the shore-water, and so held in readiness for the autumn-trade. This operation was called " planting ", but it is a 

 misuse of the word, and the other popular phrases, " laying down " or " bedding", express the fact more truthfully. 

 It is not oyster-culture at all, but only a device of trade to get fresh oysters and increase their size and flavor, which 

 adds proportionate profit in selling. It is neither intended or desired that they shall spawn. 



Just when this practice began on Cape Cod — for Wellfleet, whence had come the latest and best of the native 

 oysters, naturally became the headquarters of the trade— is uncertain ; no doubt it was some time befoi-e the opening 

 of the present century. There is a gentleman now living in the village of Wellfleet, Mr. Jesse D. Hawes, who is 

 eighty-four years old. He cannot remember when they did not bring some oysters every fall from New York bay, 

 to use at home and sell in Boston. 



It is surmised that when the native beds became exhausted, the inhabitants got into the habit of going to 

 Buzzard's and Narraganset bays, then to the Connecticut shore, and finally to New York, and laying down more and 

 more yearly in Wellfleet harbor, until finally a considerable business grew. Egg Harbor, New Jersey, was also a 

 ground much frequented a little later by oystermen. 



By the year 1820, I am informed by Mr. F. W. True, who made inquiries for me on this subject, 12,000 to 14,000 

 bushels were brought to Wellfleet yearly, and ten or twelve shops were opened by Wellfleet men for their disi)osal 

 in Boston and Portland. This accounts for the striking fact, that there is hardly an oyster dealer on the New 

 England coast, north of Cape Cod, who is not a native of Wellfleet, and a certain small circle of old names seems to 

 inclose the whole trade. Besides the citizens, however, many strangers came in and procured the privilege of bedding 

 down imported oysters to fatten on the flats of this hospitable harbor. In 1841, Mr, Gould, the conchologist, 

 wrote that the whole trade at Wellfleet then employed 30 vessels of about 40 tons each, and the services of about 

 120 men for three months of the year. This jaelded to the town a revenue of about $8,000 annually. 



Early oyster-culture: Methods. — The process of "bedding down" was as follows: Each proprietor of a 

 space upon the flats chartered the services of a vessel, in the latter part of the winter, to go to some sjjecified 

 oyster-ground and purchase a certain number of bushels, for which he gave the captain money. The vessel was 



