24 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



chartered at a roiiud sum for the trip, or else was paid at a rate varying from 15 to 20 cents a bushel freight, on 

 the cargo. When the vessel arrived home she anchored in the distaut channel, and the oysters were unloaded into 

 dories, 50 bushels to a dory. The dories then proceeded to the grounds, which had been already divided into 

 rectangles a few rods square, by rows of stakes, and deposited a load of 50 bushels in each rectangle or "square". 

 In order that the oysters might be distributed as evenly as possible over the bottom, the dory was rowed to the 

 center of a square, and anchored at both ends. The dorymeu then threw out the oysters with shovels into all parts 

 of the square. This was done when the water was high over the beds. When the tide was out the oysters were 

 redistributed with forks or "spreading-machines". The similarity of this procedure to the seeding of a field is 

 obvious, and sutHciently explains the phrase "oyster-planting". It afforded occupation to a distinct class of men, 

 who did it by contract, the ordinary price being about 10 cents a bushel for placing them upon the beds. The 

 season for bedding began in February, as soon as there was a surety of no further danger of hard freezing, and 

 continued until April, the ground chosen being the hard surface of the flats in the western portion of the bay, 

 where the beds would be left dry about two hours at each low-tide. The oysters had very little fresh water near 

 them, and their growth was variable, seeming to dejjcud on the weather, but in what way, or just how it eflected 

 them, I could not learn. In a favorable season they grew very rapidly, in respect to both shell and meat, so 

 that the 100 bushels put down in April would fill 300 bushel measures when taken up in October. The percentage 

 of loss was always considerable, however, probably never less than one quarter, and now and then amounting to 

 the whole bed. Drifting sand, sudden frosts, when the beds were exposed, disease, and active enemies, were the 

 causes that operated against complete success. I could not obtain satisfactory information concerning prices 

 during the first quarter or half of the present century, and am inclined to believe they did not differ much from the 

 present rates, except that selling i-ates were uniformly higher, and far more profit was realized than is now possible. 

 Dr. Gould describing the winter-woi'k in his Invertebrates of Massachusetts, states that in the autumn the oysters are 

 taken up, selected, brought to market, and sold at wholesale for $1 per bushel, the cost of planting, attending, 

 taking up, etc., amounting to 20 cents per bushel. Thus a profit of 30 cents on a bushel, or about 40 per cent, on 

 the cost, is realized ; and the town of Wellfleet thereby realizes an income of about $8,000 annually. 



Introduction of Virginia seed. — It was asserted by citizens of Wellfleet, both to me and to Mr. True, that 

 not until 1845 were any oysters brought to Wellfleet from Virginia, and that the cause of their importation then 

 was the high price asked for " seed ", as the oysters purchased in the Somerset river, in Connecticut, and in New 

 York, for bedding, were erroneously termed. William Dill is credited with being the first captain engaged in the 

 Chesapeake trade. I think, however, that there is an error here, for Gould mentions iu his book that in 1810, 

 40,000 bushels were brought to Wellfleet annually from Virginia, at a cost of $20,000. Nevertheless, it was not 

 until about 1845 or 1850, that the business began to confine itself to Virginia oysters, and a large business to be 

 done. At its height, about 1850, it is probable that more than 100,000 busliels a year were laid down in the harbor; 

 some say 150,000. One consignment alone of 80,000 bushels was remembered by Mr. S. R. Higgius, who kindly 

 gave me the many facts noted above. The favorite ground was at the mouth of Herring river. 



This great business gave employment to many men and vessels, and was eagerly welcomed by the Wellfleet 

 people. Eesponsible men were accustomed to meet the incoming vessels and take contracts to bed the oysters. 

 The ordinary price was 9 cents a bushel. They hii-ed help at day's wages, and often made a good profit. Fifty 

 men would thus often be busy at once. 



During the summer partly, but chiefly in the fall, these great deposits, which would perish during the cold 

 winter, but were now well-grown, were raked up and sent to the warehouses iu Boston, Portland, aiid minor ports, 

 in freight vessels and iu packets. Usually the oysters were owned and bedded by dealers, who used" them iu their 

 regular trade, but some were owned by speculators, who took them to market, or sold them to dealers as they lay 

 uj)on the beds, the purchaser taking all risks. The measure used for oysters in those days was a half-barrel holding 

 a bushel, called a " bushel-barrel". 



Decline op oyster-trade. — The war of the Eebellion, however, interfered somewhat with the oyster-trade, 

 and it began to decline, so far as Wellfleet was concerned. Then the various dealers in northern ports, having 

 learned something, began to bed near home in their own harbors, and so saved freightage. Finally, the steamers 

 from jSTorfolk and the railways entered into so serious a competition, that fully ten years ago Wellfleet bay was 

 wholly deserted by the oystermen, as a bedding-ground, though her vessels still continue to carry cargoes in winter 

 from Virginia to Boston, Portland, Salem, Portsmouth, and the Providence river, to supply the active trade and 

 fill the new beds, which the dealers at these various ports had learned could be established at home. 



The reader thus discovers how important a part Wellfleet has played in the history of the oyster-trade of New 

 England. A hundred thousand bushels of the bivalves once grew fat along her water front, and thousands of 

 dollars were dispensed to the citizens in the industry they created. Now, a little experimental propagation, of the 

 value of a few hundred dollars, and about 0,000 bushels of bedded oysters from Virginia, worth perhaps $5,000 

 when sold, form the total active business. The oyster -fleet, however, remains, though greatly diminished and 

 carrying its cargoes to Boston, Portland, and elsewhere, instead of bringing them to be laid down in the home 

 harbor. It will be long before Wellfleet, and its neighbor, Proviucetown, lose the prestige of old custom as 

 oyster-carriers. 



