THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 25 



Wellfleet oysTER fleet in ISTS^'SO. — The vessels registered at Wellfleet, that habitually take part in 

 the oyster-trade, and Ibruied the fleet of the seasons of lS78-'79 and 1879-'80, are the foUowiug, all schooners : 



Name. Tons. Name. Tous. Name. Tons. 



Lizzie D. Barker 76 Edward Rich 74 Addio F. Colo 76 



Nathan Cleaves 80 Alice P. Higgins 92 Emma A. Iliggins 94 



EffieT. Kemp 63 Lizzie Smith 77 Carrie G. Crosby 58 



Flora A. Newcomb 70 Benjamin Oliver 78 Nil Desperandum 80 



MarySteele 70 Benjamin S. Wright 108 E.H.Norton 57 



George T. Littlefleld 112 Gertrude Summers 64 Ida R. Freeman 59 



Lucy M. Jenkins 70 H.W.Pierce 74 Abby Frankfort 71 



Asa H. Peroere 9S> Maria Webster 58 



Mary E. Whorf 65 Lucy J. Keeler 94 Total tonnage 2,239 



Walter L. Rich 80 Charles F. Atwood 70 



Newell B. Hawes 90 Nannie E. Waterman 60 



Pkovingetown oyster FLEET, 1878. — From Provincetown there also hails a fleet of schooners ni the oyster- 

 trade, that may as well be put down here, since all remarks will apply to both. Those running in l878-'7y were : 



Name. Tons. Name. Tons. Name. Tons. 



Ellie F. Long 98 Freddie W. Allton 86 Etta E. Sylvester 90 



Freddie Walter 82 M. E. Higgins 94 Mary Snow 71 



Willie L. Swift 101 Kit Carson 94 E. A. Lumbard 65 



William Matheson Ill John M. Fiske 81 



Teresa D. Baker 87 Lottie Bell 96 Total tonnage 1,539 



Mary Matheson 115 Belle Bartlet 76 



Lottie Burns 97 Delia Hodgkins 95 



Characteristics op Cape Cod oyster-schooners. — This list of 46 schooners comprises, I think, the whole 

 of the Cape oyster-fleet ; and there are few vessels engaged outside of these ports. They were noted in the old 

 days, as now, for their swiftness in speed and firmness of structure, and were the origin and ijrototypes of the 

 famous Boston clipper-ships. The original cost of these fine vessels was, on the average, about $7,000; now they 

 are not worth over $4,000 each. In summer tbey go on mackerel-fishing voyages, which occupy a little more 

 than half of the year. In the winter and spring they carry oysters, varying it with frequent coasting trips. Four 

 voyages after oysters annually would probably be a fair average, and not more than a third of the vessels' yearly 

 receipts, as a rule, will be derived from this source. They are commanded by captains of experience, and go back 

 and forth quickly, safely, and profitably. Capt. Jesse Freeman, now one of the leading fish-merchants of the village, 

 told me that he had sailed between the Chesapeake and northern ports 316 times before he was forty years old, that 

 is 158 voyages. His opinion was that no cargo wore upon a vessel less (others say the opposite), and it was usually 

 of much profit to the owners. In the si:)i'ing, oysters for bedding are brought cheaper than those designed for 

 market in winter. 



The CREWS and their profits. — The crew of an oyster-vessel usually consists of two (often three) men 

 before the mast, with a cook, mate, and captain. One-third (as a rule), sometimes one-half, of the freight-money 

 goes to the owners, and the remainder to pay the men and furnish food. The wages of a mate in 1879 were $30 a 

 month; of a cook, $25; and of a seaman, $15 to $1G. Food for a voyage costs from $40 to $50. In addition to 

 his share, the owners give the captain $15 a month. 



Suppose, then, a load of 3,000 bushels, with freight at 18 cents a bushel, bought after 30 days' voyage. The 

 proceeds would be divided as follows: 



3,000 bushels, at 18 cents |I540 00 



One-third to owners |;180 00 



Mate's salary 30 00 



Three men, .at ^15 45 00 



Cook's salary 25 00 



Provisions 45 00 



325 00 



Remains for general bills and captain 215 00 



Three seasons' work done by a Wellfleet schooner. — As an example of the history of an oyster- 

 schooner's voyages, I give a copj- of what was done in two years by one of the vessels in the above list. Her 

 length was 86 feet; breadth, 23 feet; depth, 8 feet 6| inches ; measurement, 97.95 tons. She was owned by fifteen 

 partners, and in 1876 cost in Newburyport $9,819 63. The record of her trips from 1877 to 1879 stands : 



Spring 1877, first trip, 3,000 bushels, at 18 cents freight $540 00 



Spring 1877, second trip, 3,400 bu.shels, at 18 cents freight 613 08 



Spring lb77, third trip, 3,01-J bushels, .at 18 cents freight 542 16 



Spring 1877, fourth trip, 3,.')50 bu.shels, at 18 cents freight 639 00 



Spring 1877, fifth trip, 3,286 bushels, at 18 cents freight 591 48 



Whole stock...... 2,925 72 



Great generals (or expenses charged to account of vessel) 460 15 



2, 4G5 .57 



