42 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



extent. The bottom of the main part of the harbor is hard sand, and the water is nowhere more than 8 feet deep 

 at low tide. In some portions rocks and eel-grass exist. 



On the southern shore of this harbor, about a mile from its head, exists a living bed of natural oysters, some 

 seven acres in extent, under protection of the town for public benefit. The oysters growing upon it are reported to be 

 large, but not of extraordinary size, scalloped and roundish, differing in no respect from aged oysters grown after 

 transplanting to another part of the bay. Excepting this natural bed, the whole harbor has been surveyed and 

 divided into grants; all those good for anything have been taken up, and must now be bought at an advanced price, 

 if any one desires to possess them. The largest owner is a Boston firm, reputed to have 75 acres, but beside it are 

 a score of other proprietors, inhabitants of the shores. It is safe to say that $3,500 would buy out all the home 

 interests in the whole tract, and $15,000 cover the total investment up to January 1, 1880. There is a spirit of 

 progress here, however, which will lead to a great increase in the value of the property within the next few years. 

 During 1878, for example, there were shipped from Pocasset station only 85 barrels; in 1879, 500 barrels. 



I spent some hours on these giounds with Mr. Edward Eobinson, who exerted himself to make my visit 

 instructive. He thought that one-half of the whole water-area was suitable for oyster-cultivation, and all of this 

 is now appropriated, though only a portion has yet been stocked. The seed is mainly derived from the native bed 

 in the harbor and from the shores where the native spawn has "set", and is planted in the spring and fall. The 

 only outside seed brought in thus far is 300 bushels from the Weeweantit river, across the bay; and 1,000 bushels 

 from Somerset. The latter did not seem to do well. A long, sandy point runs out into the harbor here, which 

 ebbs dry at low tide. This does not come into any grant, therefore, and hence is public ground for the gathering of 

 seed. I saw upon the pebbly beach, in places, how abundantly this was to be had. Young oysters, at this season, 

 from the size of a dime to that of a dollar, were strewed between tide-marks so thicklj- that you could hardly avoid 

 stepping upon them, and they would survive the winter well in this exposure. These are gathered by everybody 

 who wishes and placed upon their grants. In addition to this, many thousands of bushels of old shells have been 

 laid down, the proper time to do this work being early in July, in order to have their surfaces clear and ready to 

 catch the spawn which begins to appear about that time. In 1876, when there was the last good quantity of spawn 

 emitted, the shells had been put down in May, and by July were so slimy that the spawn did not set upon them. 

 They learned wisdom by that, but no good year for spawn has occurred since. The seed is planted in varying 

 quantity, but Mr. Eobinson said he should put it down shoulder to slioulder, so as to pave the whole bottom, if he 

 had enough. I saw tracts where the growing oysters lay so thick as to conceal the sand, and you could gather a 

 bushel from a square yard of bottom. The natives consider the seed here better than that at Monument river, for 

 it is rounder and less distorted. When the oysters are three to four years old, and ready for market, Mr. Eobinson 

 takes them up and lays them u^ion a wooden floor near his packing-shanty, in water almost wholly fresh, which 

 takes away the very saline flavor, fills them up in size, and makes them plump and hard. It is known as the 

 "fattening" process, after which they are ready for shipment. Bought from the boats, a dollar a bushel is paid for 

 these oysters, but the freight to Boston and the barreling make them cost about $1 30 a bushel to the dealer. 



Here, as at Monument river, fishing is habitually done through the ice in winter. The method is to cut a large 

 hole and use tongs. The oystermen do not complain of it as especially cold or unpleasant work. In order to keep 

 the oysters from freezing, they dip the bag which they intend to put them in when caught, in water, and hold it 

 upright until it freezes stiff. It thus stands conveniently open, like a barrel, and no wind can blow through its sides 

 to the detriment of the contents. 



Cataitmet and Falmouth.— Below Eed Brook harbor are Cataumet harbor. Currant river. Wild harbor, and 

 Squeateague pond. All of these are inhabited by beds of native oysters, and hence were granted in lots by the 

 town (Sandwich) under the usual regulations. They differ in no important respect from the Eed Brook region, are 

 all of small extent, and the whole money-investment, all together, will not exceed $500. 



At East Falmouth there is a small business, the facts concerning which were kindlj' communicated to me in a 

 letter from Mr. Frank C. Davis, which I take pleasure in transcribing : 



East Fai-mouth, Mass., Xoveml>er20, 1879. 

 Dear Sir: There are no natural oyster-beds in our locality, nor have there been within my recollection, nor is there any trace, so far as I 

 am aware, of their existence in the past. Oysters are cultivated on a small scale here, but there is not room for a very extensive business. 

 We liave a few acres of tide-flats, but the oyster-bottom extends chiefly along the shore, varying from six feet to one rod in width. This 

 bottom is composed of sand and gravel. Out.side of this you have dead black and blue mud, where nothing will live except eels. 



I shotild judge there were 1,000 bushels of seed planted per annum, and about the same amount of oysters sold each year. The seed 

 is obtained in Buzzard's bay, and costs from ,$3,5 to $85 per 100 bushels. 



The ground is granted by the town of Falmouth to the tax-payers of said town, and all of it is taken up. The oysters grow well 

 here, but are liable to die. Our oysters bring from |3 to $5 per barrel ; very choice, |t>. 

 Respectfully, 



F. C. DAVIS. 



Few Bedford and ticinity.— A few words remain to be said about New Bedford and vicinity. The 

 Acushuet river, just above New Bedford, has been found wanting in the qualities necessary to make it good 

 planting ground for oysters. The experiment has been tried, but has failed. No cultivation exists there, therefore. 



The principal dealers in the town buy yearly a superior stock of oysters in the Chesapeake bay, bringing one 



