THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 73 



The first inemoranrlum in this interesting book informs us, under the date " ] 807 ", that the author " commenced 

 stocking the ditch at Fort Hale with native oysters, of two years' growth, in September and October of 1S(J7, for 

 the purpose of experiment". Only 51 bushels were laid down. To 180S is devoted only oue page, as follows : " In 

 September and October, 1808, we notice a thrifty set of young oysters along the edge of the ditch and on the 

 stones near the sluice ; also, on the piles of the bridge and in the brook that leads into the ditch. We are also 

 sorry to note that about one-half of the oysters laid down as an experiment, for spawners, have been killed by- 

 becoming buried in the mud." Subsequently (June 10, 1870), the author records that "one of our neighbors took 

 from the ditch, one night last fall, 23 bushels of the oysters planted by us and sold them iu Kew Haven". Betwixt 

 mud and thieves, experimental knowledge appears to have been a dear acquisition. 



The next record is under 1809 : 



From the last two years' experience we have flccitled to stock the ditch wifh native oysters, of three years' growth, this fall, for tha 

 purpose of having them iu thriving condition during the spawuing-seaaou of 1870. Wo have now down the following (inantities: 



Busliclt). 



Eomaiuing, four years old, say 25 



Eemaining, of spawn 100 



Selected natives, iilanted November 3 to 29 150 



This year's growth, taken fiom the edge of the ditch 25 



Total 300 



The next entry is a list of the names of the 48 original proprietors to whom the oyster-lots, subsequently 

 transferred to the Townsend Brothers, were first granted by the town of East Haven. The lots run from No. 389 

 to No. 482 ; each lot consisted of two acres. 



In July, 1808, Mr. Townsend began spreading shells upon seven of his lots, and between the 16th and 29th 

 threw overboard 4,487 bushels, estimating that each lot required from 700 to 750 bushels. The expense of this he 

 sets down at 8 cents a bushel; 2J cents cost of shells; 5 cents for boating and spreading; J cent for staking, etc. 



Following this comes a "memorandum of sound and cove seed-oysters, planted August and September, 1808". 

 This states, verj' particularly, the date of planting, who did the labor, the exact location of the work, and the number 

 of bushels put down each time, with occasional additional note, regarding quality, etc. A large number of the Fair 

 Haven oystermen appear to have been furnished with steady employment at this season. Succeeding this entry, are 

 similar memoranda of Fair Haven river seed-oysters planted at the same time upon difterent ground. In all, 834 

 bushels of cove and sound seed and 2,595 bushels of river seed were planted, both kinds a year old. This seed, says a 

 subsequent entry, was laid down at the rate of 25 bushels to 30 feet square, or 1,000 bushels to the acre ; eighteen 

 months afterward it was decided to be too thick to thrive well. 



At this time he began taking up some Virginia oysters. Oue cargo, planted April 24, 1869, on lot 455, consisted 

 of 765 bushels from Fishing bay. They cost, to bed down, 31.J cents a bushel, and sold, December 1, at 48 cents a 

 bushel. Another cargo, planted on lots 400 and 407, April 25, 1809, consisted of 2.280 bushels from Great Anamassie. 

 They cost, to bed down, 34i cents, and sold, on the ground, for 50 cents per bushel. The oysters i-emaiued down, on 

 the average, six months, and increased in growth one-third. 



Between July 14 and 26 he shelled the east side of lots 428, 429, 430 with 900 bushels of " stools", in a strip 

 about 100 feet wide, and put 200 bushels on Black Eock bar. 



This completes the diary for 1869. I continue to quote : 



January 1, 1870. — Paid W F , for service as watchman, 10 days, at §2 ^0, S25. 



F was relieved to-day by A. Moulthrop, whom I have employed, for the Townsend Brothers, to cultivate oysters, and otherwise, 



for one year, at the rate of $i75 per month. 



January 26, 1870. — Spent severiil hours to-d.ay with Moulthrop on the oyster-beds in the harbor. I also told him of my plans for 

 developing the ditch at Fort Hale. We walked around it and I gave him an idea how much of the ditch we had stocked ; I also showed 

 him the mussel-p.atch in the sluice, and gave him directions to get brush ready to lay over the mussels for the purpose of catching their 

 spawn, similar to the French ))lan. I also told him to i)repare stakes, boats, etc., for work in the sjiring. 



March 2'6, 1870. — I lind the cold weather had killed many of our finest oysters near the sluice at the fort. We were emjiloyed scraijiug 

 and trimming wp the ditch, etc. 



March 28, 1870. — Moulthroi> and myself busy on the oyster-grounds getting ready to transplant seed from sjiawn of 1868. 



On the following day the transplanting was begun. Lot 409 had been "shelled" in July, 1808, at the rate of 

 1,000 bushels to the acre. These shells had caught a large amount of spat, which had lived and was now ready 

 to be transferred. Between March 29 and May 26 there w ere taken from this lot, as follows : 



Bushels. 



Tr.ansplanted to lot No. 426 650 



Transplanted to lot No. 400 645 



Transplanted to lot No. 403 , 630 



Transplanted to lot No. 402 540 



Before transplanting, the lot which was to receive this .seed was divided off into "squares", 30 feet in breadth, 

 and about 15 bushels was x)laced on each square. Mr. Townsend made a i)lat of each lot, so planted, in his note- 

 book. I will transcribe one, as a sample of the many that occur all through, since it may be suggestive. On each 

 square is noted the date of planting and the number of bushels, thus : " April 14 — 15." 



