THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 83 



On the other hand, iu the language of the minority report referred to above : 



No evidence has been offered to show, and it has not been claimed, that similar disastrous consequences result, or have anywhere 

 resulted, from the operation of dredges drawn by sailing-vessels, but, on the contrary, sailing-vessels in the act of dredging, being 

 compelled to pass beyond the borders of the beds (a movement not necessary or customary in vessels controlled by steam), thereby enlarge 

 the borders of the natural ground, and so far work a common public benefit. 



As to the effect of steam-dredging on the general public, it appears to ns that in the event, either of the 

 monoiJoly heretofore suggested, or of the gradual extermination of the natural ojster-grounds menaced, the price of 

 oysters would ultimately advance, to the detriment of the consumer. 



In addition to the foregoing considerations, and as a fact of very great consequence, it is to be observed that 

 some states of the Union having large oyster-interests, particularly New York and Maryland, have totally 

 prohibited steam-dredging within their waters; and other states, to wit, Ehode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, and 

 Virginia, have gone even further and prohibited all dredging of every kind upon their natural beds. 



Lastly, it is asserted that one or two considerable dealers have tried steam, and given it up as unprofitable. 



Arguments in support of steam-dredging. — Opposed to this, those in favor of the use of steam as a 

 motive-power in dredging, set forth the following facts and arguments : 



The number of steamers now in use is seven only, yet this small numberhas extended the cultivation, increased 

 the production, and as a consequence, has materially reduced the price of oysters. 



Prior to the introduction of steam, oyster-dealers of Connecticut were obliged to purchase oysters in other states 

 to su])ply the home demand; now the production within the state is sufficient, not only for local demands but also 

 for a large export. A business so increasing is of benefit to the whole state, particularly in enlarging the supply 

 and reducing the cost of an important article of food. 



The owners of sailing-vessels engaged in this business, and having interests on the shores of Long Island 

 sound, west of Bridgeport, are the only opposers of steam, and they have local, political, and selfish reasons, outside 

 of the merits of the case. Is it the duty of law-makers to pass a law prohibiting this use of steam, to the injury of 

 the people of the state, to gratify the jealousy of a class, and thereby hinder the development of the oyster-culture 

 and discourage enterprise and progress? In the same way the introduction of steam in the manufacture and 

 transportation of cottons, woolens, grain, and for many other purposes, was bitterly opposed by those with whose 

 labor it came into competition ; yet no one doubts' the wisdom of its introduction, because the sequel has proved that 

 the application of steam-i)0wer to any branch of industry decreases the cost of the product. The claim that steam, 

 as applied to this business, was objectionable, is eti'ecrually disposed of by these indisputable facts: 



1st. That the steamers are used by their owners on their own private beds ten months of the year. Does any 

 man of sense believe they would be so used if they damaged the beds! And if the private beds are not damaged, 

 how shoidd the public ground sufierf 



2d. It is ridiculous to claim that an iron bar, dragged on the bottom by steam-power, will have a materially 

 difierent effect than if dragged by wind-power. Ou the contrary, the motion of a steamer is more steady and 

 certain than that of a sailing-vessel, and a dredge drawn by it must, of necessity, leave the bed smoother than one 

 drawn by any power less steady and certain. The dredges used by steamers are not heavier than those used upon 

 the larger-sized sailing-vessels without objection by any one. " It was proved that twenty-two sailing-vessels from 

 New Daven and vicinity dredged on the Bridgeport bed during 1880, using a dredge as heavy as the average dredge 

 used by steam vessels."* 



3d. The "Bridgeport bed" has yielded a larger catch this last season; was greater than it has been since the 

 year of its discovery. Steam-vessels had dredged all over this bed during the preceding season, and seem to have 

 increased rather than diminished the size and productiveness of the bed, while many of the beds from which the 

 steamers were excluded had an inferior set. 



4th. The statements made against steam have been assumptions. It has been asserted that the dredging 

 ironld injure beds and oystermen not thus operating ; but no evidence appeai-s that it has hurt either in any part 

 of the state. 



5th. To follow the example of New York and other states would be anti-progressive, since before they adopted 

 this policy they sold thousands of bushels annually to Connecticut ; whereas now Connecticut largely supplies the 

 seed for the beds in both those states. 



'These are the words of a majority report made to the Connecticut legislature in 1881, but it is extremely difficult to get at the 

 truth. A year previous a letter from South Norwalk contained the following statements: 



"Sailing-vessels use dredges weighing from 15 to 3.5 pounds, which hold at the most but three peeks. Steamers use dredges weighing 

 from 60 to 100 pounds, holding a barrel. One goes over the bottom lightly ; the other subsoils it, liurying everything it does not catch. 

 In the fall of 1878 W. R. Lockwood's steamer worked three weeks on the Shippen bed, taking off 1,000 bushels of seed. During the entire 

 summer period Adison Merrill worked with a 2-2-feet sail-boat on the same bed and caught but 500 bushels. After the steamer left sail-boats 

 could not dredge at all. The bottom had been so subsoiled the light dredges tilled with sand and could not be hauled. During that 

 spawning-season men with small boats worked on it a long time for the sole purpose of cleaning the bottom for the spawn. As soon as the 

 spawn set the steamer came, caught, and destroyed it all. The next si)ring nothing could be caught on that bed. In the summer the 

 sailing-vessels stirred it up again. The spawn set^ — Hoyt Brothers' steamer worked on it a few days and the seed was cither on their 

 private beds or smothered. The same thing was done at Koton ijoiut, destroyiug that bed entirely." 



