88 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



H. THE EAST EIVER AND PECOXIC BAY. 



34. OYSTER-INTEEESTS FEOM HELL GATE TO PORT JEFFEESO^S^, NEW YOEK, AND NOEWALK, 



CONNECTICUT. 



East bitisr defined. — To oystermen, and for all the purposes of tlic present report, the East river is 

 that narrow part of Long Island sound, at its eastern end, which extends from Hell Gate to the Norwalk islands 

 on the Connecticut shore, and to Port Jeflerson on the Long Island side. It is a district very old in the annals of 

 oyster-gathering and culture, and one which contributes largely to the trade. 



Early history of oystering. — Traditions concerning the beginning of oystering as a regular industry are 

 very few and faint. I am indebted to Mr. Theodore S. Lowndes, of Eowayton, Connecticut, for some pleasant 

 reminiscences. 



It seems not to have been until about 1S14 or 1815 that much attention was attracted to the oyster-beds of the 

 East river, as a som-ce of business advantage. At that time it was considered a degrading thing to rake oysters 

 for a living, yet the father of my informant, Mr. Edward William Lowndes, went energetically into the enter])rise, 

 with several of his neighbors — William Price, Drake Sopers, Stephen Jennings, James Jennings, and Ijenjamin 

 Totten, the last named having returned from loyal i^articipation in Commodore Perry's ^'lctory on lake Erie. 

 All of these gentlemen lived on City island, and their- descendants are still to be found among the leading citizens 

 of that community. At that time there was no occasion to plant oysters, the bivalves being plentiful upon their 

 natural beds, and easy of access with dredges, rakes, and tongs, very similar to those now in use. Mr. Lowndes 

 writes me as follows: 



The oysters caught nearest Hell Gate were in Flushing bay, between Barien's island and Fisher's point, and I've heard my father say 

 that he had caught oysters below Blackwell's island, on the edge of the flats at Newtown creek, on the Long Island side, but they were 

 only a small lot. 



My father was often annoyed, in his day, by local laws and prejudices against oystermen. On one occasion, as I have heard him tell, 

 while he was at work oft' Shippen point, on Long Island sound, ho was taken ashore at Stamford, and had a ride given him into the country. 

 When brought back his vessel was unloaded, and he was told to get out as soon as possible, which he was glad to do. On returning to 

 New York, he went to the collector of the port. General Morton, who sent Captain Calhoun, conmianding a revenne cutier in the United 

 States navy, to inform the captains of some packets that plied between New York and Stamford, that if any oystermen should be disturbed 

 again in that locality, he would come up with the cutter and protect them; but there was no further trouble. My father was concerned 

 iu several such vexatious adventures. 



Mr. Lowndes and his fellow-citizens showed it possible to work at this with so much diligence and pecuniary 

 success, as to put this occupation in a more favorable light, and caused many more of their neighbors to enter it. 

 The result is, that probably two-thirds of the population of City island, to-day, derive their support from the oyster- 

 interests ownAl there. The same is true of the north shore of Long Island. 



Natural oyster-beds once existed in greater or less abundance aU along the shore of Westchester county. New 

 York, and the opposite coast. Though the Harlem river and the region near Hell Gate have long'beeu abandoned, 

 through over-raking and the unfavorable conditions which have followed the incessant commercial use of these 

 waters, now within the great city of New York; a little farther up, the raking is still practiced. The passenger on 

 the Harlem and New Eochclle railway, can see from the cars, the boats of men catching oysters in all the little 

 nooks and corners of the coast above Port Morris, and across toward College point. The steamboats run daily 

 across seed-ground, and make landings amid plantations. 



East Chester bay. — The first oyster-ground of any consequence, however, going up the river, is found in 

 East Chester bay, which surrounds City Island. Off Throgg's point, at the southern end of this bay, are great 

 natural banks, which have withstood long and steady raking. In these waters are the oldest artificial beds in the 

 East river, for the regular planting of oysters (inaugurated, according to tradition, by Mr. Orriu Fordham) was 

 begun here half a century ago. 



The planters all have their homes on City island, and are about sixty in number. In addition to these sixty 

 planters, there are perhaps a dozen uu)re meu who get their living out of the business. It is safe to say, at any 

 rate, that half a hundred families derive their support from the oyster-industry in this one conunnnity. 



The total production of East Chester bay, last season (ISTO-'SO), may be placed approximately at 55,000 liushels. 

 In order to catch the seed of these oysters and carry them to the New York market, where all the crop is sold, 

 there is owned here a fleet of one steamer, specially fitted, about 45 sloo])s, some 25 floats, and at least 100 skifls. 

 All of these craft are of excellent quality, and represent a value of sometliing like $35,000, which, with an 

 addition of about $5,000 for shore-property, may be taken as the amount of the investment in the industry at City 

 island, exclusive of the value of the stock now lying under the water, on the various beds, and which is a sum 

 hardly possible even to guess at. 



Pelham to Milton. — At Pelham, New Eochelle, Mamaroneek, Eye, and Milton, the business does not attain 

 much dignity, although a large number of families, fully 100, are supported partly by it and partly by digging 



