92 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



■bring their boat to anchor", when ready to draw it in again on board, they fonnd it very heavy, and after raising it to the surface they had 

 it filled with fine large oysters, when they soon loaded their boat, and entered into a mutual compact of secrecy, but it was broken ; the 

 information was sold [for .$500], and the valuable discovery was soon made public. Thousands of bushels were taken and replanted, and 

 those which were planted in deep water produced some extra fine Large oysters, which found a ready sale in our markets. 



For help in calculating the oyster-riches of tliis southern shore of the East river, I am indebted to the labors 

 of Mr. Frederick Mather, of the United States Fish Gommissiou, who also acted as a special agent of the Census 

 there. 



Flushing bay and vicinity. — The first point, beginning at the western extremity, is Flushing bay. Twenty 

 men are engaged here iu oystering and clamming, almost inseparable employments along this shore. There are 

 oyster-beds staked out here, worth, counting seed and appliances, $8,000, and they produced last year 10,000 bushels 

 of oysters. Six boats of foiu- or fl^'e tons, cat-rigged, are employed. In addition to this four men, supporting three 

 families, oyster in Flushing bay, but live at College Point, and sent to market 8,000 bushels last year, using two 

 boats. All shipments are by boat. 



In Little Neck bay the oyster-beds are free of cost, but are staked off in private claims and planted, a condition 

 respected by neighbors, but giving no legal sanction. The seed is obtained from near by, and is worth 25 cents a 

 bushel. "There is a desire," says Mather, "on the part of some of the oystermen to pay for their grounds and 

 get some protection in return. Now their only claim is on the seed, and they can sue or jirosecute a man for 

 stealing that. I found a great difference of opinion among the oystermen on the bay in regard to the laws. Some 

 holding that the statutes did, and others that they did not, protect the claimants of oyster-beds. A man's heirs 

 claim his beds and the claim is respected, but it does not appear that the beds are salable in the sense of giving 

 a deed for a consideration. In a discussion on this point, which I encouraged iu order to get at the facts, one man 

 said, derisively : ' 1 would like to see a good bed found and have the town attempt to sell it. There'd be fun, and 

 somebody would get hurt, sure, for when there's a find we all go for it, and the one that gets the most is the best 

 fellow.' " 



One of the towns on this bay is Whitestone, from whence 4,500 bushels of oysters are sent ; another is Little 

 Neck, where 30 men make a living by oystering and clam-flshing, and raise an annual crop of 10,000 bushels. 

 One slooiJ, over 20 tons, and seven over 5 tons, are engaged. 



Geeat Neck and vicinity. — At Great Neck there is considerable business — about 5,000 bushels a year, 

 ■which go to market in boats owned at Little Neck. 



Off this coast, between Great Neck and Hell Gate, are very persistent natural beds of oysters, which annually 

 furnish fair raking-ground, whence the planters in tlie ^'icinity obtain nearly all their seed. In the lower part of the 

 river the oil and deposits from the petroleum refineries at Hunter's Point, have injured or whoUy destroyed the beds. 

 The best ground is directly in the steamboat channel, where the cinders falling from the innumerable freight, 

 " sound line", and excursion steamers that pass daily, furnish a capital cnltch for the oyster-spat to attach itself 

 to. This ground is gradually extending itself into a productive tract half way to Norwalk. The seed lies 

 particularly thick here in a bed about three miles long, off Eaton's Neck. In summer this whole region is excellent 

 clamming- ground. I have counted 100 boats, doing well, at once between Sea Cliff and Throgg's Neck. Many 

 boats had two men, and this number was not unusual. This scraping of the bottom with the big, deep-cutting, 

 dredge-like clam-rake undoubtedly contributes to the growth of young oysters as well as young clams there, by 

 preparing the ground to retain the spawn, which is at that very season floating about. 



For oysters raised west of Great Neck, buying agents of New York houses paid the planters last season an 

 average price of 75 cents per bushel. 



Port Washington. — Port Washington, on the other hand, a village upon Cow bay, in one of the most 

 beautiful districts of Long Island, is the seat of a very large oyster-planting interest. It is a fine sight to look 

 down from the hill upon the bay, crowded with its miniature shipping, dotted by the large floats which are anchored 

 all along the shore, and its sunny surface enlivened by countless small boats moving about here and there in eager 

 haste. At the wharves are usually to be found two or three sloops from New York buying oysters, with the names 

 and advertisements of their owners painted in huge black letters on the broad mainsail ; or at a favorable condition 

 of season and tide the whole trim fleet spreads its canvas and sweeps out to the dredging-grounds in beautiful 

 array. 



It is more than thirty-five years since George Mackey first began the planting of oysters in this bay; now 

 this industry is the main business in the town, and commands two-thirds of all the influence — out of 320 voters on 

 the rolls, liOO being oystermen. Nearly all of these are heads of families, and as representative names I might 

 mention the Mackeys, the Jar\dses, J. J. Thompson, A. Thatcher & Co., Thomas Allen, Peter H. Holt, J. Van Pell, 

 and various others. In order to carry on their business they have, perhaps, $10,000 worth of shore-fixtures, and 

 from $40,000 to $50,000 worth of floating property, embraced in 70 sloops and sailboats, averaging $500 in value, 

 and in floats, skiffs, tools, etc. The amount of ground under use it would be impossible to say — I could get no 

 notion of it^ — since it is scattered and is not measured for allotment as it is in Connecticut. Guessing at it, I should 

 say there are 2,000 acres. The water is tolerably shallow — 28 feet is the deepest told me of— and tongs are mainly used. 

 The bottom, almost universally, is nuuldy, and no spring-shifting is resorted to. The total production last year (and 



