THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 93 



substantially the same will be true of 1880) was 75,000 bushels. These were sold on the spot, for the most part, to 

 New York buyers, who paid an average of 75 cents a bushel. The yield of these beds this year was said to be 

 unusually good, both in quantity and quality. These oysters were sold mainly at home, to biiyers who came in 

 sloo])S from jSTew York. AVhen disposed of by the bushel, they brought an average of 75 cents, or even less. 

 Culled out and sold carefully by count, as was done often, the prices were : For the largest, $0 per 1,000 ; medium 

 size, §3 per 1,000; poorest, 81 per 1,000. One firm alone in New York, at the Broomestreet wharves, is reputed 

 to have taken over 10,000 bushels. Formerly they must have paid 20 per cent, more than the schedule of prices 

 given abo^'e. 



Hempstead bay and vicinity. — Hempstead bay seems to be not so prolific in molUiscan life as the preceding 

 indentations of the coast. The planters go elsewhere for seed. In IJosIyn about 30 men occasionally rake oysters 

 and clams, and half as many families are thus partially supported. The year's catch is reported at 15,0(J0 bushels. 



At Glenhead .50 men are in the oyster and clam business, supporting 35 families. The product was about 

 15,000 bushels in ISSO, nearly all of which went to New York by boat. 



Glen Cove is the home of 15 oystermen, who say they have $5,000 invested at present in seed-oysters, and $2,500 

 more in b(->ats and tools. The shipment is wholly by water, and amounts to 20,000 bushels annually. 



Concerning the next inlet. Oyster bay, JVIr. Jlather writes that "it is a famous locality for oysters, and 

 notwithstanding that the line between Queens and Snfiblk counties strikes the bay at its eastern end, leaving 

 Cold Spring on one side and the other villages on the other, the same law prevails. The oyster-beds are leased by 

 the towns at 50 cents an acre; number of acres not limited. Some oystermen object to this, and a few of the 

 principal ones refuse to pay, but stake oft' their claims and hold them by force. About three-fourths of the bay is 

 staked oft', and tlie greater i)ortion is ])lanted. The seed is obtained from Bridgeport, Connecticut, at 25 cents per 

 bushel of (averaging) 5,000 oysters. It is not necessary to boy much when the spawn 'sets', as it did this year 

 [18S0] and last. A few shipments are made by rail, but mainly by boat, and a few have been packed for Europe." 



Bayviite is the first village on Hempstead bay to be considered, its railway station being Locust Valley. The 

 oyster-interests here are said to contain an investment of $00,000, and 00,000 bushels go to markets in New York and 

 Connecticut annually. As the yearly revenue from this is only $15,000, a large portion must be designed to seed 

 other beds. The sheUflsheries are said to support here about 75 families, and many women find irregular 

 employment in opening oysters and clams. Thirteen sloops, of from 30 to 10 tons each, are employed, the total 

 value of which is $13,000; 4 cat-boats, $100; and 100 row-boats, at $15, $1,500, making a grand total value of 

 $11,900. Much of this is employed in clamming, however. 



At Oyster bay, $25,000 are invested in oyster-beds, and 75,000 bushels of oysters are taken annually. There 

 are 23 sailing-boats, large and small, owned by these men, and to a large extent, at least, devoted to oysteriug 

 and clamming, which together are estimated as worth $15,000. 



In Cold Spring there are 45 men oysteriug in the season, half of whom have families. The harbor is three 

 miles long by one mile wide, and three-fourths of it, or about 500 acres, is planted Avith oysters. The total 

 shipments reported from these beds in 1880, amounted to 25,000 bushels. Most of these went to New York by 

 boat, except in freezing weather, when the lailroad carried some. Seven sloops, counting 50 tons in all, and worth 

 $0,000, belong at this port. 



Huntington bay and vicinity. — Crossing over now to Huntington bay, another good mollusk-district is met 

 with. The principal town is Huntington, which is well landlocked. Here the investment amounts to about $8,000, 

 and $1,800 in small boats, by means of which 15,000 bushels of oysters are got up for market yearly. Perhaps 20 

 families are thus supported. 



Centreport contributes a larger corps of general fishermen and oystermen, 100 men being reported as engaged 

 in the season, GO of whom are married. Twenty-five sail-boats belong here, and are worth $15,000; while $100,000 

 are said to be invested in oyster-beds, that yield 50,000 bushels annually. 



In Northport and East Northport, 15 men are engaged, half having families, but their additional investments 

 and contributions are already accounted for above. 



Very large interests are owned in Hirntington bay by the Lowndes Brothers and others, of Norwalk, Connecticut, 

 but the yield of their beds is not considered in the present account, because already counted at Norwalk. The 

 ground is leased under loL-al regulations at 50 cents a year per acre ; and there is no tax upon it until it becomes 

 of distinct value to the owner. The town treasuries receive a considerable revenue from this source. Should all 

 lessees pay proi)erly, the sum would be larger; but here, as frequently elsewhere, a legal doubt exist? as to the 

 right of the town of Northport to rent the bottom of the bay, since these waters and the bottom are claimed by 

 the adjoining town of Huntington, under charters from King George III. The matter now is pending decision in 

 suit. A similar plea on the part of Brookhaven, in respect to the eastern end of the Great South bay, has been 

 upheld by the courts, notwithstanding that the land fronting on much of the water in question was long ago set 

 apart from Brookhaven into the town of Islip. 



The oyster-interests of Smithtown bay are very small, and chiefly centered at Stony Brook, where there are 

 10 sloops, worth $10,000, employed, and a further oyster-investment of about $20,000. Tiie amount of oysters sold 

 last year was 18,000 bushels. Out ot the proceeds of this, large clam-grounds, and some fishing, .300 persons made 

 a li\ ing liere. * 



