114 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



placed upon such a soiirce of seed. Sixty years ago old oystermen remember working upon the " Cbingora" bed, 

 two miles below Keyport; and upon the then famous " State-beds" just at the Earitau river light-house. Now 

 artificial planting covers both these banks. Fifteen years ago a bed of wild oysters was discovered down near the 

 southwest buoy, and is supposed to have oiiginated from spawn drifted across from Fort Hamilton, where the rocks 

 conceal many oysters in their crevices. Since then small patches are occasionally found elsewhere. This sporadic 

 growth seems entirely due to the native oysters planted in the sound, for during all the years previous that "Virginias" 

 were planted in the greatest profusion, nothing of the sort occurred. Though the southern oysters would survive the 

 winter, as a rule, and were even kept over two winters, when it was undesirable to sell them, they never spawned 

 effectually, and are considered by the oystermen incapable of doing so, who attribute all the " set" which occurs 

 anywhere in that vicinity to northern stock. I have had no opportunity of jiroving this, right or wrong, but am 

 inclined to believe it true. This year a ruinously large proportion of the southern stock planted died. 



I may mention, in this connection, that on the New Jersey shore much oyster-spawn "catches" every year in 

 all the creeks, and a certain portion of it survives., A common experience is to find it attached to the sedges. By 

 autumn such will become so heavy as to fall in the water, and the main part of it will die. What survives, however, 

 will be as big as half a dollar, and are caught for seed. Enough remains, nevertheless, to tempt a few fishermen to 

 return the very day the summer close-time expires, and rake again. What they get are "yellow as gold", and of 

 extraordinary quality. These oysters are culled "naturals", and are only enough to supply the home-tables for a 

 few days, at extravagant prices. I see no reason why the judicious throwing of shells or other cultch in these creek- 

 mouths would not save large quantities of this fine seed. It would be objected to by the populace, however, no 

 doubt, on the plea that it was " natural ground" — an argument that mrght serve for any part of all these shores, 

 which have occasionally been covered with the spawn along their whole extent. 



The southern oysters that formerly made the chief business of these shores were variously known as "Virginia 

 seed ", " Chesapeakes", " soft", and " fresh" oysters. I restrict myself in the use of the word " seed ", however, to 

 the very small native nortbern oysters which were transplanted to private beds, and allowed from eighteen months' 

 to two years' growth. The business was certainly very extensive for the condition of the oyster-market; nor has 

 it yet more than declined, since probably 300,000 bushels are annually laid down even now. 



Methods of culture, past anb present. — The methods of work were aud are not different from those 

 pursued elsewhere in respect to southern oysters, and need not be redes(;ribed in detail. Eappahannock and York 

 river stock seems to have been i^referred always in this district, and a large uumber of sloops and schooners ran 

 each spring to and from those rivers. The crews of these vessels were not only native Jerseymen or Staten 

 Islanders, but often Chesaiieake men, who came up for a brief season's work, and then returned to their homes. 



"They are required," says an account written in 1853, "in the transplanting of a bed, to heave the oysters 

 overboard, to clean the bed about once a year, aud perform various other work of a. like description. The cleaning 

 of the beds takes place generally every fall, and is accomplished by means of 'scrapers', singular looking 

 instruments, somewhat resembling scythes, with this exception, that at one side of the blade a large bag, constructed 

 of iron ring-work, like many purses we have seen, is attached. Into this all the scouriugs of the bed, cleaned off 

 with the front of the blade, fall, and the whole is hauled up at regular intervals and deposited in the boat, to be 

 afterwaixl thrown into the ciirrent. In this manner the whole floor of the bed is scraped quite clean, after which 

 it is considered fit for the reception of the oysters. The process of cleaning a bed is performed by the vessels under 

 full sail. It is a very laborious task. 



"The oyster companies have to pay about $1 a year each for the privilege of planting in a jjortion of Prince's 

 bay, called Ward's point, which is regarded as admirably adapted for the purpose. As many as 1,000,000 bushels 

 of oysters are scattered in this favorite locality yearly ; but it is the only part of the bay for which the dealers are 

 required to pay. Each company have their own ground marked out, and the whole space thus occupied extends 

 over ten miles in length by about five in breadth. The depth of water varies from 8 to 25 feet. Besides the 

 Virginia oysters, there are several other kinds planted in this bay, among which are the East river and Delaware 

 oysters." 



The war of the Eebellion interfered greatly with this industry, and bad a great influence in turning the current 

 of oyster-planting toward the cultivation of home-stock. 



39. OYSTEEINDUSTEIES OF NEW YOEK BAY, 1879-'80. 



Culture of transplanted native oysters. — Turning now to the consideration of the growing of 

 transplanted native oysters, I find that this is gradually superseding the other (southern) planting, the objection 

 to that being that, witb higher prices at tbe south and lower selling-rates in the north, too many risks are attached 

 to make it profitable. Tbe plauters of old, elated by their profits, which, during the war of tbe Eebellion were 

 very large, over-crowded the grounds and each other, until the business nearly collapsed. The present revival 

 in the line of growing natives is likely to prove equally profitable in a sounder way. But this planting of native 

 seed-oysters in New York bay is an old industry. In 1853, for example, it was stated that there were at least 1,000 

 men employed in cultivating "York Bays" for tbe purpose of sbii)ping them. "Tbe hardness of their shell and tbe 



