THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY 139 



years" growth. This brings it to "box" size, and no oysters are sold from Absecon less than this size. Until last 

 year the price was $8 a thousand, but last year some lots were sold as low as $G, because not up to the usual 

 quality. The shipments are all made Ijy rail to Philadelphia, and sold there on commission, a system which has 

 lately giviMi rise to much complaint on account of alleged frauds. 



In addition to the northern oysters, bred as I have described, other stock is also brought from Virginia and 

 given a season's growth. The total raised for market during the ]>ast, however, of both kinds, by Absecon 

 planters, would not exceed 20,000 bushels, three-fourths of which were from the Chesapeake. This would hardly 

 represent an average crop, since many planters preferred to let their oysters lie to selling them at so poor prices. 



Atlantic City. — At Atlantic City there are three firms of oyster-planters and dealers, consisting of five men. 

 They deal more or less in fish and i)rovisions also. The oysters handled at present consist of southern stock 

 (six or seven thousand bushels), which do well here, if they can be procured in good order. Besides this about 18,000 

 bushels of full-grown, marketable oysters are bought at Absecon and Barnegat and laid down here on a hard 

 bottom, in shallow water, where the beds go dry at low tide, simply for summer use in the large seaside hotels 

 which make Atlantic City famous. It is probably not fair to count these in statistics of production. 



At Brigantine beach there is a similar industry, selling at Atlantic City, but not of much account, and hardly 

 to be reckoned as a point of original production. 



Lake's bay. — Just behind the island upon which Atlantic City is built, and to the southward, is an extensive 

 sheet of inclosed water known as Lake's bay, which is continued southward in numerous channels through the salt- 

 marshes behind Absecon beach, until it reaches the inlet and mouth of Great Egg Harbor river. Along the shore 

 of this bay are various villages that carry on extensive operations in oyster-culture, and have done so for many 

 years. I refer to Pleasantville, Smith's Landing, Bakersville, Leedsville, and Somer's Point. The best part of the 

 bay is said to be what are called the "muddy beds", directly in front of Smith's Landing, and about a quarter of a 

 mile distant. The advantage of these beds is said to lie in the fact, that the drainings from the "platforms" flow 

 over them at low tide, giving them a bath of fresh water twice daily. Much damage occurs here, however, whenever 

 northwest gales occur, the soft mud in the marshes being loosened and drifted off into the bay to settle on the beds. 

 The only enemy of the oyster reported here as of much consequence, is the Urosaljniix, called by the natives "snail- 

 bore"; these mollusks become very troublesome some years, but had not occurred in great numbers during the 

 season of my visit (1880). 



Lake's bay platforms. — The "platforms" to which I have alluded, are in some cases nothing better than a 

 mere plank floor, set in the bank in such a way that a boat-load of oysters, which are always extremely muddy and 

 foul when first taken from the beds, may be floated alongside at high tide, and the oysters shoveled overboard 

 upon it. The receding tide leaves this bare, and at the same time opens sluicegates, which allow a stream of fresh 

 water from the land to cover the oysters, under the genial influence of which they rid themselves of the distasteful 

 brine contained within their shells, and also puff out their forms to an appearance of fatness very pleasing to the 

 epicure. 



Frequently, however, an elaboration of tlie platform is constructed, which is worthy of special note. The bank 

 is dug into and piles are driven, until a floor can be laid at a proper level below high-water mark. Over this a tight 

 shed is built, somt times 75 feet long by 25 feet wide, and of considerable height. On one side of this shed a canal 

 is dug, into which a boat may run, and its cargo is easily shoveled through large openings in the side of the shed 

 on to the floor within. On the opposite side of the shed, both within and without, run floors or stages iibove the 

 reach of high water, where the oysters can be piled after freshening, packed in barrels and loaded on boats or drays 

 for shipment. When the tide goes down it leaves the oysters upon the platform within the shed nearly bare, a 

 depth of S or 10 inches of water being retained by a footboard at the seaward end of the shed. An arrangement 

 of sluices now admits the fresh water, and the freshening begins. Over the space devoted to the platform or vat, 

 at a sufficient height to let a man stand underneath to shovel up the oysters for packing, in which work he uses a 

 dung-fork, is a broad shelf or garret, where barrels, Itaslcets, Ijoat-gear, and other small property can be safely 

 stowed, since the whole shed, platform, oysters, and all, can be locked up. I have given an illustration of one of 

 these houses at Smith's Landing. 



Shipments of oysters from Lake's bay to Philadelphia. — From these settlements on Lake's bay two 

 lines of railway run to Philadelphia, side by side. One is the Camden and Atlantic, and the other the Philadelphia 

 and Atlantic City (narrow gauge). Since the recent completion of this latter road, all the Lake's bay oysters have 

 been sent by its line, which oflered superior advantages; and as none go to Philadelphia (the almost exclusive 

 market) by any other means, the railway's account of transportation of oysters may be accepted as supplying the 

 statistics of the annual product of the region. The agent at Pleasantville gave me the figures for the season of 

 1879-80, which are as follows : 



Oysters sent to rhiladelphia. 



624 onr-loads, at 70 liaricls liarrclH.. 43, tiSO 



43,(;s0 barrels, at about i bushels to 1 b.arrcl biishols.. 1:10,1)00 



43,fi80 barrels, at 500 oysters to 1 barrel '. oysters.. 21, H 10,000 



4;i,r,-*0 barrels, at -^40 jmiiiikIs (o 1 barrel ]ioiiiids.- 10, 4^•;!, --'DO 



43,i;?0 barrels, at -JO eeuls li.ight Sll,:;.'ii; tO 



