THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 147 



marslies, by men wlio pick them np or tong tbem, using small boats. This seed varies according to locality. In 

 Dividing creek and southward it is very jjoor, witli thin shells, and is used to l)e replanted in inclosed ponds. 

 From the Maurice river and northward better seed is brought, and good, natural-growth oysters are tonged up and 

 sold to wagoners, who peddle them through all the southwestern counties of the state at from 50 cents to $1 a 

 bushel. One man in Mauricetown, who worked alone and in an open boat, is said to have sold between five and 

 six thousand dollars' worth of this stock in a single season, recently. 



The limit of natural growth northward on the New Jersey shore of Delaware bay, is a little above Cohansey 

 point. All along the shore ft'om here to Cape May the growth is solid, but out in the middle they grow in isolated 

 patches. All the northernmost beds are useful only as seed, and the protective law hitherto quoted was made in 

 the interest of about 1,000 fiimilies, who find their support in oystering along shore. This estimate of the number of 

 families supported is probably too low, and is derived from a pretty exact estimate of the number of men employed 

 in the vessels, obtained by the following survey: 



In planting on the Jersey shore of Delaware bay, or, in other words, in Maurice cove, it is entirely fair to 

 estimate 300 boats engaged, since 255 are registered, and about fifty, under five tons, are regularly working 

 unregistered, though all these do not plant, while there are several others of large size, which defy or neglect 

 registration. Most of these 300 boats are of good model and excellent build, as has already been hinted. Some 

 exceed 40 tons in burden, and an average value of $1,000, big and little, is not too high. This would give $300,000 

 as the total worth of the fleet on the western shore. 



Now in i>lanting native seed in the spring, for no southern seed of consequence is put on the eastern shore, 

 each of these 300 vessels will put down 20 deck loads of seed ; at 400 bushels to the deck load, this sums up 

 24,000,000 as the amount planted, in 0,000 trips. 



These plauting operations, and the subsequent marketing of the crop, cause the em]iloyment in these 300 

 vessels as crews, during ten months every year, of no less than 1,500 men, at five to each craft. All these are 

 required bj' law to be citizens of New Jersey. They receive an average of $25 a month and board as wages ; and 

 since it is impossible to separate those who work on shares, from those who accept a salary — something which is 

 incessantly changing — it is safe to calculate as though all were hired. Fifteen hundred men at $25 a month, for 

 ten months, gives the sum of $375,000 annually exijended as wages by the owners of the Maurice cove beds. In 

 addition to this the board of the crews, at the rate of about $40 a month in each vessel, aggregates $120,000. The 

 cost of repairs upon a vessel engaged in such a work as these are, and of their size, will be stated low at $300 a 

 year for the first five or ten years ; I believe it to be more. At that rate $90,000 a year, in cash, is paid out for 

 "running expenses". 



If you should ask one of these planters how his crop compares with the amount of seed he put down, probably 

 you would be told he could not tell. From much study of the matter, I believe the following statement to represent 

 nearly the truth : 



To bring the oysters raised on the Jersey shore of Delaware bay to market, each one of those 300 boats makes ten 

 trips a season, and on each trip brings 500 bushels. This is an average estimate, but it is so far below the line of 

 safety, in my opinion, that to the total I propose to add 17,000 bushels, in order to get a " round " figure. Multiplying 

 3,000 trips (300 boats by 10) into 500 bushels a trip, gives 1,500,000 bushels as the total of oysters that are sent to 

 the Philadelphia market by water from Maurice cove. By rail, as I have said, came 83,000 in 1879 ; but in 1880 

 this was reported increased, and to it may be safely added 17,000, making au even 100,000, or 1,600,000 bushels as 

 the total i)roduct. 



Now what is this worth? I have used, heretofore, in general calculations, a dollar as representing a bushel. 

 It will hold from the Delaware capes to Boston. See how near an actual calculation brings it here. All the west 

 Jersey oysters that go to market are either " primes" (first quality) or " cuUens" (second), and iu the ratio of one 

 of the former to two of the latter. The ordinary price for cuUens has been 80 cents, and of i^rimes $1 50 ; adding and 

 dividing gives $1,033 as the average value. This, remember, is the amount paid to the planters, and, cousequenlly, 

 distributed to a great extent at home in New Jersey, but not wholly, for a large part of the ownership of the oysters 

 is held in Philadelphia. Summarizing the foregoing produces the following tabulation : 



Number of vessels , 300 



Value of same $300,000 



Number of boats 800 



Number of men employed 1, fiOO 



Wages (§375,000) and board ($120,000) 8495,000 



Amount of seed planted bushels.. 2,400,000 



Amount of crop raised bushels.. 1,600, 000 



Value of same $1,600,000 



Amount of ground necessary acres ... 6, 000 



Probable actual value S50,000 



Western shore of Delaware bay. — Let us now cross over to the western shore of Delaware bay, which 

 is equally suitable with the eastern, and has long been employed in planting oysters. The business now is on the 

 increase, but it is chiefly in the hands of Phihuh^Jphia firms. 



