THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 191 



Tlanting for the Savannah market.:— No oysters were planted for tbe Savannah market until abont 

 forty years ago, when, it is said, the first attempt was made by Mr. Andrew Nelson, who is still engaged in 

 the business at Veruouburg. Now there are planted beds, also, alongside of his, in Burnside river and at 

 Thunderbolt, abont five miles south of the city. 



The Thunderbolt planters go for their seed chiefly into Wilmington river and Wassaw sound, and particularly 

 along the southern end of Tybee island. The Yiirnon and Burnside planters go down the Vernon river and into 

 Ossabaw sound, especially along the northern end of Ossabaw island, and at the southern point of Big Wassaw. 

 Here they tong up their seed into batteaus, the water being so deep in some places as to require 18-feet handles. 

 The law of the state prohibits dredging, or "any other instrument than the oyster-tongs heretofore in general use". 

 These tongs do not differ essentially from those made and used in the north. Only a portion of the seed obtained 

 for planting, however, is tonged up from the deep-water beds, where it occurs singly, or nearly so. A larger portion 

 is obtained from the shores of the various sounds and salt-water channels, and consists of incipient bunches of 

 raccoon oysters. At low water the planter takes a bateau and four men and goes to the shore where he designs 

 to work at the time of low water. Getting out upon the exposed mud, one or two of the men pull or rake up out 

 of the mud the small bunches of oysters imbedded there, and the rest follow after and pick them up. The 

 instrument used is a rude piece of iron of convenient length, bent at one end so as to act (as it is called) as a 

 "hooker". Old wagon tire is a favorite material out of which to make this instrument. One of these bateaux will 

 carry 100 to 200 bushels, and four men can often till it in a tide, breaking the bunches in pieces as they pick 

 them up. 



Georgia oyster-laws.— It is only recently that the state has given legal sanction to oyster-culture. The 

 law is brief, but very much to the jjoint, and reads as follows: 



Where any person haA-ing taxable lands on the banks or shores of any of the rivers or creeks of this state, sh.all jjlant beds of oysters 

 npon them, it shall not be lawful for any other person to take from such beds of oysters : Provided, the same shall be distinctly staked 

 or marked. 



When an oyster-bank, or beds of oysters, or natural formations, be within rivers or creeks, not exceeding 125 feet in width, and not 

 used for purposes of navigation, the persons having the ownership of the lands on both sides of such creeks or rivers shall have the 

 exclusive right to the usufruct of such banks or beds of oysters as aforesaid. 



Pre-emption methods. — Under this law large amounts of public marsh and islands have been staked off, 

 much of which (it is widely complained of) is not properly done, since bona fide planting is not carried on, nor are 

 taxes paid. The truth of this charge of abuse, which must only exist by common consent, I did not investigate ; 

 but heard several planters say that large portions of their most accessible seed-grounds had been thus shut off, 

 compelling them to go a long distance, with much labor and pains, for their "plants". The boundary marks 

 used are stakes, upon which is nailed a board with the letter "O" painted upon it. One of these oyster-signs at 

 the mouth of a nari'ow creek would prohibit any boat gathering oysters above it; and it seems to be universally 

 respected, except by the vagrant negroes, who catch and sell oysters when they want a little money to prevent 

 utter starvation, or to pay for some sport. 



Methods of culture. — The seed thrown overboard is mainly about a year old; smaller takes too long to 

 grow, and a much larger growth will not survive transplanting. There are two classes of beds — shore-beds, 

 going dry at low tide, and channel-beds, always covered — the latter producing the finer oysters. The bottom is 

 mostly clay mud. After two years the oysters are taken up, the marketable ones picked out, and the rest thrown 

 back; then another lot of new seed is thrown on the same bed. A regular rotation of planting and harvesting 

 stated beds is not followed, and the best oysters obtained are of scraggy, poor shape (even where single), rough 

 shell, and small size. I saw almost none which would pass in New York as "box". Nevertheless, they are of 

 pretty good flavor, though not so salt as one would expect, and of too dark a tint to look as inviting as they taste. 

 Of those I tried, I like the Vernon samples best ; Thunderbolt seems not to have so clear a stream. They are 

 usually four years old when taken to Tiiarket. 



Each of the planters has a small hut built upon posts at the edge of the water, where he opens his oysters. 

 In these houses he opens almost all of the stock he sells, and only takes the meats to town, recei\ing about fifty 

 cents a solid gallon. The method of opening is the same as that used in New York, the knife and handle being 

 of one piece, and the latter very heavy. The shells are used to make causeways from the land to these huts, and 

 also to build roads. Two fine driveways, each several miles long, extend out of Savannah, Mhich have been paved 

 with oyster shells. 



Each oysterman owns a sloop, the hull of which is skiff-shaped and not at all handsome. They are only half- 

 decked, in many cases, but have a little cabin aft, and a hatchway to the hold; they are far from beautiful boats, 

 but are worth an average of $200 each. In this part of Georgia there are perhaps a dozen of these vessels in the 

 oyster-business, only one of which, I believe, is registered at the custom-house. 



Extent of trade and consumption in Savannah. — In respect to the city trade, it is only to be said that 

 three or four men handle the majority of all the oysters brought to the city, and sliip them throughout this state 

 and South Carolina, Charleston competing very feebly. Very few oysters come from the North, perhaps 50 barrels 



