482 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



for tlieir services had been paid, tlie residue of the money received by 

 them from rents, if any, should be paid to the board of freeholders and 

 forwarded to the trustees of the State school fund to be used in the 

 support of the public schools. In 1870 this act was supplemented by 

 another extending the original boundaries and the term of the lease 

 from five to ten years. These regulations are still in force, and the 

 grounds are rented by the planters at rates varying from 50 cents to 

 $5 per acre, according to quality and desirability for oyster-planting 

 purposes. In 1881 the first section of the act of 18G1, relating to the 

 boundaries, was amended, and the board of freeholders v/ere authorized 

 to possess the oyster-grounds of the river to let for oyster-planting imr- 

 poses for an additional term of twenty years, or until March 11, 1901. 



Although there is a comparatively large number of persons engaged 

 In planting oysters, the business has declined to very small proportions, 

 and the planters derive less income from it than from farming and other 

 branches of industry. 



The greater part of the seed oysters used is obtained from the river, 

 being either the product of the natural beds or of the set of spat secured 

 by artificial means on the cultivated grounds. Considerable quantities 

 are also brought from Barnegat Bay. These are planted in September. 



One of the most interesting features of the system of oyster cultiva- 

 tion practiced in this river is the use of tin cans as spat-collectors. For 

 the past two or three years many wagoidoads of tin cans have been 

 distributed every season upon the cultivated grounds with results that 

 have been gratifying to the oystermen. The cans possess the advan- 

 tage not only of being successful spat-collectors, but also, when having 

 served that end, of disintegrating and leaving the beds unencumbered. 

 Shells are also planted for a similar purpose. Tlie river being closed 

 to navigation, except for small boats, the need of cheaj)er means of 

 transportation than by rail causes considerable difliculty in obtaining 

 shells fur planting, and was no doubt instrumental in suggesting the 

 use of tin cans, but these can not be procured in quantities laige enough 

 to supply the demand. A fairly good set occurs quite regularly in the 

 river every year on the natural beds and also on the cnltch planted on 

 the cultivated grounds, due probably to the favorable conditions afforded 

 by the warm water and muddy bottom for breeding food for the oysters. 



Most of the oysters are taken up for market in October, November, 

 and December. They are graded into two sizes, " box oysters " and 

 "cullens," and sold at an average price of 17 per thousand for box 

 oysters and >^3,50 for cullens. The annual yield is not more than from 

 4,000 to 5,000 bushels. They are taken with tongs in small boats, which 

 are .either the kind known in this region as "garveys" (a small square- 

 ended scow), which are about 15 feet in length and cost when new from 

 68 to $10, or small bateaux which cost from $20 to $30 each. There are 

 00 men engaged to a very limited extent in the planting operations, 

 all of whom are native American citizens. The extent of area utilized 

 for oyster cultivation does not probably exceed 200 acres. 



