390 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER (JF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



coast that lias been sunk by the use of dredges, .grounds of much 

 greater area have been made i)roductivc by the same apparatus. 



The tonys used by tlie oystermeii cost about $0.50 per pair. The 

 shafts are ordinarily from 8 to 10 feet in length, and the rakes have 

 from 12 to 18 teeth on each side. ITsually when taking oysters the 

 sailboats are anchored over tlie beds and the tongs are used from the 

 decks; but wliere reefs are exposed at low tide the oysters are picked 

 up by hand and placed in the skiffs, which are dragged up on the reefs. 



GeneiaHy the oysters are culled on the beds as they are being tonged, 

 but at times this is done while the boat is running to market. Occa- 

 sionally, particularly in Galveston Bay, oysters are tonged during a 

 dull season and bedded in some suitable jilace to await a better market, 

 the right of the OAvner to these being usually respected by his neighbors. 



Prior to 1879 no restrictions were placed on this industry, but on 

 March 8 of that year a law was enacted prohibiting the taking of 

 oysters "from the 1st of May to the 1st of September in any year." On 

 A))ril 3, 1887, the " close time" was made "from the 1st of May to the 

 25th of August." On April 11, 1891, this act was repealed and the 

 ])rohibited time reestablished as it was prior to 1887, " from the 1st day 

 of May to the 1st day of September." Since 1887 there has been a law 

 forbidding the taking of oysters in this State "less than li inches in 

 length uet," but this law is not generally observed. 



No license is required and the State receives no direct revenue from 

 this industry, and is at no especial expense to support or protect it. 



There are from two to four oj^stermen on each sailboat. The mem- 

 bers of a crew fish on shares, and the boat and apparatus count as one 

 man both in estimating expenses and profits. The captain does not 

 receive a greater share of the profits than any member of his crew. 

 The average annual income of the oysterraen of this coast is about $230. 



Table shoiving the apparatua employed in the oyster industry in 1S90. 



Loculitios. 



(«al voston liay 



M:it.a;;ortla Jiay 



AransaH Kay 



(-'orpuH OliriHti J'.ay 

 iLaguna Madro . ..". 



Total 



Sailboats. 



No. Value. 



127 

 35 

 11 

 13 

 i 



$42, 900 



12,400 



4,400 



6, 100 



450 



06, 250 



SkilFs. 

 No. Valiio. 



210 



45 



17 



13 



3 



$2, 140 



380 



170 



130 



25 



288 I 2,845 



Toiiffs. 



No. Value. 



240 



84 



29 



40 



4 



397 



$1,600 



540 



175 



260 



25 



2,606 



Total 

 value. 



$46. 640 



13, 326 



4,745 



6, 490 



500 



71,701 



Table of products of the oyster industry for 1SS7, ISSS, 1SS9, and. 1890. 



