200 Our Food Mollusks 



fleet in the Chesapeake that will bear to market cargoes 

 of which the oystermen of the present do not dream. 



One notices, on passing up and down the sound, that 

 oyster beds are more numerous at its western end. East- 

 ward there are not so many planted areas, though in time, 

 trial may prove much of this barren region to be suitable 

 for oyster culture. One to whom figures have some sig- 

 nificance would be interested to know that besides the 

 shore, which is still under the jurisdiction of the towns, 

 there are seventy thousand acres of bottom under cultiva- 

 tion in Connecticut, and that in order to carry on the 

 work, there is employed a fleet of more than one hun- 

 dred steam vessels, aided by nearly four hundred sailing 

 craft. 



In New York, including Long Island, the cultivated 

 area is nearly half that of Connecticut, and there are still 

 large barren tracts that may prove to be of value to 

 oyster culture. Here, as in Connecticut, most of the bot- 

 toms are owned by individuals or companies. 



Parts of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, have 

 long proved to be valuable planting grounds, and there 

 all bottoms are rented by the state. Bottoms less than 

 twelve feet in depth are reserved for residents only at an 

 annual rental of ten dollars. Deeper bottoms are rented 

 for five dollars to non-residents, as well as to residents, of 

 the state. By this plan, thirteen thousand acres now 

 bring an annual revenue of ninety thousand dollars to 

 the state treasury. 



While in each of these states the cultivated area will 

 be enlarged, no one can estimate its possible future ex- 

 tent within narrow limits; but at the present rate of ex- 

 pansion, these limits, whatever they may be, will soon be 

 reached. 



