134 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



under the conditions prevailing. The output of the fishery in that year 

 was only 435,650 bushels, a quantity insignificant when compared with 

 the yield which subsequent experience has shown to be possible in 

 these waters. The most noteworthy change in the condition of the 

 industry occurred in Connecticut, which has been the scene of the most 

 extensive and remunerative oyster-culture in the world. The entire 

 history of the oyster industry in that State, as well as in the other 

 States of the section, has demonstrated the futility of depending on 

 natural oyster-grounds for the supply and the possibility of bringing 

 barren areas of sea bottom, hitherto regarded as useless, under profitable 

 cultivation. The Connecticut system has attracted much attention 

 and has been adopted by other States. For a detailed account of the 

 methods and conditions Avhich have contributed to the development of 

 the oyster industry of Connecticut, recourse should be had to the State 

 reports and to papers 1 published by this Commission. 



In addition to the value of Ashing property (vessels, boats, apparatus) 

 employed in the Connecticut oyster fishery, there are very important 

 investments represented by the private oyster-grounds, the crop on the 

 beds, and the shore property and cash capital required by the large 

 operators for the proper conduct of the business. In 1892 the market 

 value of the oyster- grounds was $1,283,650; the oysters planted on the 

 grounds had an estimated value of $2,118,600; the value of the wharfs, 

 buildings, etc., connected with the industry was $361,270, and the cash 

 capital was $370,000. 



According to the official State records, the available area for oyster 

 fishing and planting in Connecticut is 93,601 acres. The division of this 

 area into private and public grounds is. shown in the following table, in 

 which the areas over which the State and towns respectively exercise 

 jurisdiction are separately indicated : 



The public beds in 1892 yielded less than a bushel of market oysters 

 and less than 11 bushels of seed oysters to the acre. The private beds, 

 on the other hand, produced on an average 13 bushels of market oysters 

 and 10 bushels of seed oysters per acre, if the entire grounds be con- 

 sidered, but if, as is proper, only the part actually utilized in 1892 be 

 regarded (about 18,225 acres), then the average production per acre 

 was 53 bushels of market oysters and 41 bushels of seed oysters. The 

 average value per acre of the oysters taken from the public or natural 

 beds was under $4, while the yield of the cultivated grounds had an 

 average value of about $75 per acre. 



1 See especially "Notes on the oyster industry of Connecticut/' by J. W. Collins 

 (Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission 1889), and "The methods of deep-water oyster 

 culture," by Henry C. Rowe (Bulletin V. S. Fish Commission 1893). 



