136 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



the .southern shores of the peninsula; Red Brook Harbor, Bourne Xeek, 

 Buttermilk Bay, Onset Bay, Wareham River, Sippican Harbor, and 

 Westport River, all tributaries of Buzzards Bay; and Taunton River, 

 which enters ISfarragansett Bay. The oysters in these localities are 

 taken from natural grounds having an area of about 1,100 acres and 

 from cultivated beds with an area of about 3,125 acres. The principal 

 natural grounds are in Taunton River and the most extensive culti- 

 vated beds are in Onset Bay and Wareham River. 



The inquiries of the office showed that about 1,500 acres in Onset 

 Bay and its arms and 800 acres in Wareham River were utilized for 

 oyster-culture by 47 planters. Some of the planters do only a small 

 business, while others are quite extensively engaged. Some years the 

 set is very good, that in 1893 being the best in many years. It is 

 reported that fully half the yearly output represents native growth. 

 In 1892, 7,041 bushels of market oysters, valued at $14,082, were taken; 

 10,(300 bushels of seed oysters from Connecticut and Rhode Island and 

 10,000 bushels of shells, costing $7,100, were planted on the grounds 

 in the same year. The seed from Rhode Island remains planted one 

 year and is then returned to Providence River to mature. This is done 

 chietly to escape the ravages of starfish in Rhode Island waters while 

 the oysters are young, starfish being uncommon in Onset Bay and 

 Wareham River and doing no damage. The borer, however, is quite 

 destructive, and the periwinkle is also injurious. 



Mr. W. A. Wilcox, field agent, has submitted the following notes on 

 the oyster industry of Taunton River: 



Taunton River has more acres in natural oyster beds than any other ground in the 

 State. The natural oyster beds are estimated to cover 1,000 acres of ground; they 

 extend on either side of the river in an almost continuous bed from the mouth at 

 Fall River up as far as Dighton. The oyster beds are owned by the towns bordering 

 on the river, the town right extending from the shore to the middle of the stream. 

 Each town leases its oyster privileges to one person, who has the exclusive right to 

 take oysters from grounds within the respective towns between September 1 and 

 June 1. The leases are sold at public or private sale, and are good for one year or 

 a term of years. During 1892 the town licenses for that year were as follows : Fall 

 River, $152; Somerset, $710; Dighton, $275; Berkeley, $1,500; Freestone, $1,000 (two 

 leases). The town of Freestone sells one privilege for Taunton River and one for 

 Asonet River. The latter is a small stream tributary to Taunton River; natural 

 oyster beds are found from its mouth for a distance of 2^- miles upstream. 



In past years the Taunton River oysters were highly esteemed and considered 

 equal to any in the State, but since about 1883, when extensive copper works were 

 established at Taunton, the oysters, from some unknown cause, have taken on a 

 greenish-yellow color and an astringent coppery flavor. As a consequence, they are 

 not now considered wholesome and are not placed on the market or used locally, 

 and the beds are now only valuable for the seed oysters produced. Of late years 

 about 25,000 bushels of seed oysters have been taken annually from Taunton and 

 Asonet rivers and transplanted in Providence River, where they lose their undesir- 

 able color and flavor, becoming equal to any oysters taken from Providence River, 

 which is noted for its fine stock. The seed are taken up during April and May, when 

 about 50 rowboats, with one man each, are at work on the beds. The men tong the 

 oysters, taking on an average about 25 bushels daily, for which service they receive 

 10 to 20 cents a bushel. 



