THE OYSTER INDUSTRY OF NEW JERSEY. 467 



The planting -grounds. — The grounds in the vicinity of Perth Amboy 

 used for oyster-planting are located at the southern extremity of Staten 

 Island Sound, in the head waters of Earitan Bay, and comprise an area 

 of about 300 acres, more or less, lying off Ferry Point, and extending 

 from the point in a SE. by S. direction to Great Beds Light. The general 

 shape of the grounds is oblong, narrowing somewhat as they approach 

 the light. The length is about a mile and the average width a little 

 less than half a mile. The average depth of water is about 5 feet. The 

 grounds have various kinds of bottom. In some places it consists o^ 

 hard mud, made so by a substratum or intermixture of sand; on others 

 the mud seems to predominate and the bottom is softer, while others 

 have a natural shell bottom where, at some time in the remote past, 

 there have undoubtedly been natural oyster beds. This natural shell 

 bottom is considered superior to any other for oyster cultivation, and 

 is correspondingly valuable. 



In addition to these grounds, the oystermen occupy limited areas 

 (probably 50 acres) in New York waters, lying off the shores of Staten 

 Island, between Ward Point and Princess Bay light. These grounds 

 are long and narrow, have a hard bottom, with an average depth of 

 water of about 6 feet, and are used for transplanting oysters prepara- 

 tory to being taken up for market. 



It must not be understood that the entire area above described is 

 planted, or has oysters on it every year; some tracts of bottom are 

 more desirable than others, and are used in preference, while the whole 

 is considered available. 



Planting methods. — Each x>lanter divides and stakes off his planting 

 grounds into rectangular sections or lots of various sizes, governed in 

 number by the necessities of his business, and also to some extent by 

 his individual opinions as to the most advantageous arrangement of 

 them. The number therefore varies somewhat with different planters, 

 but usually four, five, or more lots are necessary. The reason for this 

 division is that when a lot is planted with small oysters it is customary 

 to allow them to lie undisturbed until they have reached a stage of 

 maturity sufficient for commercial purposes, when they are shifted to 

 another lot to remain one season, or from early spring to September, 

 before being taken up for market. Hence it is necessary to have a 

 number of lots in order to afford space for planting and transplanting 

 or shifting each season. 



The growing period, which intervenes between the first planting and 

 final shifting of the oysters, is ordinarily three years, but is not strictly 

 confined to that length of time. It depends upon the size of the seed 

 when planted, the rate of growth, and, witliin certain limits, the option 

 of the planter. If the seed is large it will require less time to mature. 

 If the quality of the ground is good the rate of growth is more rapid. 

 The longer the oysters are allowed to grow the greater will be the 

 proportion of box (large) oysters among them, and the crop will conse- 

 quently yield larger returns. The more prosperous planters therefore 



