THE OYSTER INDUSTRY OF NEW JERSEY. 487 



is termed blister oysters, those of very small size adhering' to the old 

 shells. The beds were very productive iu 1892, more so, it was believed, 

 than for fifteen years previous. 



It would be diflicult to determine the annual yield of these beds very 

 closely, but considering the fact that the quantity of luitural oysters 

 taken by the residents of Ocean, Burlington, aud Atlantic counties 

 combined, in 1892, from the inlarid waters along the coast, was nearly 

 200,000 bushels, valued at more than $58,000, and that more than 50 per 

 cent of that quantity was derived from Great Bay, it is evident that the 

 catch must have exceeded 120,000 bushels. The important relation, also, 

 which these seed-producing areas sustain to the existence as well as the 

 development and growth of the cultivating industry of these counties 

 will be apparent when it is remembered to how great an extent the 

 planters are dei)endent upon them for their annual supply of seed. 



Oyster-planting in Ureat Bay. — Although Great Bay is chiefly valuable 

 for its natural oyster beds, it is not wholly without cultivated areas- 

 In various sections and on both sides of the bay there are grounds 

 staked up v;hich are held and used for oyster-planting. These are not 

 extensive, although a complaint, similar to the one urged against the 

 planters in Barnegat Bay, that they encroach ujion the natural beds, 

 and hence infringe upon the rights of other oystermen and clam fisher- 

 men, is also heard in this locality. The planting business is small and 

 does not seem to be so prosperous as one would think it should be with 

 natural conditions apparently so favorable. 



The entire quantity of seed oysters i>lanted in 1892 did not exceed 

 39,000 bushels, Avhile that for each of the three years preceding was 

 considerably less. The quantity taken up for market was about 25,000 

 bushels, valued at $18,000, a small proportion of which was not placed 

 upon the market directly, but was sold to planters in other sections to 

 replant. The grounds are operated chiefly by planters living at New 

 Gretna,in Burlington Countj^, and at Port liopublic, in Atlantic County. 

 A few persons living at Tuckertou have planting-grounds there. The 

 planters at New Gretna number about 45, and there are also 9 at Port 

 Republic. The persons engaged in cultivating also participate in the 

 natural fisheries. At New Gretna, which is now the only place in Bur- 

 lington County where oyster fisheries are prosecuted, there are 76 per- 

 sons engaged in the natural fishery. Prior to 1892 Tuckerton belonged 

 to this county, but a change in the county line placed it in Ocean. 



Green oysters and clams. — Great difficulty was experienced in 1892 by 

 the oystermen and clam fishermen in selling their products. In Septem- 

 ber a number of ships from Hamburg, Germany, were quarantined at 

 New York on account of cholera infection. Tlie belief soon became 

 prevalent among the people in manyJocalities that debris thrown into 

 the water from the pestilential ships might serve as a medium to con- 

 vey cholera germs to the shellfish along the shores. It was not long 

 before the fears of this not very probable event began perceptibly to 

 affect the markets, and for a period of about six weeks the demand for 



