118 FISHEKIES OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



bushels, valued at $1,708,456. These figures represent oysters 

 grown from spat and seed stock whieh have been on the beds from 

 two to three years. In some instances leased bottoms have been 

 used for bedding market oysters taken from natural rocks and placed 

 on the beds to fatten, but as these oysters have been previously 

 counted as from natural rocks, they are not included here. 



The use of oyster shells for the collection of spat continues in great 

 favor with planters, and the steady demand makes a good market for 

 shells at 3 i to 4 cents a bushel. 



There is a large market for seed oysters in the North, and the ves- 

 sels of Isle of Wight County work almost entirely to supply this 

 demand. The seed stock, from 6 months to 2 years old, is purchased 

 at prices ranging from 20 to 27 cents a bushel, is planted, and left on 

 the beds about 18 months. It is then taken up and shipped north, 

 chiefly to New Jersey, where it is again bedded for a short time to 

 fatten before being put on the market. 



The demand for Lynnhaven Bay oysters is greater than the supply, 

 and the prices paid are higher than for any other shell stock in the 

 state. The output from the beds in 1904-5 was estimated at 8,000 

 barrels, or 18,000 bushels, valued at $40,000. The superiority of 

 Lynnhaven oysters is due to the fact that more care is taken in their 

 cultivation and fewer oysters are laid down in a given area. 



The work of tonging and dredging from vessels and boats on 

 natural rocks gives employment to over two-thirds of the persons 

 engaged in the fishing industries of this state. The product from 

 natural rocks in 1904 amounted in all to 4,613,867 bushels, valued at 

 $1,751,220. Tonging begins in September and is actively continued 

 until about December 25, after which date many of the men leave the 

 grounds and hire out to planters to work on private beds, leaving 

 about one-third of the original number to finish out the season on the 

 natural rock. 



Nearly all tonging connected with the vessel fisheries is done from 

 skiffs. The latter are lap-streaked, made at Staten Island, N. Y., 

 and cost about $125 each delivered at Norfolk. On a few vessels of 

 small tonnage, tonging is done from the deck, no skiffs being used. 

 Vessels are never licensed directly except for dredging. The license 

 designates the number of boats to be carried and the number of tongs 

 to be used. The vessel is used primarily as living quarters for the crew 

 and also for the purpose of carrying the stock to market. Often two 

 vessels work in company, one remaining on the grounds to furnish 

 sleeping quarters for the crew while the other markets the stock. 



The oystermen who tong from canoes own their boats, valued at 

 from $150 to $600 each and often equipped with a gasoline engine. 

 These men usually sell their catch to "buy-boats," which anchor on 



