358 INVERTEBRATA OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



tlie spirit of the statute is not violated. This may be repeated every 

 day, until the desired supply is laid in. When placed in the cellar, 

 and fed from time to time with a little meal and water, they will some- 

 times keep good for months." 



The fact that the oysters on the Buzzard's Bay shore adhere to the 

 rocks and breed there, together with the testimony of very aged men, 

 is sufficient to show that Massachusetts is not without native oysters. 

 But it is also a well-known fact, that the supply for the markets of all 

 the large towns is obtained from the South. Hence has arisen a trade 

 of no small importance ; and I have taken some pains to ascertain its 

 extent, and the mode of managing it. From intercourse with several 

 gentlemen long engaged in it, but principally from Mr. Joseph Hol- 

 brook, of Boston, and Richard Libby, Esq., of Wellfleet, I have gath- 

 ered the following particulars. 



Almost the whole of the oyster trade belongs to Wellfleet, near the 

 extremity of Cape Cod. About thirty vessels, averaging forty tons 

 each, and manned by one hundred and twenty men, are employed 

 about three months in the year in importing them. The oysters are 

 mostly obtained from Staten Island, Little Egg Harbour, and Somer- 

 set, and are called New York oysters. Less frequently, they are 

 brought from the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Small ones are 

 selected, about the size of a dollar, and cost fifty cents per bushel. 

 Forty thousand bushels are annually brought to Wellfleet, costing, of 

 course, 20,000 dollars ; all of which the oyster fishers require to be 

 paid in specie. 



At Wellfleet they are planted, as it is termed, to increase their size. 

 The oyster-ground should be flat, of a sandy or fine gravel bottom, 

 and where the common tide leaves them dry about two hours. Muddy 

 grounds soon choke up and destroy the oysters. The planting is done 

 during the months of March, April, and May, in moderate weather, 

 when the water is not very cold. They are permitted to remain from 

 seven to nine months, during which time they sometimes double their 

 size. Their growth is, however, very variable, depending on the sea- 

 son, and in some years the increase is very slight. They are not per- 

 mitted to grow larger, as they have then become of a size most profit- 

 able for market. 



In the autumn, they are again taken up, selected, brought to mar- 

 ket, and sold at wholesale for one dollar per bushel, the cost of plant- 

 ing, attending, taking up, &c., amounting to twenty cents per bushel. 



