390 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
coast that has. been sunk by the use of dredges, grounds of much 
greater area have been made productive by the same apparatus. 
The tongs used by the oystermen cost about $6.50 per pair. The 
shafts are ordinarily from 8 to 10 feet in length, and the rakes have 
from 12 to 18 teeth on each side. Usually when taking oysters the 
sailboats are anchored over the beds and the tongs are used from the 
decks; but where reefs are exposed at low tide the oysters are picked 
up by hand and placed in the skiffs, which are dragged up on the reefs. 
Generally the oysters are culled on the beds as they are being tonged, 
but at times this is done while the boat is running to market. Occa- 
sionally, particularly in Galveston Bay, oysters are tonged during a 
dull season and bedded in some suitable place to await a better market, 
the right of the owner to these being usually respected by his neighbors. 
Prior to 1879 no restrictions were placed on this industry, but on 
March 8 of that year a law was enacted prohibiting the taking of 
oysters “from the Ist of May to the 1st of September in any year.” On 
April 2, 1887, the “ close time” was made “from the 1st of May to the 
25th of August.” On April 11, 1891, this act was repealed and the 
prohibited time reéstablished as it was prior to 1887, “‘ from the 1st day 
ot May to the 1st day of September.” Since 1887 there has been a law 
forbidding the taking of oysters in this State “less than 14 inches in 
leneth net,” but this law is not generally observed. 
No license is required and the State receives no direct revenue from 
this industry, and is at no especial expense to support or protect it. 
There are from two to four oystermen on each sailboat. The mem- 
bers of a crew fish on shares, and the boat and apparatus count as one 
man both in estimating expenses and profits. The captain does not 
receive a greater Share of the profits than any member of his crew. 
The average annual income of the oystermen of this coast is about $230, 
Table showing the apparatus employed in the oyster industry in 1890. 
Sailboats. Skiffs. Tongs. 
Localities. Se | a 5 be a 
No. | Value. | No. | Value. | No. | Value. ven 
San aarti 3 
alvestoneBay ser d-uee ends elon see eee 127 is42, 900 210 | $2,140 240 | $1,600 |$46, 640 
Miata POVOARB AY. toc. sec. eo Sohne ee 35 | 12, 400 45 | 380 84 546 | 13, 326 
Aransas lhERy = Jama scnae SEER eeBnoE Seedearose| 11 | 4,400 17 | 170 29 175 | 4,745 
Corpus/Christi Bay? = 2: 2.20) .-2.. scence see 13 6, 100 13 | 130 40 260 | 6,490 
HPRIMAMNIAANG Sek. == oo coe nc ccobeeuetee 3 | 450 | 3 | 25 4 25 500 
tale cesta tote ate oo cas See 189 | 66,250 | 288 | 2,845 | 397] 2,606} 71,701 
| | 
Table of products of the oyster industry for 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890. 
1887. 1888. 3 1889. 1890. 
Localities. —— 
Bushels. | Value.| Bushels.| Value. |} Bushels. | Value. | Bushels. | Value. 
Galveston Bay. -..- 150, 049 $57, 425 223, 825 |$78, 983 210, 000 '$70, 400 235, 300 |$72, 140 
Matagorda Bay ..-.; 46,000 | 16,900 | 53,700 | 15,450 | 66,000 | 19, 800 | 109,350 | 29, 200 
Aransas Bay ...---. 20,400 | 4, 100 21,000 | 4,250 26,400 | 6, 600 26,550 | 6, 600 
Corpus Christi Bay 36,000 | 8, 400 39, 000 9, 500 54, 000 12, 900 65,400 | 18, 350 
Laguna Madre..... 3, 750 1, 450 3, 750 1, 450 4,200 | 1,700 4,200 | 1,700 
Total. socceee 256,199 | 88,275 | 341,275 |109,633 , 360,600 111,400 | 440,800 |127, 990 
eed 
