[41] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 225 



natural oyster bed is included. The ground is taxed as is also the crop. 

 At the present time some 20,000 acres have been disposed of. 



New YorJc. — Throughout the waters of this State are numbers of nat- 

 ural oyster-beds, but all are in a more or less impaired condition and 

 would by no means supply the demand if their efforts were not sup- 

 plemented by cultivation and importation from New Jersey and Dela- 

 ware and Chesapeake Bays. These importations are made directly, the 

 oysters coming in the shell, or opened, or are brought in cargoes and 

 "bedded" or "laid down" to fatten. A very prevalent method in this 

 region and to the southward, is to put oysters in fresh or slightly brack- 

 ish water before selling them. They are thus swollen and appear 

 fatter and plumper. The methods of cultivation are similar to those ot* 

 Connecticut and Ehode Island, though on the south shore of Long 

 Island not much dependence is placed upon foreign stock, while in the 

 East Eiver there is considerable importation from other localities of 

 " seed " and " spawners." The cultivation of private beds is regulated 

 to a great extent by the authorities of the towns. The State law per- 

 mits the pre-emption of tracts for an indefinite period, the length de- 

 pending upon the continuity of the cultivation, and prohibits the use of 

 steam vessels. Along the north shore of Long Island these tracts are 

 held on such uncertain tenure that no very extensive or remunerative 

 business can be done ; but on the south shore of the island a better 

 system is in operation, and especially in Great South Bay, (Blue Point 

 district) the oyster farms flourish. The practice there is to lease the 

 ground at a rent of $1 per annum for each acre. Taxes are also laid 

 on the floating property and stock on the beds. The town of Brook- 

 haven,, in whose jurisdiction these beds lie, received an income of about 

 $1,500 from the cultivators in 1880, and 371 acres were occupied. No 

 dredging is allowed, and natural beds are common to all residents of 

 the town. These beds are, however, being fast depleted of their stock, 

 and the supply is gradually failing. 



The laws of the towns to the westward, on the south shore, generally 

 permit planting, but only by residents ; a rent of from $1 to $5 per acre 

 is required, and no dredging permitted. 



New Jersey. — This State has many extensive, natural oyster beds, 

 both along the seaboard and in Delaware and Newark Bays; but the 

 natural-bed oysters rarely go directly to market. The usual custom is 

 to transplant them for a season to water and bottom differing from that 

 of their original locality. The Shrewsbury oysters are instances of the 

 good effects of this system. "Natural growth" is exceedingly rare in 

 those waters, and the celebrated stock comes originally from Newark 

 Bay and the south shore of Long Island. There is considerable plant- 

 ing of "Barnegat seed" (small oysters, indigenous to Barnegat Inlet) 

 all along the seacoast; but "shelling" areas in hope of attracting spat is 

 seldom attempted, such areas being regarded as public property. Most 

 of the inhabitants of the shores have, however, areas of more or less 

 extent under cultivation, and the practice of "freshening" the oysters 

 2414— Bull. 27 15 



