OF M.VSSACHUSETTS. 157 



history, and the difficulties which it now presents to the carrying on 

 of an important and profitable industry, furnishes the most interesting 

 problem of this whole region. This river embraces the entire oyster 

 territory of Freetown, Berkley and Dighton and portions of Somerset 

 and Fall River, — certainly half of all the available territory of the 

 whole section; and yet it is an indisputable fact that this large and 

 formerly profitable area is now altogether unsuitable for the production 

 of edible shellfish. 



The causes for this transformation of a river which once supplied 

 a large annual revenue to the prosperous communities which lined its 

 banks, into a stream unwholesome and unfit for the proper maturing 

 of its shellfish, have been much discussed. The prevailing opinion 

 seems to lay the blame to the impurities discharged into the river by 

 the Taunton factories. Other theories, ingenious but far less worthy 

 of weight, have been urged; but the burden of evidence strongly points 

 to the sewage of the city of Taunton as the probable main factor in 

 the decline of the industry. 



While greatly impaired as a favorable territory for the propagation 

 of oysters, the river, however, is still largely utilized. Extensive grants 

 are sold by the towns of Dighton, Berkley and Freetown to oystermen, 

 who bed them with " seed," which is allowed to remain until it is from 

 two to three years old, when it is taken up and replanted in some other 

 locality where the waters are uncontaminated, and here left for a 

 certain time until it becomes " purified " and ready for shipment to 

 market. By this method the old grants are still worked, though greatly 

 declined in value, as oysters can no longer be sold to market direct, 

 and the process of transplanting entails considerable expense. 



In the other towns of this region the industry is carried on much the 

 same as in Buzzards Bay or Barnstable. A great deal of attention is 

 paid to the enemies of the oyster, particularly the starfish. This animal 

 is combated chiefly with " mops " of cotton waste which are dragged 

 over the bottom, and the starfish, becoming entangled in the strands, are 

 removed and destroyed. As this fairly effectual warfare is being con- 

 stantly waged, the numbers of this pest are kept well reduced, and the 

 grounds maintained in very good condition. 



By a peculiar local custom, which would be decidedly unpopular in 

 some coast communities, the towns of this section usually sell their 

 entire oyster privilege to some individual or company, ordinarily the 

 highest bidder. In this manner, aided by the fact that some persons 

 purchasing such rights re-sell them to others, the oyster industry of 

 this entire region is owned and controlled by a very few men. This 

 arrangement, however, does not seem to be unpopular, the only difficulty 

 arising from those clammers who are accustomed to dig clams under 

 water, and sometimes find a bed located on an oysterman's grant. In 

 such cases the owners usually waive their rights, and allow the clammers 

 to dig undisturbed. 



