462 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
free-swimming migratory species of fish that come with the seasons, it is, perhaps, 
not remarkable that the fishermen of the Chesapeake have bitterly, and to this time 
successfully, opposed all attempts at legislation intended to convey proprietary rights 
in the grounds. The following will illustrate the reliance upon nature : 
The value of the oyster business alone to southeast Virginia is nearly $2,500,000 per annum. It is 
a crop constantly harvested except in the months of May to August inclusive, and is as constantly 
replenished by the bountiful hand of nature. No city in the Union is more highly favored in this 
respect than is this city of Norfolk. It is a crop that requires no sowing or x^lanting, no cultivating — 
nothing but harvesting. Nature does everything except harvesting the crop. — From “Our Twin 
Cities of the 19th century (Norfolk and Portsmouth),” Norfolk, 1887-88, p. 91. 
Fishing has gone on with little restriction and the depletion of oyster grounds 
has been so marked of late as to cause the gravest apprehension in both Maryland 
and Virginia. Thus, while a valuable oyster industry has been built up and main- 
tained in Connecticut under comparatively adverse natural conditions, the most im- 
portant oyster region of the world is rapidly losing its prestige, and, unless new 
methods or regulations are adopted, there is reason for apprehending the most unfa- 
vorable results in the near future. There can be no question that the example set by 
Connecticut has been a most useful and important one, and all communities interested 
in the oyster fishery will doubtless profit by it. 
In view of the results of shellfish legislation in Connecticut and the many in- 
quiries about the subject, abstracts of some laws and the full text of the recent and 
most important ones will be appended. 
II.— PERSONNEL, WAGES, ETC. 
1. Number and nationality of persons employed . — The total number of persons 
employed in the Connecticut oyster industry in 1889 as fishermen and shore operatives 
was 1,208, which did not differ materially from that of the two previous years. Of 
these 593 were employed on vessels and boats in cultivating the beds and harvesting 
the crop. Under ordinary conditions these would be classed as fishermen, but here 
they engage in sea-farming as well as fishing, and have been designated accordingly. 
The shore operatives — those engaged in preparing and shipping the products — 
numbered 651, of whom 344 were women. The latter are employed mostly at New 
Haven as “ openers ; ” about one-third of them are of foreign birth, principally natives 
of Ireland. The men are mostly American-born aud natives of New England. Tbe 
fishermen (or sea-planters) are noted for thrift, enteri)rise, and aggressive energy, 
important characteristics in developing the industry in which they are engaged. 
In detail, 525 of those employed in cultivating and fishing are citizens of the 
United States, 24 are Swedes, 11 Germans, 21 Irish, 5 Portuguese, 1 Eussian ; the 
nationality of 6 could not be ascertained. Of the shore operatives 521 are Americans, 
14 Swedes, 10 Germans, and 106 Irish. 
2. Wayes . — At New Haven the men employed on vessels receive from $10 to $15 
per week and board themselves, but at Bridgeport and west of that place laborers are 
paid about $30 per month with board. The captains and engineers on the steamers 
receive much higher pay, frequently $80 per month with board. The board is reck- 
oned at about $12 per man per month. The average annual wages of those engaged 
in oyster fishing and cultivation exceeds $300. In 1889 wages to the amount of 
