THE OYSTER FISHERY OF CONNECTICUT. 
466 
inclusive there was little variation in the number of boats engaged in the oyster indus- 
try. Thus, there were 551 boats in 1887, 550" in 1888, and 549 in 1889.* But while 
the number has decreased slightly there has been a steady improvement in quality and 
value. The value of boats and outfits amounted to $61,245 in 1887, $61,310 in 1888, 
and $61,574 in 1889. 
The sailing vessels have declined slightly in both number and tonnage in the 
same period, as follows: 67 vessels of 752.70 tons in 1887, 63 vessels of 692.29 tons in 
1888, 59 vessels of 631.01 tons in 1889. It will thus be seen that the average is only 
about 11 tons. Their value, including outfit, was $52,405 in 1887, $45,190 in 1888, and 
$40,930 in 1889. 
9. Worlc done by boats and sail craft. — The skiffs, canoes, and sharpies are util- 
ized chiefly for touging and light dredging; the sailing vessels in spreading shells, etc., 
over the grounds and in dredging. The latter are mostly sloops, and operate two 
dredges each ; they can not work in calm weather, but since they have exclusive rights 
on the public beds (where the use of steam is prohibited) they are in favor with small 
operators and will doubtless form a part of the oyster fleet of this State for some years 
to come. 
10. Introduction of steamers for oyster dredging. — Screw steamers have recently 
been introduced and very successfully, employed in the Connecticut oyster fishery. 
Steam is used for working the dredging apparatus as well as for propelling the vessel, 
and has effected a great saving of time and labor. 
Capt. Peter Decker and his brother, of Norwalk, Connecticut, are credited with 
having first employed steam to work oyster dredges. They put a boiler and engine into 
the sloop Early Bird to turn the drums on which the dredge lines were hauled, the 
sails being still depended on to propel the vessel. Afterwards they made an additional 
'improvement by attaching a small screw to their sloop, thus obtaining auxiliary steam 
power to assist in propelling the vessel when the wind was light. The result of these 
innovations demonstrated so fully the feasibility of using steam in the oyster trade 
that ultimately they put a larger boiler and more powerful engine into their vessel? 
and depended on steam altogether, the mast, bowsprit, and sails being removed (see PI. 
CLX). Thus in a short time the sailing sloop was gradually converted into a dredging 
steamer, and the vessel’s effectiveness much improved. By the new arrangement she 
could haul two dredges at once, taking up from 150 to 200 bushels of oysters per day. 
The success of these experiments led others to adopt the same method. A corre- 
spondent writing to the Sea World, of August 4, 1879, says: 
After the experiments of Messrs. Decker Brothers, Mr. W. F. Lockwood, of Norwalk— not an oyster 
man but an enthusiastic believer in steam dredging — built the ste.amer EnterprUe expressly for the 
business. Her length is 47 feet; beam, 14 feet; and she draws 4 feet of water. She handles two 
dredges, and hauls from 150 to 200 bushels daily. She cost about $3,000. 
Keplying to a letter of inquiry concerning the introduction of steamers in the 
oyster business, Capt. Peter Decker writes, under date of December 10, 1881 : 
I put steam-power in my sloop for the purpose of towing and hauling my oyster dredges, in March, 
1874, and found her capacity for catching oy.sters augmented about ten times without increasing her 
working expenses. In 1876, a boat for the same purpose was built at City Island, New York, and in 
1877 another at Norwalk, Connecticut, making three, all told, and now I can count twelve in active 
* Of the small boats employed in 1889 Stevenson reports 98 sharpies, of which number 82, valued at 
|12,955, are owned at New Haven. 
Bull. U. S. F. C, 89 30 
