THE OYSTER FISHERY OF CONNECTICUT. 
477 
broken into comparatively small pieces before they are distributed on the grounds, to 
prevent the crowding of large numbers of spat on the same shell, as is now the rule. 
Tbe shells could be broken at small cost, and the greater area of ground a certain 
quantity would cover would seem to warrant a slight additional expense. 
26. The Poquonoclc method . — In the preceding discussions mention has been made 
of nearly all the methods resorted to in Connecticut to catch oyster spat, excepting 
the “ brush” or “ Poquonock ” method. The latter was discovered by accident, about 
1868, cn the Poquonock Eiver, a small stream in the town of Groton. A farmer, after 
trimming his orchard and throwing the branches of the trees into the river, was much 
surprised, in tbe succeeding autumn, to find the brush covered with oysters. This 
suggested the employment of the method to others, who used an^^ cheap brush that 
was convenient. The material was usually placed in the water during May or June, 
and the spat secured in this manner was commonly taken off and marketed the follow- 
ing winter, or at least before the second winter. The chief reason for this was that 
the brush was generally put down in comparatively shallow water, about 2^ fathoms 
at low tide, and if the young oysters were allowed to remain on it for 2 years they 
would fall off’ by their own weight. They were also exposed to the danger of being 
“ winterkilled” during cold weather, because of being so near the surface. They were 
generally large enough to market in 18 months or so, say about the beginning of the 
second winter. 
The Poquonock method has been moderately successful, and perhaps is the best 
for the locality where it is employed. There are several reasons why it has not proved 
entirely successful; among which may be mentioned the collection of large quantities 
of eelgrass about the flats at the mouth of the stream, causing stagnation of the 
water and producing such conditions that the board of health of the town has caused 
the bushes to be pulled up and destroyed. However, while the bushes could be kept 
down, the young oysters have invariably grown rapidly, probably because the bottom 
of the river is very muddy. 
As an illustration of this method we are informed, by one who has had large 
experience in the business, that on one occasion the spat obtained on a single bush 
produced 12 bushels of oysters. This, however, is seldom equaled. The Connecticut 
Bureau of Labor Statistics state that ‘'^one bush bore 25 bushels, but the average 
yield is about 5 ” (p. 112). This statement is thought to be rather large by those 
familiar with the subject. The consensus of statement is that this manner of collect 
ing a “set” of oysters is less profitable than generally represented, but that greater 
success would result if the system could be tried in a locality where the water is less 
sluggish and where there would be no official interference. 
27. Suggestions. — Mr. Stevenson suggests another method for collecting oyster 
spat, which seems worthy of trial, but has not yet been experimented with in Connect- 
icut, so far as he knows : Strands of old rope, old netting or other flexible material 
could be suspended in the water ou a horizontal line, similar to the ground line of a 
trawl, at the season when oysters are spawning. This might be a good arrangement 
and probably the material could be improved by coating it with rubber or some other 
material to which the young oysters would readily and easily attach themselves. One 
advantage would be that the young oysters could readily be transported wherever it 
was desirable to convey them; they could be easily separated and planted, while the 
collectors could be used in succeeding years. 
