486 
BUl.LETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Wheels; Diameter, 1 foot 2 inches; width, 2^ inches ; thickness of iron, one-half inch; width of 
crossbars, 2^ inches; thickness of crossbars, three-fourths of an inch. 
Chain har : Length, C feet ; width, 2^ inches; thickness, 1 inch ; rings for drag rope, diameter, 4 
inches ; rings for drag roj)e, diameter of iron, five-eighths of an inch. 
Tangle chains : Diameter of iron, three-eighths of an inch ; length, 12 feet. 
Tangles, hemp, length, 3 feet. 
VIII.— FINANCIAL RESULTS. 
45. In general . — The oyster iudustry of Ooimecticut lias probably been the most 
successful fishery on the Atlantic coast of the United States during the past decade. 
Its development and prosperity have been remarkable, as will be apparent from a com- 
parison of past and present statistics. In 1880 the total investments in vessels, boats, 
equipment, and shore property amounted to $361,200. The product was 336,450 
bushels of oysters, worth $386,625 to the producer. In 1889 the total investments 
were classified as follows : 
Vessels, boats, and equipments |423, 544 
Buildings, docks, etc 311, 970 
Accessory shore property and cash capital 278, 200 
Oyster grounds .• 1 , 237, 695 
Oysters on beds 1, 424, 855 
*3, 676, 264 
The census of 1880 took no account of the value of oyster beds or the available 
crop upon them. Omitting these items for 1889, it will be seen that the investments 
in vessels, boats, shore property, etc., reached a total of $1,013,714, an increase over 
1880 of nearly 300 per cent. The yield of the fishery in 1889 amounted to 1,485,861 
bushels of oysters, with a value of $1,055,807, an increase over the census year nearly 
equal to the ditference in investments. 
Notwithstanding this general prosperity there have been instances where indi- 
viduals were unfortunate because they entered into the business without sufficient 
knowledge of it to insure success. But with few exceptions the oyster-planters have 
been very successful. Many who started in the business with almost nothing have 
gained thousands of dollars by their energy and enterprise. 
46. Investments, etc . — The greater part of the money now invested in the fishery has 
been made by the persons engaged exclusively in it. Fifteen years ago it is said there 
were few persons engaged in this fishery who were possessed of $10,000. Now one would 
scarcely be classed as a successful cultivator the value of whose oyster property alone 
does not reach $20,000. One company has over $400,000 invested, including the 
estimated value of oysters on the beds; another nearly $300,000, and several about 
$200,000 each. There are fifteen firms each of which has oyster property amounting 
to more than $50,000. Of those having less than $50,000 invested eighteen have over 
$20,000, and seventeen more than $10,000 but less than $20,000. These amounts are 
exclusive of cash capital, of which large sums are frequently employed. 
* The .ibove tabulation simply gives the present valuation of the oyster properties— the amounts for 
which they could be sold at ordinary market prices— and does not necessarily represent the money put 
into the industry. 
