THE OYSTER FISHERY OF CONNECTICUT. 
487 
47. Profit and loss . — In 1881, when the Shellfisli Commission was authorized and 
the present sj^stem inaugurated, and in the years immediately succeeding, nearly 
everyone engaged in oyster-raising was successful. At that time grounds could be 
obtained at a comparatively low price; the high values of to-day were not thought 
of; satisfactory “sets” were secured quite regularly, and starfish had not then caused 
such havoc on the oyster beds as in recent seasons. Large profits accrued from small 
investments. The claim has been made that one investment of $200 realized a profit 
in 3 years of 8,500 per cent., but this is believed to be slightly exaggerated. During 
the past few years, however, there has been a multiplication of unfavorable influences. 
Many complain of losing money, and there appear to be more exceptions to the general 
prosperity than usual. Still, the industry as a whole has been very prosperous. 
The receipts in 1889 (including the public beds) were $1,055,807, and the expendi- 
tures $632,283, leaving a profit of $423,524, which is more than 11 per cent, annual 
return on the investment, including the oyster grounds and the oysters on them. 
Some of the more fortunate have made much more than this average; others have 
fallen below it. In one case a firm reported receipts in 1889 amounting to about 
$75,000; their expenses were about $25,000; the previous year its receipts were over 
$100,000, expenses $30,000; in 1887 receipts about $50,000, expenses $28,000. 
In another case the following results were obtained from a bed having an area a 
trifle less than 100 acres: In 1887 30,000 bushels of oysters were taken from it, after 
which 33,000 bushels of oyster shells were strewn over it, at a cost, including labor, 
shells, etc., of $2,500. A set was secured that summer and the spat lived success- 
fully through the succeeding winter. In 1888 nothing was done to the bed except 
to search it for starfish, the expenditure for this amounting to about $500. In 1889 
$1,200 was expended in hunting starfish and in taking up 4,200 bushels of oysters, 
which sold for $3,190. In December, 1889, there were 70,000 bushels of oysters on 
the bed (accepting the most conservative estimate) which it was expected would be 
taken up the next year; these had a value on the bed of $52,000. Thus the total 
expenditure for 3 years — 1887 to 1889, inclusive — including the annual tax of $40, 
amounted to $4,320, while the money received from sales ($3,190) added to the value 
of the croj) on the bed made a total of $55,190, This leaves a net profit of $50,870. 
The bed on which these results were obtained is considered only fair, worth about $70 
per acre. The success was due, first, to the procurement of a good set, and, second, 
to vigilance in protecting the crop from injury by starfish. Stevenson thinks it rep- 
resents very fairly what may be expected of grounds off’ the Connecticut shore if a 
good set is obtained and the ravages of starfish prevented. 
To illustrate the losses met with by some, it is stated that one cultivator put 
$25,000 into the business ; in 1889 he had received only $2,000 from his investment 
and offered to sell his entire oyster property for $7,500. 
IX.-STATISTICAL STATEMENTS. 
The tabular statements on the following pages cover other phases of the industry 
and convey a complete idea of the extent and condition of the business in each coast 
town during the years 1887, 1888, and 1889. 
