Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-10-05

from the NorwsIk. Conn, 9.rstte. sept 9l,h / |
The whole line Of shore from Rocky
Neck 10 New Haven has been reused
to the most intense excitement over
the accidental discovery Of monster
bed Of more than monster oysters.
The bed lies little over the centre
OF the sound, in line bearing from
the Norwaik to Eaton's Neck light
and from a party who has dredged
over It, We learn that the bed is GER
tainly from one mile wide to about
two miles long. Other stories say
three miles wide and ten long. But
We have taken much pains TO get at
the truth Of the matter, and think the
first statement entirely reliable. The
discovery was made week before last,
by party Of Eve Darien fishermen,
whose names are William Wood, Jas.
Warning, Thomas Garlin, William
Hoyt and Alexander Stephens. These
men were out fishing, and CHANGED to
crop a "dredge" Tor An anchor over
the bed, when on taking it up 1t was
filled with enormous bivalves, which
led to further investigation, and the
result stated. The beds seem to be
almost inexhaustable, and must contain
many millions of bushels. We were
shown samples of the oysters yesterday
As large as an ordinary garden spade,
the meats from which looked more
like beef tongues than the ordinary
blvelves. There were on Sunday two
steamb boats aud about one hundred and
fifty sail vessels on the ground dredg-
ing nearly all day-mostiy New York
people We are glad to hear. This
Monday every thing in the shape Of a
boat and oyster dredge has been
brought into requisition, and our
blacksmiths are diligently at work
making more implements to take them
with. There is no means OF even APP
proximating at a valuation Of this dis
covery. Probably five millions OF dol
lars would fall below the reality.
Nothing has ever equalled the cx-
element hereabouts among the fisher
men and marine spectators since the
great Rings End oyster war, some
thirty years ago, when the long toms,
DC, were brought out and charged to
the muzzlc to fire upon the New Haven
marauders. This bed is in water from
six to eight fathoms, and there is no
telling what the effect is to be upon
the oyster market, or palates OF cpl
cures.
(From the g. am ord, Conn, Advocated
The question with the fishermen
now was how they should be able to
profit by this good fortune without
permitting others to become possessed
Of the secret. 1t was finally arranged
that they should procure a good sized
vessel, and prosecute their labors at
night. While these preliminaries were
being settled, one of the party went to
City Island, and exhibiting some ofthe
oysters, agreed with gentleman en-
tensively engaged in the oyster bust
ness, to discover to him the locality o.
the bed for the sum o; $500. AS the
story goes, the sum was paid to the
man, and on the following day fleet
of thirty or forty oyster smacks were
despatched to the ground, the day
fishing proving abundantly the exten
and richness of the bed.
News like this was sure to spreat
like wild-fire, and on Friday last there
were probably not less than three hun
bred vessels on the ground, actively
engaged in drawing in the oysters
Several boats from this place went GU
and succeeded in securing handsome
pile one boat went ont on Friday aac
returned on Saturday with over on,
hundred bushels another small boat
with single man, caught sixteer
bushels in half dav. The oysters
being worth about two dollars bush
ell, makes such fishing as this profitable
business.
1t is supposed that the bed extend
over at least mile square, and tina
the oysters are spread over the who'll
ground in a layer averaging two fee
in thickness. The depth of waite
where they are found is about six faith
oms. II the accounts of the extent ant
richness Of the bed are not exaggerated
the oysters may be estimated by mil
lions of bushels.