The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1859-10-04
KrrcHrM, Of Huntington, whose father built The

=
Dream, attests the truth Of the statement Ibis
IL believed to be the true origin OF the fatbous
oyster bed. It's location is north half from
Eaton's Neck, one and half miles, the lower -
extends nearly north from tho point for . dis
tance Of over two miles. The length Of the bed
Is about one mile and II breadth from half to
three-guarters Of mile the depth Of water va
rying from FIVE 10 six fsthoms. forming kind
" middle ground, the water on each side being
deeper. That the spawn Of the oysters deposited
in Northport and other contiguous harbors could
ever have hoated five miles, crossing two miles
OF the ebb and food tides, aed fudlng lodg-
mcnt at this point, Is considered Improbable.
As was the origin Of tho bod, 80 was the discov-
cry wholly accidental. That the biy alves should
have remained just tho proper length of time In
their hidden homc to acquire tho proper size for
use, ard should have been brought to iisat at
the season when Of all others they can be most
protitsbly removed, may bo considered q happy
stroke Of fortune. These circumstances have
greatly enhanced the value Of tho discovery.
Five men from Dsrien, Conn, wcrc ishiug op
positc Eaton's Neck somc fortnight ago. when
the wind fresbening, and finding their boat was
dragging, they threw over an oyster drcdgc,
which happened to hc at hand. The boat con-
tmued to drag, however, and in hauling up tho
drcdge, II was filed with oysters OF largo size.
They then tried other expcriu euts with tho
aretge, aud shortly became convinced that q
bed OF great richness and extent lay beueath
them. A mutual compact was made to koep the
secret. but ono or two Of the fathless party seiz-
ed the first opportunity to sell the information ~
the oy steru,en Of City Island. Five hundred
d, liars was asked and readily paid for the news,
twenty five oys,ermen contributing twenty dl-
lars each 10 make up the amount. One-h,lf tho
sum, however, was retained as security for tho
genuinencss Of tho tho revelation, and for being
conducted to the grounds. JosIiuA LEvIy, 80,
one Of the wealthest OF the Islanders being elect
ed Commodore Of the feet By unanimous con-
sent, twenty-five boats set sal! from City Island
under tho cover Of the night, and proceeded
down the Sound. by daylight, the next morn
ing, they were of Eston's neck, and by the all
ofranges, previously obtained, the exact spot
was pointed ent, and opera'1ns commenced. Tho
result soon satisfied them tIat they had not been
deceived, and during the frat day, about 700 BUSH
els Of fine oysters were obtained, amply sufficient
to pay for the Information. The work went on, the
oyster men bi ing so elated at their good fortune
that they continued at II all night, and only gave
up from sheer exhaustion. 20 compact were the
oysters at first, the dredscs refused to grapple
them, but since they have been broken up by this
narrowing process, tho drodges work better.
The oysters are what are known In the market
as counts and "eNtras, and after being
creeks, whore they can fsttcn, will bring the
highest prices readily. They are also very uni
form In size, few being overgrown on the ono
hand, or small on the other. Occasionally, the
shell Of patriarch Of the tribe is brought up,
which has been turned into honeycomb BY the
borers." The proportion Of shells and stones
obtained is also very small, compared with the
amount Of oysters taken. In flavor and fstness,
they are equal to the best In market, and,
barring the natural saltness, are preferred by
many connoisseurs to Princes Bays, or Bhews-
burys.
Exaggerated statements have been made as
70 tho number Of vessels on the grouud, somc
| placing 1t as high three and even i've humid
red. From the most reliable information which
could be obt tainsd, as well rs by actual count by
our reporter, they have never exceeded one
| hundred and sixty or seventy. OF these, on,
half at least, are boats under twenty tons, one
quarter Of thirty to forty tons, and the remain.
der ordinary cossting sloops and schooners
The largest vessels are those from Now Haven
and other places on tho Connecticut shore. City
Island and Staten Island have the largest repre-
sentation, mostly In sloeps OF small and mo
dium size, while every place on either side Of
the Sound which possesses q harbor and fcating
l craft, had one or more engaged In harvesting
the oyster crop. The motions Of tho feet
are controlled by the tide and wind. Form
tie tide setting to the wcstward-they
move with the current, their sails being
get to give them head and stcerage-way
The dredges, from tw to eight and ten In mum
Der, according to size Of the vessel, ar
thrown over to windward, there being one maj
l each une , Dut Wuoic party waiting v
haul up each dredge a. IL Is filed, When tn
head yesselt have reached the en-. Of the drift
they tack, or wear ship, and return to their pac
at the end Of the fleet, thus keeping up per
petual promenade. Occasionally, a collision
takes place, boom or bowsprit Is carried away
or a sail torr but so long It is the result of ac
cident; the mishapi is taken In the best of humors
A neighborly feeling pcrvades the whole squad
| ron, each appearing to enjoy the others Idospcr
| ity. When ii overblows, or night oyertake
them, they run into Lloyd's or NorthpOrt har
Dor, and are on the ground bright and earl
the next morning. When vessel gets It's III
Il hastens away to some ono Of tho place
where tho oysters are rUplanted, and hayin,
dropped its load, returns with all speed to tn
scene Of operations. The Three Sisters, belonging
to JosuuA LrvISpss, during the two weeks, so
cured about 5000 bushels, making an average o
$50 bushels day. The little Fashion In on
week took $40 bushels the Phebe Ann raked II
| 1900 bushels; the \ mn kliza 800 bushels; an
| the steamer Jacob Bell has taken 1000 bushel,
which are planted in Cow lay. The Caroln
| In one day caught 80 hampers, about 1876 bust
els These are samples Of the success which ha,
| attended the operations Of the feet.
, The total amount already taken Is various
estimated at from 10000 TO 100000 bushc
, Should the yield continue as at present, II Is su
posed that over q half million dollars wor
will be secured before the season gets so cold al
: boisterOus as to prevent operations. Rumors
| the existence Of other beds also circulatii
among the oystermen, and when the supply Civ
| out at Faton's Neck, explorations will be carri
| on In other parts Of the Sound.-7fmes.