New-York tribune., 1873-06-19
OUR OYSTER SUPPLY.
MORTALITY AMONG MoLLUsKs.

FRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF IhE lhbuNb'I
| CAMBRIDGE, June 1G-The following report Is the
result of a request by Profs. Perce and Baird that
Count Pourtaes would look into of oyster
fishing, and ascertain if possible the causes OF the
death of oysters aud the destruction of oyster beds
| in certain localities.
| Prof B. PIERCE Superintendent u s. Coast surrey
SIR: In accordance with your instructions, | have
made preliminary examination OF some OF the local
tiles where native beds OF oysters most abundant In
the vicinity OF New-York have supposed 1t would Dc
more in with the spirit Of the instructions 10
connne the investigation to these as much as possible
and aside the present the industry OF pAnhR
oysters except where il IL closely connected with the
fishery poper The report which prasont herewith
wish to regarded only preliminary, as consider
second visit in the Autumn necessary TO give an oppor
tunty to see spawn OF this season. and to Judge OF
its quantity and of the proportion OF 1t which Is de-
| stroyed by the mode OF pursuing the fishery.
Great South Bay, Long Island Is probably the locality
richest in native oyster beds north OF the Chesapeake.
and consequently the point OF greatest Importance 10
| visit Under the intelligent guidance OF Mr.. Justus foe
of Pachogue and Of experienced oysermen or the
same place, Messrs Reuben Rowley and Monroe Ryder
visited the principal oyster beds collected specimens
and obtained all the information could on the SUBJECT
| of the oyster fisheries.
| BED AND BROKEN BOTTOM OYSTERS
The Great South Bay is formed like 50 many OF the
sounds OF coast, by shallow body or water ln-
closed the side by strip OF sand dune lt com
muncaes with the through Fire Island Inlet ana
| a few moro openings to the westward. The eastern
part communicates through narrow pass at Smiths
Point with East Bay which has no communication with
the sea and is almost fresh. The depth Of water in tho
bar exceed two fathOms In its deepest pift
an the rise and fall Of the tide very small probably
no than foot at the average The bay receives
considerable supplies Of fresh water from number OF
streams celebrated for their fine trout. The western
| of SANDY bottom, ana
its water being in more direct communication with the
ocean, contains salt than that Of the eastern part
In the latter the bottom mixture Of black mud with
sand and is here only that natural oyster beds are
| found, their western limit being approximately line
drawn from Ncol's Point to Fire Island The beds are
OF various extent, from few acres TO hundred or
mo:e. They form large accumulaons OF dead Shells
on the top OF which spawn attaches itself and pro-
duces succession OF crops These beds produce oysters
OF different qualities according 10 the locality; the
the variation is not known, but depends proDa
bly, on the density the water supply Of food, &C. The
oysters grown on called bed oysters by the
fishermen TO distinguish them from the broken bottom
oysters The former have generally rounded shape;
the second which grow in scattered punches on broken
OF muddy bottom between the beds, assume an elon-
gated poOn-shaped form, evidently produced by their
tendency to sink the mud by their weight as they
grow The beds have probably originated In the same
waJ, as tongs bring up from them frequently old
aBd very large spoonshaped shells Of oysters such as
! are not now found living there. The broken bottom
oysters have much more rapid growth than the bed
oysters being two three times n large as the latter
at the age. Tne greater supply Of food viii no
doubt account for it, At tho same time the meat Is
more watcry and held in less estimation until after 1t
! has improved by planting in other localities
| DIFFERENCE N OYSTERS FROM VARIOUS LOCALITIES.
In Great south Bay the oyster to require about
three years to acquire marketable sizc In Europe,
two years is said be sufficient In the Chesapeake,
the growth seems be stl rapid since the oyster
is stated TO 1t for market in localities in IL
| months The spawning Is much affected by some
known causes in different years. In 1872, for instance,
It have failed altogether in the bay, and this
was confirmed by observations, since, in two days
examination OF number OF beds, not more than half
dozen yearing oysters obtained The quality OF
the is said TO have been improved by stocking
some beds with oysters Imported from other ocahl
the spawn OF which has proved superior TO that OF the
native stock. This. however, is opinion difficult to
verify.
Among the beds visited by me the following deserve
particular mention. Smiths Point has been mentioned
as being the eastern limit the oysters The water
found to be only bracksh and the bottom Of clear
quartz pebbles, offering attachment to small variety
OF oysters, aseless. though fat They are only used
for planting The Great Bed subdiyided Into North and
| South Beds) off Patchogue appears to be OF the
Oldest The tongs bring up large quantities OF dead
oystershes OF great size, such have been mentioned
before The living oysters obtained by feet Of boats
work 1t appeared TO be generally about three years
old and were intended for planting at Rockaway until
Fall Another celebrated bed is of Blue Point. which
has celebrity for the quality of its oysters in the New
York and Boston markets. The California bed of Say
Vile is one OF the argestabout 100 extent.
II is the westernmOst natural bed and formerly
tremely productive, but has been very much reduced
by everlasting. The oystermen recognize the oysters
from that bank by the abundant growth OF red sponge
and fortuaras them The muscle beds are the near
est to the inlet and the greater sanes Of their flavor Is
consequence OF IT, The lower she'll Is more frequently
ribbed and the edge scaoped In the oysters OF these
beds than from beds in the eastern part of the bay
To the westward and between these latter beds the bot
tom Is more sandy aud the scattering oysters found on
IL are known rs sand oysters they easily recognized
by their clean shells. scaOped tho edge aud some
what striped with dark cOlors when young the growing
edge ia very thin hard while further east it
ally flexible. This would Indicate greater proportion
OF lime in the water but the Is not obvious, since
the eastern part OF the bay contains much larger guam
| tty Of shells in a state Of decomposition.
The almost entire absence in the bay OF parasites noI-
ous 10 the oysters is worthy OF remark did not find
single shell bored by wheks and no starfshes. The
| pinnothous a small parasitic crab common in the
Chesapeake oysters said DO foundin the Long
| Island oysters
LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF OYSTER FISHING.
The right to catch oysters In the bay is confined to the
inhabitants OF the township OF Brookhayen, in accord
anoe with an ancient colonial grant. Several villages,
such az Patchogue. Bellport sayyie, and Blue Point
arc included in that township The trustees make the
necessary regulations, such as fixing the close time
dune IS TO Oct prohibiting the OF the dredge, &c
The town Islp separated from Brookhaven at time
when the full value of the oyster business was not rs
well recognized Is TenOunced its rights to fish,
aud is now trying to them by lawsuit, which,
II decided in It's favor will break down the monopoly OF
Brookhayen and throw the oyster fishing open to all the
residents Of the State. Some OF the planters OF oysters,
| varo rastrictng their Operations In