New-York tribune., 1873-06-19

purposrs Of planting from the Hudson River, vsitea
Sing Sing, which had been indicated as about
the highest point at which oysters are iounu' my
visit yas unfortunately after the close Of tine nsh-
Ing season, the 1st OF June; but ! had the eogd
10 be referred 10 the oldest fisherman OF the
Vicinity a cOOred man named Brady, NJ sparta from
whom obtained some valuable information. ne 1ad
fonnd cs,sters IA high up Crnger's, above Cr0tOn
Point ht tbev were subject 70 considerable vciss1es
there beng at times entirely destroyed by os1ets or
Paint there eTisted considerable beds OF oysters but all
dead according 10 Mr.. Mitches observations the
specc gr,vtv OF the water at the bottom on CfuReT5
il Ol at the snd of flood aud only lO0l az the END OF
ebb and largest oysters are now Inuhu III he
deepest parts 20 TO 25 feet but they are rather scarce
now Formerly they were abundant and grew close 10
the shore, whore none are fOund now lh5 P.ay ~ ~
trbuted Ia the construction OF the railroad skrtng the
shOre-a plausible explanation, since tnc WShnE VI ne
embankment must have produced lIyer Ol I muu ~
which they have become smOthered. Ihe clearing OF
the forests In the basin OF the Hudson must DaVe Ha
also, considerable influence IN checking n9 HO" Va
oysters by mud deposits. There Is no regular puSnos
Of oystercaehng high up as Sing sing, as the Town
laws prohibit strangers from taklhB OYSTERS @nu ' "
habitants take only a few for their own use ,, l.,
In considering tho whole subject OF oyster nshnB IN
the waters Of NewIOrk IT, is evident that tne lalIdl
oyster beds, which ought to be carefully fostered as
nursery for the supply OF tue planted beds are used pa
a most wasteful manner Tue close time during ,ne
Summer months may be regarded chiefly sanitary
for the benefit OF the people, to the growth OF the
oysters it Is Of little advantage. for In October when be
taking tue oysters begins again the spawnls sun TOO
small 10 he detached from the shells and thrown back
in che water and thus carried OF and destroyed IN
large quantities., aud the continual disturbance OF INC
bedsiby the tongs must inevitably bury considerable
quantities OF it prevent its further development
IL is evident taat system OF rotation In the nsDlng
OF the different beds would produce more equal supply
without the impending danger OF exhaustion. TINS
danger does not 10 be as yet Impressed fully
on tne minds OF the fishermen, and IL is probable
thar as in the case, Tor instance, Of our
forests, or our river fisheries, none but tho
threat OF total failure win be sufficient TO stimulate
wholesome legislation. The OF the dredge, now pro-
hDited in the BrOOknaveu waters but stll atepeh Dy
pOachers at night Is IN some degree Oehencal Wheb re-
strcted reasonable limits on the thleKef Deds teus
10 smooth them and 10 eXend their area ms at
least IS experience IA Europe anu III e
Besides oysters, the Great south Bay furnishes con-
siderable supply OF round clans Venus meTcenaIla IN
its western part; they also very abundant aud OF
excellent quality In some or the bays OF the eastern
part Long Island where no oysters are tOnd thOse
Of 5huuecJcK Bay are particularly priced.
Respectfully submitted, L. r. PouIIALES,
Assist. L. ,. Coast survey.