New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-06
TIE OYSTER TRAFFIC.

States Supreme Court at washington-the first to
determine the boundary line between the States Of
New-YOrk and Connecticut and the second to decide
the consttuonahy of the laws Of Connecticut which
prohibit any except her citizens from fishing In the
natural oyster beds within limit bounded by an
imaginary line drawn from northeast to southwest
through the center of Long Island Sound, and dividing
Connecticut from Long Island. THIS suit has arisen
the seizure Of oyster vessel belonging 20 Port
Washington, by the authorities Of Bridgeport, Conn,
and under the following circumstances Tue dividing
lines between the states of NewYork and Connecticut
although they of tho original thirteen states"
yet been settled by law, and the citizens OF
this State resident on Long Island have claimed the
right in with all Others to fish in the natural
oyster beds OF Long Island Sound as far over as low
water mark the Connecticut shore THIS right the
Legislature OF Connecticut has denied and law was
passed giving privilege the citizens Of that State
the exclusion of all others. The oysiermen Of Port
Washington on Long Island shore ignorant Of the
Connecticut law during April 1879 went III search as
usual for oysters within the restricted limit at point
only short distance from Bridgeport, whereupOn the
authorities Of that arrested tho fishermen, seized
the vessel and had condemned and forfeited to the
state for violation of the State laws As the Land under
the waters of the Sound is far more valuable than that
above water of the richness OF tao natural
oyster beds the people Of the lid District OF Queens
County whose existence depends great extent upon
privileges of fishing for oysters in the Sound de-
W
rights without a struggle aud through L. Bradford
Prince their representative Ia the Assembly brought
the matter before the Legislature resolution Was at
introduced into the supply bill OF 1873 approprat
ing enable the Attorney General To bring the
matter before United States Courts IN Orer TO deter
mine the boundary lines between the two States Before
this action could be brought it was ascertaned that far
stronger argument could be made 10 the cOustltu-
tionalty OF the Connecticut laws. the Constitution OF
the United states defining that no preference snail be
gwen by any regulation OF commerce or revenue 10 the
ports State those of another Consequently
during the session OF the Legislature OF Nw-Yors
Mr. Prince secured the passage OF resolution, instruct
ing the Attorney General to bring the two suits above
mentioned. extra appropriation OF $1,000 being al
lowed toward the expenses making $500 III all Upon
the resolutions and instructions " the legislature the
Attorney General has begun the suite IN question, and
the residents of Queens County anx 'dsY await
ing the decision OF this supreme legal authority on what
Is to them a very important matter.
The oyster beds of the Sound are Is claimed very
valuable on account OF the quantities Of natural
oysters which abound therein ana which appear 10 be
nearly inexhaustibe; yet tue CITY of Now YORK is not
entirely dependent this for the supply % TINS
species OF shesh When it is known that over 1OOOO0oO
of oysters brought daily into this marSet for at least
eight months year. 1t must evident tna large
as the Sound is. and prolific it may be In natural
oysters such drain this would Ia time exhaust the
supply In order I ascertain some OF tue sources
whence the supply OF this favOrite 6valVe was banned,
reporter OF TRIBUNE visited the two great oyster
markets of tins city, being the side, at the
foot Of Tenthst other the east side at the foot
of BrOOmest The side market consists Of about
score Of scOws, "arks" they are called by somo
persons moored close the bukhead for the length "
two blocks the northern limit being at tine foot ot
Perry-st and the southern limit the foot Of West
Teuth-st These arks ia place OF shops for the
transaction Of business between the oysermen aud the
retail dealer and have doors fronting on Westst with
a movable plank sidewalk between the sco"s and the
street Behind these and further in the river are
moored the oyster vessels the owners OF which h5n III
the waters OF Staten Island, NewJorsey Maryland.
Delaware Virginia &c. The oysters are brought from
the fishing grounds buk-t!at L. loosely deposited IN
the holds tho decks OF the vessels ahd are uh-
by of baskets at the rear or water nd 81
the scOw on the decks OF which the baskets
piled in several Layers according to Tue SInpi5 an
found by the wholesale dealer tae baskets are carried
directly through the ark" 10 and through tile
front door, thence TO the long market racks or
wagons winch may be in waiting. On the morning IN
question large number Of long trucks were Ia readi-
ness and the baskets containing the oysters were
carried through the arkS aud at once Loaded upon tnen
O De soon after driven away 10 their destination Some
OF inc captains oyster vessels prefer 70 transact
their own business, aud make sales direct IN
stead OF employing the services OF these whOie-
saIe Dealers and tAeir vessels are generally
moored as near the pier at the 1901 OF M vest
trucks aud wagons may be driven near 10 tne vessels
market the wholesale dealers generally make "ld Tor
the cargo. and take tue FISK o. sales Ont wheD
market IS CROWDED ana Tue ucuduu sUai' thoSS
independent owners OF oyster vessels nave 20 nuu tuo
own customers, aud sometimes are compelled 10 carry
back cargo another market l. Is estimated
tlat during the portion OF the year from ptemOer 10
May the lowest daily average received IN TINS part OF
not less than 700 oysters Of medium would
ave 100000 oysters day at THIS market alone, not
enc OF when taken from the disputed territory
auy It, Daring the cold weather this NUMBER
j. often greatly increased, but the general average Is
about what been stated above.
The east side market Il mostly supplied from the
Sound, and from the various portions OF Long Island
fronting the About the same number OF
arks moored In the East River as on the west
Of the city aud occupy the greater portion or the
| bulkhead from Grand Ferry " D.2ucey-st Tue
pler az the foot OF BrOOmest separates the southern
uortfJ OF arks" from tile northern; but
all Of them have entrance from EastsL, upon which
morning of the reporters visit, large fleet oyster
vessels varying from four tons to 100 tons eacn IN bur
deH These brought oysters To market from on
/ the Long Island shore, between hOcKd~ay ana FIRE
Isaud ON the seaside Port Washington the Sound.
All the cOves and inlets OF Long Isaad are SAID 70
abound with oysters. aud large force OF men anu YES
them by means Of tOngs &c. and conveying them 40
| market. As many 1000 baskets, OF 9OJOOO0
n single day, out daily supply through
the oyster season from 1900 10 3OO9 baskets, or
somewhat over e,0O0OOJ oysters On tns morning IN
/ question the pier croWded with trucks anu
smaller WAGONS, similar 10 those USED by igrOcers,
the owners making purchases la Larger Ca sll~iIer
quantities from tho captains Oh lhe Vessels or
on0 before daylight these purchasers wess on Tue per
InakiuQ their bargains ana Inspecting the Stock, In or
der mat 80 daylight arrived the work OF load
ing up could he begun IL must not De suppuf Gu now
ever that all oysters when reaeh hS market are
brought sl0ops, schooners &c large quantity Oh
ovsIers IA brought daily To NeW-fOrK anu bFoOK{h IA
lon9 wagons from ROckavay ana Other pafts OF the
Lang Island coast fronting on tue sea- some OF the
finest oysters thus reach the olty AM lohus uu Pur
cnasrs IN Fulton Market, where the Wagons senerauy
oonceatrate during Tie Latter Dortion VI tae wssG'