Morning journal and courier., 1880-09-25
Oyster Culture in Rhode Island.

Over 300, GOO bushels of seed shells have been planted in the Providence river this spring. Parties from Boston and elsewhere
 are doing much to foster the enterprise. The
 grounds around Starve Goat Island, BuIlock's
 Point, Sabins Point, India Point and the
 mouth of Seekonk river very largely talk
 en already for private beds. The prospect is
 that ere many years considerable portion of
 Narragansett Bay will be poruioned of for the
 purpose of cultivating oysters The ssseed"
 at first raised was brought from Fire Island,
 on the south side of Long Island. Much is
 now procured up the Seekonk river and from
 natural beds in the bay and around Somerset,
 in Massachusetts.
 Fair Haven (Ct.) parties have been buying
 shells from Providence dealers for one cent
 and half bushel They have taken them
 to Connecticut waters to obtain ''sets." The
 next season they bring the shells back cover
 ed with seed" oysters and sell to Providence
 men at 60 cents a bushel This operation naturally prompts the Providence cultivators
 to make arrangements to obtain ''seed'' near
 CT home. They are securing beds at Free
 town, Dighton, Somerset, and other places in
 Massachusetts. Rhode Island law is such
 that no shells can be carried off the bed where
 they are found. All cleaning beside the live
 oysters must be thrown back into the water
 where they were found. The ''culling' must,
 therefore, be done on the beds.
 For cultivating oysters, ground is selected
 which is a little muddy. The oysters are re-
 moved to hard bottom after two or three
 years. But the first three years growth is
 better if there is little mud. Thus Provi- dence planters think. They discard the idea that deep muddy bottoms can be prepared by covering with gravel and shells Such de- posits sink through the mud at once; but liv- ing oysters will keep on the surface and manage to grow. Something in the move ments or buoyancy natural to the living bi- valves seems to keep them up.
 noo1 .l--.a H. IL. oysters for opening in cold weather. They are able to keep them alive longer in their waters than is possible on other portions of the New England coast. At most points they will die if left in the water after January. The months of February and March seem to be trying seasons for even native oysters. Rhode Island planters think the ground goes through some change that seriously affects the oysters upon it at that time. They be- gin to turn black and many die. Their beds are often injured by what is called 'fanchor
 rost." This is snowy ice that forms in the flyer, but because of the currents does not remain on the surface. Being carried by the rtreams to the bottom it catches on the beds st kills the plants very quickly, seeming to Ihill them at once. Dead sea-weeds also col cect on and smother the oysters. A sponge like growth is often found, which IS quite de- structive also. A similar growth of red color abounds and seems to feed and nourish the
 
 the red sponge is good for them. Five fin gers or 'stars ' wrinkles" and ''drills' are somewhat troublesome, but not so much so as in waters outside in Long Island Sound.
 The most vexatious enemy to the cultiva- tor as they all claim, is what they call the 'beach-comber" or ''barnegatter. These are persons who live around the shores, fish and dig clans and steal oysters. Because they use iron rakes to rake or "comb'' the fats for hard shell clans they are called 'beach-combers." Being residents along the ,hores they seem to feel that they have an naienable right to all they can find in the water. Private ownership of sea bottom hey regard as somehow abridging their nat lral privileges. They have apparently no om mpunctions in getting all they can from the ultivator's grounds In skiffs with muff1ed 'ars, at night they carry off whole boat pads. It is difficult to convict them, even when arrested and proven guilty. Public eminent has always been much in their fa- or. If taken before jury, some one inter- sted in some way is very likely to be on the ury, whose course will secure verdict for IT disagreement.
 Moreover, unless one has his grounds sur eyed and recorded he can really have no evi- ence against depredator. The expenses ttending securing and renewing leases, sur eys, fees of committee, and making maps re considerable; and there must be new urvey and record each time a lease is re- ewed At these renewals much expense is ometimes caused by parties bidding against ach other. The law gives any resident the ight to bid of such ground. Notice has to @ given that application has been made for ertain pieces of ground. Others who wish ) object, or to make application for the ime, can then be heard. This leads to ri aIries and expense as we have said Culti- ators are, however, finding it wiser to agree ot to bid against each other. But a very ssirable or favorably situated piece of round is apt to excite considerable of 8 ruggle, costing the planter much money lat goes to lawyers or the State.
 Against all these vexatious obstacles the lsiness increases, because the demand for pod oysters steadily increases. A change of ublc sentiment is gradually taking place, ore favorable to the private cultivator, as le people see the value of this industry to le public at large. Cultivation means good Vsters at reasonable prices. Merely natural lpplies mean inferior oysters at high prices. he oystermen are still restricted to the use tongs rakes to gather oysters with. he boats used are loaded down the river or y and lowed up to Providence wharves by cam tugs.
 A large business is done with opened oys- rs as well as with those in the shell. Some -ovidence firms employ 40 openers at me. These are paid for their work at the te of 12 cents gallon of solid meats. They n earn good wages at 1t, one man being loWn to open IS gallons In 1our hours. The ty, though containing over 100, 900 people, 'es not use one-hundredth part of the oys- rs raised and handled there. They are nt out through all the New England States d as far west as Toledo, o. These ster cultivators are among the best town, substantial and most respected busi- ss firms of the scity and State. Large lounts of capital are likely to be invested
 this industry during the next few years. pacious minds are seeing the wealth of re- rms that are likely to be obtained for their oney cast into the sea. The facilities of by railroad and steamboat tn even far distant places give the Provi nee oystermen special advantages in send 3 to market. Their ready sales in the fu- re, as in the past, can only be limited by g amount they are able to produce in their 'ters.