Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-30
Buzzard,s BayOysters.


 In the new number of the Hone World, about ready to be delivered to the subscrib- CTS and others, is an interesting historical article on Buzzard's Bay. In a visit for the purpose of gathering up facts, the editor ob- tained some information of the oyster busi- ness in that region, which he allows us to give to our readers.
 There is an eager and growing demand for good oysters. There always are persons enough who are ready to pay for the best that can be furnished, even at very high prices Hence dealers are ever on the alert to secure such as are of more than ordinary size and quality. Epicures of Boston find something in the color, flavor and other characteristics of oysters from Buzzard's Bay of special value Within the last few years these bivalves have brought very high prices in the best markets. Some have sold for one dollar dozen. By the barrel and by the count they are very eagerly sought. The supply as yet has not been very abundant. Like the long famous Saddle Rock oyster in its first year, these are not now very widely known. But increasing numbers of enter prising men are hastening by the most ap- proved methods to develop the business of raising these valuable bivalves in the various waters of this bay. Here, as in many other places, and concerning other things, resour- ces long lying unused are at length finding adequate appreciation.
 Mr Parker N Bodfish. of Wareham, tlTation around Buzzard's Bay. At Manomet and Cotuit creeks more is being done at present than in any other places near. Cotuit alone furnished SIG, ,O00 worth of oysters to be sent away to the Boston markets last winter. In Cohasset narrows many oysters of superior quality are raised in spite of ssborersr and 'anchor frost. !" This last is especially troublesome in the swift waters of these streams, sometimes coming in such quantities as to clog the whe Is of the mills.
 The cultiyators meet the same kind of jealousy and opposition that has been en- countered by Connecticut and Rhode Island planters. While Massachusetts law allows the town officers to grant private rights, it does not adequately protect the owners It has been difficult to regulate the taking of oys- | ters and seed from natural beds. Every en- | actment has been disobeyed, but in such ways l that the criminal could manage to escape conviction and punishment. The town of Wareham, in trying to control the oyster sup ply, charged each man license of five cents a bushel for catching. They were to be caught only in certain months and then only | for family use.
 The ways that eager oystermen took to avoid the provisions of these enactments are | interesting evidences of human infirmity. l Many went out at night and loaded their boats, even Tn the f0rbldden months. There was no limit to what some families wanted to | use. They even claimed and maintained that what were caught to sell were for family use. When, therefore, certain number of bush- els were specified as what @ man could take each week, it could never be determined. The oysterman went out with more or less l oysters in his boat. If arrested, he and his | associates would swear that he had only caught the legal quantity. It was difficult to prove any guilt. The town, for while, for
 bade anyone getting oysters, and employed | it's own hired men to gather them and sell
 them from their boats to such as cared to buy at the rate of four to eight cents bush el This was to secure revenue to the town and to favor such as wanted to purchase for planting. They finally leased the whole to parties in Boston for forty years. These persons were to pay the town so much g | bushel for all that were taken, and were not
 to destroy the beds by exhausting them.
 These men took possession, hiring the local
 oystermen to get the oysters for them They paid five cents bushel for catching This
 arrangement soon led to a lawsuit. The greater number of citizens being utterly ex-
 ciuded from catching oysters aasailed the towns contract as an oppressive mon.
 opoly, and compelled the town te sue for an abrogation of the lease They finally succeeded. The right
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