Smyrna times., 1883-07-11
THE OYSTER BEDS.

Not the least interesting thing to
those of the company who were max
ing their first visit to the fishing
grounds, was the oyster beds that cover
over three thousand acres of the
bottom of the bay off from Leipsic
creek, Mahon's river, st. Jones' creek,
&c. They cover, we are told, an ex-.
tent of ten miles long and five miles
broad, regularly farmed out or divided
| by stakes (poles with a brush top
stuck into the mud and though each
! designate only five acres of ground the
owners know the "meets and bounds"
of their property as well as a real
estate owner does his unOccupied town
lots. They are used for what is term
ed planting" viz: the young oysters
are dredged from the creeks or wher-
ever they can be found in prolific beds
and put out in the bay where they
grow to full size in year or two when
they are "tonged" up and carried to
the city markets. These beds are own
ed and leased by the State, the licenses
bringing in q clever revenue, amount
ing last year to $3,997.97. An OYSTER
collector is appointed by the Governor
whose business is to see after this
branch of the service, the present Oc-
cupant being VIM. i. HeVerin, of Little
Creek. To aid him in extending the
laws against the rapaCiOus Oystermen,
he is supplied with fast sailing yacht,
the Blue Wing which stands on guard
every day whose Grew with strong
glass can detect pair of oyster tongs
with the accuracy fishing hawk can
its prey under the briny waves. If the
| oysterman has a right to the ground
: he is gathering from it is all right, but if
not, the navy" goes for him. In the
r oyster season from one to two hundred
boats may be seen at y time, and the
: quantity carried from these oyster beds
/ to the city markets must aggregate
+ thousands of bushels. These shoals
average only about from ten to twelve
feet deep. Some of the Oystermen
have secondary bed with board bot
toms at the mouth of creeks where
they are deposited for about two tides
= during which time they fatten very
= fast, the fresh water coming down the
creek qnsWeripg the double purpose OF
! fatteping them while It removes some
! of the bay saltness, making them more
! palatable. duck Creeks" have a
: : reputation with Philadelphia epicures
o sap
I Van H0MEWARp BOUND, q sEs
g About four o'clock Capt. Smith
Q ordered the anchor up and the steamer
n struck up the bay in company with
/ several three masted schooners and the
:, ocean steamer Lord Cough little dis.
n tance ahead. With iibs flying and
!. every yard of canvas set to the fresh
IS breeze, the latter could almost bid do
Q tlanoe 10 the power Of steam, We
4 staFted at low tide and In passing ovel
b the upper end of" 10 Eogger" shoal.
g got stuck, which detained us for nearly
It a-half hour. The steamer, however
v about o'clock, hauled up to the whar
II at Woodland Beach where she "lay to-
for a-half hour giving the excursionist.
d an opportunity to visit the grounds and
y some of the party Fisked the time il
Il enjoying one az fahR6allS y suppers ant
n came away in high praise of the cuisin,
y spread before them. The excursionist.
Ie by the Clyde and cars had gone, leav
d ing q quiet ane orderly company
le which was not the case when the,