The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-22
GROTON'S OYSTER GROVES.
SMALL BEDS ENLARGED NJ BETTING
YOUNG TREES UNDER WATER.
A Esidsnia Of Scarlet Fever Prejs diess The
People Against the OrcharAs-A Bitter
War. with . vietsvy fss ths Oystsrasn.

People Against the OrcharAs-A Htttsv
War, with = vietsry fer the Oystsrssss.
Norwich, June 1.-THE artificial cultiva-
ton Of oysters on trees and poles. an industry
peculiar TO Poquonnoc River. In the southern
part OF this county. has received second seri-
GUS blow. Poauonnoo River is broad estuary
OF the seq, two or three miles east OF New Lon
don. that winds among wide level salt marshes
about three miles northward to tho edge OF the
billy pasture land. where Wild trout stream
tumbes into It's narrowed and sluggish cur
rent. On eithor sido Of the brook. and extend
ing little way down tho banks Of tho inlct the
neat cottages Of the hamlet Of Po1uonnoc
Bridge cluster about q white-splred village
church and shanbling old saltwater grocery.
In which Is also the Post ONCE. The village Is
ono Of tho prettest along tho coast. and Its
thrifty Inhabitants. together with those Of
tho southern half OF tho town. Gro
ton. do little else except fish, Every
male citizen has complete equipment
OF fishing apparatus. and nearly every ono
owns q section Of river bottom planted with
oysters. The Poquonnoc River oysters have
long been esteemed as the most delicious
bivalves In the world. rivalling even the famous
Blue Points. and selling readily in tho New
York restaurants at $40 q barrel while the
latter were rated at only IS. Some exports
think that it Is tho solution OF iron In the
water brought down from the rocky inland
hills. that imparts the delightful flavor.
There wore not enough OF tho oysters to
satisfy the demand. as the greater portion OF
the river bottom Is thickly noored with sticky
black mud. fatal to oysters. and which only
here and there gives place to rock or gravely
bottom suitable for oyster growth. 1t was tho
problem Of tho PoQuonnoc River fishermen for
many years to overcome the obstacle that pre-
Al L. had,
six years ago an ingenious Yankee went into
his woods and cut down a small forest Of
birches. and the untrimmed trees he dumped
ON tho muddy bottom. nearest to his beds.
covering about an acre with tho brush. and then
he awaited results. II was his theory that the
oyster spat. which each season drift up the
river as thicky rs leaves In the forest, would
attach themselves to the brush. and. uplifted
above the mud grow into fortune for him.
The plan was an excellent one. but not fully
developed. After season or two he pulled up
his sunken forest aud found It loaded with
young bivalves. nearly all OF which were dead.
The trouble was apparent. The weight OF the
growing shells had dragged tho slender birch
boughs into the mud and the oysters had been
suffocatcd 1t was not many days before another
birch forest took the place OF the detective one.
and this was literally u submarine wood. In
stead OF dumping the trees on the bottom. tho
oystcrman planted them ut nicely calculated
intervals that should allow the FREQ circulation
Of water among them and at an angle with the
current that the tops m, might lust prick the
were from Is to 20 ieet long. and the butts. 3 or
inches In diameter were thrust several feet
The rapiIity with which oysters multiply as
experienced piscicuiturists declare, Is amazing.
e s" Systr pn % Gscs %hieS
hatch into spat that float with tho curreat In
countless myriads. ready to fasten 70. any OBJ
ing place. Old fishermen say that in the season
the water Is tinged grayish-miiky hue with
numorable mustard seeds. III the breeding
season that followed tho planting OF the trees,
tho s rolled It's Living waves
upon the sway.ns biren boughs more thickly
than fn!ling snownakes. A submarine forest
River to satisfy the wants OF oyster spat. Day
by day the brownish spec ks thickcned on the
wiry twgs, until the whole tree was encased.
and still the drifting army kept coming ing o the
later spit attaching ~ themselves to the first
trunks or tiny scales as on a coat of mail;
Oysters are Of rapid growth. and within a
oyster orchard declared that the plan was
an astonshinG success. An oyster spat grows
IN month or six weeks from y speck TO tho
grown oyster An acre OF brush It Is estimated;
viii, yield l.wO bushels Of oysters. In 1000
vision Of fabulous wealth. Tho town OF Groton
was Wild with excitement. At once the mud
bottom on each side OF the river channel was
set of by the fishermen. under the oyster law.
aud then tho men began to fell birch forests.
For woeks great bundles OF birch trees were
traied from the pastures along the road At tho
heels OF oxen on the way TO the shores OF ths
river. II was not long heiore DOM SIDES Oh me
WHOSE nrlck!y spires Just peeIei thronEh , the
low water; me LARGEST Drusn baot owners WSro
not more than twelve IN nunner anu enhspic-
Gus among them was L 1lW%y SIiueoh r. hny-
in snn VINO Eiahteu In LoH ~ Of NOT less tnah
o.Wo White birehes on ms peuS
Only one crop OF orchard oysters had been
ga,liered from the earliest painting. mag
hi!i i y!sln anu ,no hropaanaors Nero o1K
harvest; and then. In MAY. 1881 a peculiarly
marked and virulent tyre Oh scar.et ie-
nsish6orhSSS;d ANA AMIR. RACED ii! tIs spring and
aaaranne Until H'' easy Es ian o,
deserted hoi,sa ~" streets were
$500 49, "'"" widows inu!lled the Well