Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-20
OYSTERS LOST IN THE GALE.
Connecticut Beds Covered with Sand and
the BivaIves SmOthered.

the BivaIves smothered.
From he Netg York World.
BRIDGEPORT, CONN, Oct. 15.-There
is much CONSERVATION among oyster
growers in this vicinity on account of the
damage done to their extensive oyster
beds, which lie Off Milford, Stratford,
Bridgeport, Black Rock, Fairfield, South
port and NorwalK. The beds on the Con-
nectieut shore OF Long Island sound,
comprise many thousand acres of oyster
farms in various stages of cultivation by
individual owners who have purchased
the territory from the State. The dam
age to large portion of the crop was
caused by the severe northeast gale of
tuesday. Yesterday the heavy raves had
subsidized sufficiently for the various oys-
ter craft TO venture out and make hasty
examination.
steamers and sailing vessels were
thickly scattered to-day for miles, AID
dredges were kept constantly at work
taking up oysters. Beds located three TO
six miles of shore are not harmed. the
violent action Of the sea not reaching to
the bottom. The oysters Of three years
growth have been stirred and shifted
some. Nearer shore the bottom has been
covered with a thin layer OF sand, which,
where IL covers oysters Of one and two
years growth, Will smother the bivalves
and spoil the crop. The extent OF the
damage can be realized better when it
is stated that the yield Of so small
portion as an acre amounts to several
thousand dollars. Beds upon which seed
has just been planted will suffer most.
These beds have been covered during the
last summer with thin coating Of shells
and stones, and within the past two weeks
oysters not larger than shad scale have
been planted on adjoining beds. Where
strata Of sand even an inch in depth has
drifted TO these grounds the results will
be disastrous and the work of months
rendered Of no profit.
Specimens OF the Sound bottom taken
up to-day disclose the fact that millions of
starfish, which have proved a great enemy
20 the oyster, have been killed by the
grinding action OF the oysters and shells
on the bottom, while large numbers have
been drifted of the private oyster beds.
whether these startish Will find Judgment
on other oyster beds TO the westward re-
mains TO be seen. One oyster man. who
owns more than 900 acres of ground.
said today that his beds had been dam
aged by sand TO the extent OF $4,000, and
be believed other growers lost as heavily.
He had been benefited bv the removal
OF starfsh perhaps $500 on his
twentybeds. The growers keep steamers
CONSTANTLY AZ Work removing oysters
from one bed TO another to evade the raw
ages OF starflsh. When the oysters are
taken up by the dredges all the starfsh
captured are picked out and placed i'm
large tubs. The oysters are then taken
20 another section OF land and Deposited
where there are less Of the enemy. At
the close Of the days work steam from
the boiler is turned on the starfsh to kin
them and then they are thrown overheard.
NFHa hnN Of N 80 sHaa
stroyed by steamer In day the oyster
farmers consider the time well spent.
More than fifty small steamers are here
engaged in taking up the biyalves for
market. The oysters are marketable
when years old.