The sun., 1895-02-17
PooUoNNoC,s OYSTER GRorES.
For the Third Time II Is Asserted that
They Are n Menace TO Health.

New LONDON. Feb. 14.-For many years Po.
quonnoc River oysters havo been esteemed
among the finest favored in the world. They
rival the famous Princes Bay and Blue Points
and In the New York market they bring from
81 to Sl2 barrel. Their remarkable flavor Is
attributed to some chemical solution washed
down into the river from the rocky uplands
which it pitrces.
For a third time the oyster groves in this
river are in danger Of destruction. Poquonnoc
River is small, romantic stream just east OF
this port. There are no factories at the head OF
the stream. and the unpollutcd waters produced
oysters in great numbers. The demand for the
oysters exceeded the supply, and then the VS.
termen increased the area for catching oyster
spat by dumping limbs OF trees into the river,
over IT'S muddy parts. Mud is fatal 70 oyster
growth. but the spat, by catching on the boughs,
was preserved above the mud ard hoursh he'd.
In this way II large portion of the river bed.
growth of oysters finally got 50 heavy as to bury
itself in the mud. This sutfocated the oysters.
The oystcrmen then stuck birch trees twenty
hye feet long in the river 10 raise oysters on.
There was grea. forest OF them ana the spat,
which is vefy plentiful in this river, soon COW
cred the trees completely. As the oysters are
marketable in two years and the profits or them
large. all the Poquonnoc fishermen went into
the business extensively. one man planted
1000 birch trees. This was in 1881. The neat
yea. scarlet fever OF a most Nirulent type ap;;
neigh horhood. ard before tile summer was over
OUT of fifty patients twenty had died from the
disease. 1t wa3 alleged that the oyster gro es
in the river caused the outbreak. and, after Il
prolonged local political fight, the State Health
Board ordered the oyster groves to be destroyed.
Altogether, Il Is suid damages of Sll 900 were
paiG to the oyster raisers by the state.
AIte- this some Of the oyster farmers decided
to replant their oyster beds. using birch stakes
very long and slender, instead OF trees. They
believed that the tree branches became thick
with mud and weeds and impeded circulation "t
the water, thus causing tho fever. soon after.
as these pole foresls began to become loaded
with bountiful harvest of oysters. a second
epidemic of scarle1 fever broke cut IN Poquun-
hoe Bridge. The STATE Humane Society inter-
fered ard auther heated dispute followed, which
again resulted i'll the destruction of the poles.
This was i'll 1855.
tO- several years now, however, the planting
of poles Las been resumed in the river, the
oyster farmers being temited by the high prices
tho poles. They are set about as thickly as bean
po.es and arc planted with heads down stream,
80 that they shall not impede navigation. l. is
expected tina: the poles Will average al least half
n bushel of oysters each in two years. The prod
uct of the poles has enriched many of the Pu-
that the oyster groves are menace to health
and an obstacle 10 navigation. This is the sub
stance Of petition sent by the anti pole men to
the General Assembly.
the oyster farmers have presented counter
petition demanding the right 10 continue to
grow oysters on poles. They claim thai they
can raise larger oysters on the poles than in the
bed of the stream: tnat the poles arc no impedi-
ment to OoatinG and fishing, as the channel is
not obstructed, and that a good oyster business
Poquonnoc, which cannot be conducted except
by placing The poles in the river for oysters to
grow upon. There will be another red d-hot battle
fought over the matter.