The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-09-30

jOyed by the Promoters-Henry G. Rowe
Entertains the Party Handsome'y-
Methods of Oyster Cultivation illustrated
Major Leach's Recommendation.
The directors of the New Haven
chamber of commerce and the chair
men of the various committees accept
ed the invitation of Henry c. Rowe, the
well known oyster grower, to ac-
company Major S. S. Leach down
the harbor on a tour of inspection yes
terday. Major Leach is the United
States engineer in charge of the Long
Island coast improvements, and the di-
rectors of the chamber of commerce de-
sired to look over matters pertaining to
the harbor in company with him.
The question of larger and deeper
channel was agitated by the chamber
of commerce about year ago and the
directors brought the matter before
Major Leach and tried to impress upon
him the need of an appropriation for
the purpose. He at that time began to
look into the matter and had survey
of the harbor made and conducted a
thorough inspection of the channel.
The chamber of commerce desired an,
appropriation of $500,0O0 for a channel
400 or 500 feet wide and twenty feet
deep. At the time of agitation last
year a party of directors and Major
Leach went down the harbor, and the
directors succeeded in so impressing
Major Leach that his recommendation
to the war department states that in
his opinion the channel should be wild
ened and deepened so as to be 400 feet
wide and 20 feet deep at low tide, and
that the sum of 100000 be appropriated
by congress for the purpose. The pro-
posed channel is to commence at a
point between the east and the middle
breakwaters, extending up to point
nearly opposite Fort Hale, where there
should be an anchorage on the east side
1000 feet wide and 1000 feet long and
20 feet deep at low tide. The anchor
age will extend from opposite Fort Hale
to Cranes bar. A second anchorage is
to be on the city side from the head of
the beach up to Long wharf about 1000
feet in length and 16 feet deep at low
tide. A third anchorage will extend
from Belle dock to Canal wharf and
will be 12 feet deep.
Shortly after the first inspection
resolution was passed by the chamber
of commerce that a memorial be pre-
pared petitioning congress to vote the
necessary funds, and that committee
be appointed with George b. Martin as
chairman, and Henry G. Rowe secre-
tary, to take the matter in charge.
Secretary Rowe has tirelessly pushed
the matter and has gathered statistics
for the last six months bearing on the
matter The result is that a memorial
of thirty pages or so is now almost
ready.
The party left Fl. G. Rowe & Co.'S
dock in Fair Haven at 1:S0 yesterday
afternoon and after going over the pro-
posed channel and inspecting the dredg-
ing now being done on the bar deposit
ed by West river somewhat below the
watch house. The sum of $4,000 was
appropriated by congress for the work,
and somewhat more than 100 feet has
and somewhat more than 100 feet in
width has already been completed.
When that inspection had been
conducted Mr.. Rowe took the party out
on the sound on the oyster boat Ruel
Rowe, to look into the methods of oys-
ter cultivation.
Several beds were visited and the
oyster dredge worked at each so as to
give the party a lesson in the oyster
c,,lI %l,e,y
old oysters was brought up, another Of
two years. old, and one of four to six
years old. Everyone in the party was
greatly interested to note the growth
and development of the luscious BIZ
valve Mr.. Rowe's oyster farms are
extensive and widely scattered and the
time between dredgings was spent in
partaking of sumptuous repast which
Mr.. Rowe had provided. oysters were
served on the half shell. great, big fell
lows that were heartily relished; oysters
steamed and oysters escalloped. Then
there was fruit and coffee, cigars and
liauid refreshments between times, all
going to make the occasion a delightful
one. Mr.. Rowe and Superintendent
Rowland seeing that all had a good
time. Out on the sound it was just
rough enough to keep land lubbers
guessing and for half hour or so sew
eral were somewhat sober. All, how
ever, were in happy mood when the
boat got into calmer water inside the
breakwater There Mr.. Rowe superin-
tended dredging that showed how the
silt deposited by the new breakwater
had killed the oyster there. A dredge
or two was scooped up out of the four
feet of oozy silt and the shells were
found so coated that no oysters could
live therein. After each dredge full the
water was black as SCOT for quite a
radius, where some years ago there
was some of the finest white sand bot
tom and the most fertile of oyster
beds.
On the return voyage a very pleasant
social time was enjoyed, the utmost
cordiality and bonhomie prevailing.
President George H. Ford made neat
and witty speech complimenting Mr..
Rowe on the success of the excursion
and thanking him for his handsome
entertainment. Three lusty cheers were
given for Mr. Rowe after which the
latter gentleman responded briefly.
Remarks were also made by General
E. E. Bradley. Benjamin r. English,
Hon. W. S. Wells and Rev. Stewart
Means.
The party numbered twenty. Those
.,,,,r;sip., II v-are. General George H.