The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-07
OYSTERS AND STAR FISH
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE U. S. FISH
COMMISSIONER.
Interesting Ideas of the Document Soon
to be Issued by the COmnissioner-Oys-
tiers in Long Island Sound-Reported
Last May That Oysters Near New Haven
Were Diving of n Mysterious MaIady,


Last May That oysters Near New Haven
Were Dying of Mysterious Malady.
The annual report of the United
States Fish Commissioner James Brice
contains some interesting facts in re-
gard to the Long Island Sound oyster
industry.
The report states that there have
been the usual complaints of the de-
struction of oysters in Long Island
Sound by starfsh. This enemy is now
less feared than formerly, it being sue
cessfully combated with the use of eff
fective appliances for it's capture. In
Long Island Sound and in various
parts of New Jersey much trouble has
with green gills. Late In the month of
June few affected oysters were OBJ
served in Lynnhaven river, and during
the summer all the beds were more or
less affected. 1t is reported that oys-
tiers placed in the experimental tanks
of the commission were found to be
wholly unlimited by the green colora-
ton. The commission experts declare
that green gills is harmless affection,
but that oysters colored in this way
were very hard to dispose of to con-
sumers, consequently entailing much
loss on the growers.
During last May it was reported that
the oysters in the vicinity Of New Ha-
Ven were dying of mysterious mala-
dy, but no complaints were made to
the commission. Mr.. Brice states that
it is probable that the trouble was To-
cal and not serious, as the seed grow
erS in other parts of Long Island
Sound had very successful season.
The oyster season of 1897 is general
ly reported to have been unsatisfacto
ry to the dredgers of Chesapeake bay,
owing in part to the depletion of the
natural beds and also on account of
the competition of planted. oysters,
which each year are occupying a more
important place in the markets. The
conflict between the natural bed and
the planting interests of Delaware bay
has resulted III legal ftlo iSldtlNC
warfare in New Jersey. The results of
similar disputes in other sections have
been to liberalize the laws relating to
planting, in consequence of which that
branch of the industry is exciting
much interest.
An evidence of this is seen in the in
creased sales of seed oysters in Con-
necticut and New York during the
spring of 1897 and in the purchase of
seed in the Chesapeake region by the
oystermen of New Jersey and Della
ware The commission is now making
a study of the bays of the Pacific coast
in order to determine whether or not
the conditions there are favorable to
the Introduction of the eastern oyster.
Late in 1897 twenty-five barrels of oys-
4 ters taken from Long Island Sound,
/ We're planted in Humboldt bay, Cal.
and an equal quantity in Yaquina bay,
Oregon. Both lots were planted under
the supervision OF the commissions
experts. Specimens of the oysters
placed in those sections have been re-
ceived at the commission, where they
are pronounced as doing WELL
/ Mr. Brice states that it is too early to
J
beds can be established on the Pacific
coast. No spat has been found, but
the agents of the commission report
copious spawning during the past
summer
The commission is making every eff
/ fort to increase the value and variety
of the fisheries in the various sections
of the United States. During the year
just closed the agents of the commits
sion were busy distributing large
quantities of young fry and eggs to the
different lakes and streams. Over
$50, 900 fish and eggs were sent out
from the many stations that the COM
mission has established.
The report states that there has been
falling off in the quantities of fish
landed by American fishing vessels at
the ports of Boston and Gloucester, as
compared with the previous year, the
decrease affecting both ports. The ag-
4 gregate receipts were 130673, 900
pounds, valued at $3,2S6,S $780, Each spe-
cies participated in the decrease, ex-
cept halibut and mackerel, though at
Boston the amount of cod landed was
in excess of the preceding year. Some
years ago the commission planted a
large number of young shad and stri-
ped bass in the waters of the Pacific
coast The fish took well to their new
quarters and thrived rapidly. During
the past winter shad and bass were so
as low as those prevailing in the east.
One of the most interesting attempts
made by the commission to secure the
q al.