Bridgeton pioneer., 1905-05-11

6he poats are schooners, the remainder
sioops. All were under full sail, and
10 the landsman it was a wonder. as
tney scudded about a few yards from
one another, that they were able to
avoid colliding.
Inc oyster grounds comprise 104, 900
acres. They are divided into two dis
trlets by an imaginarry line running
from the mouth of Straight Greek, in
Cumberland county, to Ledge Rock
Light, several miles out in the bay.
Ihls is known among the oystermen
as the southwest line. The grounds
/ lying north and west of this line are
the natural seeding grounds of the
oyster. The bottom is hard and, for
the most part, is covered with layer
upon layer of oyster shells, deposited
through the grass. On these shells the
spawn OF the oyster finds an abiding
place, which is essential to its life
and development. Unless the eggs
nnd something hard to cling to they
perish.
In these natural seeding grounds the
young oysters grow in amazing guam
Titles. In fact, they grow SO thickly
together that il they were not trans
planted most Of them would be smoth. !.
cred by the overcrowding. Hence, the
State sets apart two months in the
year, May and June, during which
hese young oysters may be dredged
and transplanted on the leased grounds
south and east of the northwest line.
These grounds are suitable to the full
development of the oyster.
They are leased by the State at the
rate OF twenty-five cents an acre for
the year, and are divided off with
stakes by the different lessees.
The significance of the May day rush
to the seeding grounds thus becomes
apparent. The first to the grounds stand
best chance of good catch. The sea-
son that opened last Monday gave
promise that day of being the best in
years. Most OF the large boats started
for the leased grounds before night
with a full load of oysters on their
decks, and that means anywhere from
800 to 500 bushels.
the modern oyster boat is fitted with
a gasoline engine to operate the
dredges. One of these dredges is slung
out amidships from either side. Where
an engine is used dredges are operated
by the man at the tiller, who is usual
~ the owner of the boat. Lines run
from the engine within his reach. In
the older boats, where hand wind
lasses are used to draw in the dredges,
the crews Are obliged to stop sorting
oysters to haul in the catch. Thus
much time is lost.
The haul is usually from one and
half to three bushels. Four men
handle each dredge. Each has an i'm
plement called culling iron in his
hand. and with this he sorts the oys-
ter-laden shells from those bare OF
the seed. The law demands that the
bare shells be thrown back into the
water. If this were not done the
hard bottom would soon become ex-.
hausted and the multiplication of the
oyster necessarily languish. How
ever, the oysterman is given fifteen
per cent. leeway. If more than that
amount of bare shells are found in his
catch he is liable to heavy fine.
The Cpyher cruised about with the
fleet all morning and then headed for
Bayside, a fishing station, to find quiet
water for luncheon. By this time
Editor Kerney had lost interest in
things and ex-senator Hutchinson was
heard to remark that he wouldn't t mind
finding a good stone road to stand
upon. It was true that the Cypher
was bobbing about like cork, but
that had nothing to do with it, in
Mr.. Kerney's case, at least. He ex-
planned that he had been to BIRTH
day party the day before he left Tren-
ton and had probably eaten indiscreet.
ly. He and the road commissioner
made a fierce onslaught on the chew
ing gum, but without much satisfac-
tion. When luncheon was served at
Bayside neither was bit hungry.
The others were in fine fettle, especi-
ally the Governor, who, in blue yacht
ing cap and white sweater, looked
every inch sailor.
The party had fine opportunity,
after luncheon, to inspect some beauti-
full specimens of Delaware Bay shad.
Fishing boats were arriving every
few minutes at the Bayside pier, each
with catch of from 70 to 150. The
weight Of the fish ran from five to
eight pounds. They were put in
crates at once on the pier and loaded
on a New Jersey Central train that
was in readiness. Some of them were
shipped to Philadelphia and some to