A Report upon the Mollusk Fisheries of MassachusettsMassachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game
Science
A Report upon the Mollusk Fisheries of Massachusetts
Massachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game
Shellfish fisheries -- Massachusetts
The production for 1906-07 was 14,550 bushels, valued at $23,987. The
oyster industry has been increasing every year, the production for
1906-07 being one-third more than the 1905-06 output. The oystermen are
unanimous in saying that the oyster business of Chatham is steadily
improving.
No "seed" oysters are raised in Chatham, as no large set has ever been
caught, and all attempts in this line have proved unsuccessful. All
the "seed" oysters are brought from Greenport, L. I. These run from
two to four years old, the larger oysters being preferred. As a rule,
oystermen are forced to take what they can get when they buy seed.
The only natural enemy which infests the Chatham oyster is the oyster
drill (_Urosalpinx cinerea_). The damage done by this pest is slight,
amounting to nearly $800 annually.
_Harwich._
No oyster industry is now carried on in the town of Harwich. A
natural oyster bed once existed in Herring River, and occasionally
a few oysters can be picked up at the present time; but the bed
is practically fished out. This bed once extended a distance of
three-quarters of a mile in the lower part of the river.
In 1824 an act was passed to prevent "the wilful destruction of oysters
and other shellfish in the town of Harwich," which shows that even as
early as 1824 the natural bed in Herring River was on the verge of
depletion.
_Dennis and Yarmouth._
The oyster industries of Dennis and Yarmouth are so connected that they
will have to be considered as belonging to one town.
Four grants have been leased in the two towns, but only 2 of these are
worked. Three grants are situated in Bass River, while the fourth,
which is not operated, owing to the shifting sand, lies outside Dog
Fish Bar. The 2 grants which are worked are situated in Bass River, and
comprise an area of 10 acres of hard bottom, all of which is suitable
for oyster culture. The Bass River grants, which are taxed at the
valuation of $1,000 apiece, expire in 1914.
Mill Creek, in West Yarmouth, one of the most valuable shellfish areas
in the town, originally contained a natural oyster bed which extended
from the mouth of the creek up for 1,000 feet, comprising an area of
2-1/3 acres. Nevertheless, this was granted in 1895 for a period of ten
years. Two years ago the lease expired, and it is said that the oysters
have come in again in abundance.
All along the south shore of the two towns "seed" oysters, which have
been washed out of Mill Creek, can be picked up. A small amount of
"seed" is raised on the grants, but this is not enough to furnish the
requisite amount required for planting purposes, so about 2,500 bushels
is annually brought into the town from Oyster Bay, L. I.
No damage is done in these waters by the natural enemies of the oyster,
as both the starfish and oyster drill are very scarce.
One thousand bushels of marketable oysters, valued at $1,500, were
shipped in the season of 1906-07.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account