Falmouth
The oyster industry of Falmouth is conducted on the south side of the town, in the waters of Waquoit Bay. There are no oysters on the Buzzards Bay side of the town.
According to the town records, there are 22 grants in existence. These grants are mostly small, not averaging more than 2 to 10 acres, and are but little cultivated. Returns from 6 of these grants, which comprise all the territory worked for market, are alone used for the statistical figures.
The best oyster territory is in Waquoit Bay and Child’s River. In Waquoit Bay 6 acres are granted, 4½ acres of which is hard bottom, suitable for oyster culture. In Child’s River the grants comprise 20 acres, two-thirds of which, or 13 acres, is hard bottom. Altogether, some 44 acres are granted, and, although a good deal of the surface is muddy, there are 23 acres of very fair oyster ground.
No business is made of raising “seed,” but from two to three year old “seed” is shipped from Greenport, L. I., and replanted.
In 1906-07, 3,012 bushels of marketable oysters, valued at $6,025, were shipped. Many of the grants are leased to men who raise oysters for their own use only, while but few make a business of shipping oysters.
The only enemy is the oyster drill, which does but slight damage here.
Three men are engaged for nine months each year in the oyster industry at Falmouth; while 5 or more run grants for their own use.
| Capital invested, | $3,080 |
| Power boats, | 1 |
| Value of power boats, | $800 |
| Sail boats, | 1 |
| Value of sail boats, | $250 |
| Dories, | 4 |
| Value of dories, | $75 |
| Scows, | 1 |
| Value of scows, | $400 |
| Implements:— | |
| Dredges, | 2 |
| Tongs, | 6 |
| Value of implements, | $105 |
| Value of shore property, | $1,000 |
| Value of bedded oysters, | $450 |