Nantucket
The oyster industry of Nantucket is of recent origin, and the oysters are as yet raised only for home consumption.
Two grants have been leased by the selectmen, but only one of these is now planted. These grants are situated in the east and west bends of Polpis harbor. The cultivated grant in the west bend comprises some 20 acres, only 3 of which are of hard bottom and suitable for oyster culture, the remaining 17 having a soft mud bottom.
The “seed” planted on the grant is obtained at New Haven. In the last few years the oysters on this grant have thrown a large quantity of spawn, which has caught on piles and stones at various places around Nantucket harbor.
The only enemy to the Nantucket oyster is the oyster drill.
The production of marketable oysters for 1906-07 was 200 bushels, valued at $400. These were sold for home trade on the island.
One man is engaged in the oyster business for a period of three months each year.
The oysters are taken both by dredging and with tongs.
| Capital invested, | $1,358 |
| Power boats, | 1 |
| Value of power boats, | $500 |
| Dories, | 1 |
| Value of dories, | $18 |
| Implements:— | |
| Dredges, | 2 |
| Tongs, | 1 |
| Value of implements, | $15 |
| Value of shore property, | $25 |
| Value of oysters on grant, | $800 |
Footnotes
15 The Oyster Industry in the United States. Tenth Census of the United States.
16 Returns of the Massachusetts department on fisheries and game.