Yet Another "Oyster War" in 1884; Glen Cove Officials Feud with City Island and Connecticut Oystermen

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During the 19th century, many with dollar signs in their eyes flooded into the Long Island Sound oyster industry just as pollution, garbage dumping and over-harvesting was reducing oystering opportunities.  One consequence was an ongoing battle over whether state and local governmental authorities could regulate access to oyster beds off their shores.  Glen Cove, Long Island, the State of Connecticut and other governmental authorities enacted such laws.  When Glen Cove tried to enforce its law against non-resident oystermen, however, another "Oyster War" followed.  City Island oystermen from the Town of Pelham became involved, as the brief article below indicates.

"NOTES ON THE OYSTER WAR.

The oyster war between the Bayville and Connecticut oystermen still continues.  Edward Ayres, the master of one [of] the boats captured by the officers from Glen Cove on Thursday, acknowledged having been in the oyster beds three times, and, rather than stand a suit in the courts, offered to pay the fine, $75 and costs of court, and was about to do so when a delegation of oystermen from City Island came into the court-room, and Ayres withdrew his plea of guilty and pleaded not guilty.  The City Islanders assert that they will carry the case to the full extent of the law as they are determined to know if the Bayville oystermen have the right to stake in the public waters for oyster planting.  While the case was under investigation word was brought to the court that twenty-five boats from the Connecticut shore were again on the oyster-beds, and a posse of officers started to arrest them."

Source:  Notes on the Oyster War, New-York Tribune, Oct. 25, 1884, p. 12, col. 1.

For other recent postings in this series, see:

Mon., March 22, 2010:  77-Year Old City Island Oysterman Joshua Leviness Reminisces in Testimony Provided in 1884.

Fri., March 19, 2010:  The New York Legislature Stepped Into the Oyster War on Long Island Sound in 1895.

Thu., March 18, 2010:  1859 Town of Huntington Record Reflecting Dispute with City Island Oystermen.

Wed., March 17, 2010:  Report of September 13, 1884 Tour of Oyster Beds by Captain Joshua Leviness of City Island.

Tue., March 16, 2010:  More on 19th Century Oystering in Pelham - Descriptions of Oyster Beds Off Hart Island, City Island and in Pelham Bay Published in 1887.

Mon., March 15, 2010:  More on 19th Century City Island Oyster Industry - City Island Oystermen Complaint of Pollution.

Fri., March 12, 2010:  Early History of Oystering in the Waters Off City Island in the Town of Pelham.

Thu., March 11, 2010:  The "Great Oyster War" Between City Island and Tarrytown in 1877 and 1878.

Mon., July 30, 2007:  1885 Report Notes Decline of Oyster Industry Near City Island in the Town of Pelham.

Thu., July 26, 2007:  Pelham's City Island Oystermen Feud with Long Islanders in 1869.

Fri., July 27, 2007:  Possible Origins of the Oyster Feud Between City Islanders and Huntington, Long Island.

Fri., April 13, 2007:  Oystermen of City Island (When It Was Part of the Town of Pelham) Pioneered Oyster Cultivation.

Mon., September 18, 2006:  A Brief Description of Oystering in Eastchester Bay and at Pelham Published in 1881.

Fri., January 26, 2007:  A History of the Early Years of City Island When it Was Part of the Town of Pelham, Published in 1927.

Thu., December 3, 2009:  Pelham News on May 30, 1884 Including Allegations of Oyster Larceny and Meeting of the Pelhamville Improvement Association.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
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