Bivalve in Cumberland County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Steps to Harvest Oysters and Bring to Market
Marker #1
2. Oysters were off-loaded from schooners into floats along the banks of the Maurice River where they were left to fatten and to remove impurities.
3. Oysters were forked from the float into scows.
4. Scows were moved under the covered wharves at the Shipping Sheds.
Shell Trade: Planting and Harvesting
The public’s appetite for oysters was the driving force to harvest the oyster. Beginning in the 1700’s the oyster industry was managed much like farming. Oysters grow naturally in the upper Delaware Bay seed beds. In the spring they were transplanted to the privately leased planted or harvest grounds located in the Maurice River Cove. By time of the winter harvest, the oysters planted several years prior had grown fatter and tastier in the higher saltier waters. This “farming” of oysters continued for hundreds of years until 1993 when oystermen were allowed to harvest oysters straight from the seed beds to the market
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1993.
Location. 39° 13.986′ N, 75° 1.95′ W. Marker is in Bivalve, New Jersey, in Cumberland County. Marker is on High Street . Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2800 High Street, Port Norris NJ 08349, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Steps to Harvest Oysters and Bring to Market (here, next to this marker); Bivalve Oyster Shipping Sheds (within shouting distance of this marker); Ecology in the Watershed (within shouting distance of this marker); The Schooner AJ Meerwald (within shouting distance of this marker); Delaware Bay and River (within shouting distance of this marker); Maurice River (within shouting distance of this marker); A Guiding Light (approx. 2.6 miles away); All Shapes, Sizes and Materials (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bivalve.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 336 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.