User:UMBenglish/sandbox

Because of the decline of whaling and the mackerel catch in the late 19th century, the fleet declined, being completely free of schooners by 1900. The oyster fleet continued, however, and many types of shellfish continue to be harvested. '''Despite this decline, the town has continued to maintain a town clock which operates in accordance with nautical time, or ship’s time. Ringing a varying amount of times every half hour, the clock tower in Wellfleet is unique as no other clock tower operates this way.'''

Wellfleet's oyster beds drove the early economy, as did whaling and fishing. The town was home to 30 whaling ships at the time of the American Revolution. '''Oysters, like other shellfish, are natural to Wellfleet. There was a time in history when the oyster numbers were low and not plentiful. The Wellfleet oyster harvesters eventually learned to protect and maintain their oyster beds in order to replenish the oyster population. This allowed the harvesters to be able to continue a shellfishing livelihood.'''