The collection contains miscellaneous receipts, deeds, franchises, leases, licenses, transfers, bills of sale, tax notices and returns, broadsides, correspondence, etc., involving oystering, primarily in the New Haven and Bridgeport, Connecticut, area. Oyster men featured are H. C. Rowe, A. E. Hamilton, Charles E. Hamilton, and Edwin Thompson. The collection also includes numerous pamphlets and articles relating to the oyster industry in general.

Thirty-five daily journals of Samuel A. Beebe (1843-1897) of East Lyme, Connecticut. The journals include details of Beebe's life on shore and on fishing and trading voyages, including cargo, daily catch numbers, location of fishing grounds, and various ports of call along the east coast from Key West to Nova Scotia.