New Jersey Clam and Oyster Plates

CLAM and OYSTER PERMIT PLATES Have you ever heard of Bivalve, NJ ? It's right next to Shellpile, NJ. Yes, I'm serious.

Bivalve, NJ is (or was) known as the [unofficial] Oyster Capital of New Jersey, and there was a
booming oyster/clamming industry in Bivalve and the surrounding communities during the 1930s.

1935 C- AND O- PLATES

The prevailing wisdom is that the C- plates were permits for clams, and O- plates for oysters.

1935 "C"
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1935 "O"Anthony Camacho
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1935 "O"
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

Many thanks to Kyle Kuser for the photo and information below.
And for being kind enough to sell me #O-117 for my collection !

These [in the photo below] came as a lot of 6 plates from a gentleman who found them years and years ago in Bivalve, NJ at the Bivalve Center/Museum tucked in a crevice of some sort behind an "unfinished wall" as he called it. He mentioned that the plates were wrapped when he found them, but that his children had unwrapped them.
(The porcelain sign came with the lot as well. I have a feeling that originated from the Bivalve center at some point also.)

When I visited the museum, they knew of him quite well, but knew nothing of the plates. I know that he was involved in the reconstruction/repair of the facility so I can only imagine he simply took them home with him.

Perhaps - because of where these were found, they were issued directly to the public from that specific office (as it was part of the NJ DEP Fish and Wildlife Commission - Shellfisheries Division) ?
They had a large community there [in Bivalve] of a few thousand workers and 1935 would have been towards the end of their booming period.

--Kyle Kuser

1936-1938 PERMIT PLATES

I found out from a lady from California (who was originally from Spring Lake, NJ) that these all-numeric plates were permits,
which allowed cars to park and drive in special areas on the beach for the purpose of clam [and oyster?] digging.

1936
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1936Joel Finn
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1936Dave Zullo
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1936
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1937
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1938
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit

1938Paul Kovalski
New Jersey License Plate Clam Oyster Permit