Buy-boats, also known as deck boats, were approximately 40–90 foot long wooden boats, with large open decks, found most often on the Chesapeake Bay but also present in the waters off the Washington coastline, which made the rounds to purchase oysters from tongers (fishermen who used long tongs to pull oysters from the water) and dredgers. Once the oysters were transferred to the buy-boat, they were taken to a wholesaler or oyster processing house where they could be prepared for sale. This service allowed fishermen to be more efficient by sparing them the need to return to shore as often. The buy-boats might also buy seed oysters, or spat, to be planted in oyster beds.