The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-12

be remarked, however, that as general, tnln8 the
size Of the oyster depends much upon the quality
of the sand or mud upon which it grows as on the
length OF time.
THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL OYSTER DEALERS.
Under this head may be classed those who sell
oysters from the boats and scows at Oliver and
Coenties slip, and the docks in front of Washington
market, and also the dealers in the various markets
throughout the city, the keepers of oyster saloons and
restaurants OF the wholesale dealers, considerable
rumber own boats and plant their own beds. All the
oysters in Princes Bay, and large proportion of
those in the East river Newark Bay and in other parts
Of the waters of this State are planted by the dealers
doing business in New York Many OF these have
grown wealthy in the business and own splendid
country houses and extensive estates on Staten
Island In fact the prosperity and rapid increase
Of the population of that island is owing, in
considerable degree to the oyster trade of this city
Before Princes Bay was laid out in oyster planta-
tons there very few persons living on it, and it
was almost wholly uncultvated. AS soon, however,
as the planting commenced, the population received
an accession from the oystermen, who took up their
habation on the coast within view of the plantations
upon which they worked few years after the first
beds were planted extent of coast of from five 20
ten miles coveredwith oysters, taken from the
"rocks' Of Virginia. The number of men employed
upon them, who live upon the island, with their fami
lies, is computed at three thousand.
OF the Wholesale dealers, many have worked upon
the beds in Princes Bay dredgers; yet, by perse
verance, economy, and industry, they have in
some instances amassed immense fortunes; They
are an enterprising and intelligent class Of
men, ard the histories OF some OF them are full Of
interest. Some people imagine that there is
ve,y little in this business either interesting
ever bestowing thought upon those by whose labor
they have been provided with them. There is no
occupation that ia wholly barren of interest and this
fact is particularly applicable to the oyster dealers.
We were informed Of one who commenced in bust
ness, while boy Of eighteen, with skif which
he had purchased on credit The boat was worth
about forty dollars, and the himself is now
title ski he was employed in conveying his oysters
to the market at Oliver slip; now he owns several
sloops which are engaged in bringing oysters from
Virginia or in planting them in Princes Bay.
There several OF the oyster dealers who do not
scows, and consequently obliged to sell from
their boats. About twothrds of the oysters brought
TO Oliver slip disposed of in this manner. This
is owing, in great measure, to the wretched accom-
modatons with which they are provided by the city
government. The owner OF each scow is obliged
10 pay sevepty-iive dollars year for dock room;
yet he is made to submit to numerous inconye-
niences which might be removed at little expense,
if the proper city authorities would only bestow a
little OF their attention on this subject There are
nine scows in the dock at Oliver slip, the value of
which is estimated at four thousand dollars. They
might not improperly be called oyster depots, for
they are used almost exclusively for the storage of
oysters they arrive by the boats. Their length Is
about thirty feet and breadth about twelve and they
hundred bushels Some of these are owned by COM
panes Of two three persons the majority of whom
plant their oysters The amount of oysters sold
every year by thesedeaers is estimated at about five
hundred thousand dollars. This is exclusive of the
amount bought from the boats, and which is csti-
mated by the dealers themselves at one million dol
lars. This estimate is obtained from calculation of
the number Of boats arriving during each year and
their capacity.
The scows are all rooted over, and contain Office
at one end. The hold where the oysters are placed
is divided into number of compartments for the re-
ception of the different varieties and Sizes They are
ali sold in the SHE'LL while those sold by the retail
dealers are opened. During the fall there is, per-
haps, a larger amount of oysters consumed than at
any other season of the year, while in the summer
there is great falling off in the Sales
The oyster trade Of Oliver slip is not extensive
that of the dealers doing business in the dock oppo
site to Washington market. There are twelve scows in
this dock the value Of which is about fifteen thousand
dollars. They are very handsomely fitted up, and
strongly built. This is very necessary, as they
are sulectto much damage on account Of theireXpos
cd situation There is pier to break the strength of
the waves and when there is heavy swell in
tie river they arc knocked against each other with
sufficient force to stove i'll the side Of ordinary
beat. A few weeks ago, scow was sunk in this
place and several hundred dollars worth of oysters
lest, besides the damage done to the scow ITSELF
/ The dealers make grevious complaints OF the
manner in which their interests are neglected.
/ They are put 70 an expense OF over six thousand
dollars ayear, they say, by the want OF proper &C,
/
their oysters at considerable distance from the
scows, to which they have to be brought in carts.
There is dealer here who sells his oysters open,
ard who sends immense quantities to the western
part Of this State and to some OF the principal cities
of tie West The shipments of another amounted to
four thousand five hundred barrels These, however,
were in the shell, and were obtained from York Bay.
Each barrel contains from five to six hundred oysters
and the price varies from four to five dollars 1t is
only within the last five six years that the dealers
commenced shipping them in the shell, and at pre-
sent most extensive trade is carried on with Gin
Gil natl, st. Louis, and several other Western Cities
Before this they sent in kegs, Theoretically seal
ed to preserve them from the air. There is consi
derable skill and experience required In this depart
ment OF the business for great risk Is incurred by
careless packing. During the first year considerable
loss was sustained by the dealers in consequence OF
their inexperience in the art OF preserving them
They have now however, attained to such perfection
that they be sent as far as California without re-
ccivpg any material damage.
There are only two dealers who are engaged in ex
tensve shipments of York Bay oysters, and the
amount shipped by these during the fall and spring
is computed at twelve thousand dollars. The barrels
used for this purpose Of the same kind as those
| employed in slowing four They are sent by rail-
road and canal but more are perhaps sent by the
latter as tits much cheaper mode Of transportation
The sales in and about the slip at Washington
market is estimated at three millions of dollars.
This includes the total value of all the oysters sold in
the twelve scows and off the boats to the retail deal
ers in the market and throughout the city.
The persons engaged in the retail oyster business
by which We mean the keepers of saloons and resau
| rants in which oysters are sold-may be estimated
at five thousand and this we think is rather under
than over the number Those realize profit Of from
twenty-five to fifty per cent, that the amount paid
by the consumers this city alone is about Eve mill
lions Of dollars. Some of the retail dealers may vic
with the wholesale dealers in the extent of their bust
ness. One who keeps from fifteen to twenty con-
santly employed in opening oysters sells about forty
thousand oysters day. He, however, sends immense
quantities to the western part of this State and to
several ofthe large inland cities throughout the co-
try. One saloon in Broadway sells over ten thousand
dealers who sell them Sin the raw to private families
by the quart gallon; and others whose whole bust.
ness consists in picking them for home and foreign
consumption The picked oysters are sent to every
part Of the United States by our dealers, and inn.
mense quantities bought for shipment by vessels
II would be tedious task to enumerate the various