Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-26

4 The oYsTER TaADE. The oyster trade in New
York has attained magnitude iItle dreamed of b,
the uninitia,ed- The opening of speedy commando
ton with all parts Of the North and West has endeC
greatly to increase the lrade The citizens of Gin
cnnati are treated fresh oysters in the hal
shell from Princes Bay, in 4s hours after being
taken from The water
We have taken some pains TO examine into tn,
PrOhabe extent OF this trade especially far as this
| city is concerne1. We find that large quantity OF
oysters are cu tyated in the sea-water bays adiacen
to New York. From these BAYS MANY oysters used
in the market take their Names The m ost celebrated
locality is Princes Bay, on the south side of Stanton
Island, and extending between Alnboy and Newport
In selecting bottom suitable for oyster planting, Of
culture, 1t is necessary to find rather hard soil
mixed with sand and loan. If the oysters are plant
ed In soft mud bottom, they sink in it from thei
own weight and are smothered. In cases where the
planter wishes TO Improve the SOIL he throws over.
board oyster shells, which plant his oysters and
on which they grow remarkably WELL He must also
select portion of water neither too deep nor too
shallow because, in case it is too shallow they freeze
death in winter, and if too deep they cannot be ia
ken up. They must also be out of the way of strono
currents and shifting sands.
The usual plan is to lease oyster ground from a
farmer who owns the Land on shore. The usual size
OF an oyster plantation is from fifty to one hundred
feet along the shore, and running back to deep water
varying according to circumstances from 900 feet to
quarter or half mile. The farmer, for the small
paid for leases, is expected to exercise sort of
police over the plantations in front of him. and pre-
vent parties from trespassipg. In Princes Bav the
oyster plantations amount to several hundred The
investments In many OF these oyster fields amount 10
as much as from $4,000 to 900 EACH There
are other oyster plantations Shrewsbury Bay near
the sea, between Sandy Hook and Barnegat. From
this place the oysters are mostly brought the city
on steamboats,.
The Mill Ponds, as they are called near Kevncrt.
are favorite localities for oyster planting These are
tIdewater inlets, into which some fresh water flows
and across which are dams, with mills driven by force
OF the Underwater. The waste of the mills made by
grinding graIn II IS thought tends fatten the ovs
ters. Hence, with city epicures Mill Pond oysters
have high reputation both for size and flavor Mill
Pond oysters are also grown near Coney Island, some
OF which are produced of very large size
Again, the market is supplied with East River ovs.
tiers, the shells of which green They are infe-
rlor in size to Mill Ponds but their flavor by MANY
is preferred that Of other kinds. The Shrewsbury
OYSTERS OF selected quality, also said be very
fine. The East River planting grounds are found
above Hurlgate.
The plantations are stocked in the SPRING. The
oysters are brought in soops and schooners from the
chesapeake bay and Its branches tributaries, in
quantities being taken from
beds in Rock, Back and other rivers On arriving at
the plantations, the city, they are throw, over
board, at the nurseries, and left undisturbed until
some lime In August, being occasionally fed by bay-
ing meal, properly prepared, thrown over to them
From these nurseries oysters taken for CITY trade
through the autumn, until operations are nterrupted
by cold and stormy weather. The oyster farmers or
SlOODS nd
schooners from Virginia during the remainder of The
season. Some of the more enterprising dealers have
established oyster plantations m the salt rivers of
Vrglnia, In which, it is said, they have been very
successful Ii is said that there over We hundred
Sloops, schooners, &C., engaged in the oyster trade
varying In size from ten TO two hundred TOMS The
average number of men attached TO them varies from
i've TO six each. When we consider the great nnm
Der connected with this trade. both land and water
ind the large of capital EMPLOYED it will he
seen that the business is of considerable import
lnce, and by which numbers are not only making
handsome lIvIngs but fortunes. TIE trade is every
year increasing with the increase of population and
With the demand in the interior by the opening of
ailroads. sc. :
1t is difficult to arrive at the amount of capi,a in
ested in oyster operations by water; but il is be.
leVed that 1t is not much under OeO and some
ave considered it as high two and-half to So 7
100000, employing from 5000 to 1000 persons Par
les who deal in oysters on shore are very numerous.
nd some individuals carry very large and extern
i've operations. This they do by opening and pick
ng them for expectation. Before shipment thew are
suaiiy secured in tight kegs, Theoretically sealed g
esseis and forwarded to the interior, and also to
california and other parts of the world. One firm in
ashlngton market does business to the amount of
10000 per annum Considerable Quantities of ovs. e
'rs are also put up in New Haven, where women are il
nPoyed In opening them, which they are said to do
I'm an EXPERIENCES and raPidy greatly superior to
lat OF men. They sit down, with the oysters in fl
ont, and as the top is removed il is cast1n
rear, over their heads and before it has SCARCELY al
ac time to strike the floor the bottom shell follows
arge oyster establishments, for both domestic use j.
Id export, exist in Baltimore Il
The trade, however, in connection with New York C
conducted on scale, and to amount far in adj
lnce OF all other parts of the continent And ev Iii
y year, probably, its value and importance will be S
cIeaseo' w nat shouid We do without oysters bl
New York Herald. oil
SHADES OF New York LIFE. From an .r,;olo tv