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

ed ~ admirably adapted for the purpose. As many
% million bushels Of oysters are scattered in this
favorte locality yearly but is the only part Of the
Bay for which the dealers are required TO pay Each
company have their own ground marked out, and the
whole space thus occupied extends over ten miles IN
length by about five In breadth The depth OF water
varies from eight TO twenty-five feet. Besides the
Virginia oysters there several other kinds planted
in this bay among which are the East river and Della
ware oysters The time of planting Is about the lat
ter end of March, and they are allowed to remain till
near the commencement of May, when they are taken
mn and conveyed to market. Some of the boats en-
gagged in carrying them are only chartered by COM
panies during Of transplantng as there ia
no steady business for them in this occupation the
whole year round. These boats belong to persons
doing business in this city and living on Staten sland
some few are owned in Norfolk and other places.
The laws of Virginia very strict in relation to
the oyster fisheries only those who are residents Of
the State being allowed the privilege of taking them
during certain period of the year. The particular
law which refers to this subject is entitled "a law for
the preservation Of certain useful animsls"-ths
useful animals in this case being oysters and tor
rapins This law provides that any person, who ia
not CITIZEN found taking oysters or terrapinsin the
waters of the State or in the rivers Pocomoke or
Potomac, shall be fined one hundred dollars.
It is also very specific in regard to the man
ner in which they shall be taken imposing =
penalty of hundred dollars upon any person who
shall use any other instrument than common oys.
ter tongs with bar or head not exceeding twenty
three inches in length The same law prohibits their
expectation between the first day Of May and the
first day Of September, Furnishing each offence with
fine Of two hundred dollars.
This law is, doubtless, very necessary, when we
consider the immense consumption of Virginia oys
ers not only in this State but throughout the Union
which would but for this sautary check tend to de-
populate the Crooks" Of Virginia. The best oyster
are those which come from Rappahannock and York
rvers but the quantity from these localities is very
limited, as they are mostly consumed at home.
Those that are brought to the New York market
sell from to fifteen dollars thousand accord
ing to their quality. They particularly remarkable
for their great size, some of them being twice as
large as the ordinary oyster.
The amount recevedfor Virginia oysters sold by the
dealers in Oliver slip alone is estimated at $3.50, 900
a year. This, however, is not more than onethrd
Of the quantity disposed of in the vicinity Of Catha
rine market; for the space in the slip is 80 limited
that the business of the dealers is greatly retarded
and cramped In consequence Of this, the principal
supply is furnished direct from the boats to the retail
dealers throughout the city. About five hundred
thousand dollars worth Of all kinds Of Virginia oys
tiers are sold by the boats which, added to the sales
of the dealers, make . total Of three-quarters Of
! million Of dollars. This is an immense amount Of
money but it is not more than oneeighth part Of
the value Of all the oysters sold during the year in
this CITY, large proportion of these, it must be ad
mtted are exported to different parts Of the United
States, and some are even sent to England, as we
have had occasion to remark, in our last article on
/ Fulton market.
There are very few Of the wholesale dealers in Oil
yer slip who not part owners Of the oyster boats
and some companies own four or five. We should
state here that, as general thing, the captain has
share in the vessel under his command. When a
supply Of Virginia oysters is required for transplant
ing, one of the company is appointed agent, with
full power to purchase the necessary quantity When
ticular spot where experience tells him he pro
cure the oysters he wants. He then engages some Of
the oysermen to load his vessel at stipulated price
per bushel, agreeing to remain in one locality only
so long as the oysters there continue good. Where
the crock" is remarkably fertile an expert oyster
man can "tong" fifty and sixty bushels day, and
when constantly employed ne can earn twenty dol
the business is partially suspended, and during thai
time he devotes his attention to other work. Nearly
all Of those employed the oyster beds of Virginia
slaves, who are allowed by their masters to
gage in this occupation on condition Of paying them
one dollar, and in some cases ten shillings day,
giving them all they make over that for their own
There have been instances where the slave has,
in few years sufficient to purchase his own freedom,
and we were told Of one who not only liberated him
self in this way, but his wife and child also.
We have said that the York river and the Kappa
hammock oysters are the BEST but there is one cir
cumstance particularly deserving of notice in regard
to this matter. Some years the Rappahannocks are
inferior, and 0n confrdre, at other times the York
rivers bear of the palm. Various causes may be as
cd for hio lint I'm r1xy &c
found in the fact that the waters of both rivers
liable to be affected by freshets which materially
change the quality Of the oyster. Where the water
is very fresh the oysters deterorate and not unfe-
quently die.
A The number OF boats engaged in conveying Vir-
ginia oysters to the various slips in this city is
stated at one thousand. The registers Of these is
from forty five to two hundred tons, and the value
from five hundred to eight thousand dollars. Dnr-
ing the months Of December January February and
March, about five hundred thousand dollars worth
scows or oyster stands at this place, account
of the transient character Of the trade there and the
dealers are consequently obliged to sell them off the
boats. There are some days when from twenty to
thirty vessels in dock together, and on these oc
casions the presented is of great activity
and life. The wharf is thronged with wagons wait
ing to receive their loads while the hands board
the boats arc s9ns every the in
i day commences about six O'Clock in the morning,
and continues till four in the afternoon.
EAST AND NORTH RIVER OYSTERS.
OF East river oysters alone, about five hundred
thousand dollars worth is sold during the year in
Oliver slip. The supply comes from Bridgeport,
Norwalk, Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Sawpts,
City Island, and few other places along the west.
tern shore; and from Northport, Oyster Bay, Loyds
Harbor, Huntingdon Cold Spring, and Cow Bay, on
the southern side. The largest proportion comes
from City Island where there are extensive artificial
and natural beds, which furnish some of the best
oysters obtained in the East river.
The artificial beds cover larger surface than the
natural ones, which is owing to the fact that i'm.
mense quantities Of the North river oysters are also
planted there. In fact, about onethrd of the whole