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


finally completed and carried into execution.
We congratulate Commissioner Bartlett and the
country on SO successful termination of his
labors.
THE OYSTER TRADE OF New YoRK.-We pub
lish in another part of our paper. to-day long,
but what we have no doubt our readers will
find on perusal an interesting, account of the
oyster trade of New York. The immense
amount Of capital invested in it, the extensive
yearly sales, and the large number Of persons to
whom It gives constant employment, and who
are directly or indirectly dependent upon it
for subsistence, render it of particular public
Importance. It is the first time, we believe,
that anything in relation to the subject has
ever appeared in print, and many who read it
will doubtless be astonished at some Of the in
formation and facts which are presented in this
detailed account It would hardly be credited
that The yearly sales Of oysters in this city
erceed fire millions Of dollars, and that the
number Of persons employed in the business,
directly or indirectly, IS about fifty thousand
1t is singular fact that of the whole amount
Of oysters sold in our markets, about two-thirds
come from Virginia, which has more extensive
oyster trade than any other State in the Union.
The residue is obtained from the waters of our
own State, and those Of New Jersey-the Eas
river furnishing the largest supply Aconsider-
able supply is procured from Shrewsbury and
York Bay; but very few of the latter are consum-
ed in this city, they cultivated particularly
for the western market. One of the most in
teresting features in the business is the trans
planting of oysters. or their removal from the
rock" or natural bed, to an artificial one.
This process is of peculiar Importance, and alb
solutely necessary to the successful prosecution
Of the trade. 1t would, in fact, be next to i'm
possible to supply the market during the whole
year, but for the general system of transplant
ing, which is pursued by all the dealers
More than million dollars worth are
removed every year to artificial beds,
and by this means prevented from spawning,
which renders them unfit for use. Thus a large
proportion of our East river oysters were origi-
nally obtained from the North river, where the
soil and water are not considered so favorable
to their cultivation. This particular branch of
ITSELF that it is merely necessary to direct par
ticular attention to it.
Of the fifty thousand persons engaged in the
business. the majority. of course, are dependent
upon their own labor for support; but there are
considerable number Of the dealers, or, as
they might more properly be called. oyster mer-
chants, who possess large fortunes. amassed
from the sale Of oysters alone. They are
among the most worthy of our citizens, and
New York is not little indebted to their enter
prise for her extensive business in what has
now become an indispensable article of food.
TIE LAW OF LIBEL AND THE PREss-The
press Of this country, which has been of late
years subjected to so many vexatious actions
for libel, on account of publishing the proceed
ings of police courts is under much obligation
to one of the English Judges Lord Campbell
for his statement of the law of libel as affecting
newspaper publications, in case recently
brought before him. The action. in the case to
which we allude. was brought by an attor,-,.r
ug sssnst the proprietor of the London ,ua,n,rs |
..erald, for publishing Judgment given by
the Chancellor, in a suit in which this lawyer
was plaintiff; but the Objectionable part of the
report was the Introductory statement, purport-
ing to set forth the facts in the case.
Lord Campbell, in submitting the matter to
the jury. stated that. by the law of England.
q fair account of what took place in court Of
justice might be published, but the reporter
should not mix up with it any comments Of his
own. IF it was substantially fair account of
what took place there was an entire immunity
for those who published it.
This is proper and rational reading of the
law; and we hope that in future proceedings in
those vexatious actions against newspaper pro-
prietors in this country which have latterly
become so frequent the justices flour courts will
take Lord Campbell's opinion as precedent for
their guidance, and not founder about as they
have heretofore done, in ignorance of common
law common sense the Revised Statutes, and
the new Code.
Talk on Change.
There some conversation respecting the proposed
measures legislature for