The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-11-29
THE OYSTER TRADE.

A New Haven correspondent OF the New
York Journal Of Commerce, gives some inter
esting facts connected with the oyster trade.
He says that, contrary to the prevailing no
ton, comparatively small proportion of the
oysters for which that region has considera-
bic reputation, are natives there, but are
brought from Chesapeake Bay, in immense
quantities, in the Spring, when they are
planted, to be taken up in the fall. ''The OPP
Grafton of planting says the writer, SIS after
this fashion: The oyster vessels, upon their
arrival from the South, are anchored near
the site of the proposed beds, and their car
goes are removed by small boats which come
along side. The beds are formed by stalking
off the ground into small lots, or squares, each
of which is spread over with about fifty bush
els, so laid that one shall not be on another
BY fall, the oysters have considerably in
creased in size, and greatly improved INF favor
If allowed to remain too long in the beds
the oyster, not being acclimated to northern
winters, perishes with cold; and if planted
too thick, they smother each other Without
regard to mutual rights, each one encroaches
upon the peculiar domain of his neighbor
gradually enlarging his residence in whatever
direction pleasure may dictate. In this way,
when oysters remain long undisturbed, the
increase of numbers involves the destruction
of multitudes. Theirmeans of communicating
with the outer world, is closed upon them by
the cementing properties of the newly formed
shell, and the unfortunate victim is consigned
to starvation
This adopted Southern oyster, says the
Journals correspondent, is sent off in every
direction, to all parts of the country "They
are first opened and put in kegs, or cans,
which are afterwards packed in boxes con-
tanning ice, ola capacity equal to from twelve
to twenty gallons each. The enormous extent
of this trade may be inferred, when it is
known that from $50 to 200 vessels, mostly
schooners, are employed in conveying oys-
tiers to New Haven-the cargoes consisting
of from 1000 to 5000 bushels The profits,
too, have been highly remunerative, where
ordinary sagacity has been exercised; one
firm having cleared during the last four years.
$4,000 or 100000. Failure in the oyster
is scarcely ever known. The business is
chiefly engrossed by about twenty firms, the
largest of whom send off from 1000 TO 500
gallons of oysters per day. The firm of Levi,
Rowe & Co., who have one of the largest es.
Establishments, with branch houses in Buffalo
Cleveland, Detroit, Hamilton, c. w, dc, es-
innate that their business this season, will
sA No lac-
sueaty vessels are employed by them; and
from seventy five TO one hundred individuals,
mostly girls ard boys, find constant employ
rnent in taking oysters from the shell, during
six months in the year. These girls often
acquire q wonderful dexterity in their depart
ment, the several movements required in &C.
ing through the process being performed with
all the regularity and precision observed in
touching the keys of piano forte. If set to
music, however, the ear would be grated with
succession of sounds much like this-click,
--gouge.-splash! click,-gouge- splash
Ne The first indicates the use of the ham
ner in removing the edges of the shell; the
second. the insertion OF the knife; the third,
the final deposition of the disemboyeled am
NAL in tub, prior 10 packing. The hammer
is thrown down each time it is used, bur the
knife is always retained in the hand. These
openers receive as compensation two cents
q quart, and some of them earn 81 per day.
though 81 is moro commonly earned As
there are about $50 oysters to the gallon, the
individual who opens 100 quarts, or rs gal