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

use II not allowed 70 remain too long. When the
oyster is in spawn it has bloated lock, and if cut
with knife thick liquid, somewhat resembling
milk ,exudes from it. There was formerly law, we
understand in this State prohibiting the oystermep
from taking them UP during three months, but that
has either been aDnuled or become obsolete About
twenty years ago the oysters from the East river
almost unknown in this city, except to few lovers
OF the fish. Indeed, the oyster business Of New
York ut that time was very limited. and, like many
other trades 1t has increased with the growth OF the
to enter upon it, and to cultivate arti6cialbeds in
own waters, except few, and even those were
men OF very small means. Eight or ten years ago,
one dealer who has since become exceedingly rich in
prove that New York could furnish as good oysters
as any other State in the Union, not excepting Vr
ginia, which had always maintained the frst rank.
Before this time the East river oysters had very
poor reputation, and, in fact, the demand for them
was SO very limited that the person who entered
upon the experiment did SO at considerable risk.
AS soon, however, as people became acquainted
with their superior quality there was an immediate
a. those in Virginia, the quantity obtained from
that State was considerably reduced. According
to the present condition Of the trade, and the
constantly increasing demand, there is no reason to
suppose that it will ever be diminished, or that New
York waters alone can supply the New York mar
kets. Besides, we have already stated in another
place immense quantities are sent not only through
out this State but to California and even to England
oysters Of that country. They are certainly more
healbyand nutritious. The English oyster has sharp,
coppery TASTE impaired to it by the peculiar sadness
Of the water in which it grows, and the nature Of the
SOIL The water along our coasts Is not SO brackish
or so dense owing to the large body OF fresh water
constantly flowing into it from great rivers, and
to this fact Is partly attributed the difference in the
character of the two oysters.
Some of the best oysters are those sent from City
Island, which is situated the East river at dis
lance of eighteen miles from the Battery. The island
is little more than three miles in circuit and is
Inhabited principally, if not solely by oystermen
Of the hundred beats employed in conveying East
river oysters to Oliver slip, twenty-five are from this
place. The number Of men engaged in the fisheries
about the island is about one hundred, all OF whom
live there with their families. These men make
comfortable living at their occupation They own
nearly all the boats, and are a hardy, Industrious
and independent race of men. The whole amount Of
property invested in the oyster trade with this island
including the boats OF the oystermen and Of the
dealers the value of the beds, &C., is estimated at
ore million of dollars. And this is not more than
one-third ofthe Whole amount invested in the entire
trade Of the East river.
Those engaged in planting artificial beds in these
waters have their profits considerably diminished by
two kinds of fish that prey almost wholly upon
oysters The first and most rapacious OF these is the
drum fish, which grows from four to twelve feet long
1t is very voracious; and the luckless oyster that
happens to be within its reach, to use the language
OF the celebrated Hannibal Chollops, gets "most
catawampously chawed up" The drum fish literally
cuts theshe in two with its teeth and then extracts
the oyster. 1t devours immense numbers in this
manner and did it frequent those waters during the
whole year it would soon depopuate the beds. 1t
only makes its appearance, however, about the month
OF August SO that the damage done is soon repaired
by the remarkably prolific powers Of the oyster ITSELF
Besides the drum fish, there is the borer, which
grows to the length Of half an inch 1t is remarka-
bly, hard and at one end has sharp point, by means
OF which it is enabled to pierce the shell Of the
oyster. There are some other fish that prey upon
oysters but these the only kind whose extensive
ravages enttle them to particular notice.
In addition to the twenty-five large boats or
soops owned by the oystermen of City Island,
they have between seventy and eighty smaller
September, and continue till June; but during
that month and the two succeeding ones their
business is partially suspended. During these
their boats or cuvatng their ground for some have
small tracts OF land upon which they raise different
kinds of vegetables There was formerly commun
cation between the island and the main land by
steamboats,, but these have long since stopped run
ming, and their place at present is supplied by the
boats belonging to the oystermen themselves. City
Island is little world by itself, and its inhabitants
have very little connection with the great and busy
world outside of it,
It has population of about four hundred, includ-
ing women and children, and such is its present
prosperous condition that its inhabitants able TO
maintain an excellent school. A few years ago q
small, but handsome, church was erected near the
centle Of the island, and its bells may be heard Of u
Sunday, on either side of the river, summonng the
people to worship
Some idea may be formed of the extensive bushes
transacted by the East river dealers from the
fact that the sales of one, during the last year,
exceeded one hundred thousand dollars, and
this year the demand has increased to such
an extent that he is unable to supply it. Great
exertions are at present making to increase the
plantations, and large OUTLAWS are made for that
purpose Independent of the oysters sent by sl0ops,
q considerable amount are transpanted over the New
Haven road from Stamford Bridgeport, Southport,
and several other places and some by steamboat
from Cold Spring and Oyster Bay, l.. l. Many pri-
waite families living along the banks of the East river
plant beds for their own use but plantations Of this
description are not very extensive. considerable
business in these oysters is transacted in Boston,
they ere said to be of an inferior quality They bring
a good price, however in those places, and that is
q sufficient inducement to the dealers to take them
80 far out Of the way.
SHREWSBURY OYSTERS.
Nearly all the Shrewsbury oysters sent to the New
York market are obtained from artificial beds plant
ed from the natural crock, in Newark Bay. There
are no regular depots for their SALE as is the case
with those from Virginia and the East river. The
whole amount sold during single year is estimated
at four hundred thousand dollars, of which more
than three hundred thousand dollars worth were
bought directly from the boats Besides those
sent in the regular oyster boats, there are large
quantities sent by steamboats,. The principal sup
ply is received during the spring and fall but in the
summer and winter months the business is very limit
ed. They can be purchased in market however all
the year round and there is generally pretty brisk
demand for them. Among epicures they are con-
sidered excellent eating, and by some they are re-
garded equal to the best from Virginia Those Of
superior quality sell from ten to fifteen dollars
thousand; and when there is scarcity in the mar
ket, they bring sixteen and eighteen dollars thou
sand.
The number OF men engaged in the oyster fshe.
ries at Shrewsbury is computed at two hundred and
fifty. OF these more than one-half are employed In
transplanting from the natural bed in Newark bay
to the artificial beds on the coast Of Shrewsbury. II
was in the waters Of Newark, as our readers may
remember that the great oyster war occurred. The
difficulty caused, it alleged, by the encr0ach
ments OF the New York oystermen upon the beds Of
game richt "a their anfannntS To this mart Of the