Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-13
4 Tip among The Biva,yes.

nous Tor her oysters, clocks, and colleges. -
The first mentioned, since my arrival hero,
have cngross.d good share of my attention.
though 10 more than is universally accorded
to that interesting variety of shell fish, on all
our festive aud honored occasions. Fair
Haven, Just on the eastern border Of the city,
ON the Quinnipiac river Is the greatest cn-
trcpot of the oyster business and is depend
cnt on it for the continuance Of its prosperity,
as we'll US indebted to it for its very existence
Evidences Of thrift are every where apparent
though the town possesses no distinctive fea
ture, aside from the ever present heaps of
oyster shells. \ dwelling destitute Of this
nEpendagp, would look as barren AZ country
house in winter, without its generous wood
pile. Oyster shells are used to mend roads,
build wharyes, and sometimes considerable
tracts of land are reclaimed by extending the
oyster heaps into the river. \ phenomenon
is thus prcscnted--similar to what is witness
ed in the coral formations Of the Indian
Ocean-a rich cultivated soil, based on calca-
reous products Of the toillng dcnizrns Of the
sea. Most of the shells. however. are burned
into lime, for agricultural purposes, chiefly.
Contrary to the prevailing notion. COM
laratiycly small proportion Of the oysters for
which this region is SO famous. are natives
here, but are brought from Chesapeake Bay,
in Immense quantities. in the spring. when
they are planted. to be taken up in the Iail,-
ihcir rlginal cost is about - cents per
nushc.. to which - cents for freight is added
Native oysters. bsing generally preferred by
CpicuryS, are nearly all consumed at home.
while the adopted Southern oyster is sent off
i'll every direction, to all parts of the country.
'!hc method Of pres irving them is singular.
They are first opened and put kegs or cans,
which are afterwards packed in boxes con
tanning ice, Of a capacity!cqual to from twelve
to twenty gallons each. The enormous cX-
tcnt of this trade may be inferred. when it is
known that from $50 to 200 vessels, mostly
schooncrs, are employed in conveying oysters
% this port-thc clrgocS consisting Of from
1000 to 5000 bushels. The profits, too, have
been highly rcmuncrativc, whore ordinary sa-
:actv has been exercised: one firm having
cleared during the last four years, SO, 600 or
$4,000 ''.FIilur, in the oyster business
is scarcely ever known. The business is chiefly
engrosscd hy about twenty firms, the largest
Of whom send off from 1000 to 100 gallons o
oysters per day.
The firm Of Levi Rowe & Co.. who have ono
of the largest establishments, with branch
houses in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit. iiamil
ION, c. W, &c. estimate that tlir business
this season, will amount to 80 ,0OU gIllOns
No less tiNu twenty vessels are employed b.,
them and from - to 100 individuals. mostl,
girls and boys, find constant employment il
taking oysters from the shell, during 81,
oontha in the year. These girls oftcn0 cquir
a wonderful dexterity lit their department
the several movements required in goin:
through the process, being performed Will
all the regularity and precision observed ii
touching the keys Of lianolortr. II set /,
music, however, the ear would be grated Will
a succession Of sounds much like this--clicl
lash Click .-gougc. --splash
&c. The first indicates the use of the ham
mcr in removing the edges Of the shell tn
second, the insertion of the knife; the third
the final disposition of the discmhowclled an
imal in tub, prior to packing. The hammc
Is thrown down each time it used, but tn
knife is always retained in the hand. Thcs
''openers receive as compensation tw
cents a quart, and some Of them earn So
per day, though 81 90 is more commonl
earned. AS there are about $50 oysters t
the gallon, the individual who opens To-
quarts, or % gallons per day, ncccssaril
opens three thousand seven hundred and fit
oysters during That time.
The Operation of planting " is after tai
fashion; The oyster vessels. upon their arri
val from the South, are anchored near tn
site of the proposed beds. and their cargoc
are removed by small boats, which com
alongside. The beds are formed by stalking
off the ground into small lots, or squares
each of which is spread over with about .
bushels, SO laid that one shall not be on an
other. BY Fall, the oysters have considcra
bly, increased in size and greatly improved il
flavor. If allowed to remain too long in tn
beds, the oyster, not being accimated t
northern winters, perish with cold; and
planted too thick, they smother each other
Without regard to mutual rights, each on
cncroaches upon the peculiar domain Of hi
ncighbor; gradually charging his residence i
whatever direction pleasure may dictate. !
this way. when oysters remain long undis
turbcd, the increase Of numbers involve til
destruction Of multitudcs. Their means
communication with the outer world is close
upon them by the cemcntiug properties of tn
newly formed shell. and the Unfortunate vic
tim is consigned to staryation.-JowRM q
Commerce.