Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-11-27
Oyster Dredging,

A very large proportion OF oyster eaters have at
best but an indefinite idea of the way in which
these interesting bivalves shed of the deep
10 supply their palate and satisfy their appetites
Some NAV imagine they are picked off the rocks,
like the Irishman's gold dollars from the streets:
others that they the mysterious products Of the
r,staurauts obtained ymerely knocking apart their
shell; while many have some indefinite notion Of
process OF planting oysters in the mud in shallow
water, TO be procured, when wanted, by deXterous
mlnipulAtons of rakes or tOngs, like potatoes from
a hill This latter mode OF catching oysters is one
most common in Northern waters-the oyster hay.
ing been first brought from the South and bed.
ded" here; as il is thought that by this transplan.
tation they are much improved 10 flavor There
are however some varieties Of native oysters that
are held in the highest TEEN by epicures-being
of extraordinary size and superior favor; and as
these are 10 be found only in deep water rendering
the process Of catching them quite hborious, their
market value Is much enhanced. or native oysters,
the East Rivers" are most in iayor-thc market
pricess for which range from 81 80 to IS 90 per
hundred. These are caught by dredging
During the autumn monht', the attention Of trav-
elers on Long Island Sound invariably attracted
by the large fleets Of sailing craft that never fail to
meet the eve, when the wind is fair, taking h.ther
and thither aud stretching away, on either side, az
far as the limits of vision extend. Frequently,
upwards Of one hundred may be counted al oece
under canvass and presenting beautiful appear
ance. OF these, many are coasting vessels-which
NAV always be seen dottiug the blue waters OF
the Souud-but the greater number ere fishing.
smacks dredging for oysters. such fleets are en-
couutered at intervals ell ghe way from frogs neck
20 Wh.estlne and Norsalk, which points en-
brace the h-hug-ground for East Rivers"
The "dredgc" is sort Of drag net, made OF tie
strongest materials, aad holding about two bushels
This lowered 10 the bottom, aud tossed after the
vessel oy stout rope, varying from six 10 twenty
five tiIhams IN longth, according 10 the depth Of
the water. Frequently, as many as bali doz,n
dreiges are employed AZ ouce-each one being
hauled 40 every ten minutes, aud emptied OF il
contents Of oysters, mud aud stones, which Is mas
have scooped up while dragging on the bottom.
The process l. slow aud aboriOus, a. hauling Is 20
great a weight with the vessel sailing undrr
three or six knot breeze Is no slight task snd no
LEES than ioar i've DAYS constant labor are re-
ouirel 90 complete iuli load Il Is customary for
the smacks 10 start out on Monday, aud deliver
their cArgoes at market on Friday or Saturday;
though shorter trips are sometimes msde On the
best grounds, one hundred bushels per diem are
taken; but the average yield Is Tar less
This mode OF catching oysters Is also practced
10 the waters Of the Chesapeake whence ere tax
Gu the greater part Of the oysters brought TO tue
North 20 be plAhted-thoasands Of csrgoes Of
which are shipped hither every year.-N y Jour.
Of Com