Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-27
Oyster Dredging.

A very large proportion of oyster-esters
have at best but an indefinite idea Of the way
in which these interesting bivalves are fshed
out of the deep, to supply their plates and sat
isfy their appetitcs. Some may imagine they
are picked off the rocks, like the Irishman's
gold dollar from the streets !; Others that they
are the mysterious product Of the restaurants
obtained by merely knocking apart their shell
while many have some indefinite notion Of
process OF planting oysters in the mud, in shall
low water, to be procured, when wanted by
dexterous manipulations of rakes or tongs, like
potatoes from a hill This latter mole os
catching o stcrs is the one most common in
Northern waters,-the oysters having frs;
been brought from the South, and bedded
here as it is thought that, by this transplan.
tation they are much improved in flavor
There are, however, some varieties of the ns-
tive oyster that are held in the highest esteem
By epicures--being of extraordinary size and
superior flavor and rs these arc to be found
only in deep water, rendering the process Of
catching them quite laborous, their market
value is much enhanced Of native oysters,
the East Rivers are most in favor.--th
market prices for which ranges from $3.50 TO
$500 per hundred These are caught By
uTtuSliip.
During the autumn months, the attention OF
travellers on Long Island Sound is invariably
attracted by the large fleets Of sailing craft
that never fail to meet the eye, when the wind
is fair, tacking hithcr and thther, and stretch
ing away on either side, as far as th3 limits Of
vision extend. Frequently, upwards of ono
hundred may bc counted at once under can
vas, and presenting a beautifulTappearac" =
Of these, many are coasting veSscls-wh!ch
may always be seen dotting the blue waters Of
the Sound-but the greater number are fish
ing smacks, dredging for oysters Such fleets
are encountered at intervals, all the way from
Throg's neck to Whitestonc aud Norwalk =
which points embrace the fshiny-ground for
" East Rivers"
The dredge" is sort Of dragnet, made
of the strongest materials. and holding about
two bushels. This is lowered to the bottom.
and TO ved after the ell ~ ST. ut rope, va
rying from six to twenty-five fathomS in length.
according to the depth of the wafer Fe,
quently, as many as half dozen dred. res ar.
employed at oucc-each ole being hauled n
every ten minutes, and emptied Of its contents
of oystars, mud aid stones, which it NAV hsye
scooped up, while Lra 5giny on the bottom.
The prcc IS is slow and labori as hauliny
in so great We eht with c vessel sailing ua-
der three or six knot breeze is no Slight ta,a
and not less than four or five days constant
labor are required to complete full load. !
is customary for the smacks to start out o.
Monday, and deliver their cargoes at market
on Friday or Saturday Though shorter trip.
are some times made. On the best grounds.
one hundred bushels per diem are taken ; but
the average yield is far less
This mode of catching oysters is also prac-
ticed in the waters of the Chesapeake, whence
are taken the greater part of the oysters bro't
to the north to be planted thousands of car
goes of which are shipped hithcr every year
| ". Y Jour. of CoM