Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-15

The oysters are all procured in the waters south
of the PatapscO river. A great portion are taken
by dredging in ten or twenty fathOms of water but
the largest and finest taken with tongs in shall
lower water, in the numerous rivers and inlets, the
best being mostly found towards the mouth of the
Chesapeake. In many places the system of plant
ing is proftably resorted to, the mode being to
take the small oysters from deep water and lay
them down in shallow coves, where they increase
in two three years to a very large size. The
process is an easy and certain one, for the ground
requires no preparation, nor IS the crop ever ehec
ted by any kind of weather, and the increase is un
falling. The oysters are brought to the city Of Bal
timore in small vessels, varying in size from 20 to
$50 tons, carrying from 300 10 5000 bushels each.
Among them fast sailing species OF small schoon-
ers called "pungies," peculiar to Chesapeake Bay
alone, and costing from $1,000 to $4,000 each. The
number Of vessels, large and small, engaged in the
trade is estimated at one thousand. The number
OF houses now engaged in the business OF packing
oysters is twenty five. The number of hands en-
ployed in opening, preparing and packing, varies
/ from 800 to $500 men. Of those engaged in
opening Tor shucking) about 600 are colored per-
sons, who acquire great skill and dexterity in per-
| forming the operation. Thewhite men are mostly
engaged in packing and saving ice, the number
employed in filing the cans alone being about 200.
| In some Of the establishments as many as 600
bushels are opened every day. The whole mum
Der opened at all the houses is about II 600 BUSH
els daily. or this quantity, the produce of about
90C0 bushels is packed in cans, in the raw state ;
/ the balance are Theoretically sealed, spiced and
picked for expectation to all parts of the world
Within the last ten years the mode of expectation
/ has been greatly perfected SO that the oysters will
keep for any desirable period of time. The price Of
oysters from the boats varies according to size and
quality, from 35 to rs cents per bushel-averaging
about As cents The quantity of tin plate used for
this especial bushes is no inconsiderabe item. 1t
is supposed that the value of tin plate and solder
| annually costs not less than S250,0o0. The NUM-
Der of timers employed in the manufacture OF cans
is 300. About 1000, 900 feet of lumber are con-
sumed in the manufacture Of boxes for packing the
cans to make which two hundred carpenters are
employed. Exclusive of the valne of the vessels,
buildings, &C. the capital invested in the business
is about 81 900 600; the amount Of the sales each
season is estimated to be S3,OOO,Oe0. More than
half the quantity Of oysters packed is sent to the
Western cities and sold for cash. Those preserved
are sold on credit as other merchandise Within
the last twelve years the business increased ten
fold, owing to the increase Of facilities for rapid
transportation. Raw oysters are now shipped to
the farthest points Of the West, to Australia, Cali
fornia South America, and to various parts OF Eu-
rope, the trade appearing TO increase steadily as
J the article becomes known. Chesapeake oysters
owing to their superior flavor, are greatly in de-
mand wherever sent. The shells are convert
ed into lime for agricultural purposes, and at least
S56,0O0 are realized from this source alone. Ths
season for packing commences on the lst Of Sep
tember and lasts until the middle Of May.
The amount Of oyster business done in Cleveland
is very large. From the main depot here, all thi
smaller towns and cities in Northern Ohio are sup
piled. The Cleveland agent sends large quantitie
to Lake Superior, and upon the various road
leading from this city. We have not definite fig
ures as to the amount of the traffic at this point
but understand that the yearly amount reache
nearly fifty thousand cans and four or Eve thOusan
barrels Daily receipts are had from Baltimor
: and Fair Haven and the market is supple
Z throughout the year. -.-