The Placer herald., 1859-03-05
The OYSTER Trade of Baltimore.

The Oyster Trade Of Baltimore.
The annual report Of the Baltimore Ame-
rican for 1858, states that the oyster business
equals in value that of the tobacco crop of
the State of Maryland, and is constantly
increasing, with no prospect of dimlnution
of the demand, and it is fortunate feature
in the nature of the oyster that the more
the beds in the rivers are "fshed," the more
rapidly do they seem to increase. The most
experienced oystermen assert that they are
more abundant now than they were years
ago, before there was any great demand
for them. This is evident by the fact that
except for home use, the business of "plant-
ing"i is not followed 1t may be well sup
posed that where so much capital is employ
ed there will naturally be great competition.
As there is no lack of demand for the article
the only competition among packers is to
send forward the best article, preserved and
packed with the greatest care, so that the
''brand" will not suffer in reputation, well
knowing that in regard to this favorite
luxury consumers care less for the cost than
they do for the quality. 1t will be seen
from the foregoing that Baltimore has, at
least, one source Of profitable trade, of which
she cannot easily be deprived.
Value of the trade in packed oysters, s3,OOO,O 900
Value of the oysters consumed in the
city and vicinity ..... ........ 100000
Total. ................... $4,000
The oysters are all procured in the waters
south of the mouth of the Patapsco river.
A great portion are taken by dredging in
ten to twenty fathoms water, but the largest
and finest are taken with tongs in shallow
water, in the numerous rivers and inlets, the
best being mostly found towards the mouth
of the Chesapeake. In many places the
system of planting is proftably resorted to,
the mode being to take the small oysters
from deep water and lay them down in shall
low, where they increase in two or three
years to very large size. The process is an
easy and certain one, for the ground requires
no preparation, nor is the crop ever affected
by any kind Of weather, and the increase is
unfailing. The oysters are brought to the
City of Baltimore in small vessels, varying
in size from 90 to $50 tons, carrying from
800 to 5000 bushels each. Among them
ast-sailing species of small schooners called
"pungies," peculiar to Chesapeake Bay alone,
and costing from $1,000 to $4,000 EACH
The number Of vessels, large and small, en-
gagged in the trade is estimated at one thou
sand. The number Of houses now engaged
in the business Of packing oysters is twenty
five. The number of hands employed in
opening, preparing and packing, varies from
1900 to $500 men. OF those engaged in
opening Tor shucking) about 900 are color
ed persons, who acquire great skill and dex-
terity in performing the operation. The
white men are mostly engaged in packing
and saving ice, the number employed in
filling the cans alone being about 200. In
some of the establishments as many as 5000
bushels are opened every day. The whole
number opened at the houses is about
1900 bushels daily. Of this quantity, the
produce of about 5000 bushels is packed in
cans, in the raw state; the balance is herme-
tically sealed, spiced and picked for expor-
tation to all parts of the world Within
the last ten years the mode of preparation
has been greatly perfected, so that the oys-
ters 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 special business is no inconsiderable
item. 1t is supposed that the value of tin
plate and solder annually cost not less than
$25O,OOO. The number of timers employed
in the manufacture of cans is 800. About
100000 feet of lumber are consumed in
the manufacture of boxes for packing the
cans, to make which 200 carpenters are en-
ploye Exclusive of the value of the YES
sells, buildings, ETC., the capital invested in
the business is about 81 100000; the amount
of the sales each season is estimated to be
$3,OOO,OoO. 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 ten years the business has increased ten
fold, owing to the increase of facilities for
rapid transportation. Raw oysters are now
shipped to the tarthest point of the West,
to Australia, California, South America, and
to various parts of Europe, the trade appear
ing 20 increase steadily as the article becomes
known. Chesapeake oysters owing to their
superior flavor and solidity, and perhaps, also,
to the admirable mode Of preserving their
peculiar flavor, ale generally in demand
wherever they are sent. The shells are con-
verted into lime for agricultural purposes,
and at least $4,000 are realized from this
source alone. The season for packing COM
mences on the first of September and lasts
until the middle of May.
The Hon. Geo. Marsh in recent lecture
on the English language, says that the En-
glsh words found in use by good writers hard
ly fall short of 100000. Each individual has