The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-29
THE OYSTER TRADE.

aic, ny the iuieS VI Wis CUSTOM, which
in many places has received legal sane.
ton, forbidden fruit" except in those
months which have the letter aRu in
their photographed conformation; thus
we begin to devour them in September
and cease the work of destruction il
April--the theorybeing that within those
months alone the oysters are in proper
condition to be wholesome rs food. The
present month is, unfortunately for the
oyster, but fortunately for the consumer
thus highly favored, the talismanic ant
cabalistic letter standing very promi
nently at the termination of the wore
September. 1t is shrewdly suspected
that Augustus Caesar was very partial te
oysters, and in fact we are not left much
| room for speculation on that score, for
Horace, his poet laureate, has great
deal to say in their praise, and was fond
of making an occasional visit to the
coast TO take half dozen raw on the
| shell. Augustus, therefore, in order to
bring them earlier ''in season." con-
cuded not to make any change in the
nomenclature of the months following
that in which he immortalized and
eternized his own name. Hence,
thanks to the greatest of Roman EN-
perors, we are permitted in Norfolk
to eat oysters In September; and our
people, to judge from the eagerness with
| which they enter upon the work, seem
TO be really grateful for the favor. 1t
may be that during the warm and swell
tering months of summer, in which the
letter ar" does not appear, the oysters
are rather lean, and, being engaged in
the necessary work of increasing and
multiplying their numbers, are, like
ether species of animated nature, very
unsubstantial and unsavory food, and
only fatten up at the approach of cold
weather, when they become fit for
general consumption, can be used with
out risk to health, and are palateable to
the epicurean taste. Be this as it may,
they are very abundant in Norfolk, are
in good condition and cheap. Our popu-
lation could live OH them, were it not
that their constant use gives to the con-
sumner sort OF "ancient and fish like
smell,n that is anything but agreeable
at all times. There is one interesting
matter in this connection, which might
be turned to good account. What is to
hinder Norfolk from becoming a more
important mart for the oyster trade
than Baltimore? The oysters can be
obtained, opened, canned, and sent to
market much cheaper and more adyan-
tageously than in that city; and a
large and profitable business could very
soon be established, which would give
work to thousands Of idle people, EN-
ploy an immense amount of capital in
an active and paying business, and add
much to our wealth, population, and inn
portance. The entire country south
and west Of Norfolk could be supplied
with oysters of better quality and at
cheaper rates than Baltimore can fur
nish them. We think this is matter
worthy of more than passing considera-
ton, and trust that some one acquainted
with the extent of the oyster traffic of
Chesapeake Bay, will institute inquiries
into the feasibility of the proposition,
and suggest some means of Immediately
it into operation. We had bet
ter have an "oyster town" than no town
at all and we must do something to
Keep the old place from going down,
syen If we have to open oysters for aliv-
ing. With the establishment of oyster
packing houses, other branches of bust
ness would be necessarily called into ac-
tive life, and we should bave large in
crease to our rent-paying, taX-paying,
and understanding population at once.
We were led to these reflections by read
ing the following from a Philadelphia
paper, which is quite interesting and
+" 1t is apparently impossible to osti-
mate the consumption of oysters in this
,ity. Many hundred thousands are
eaten every week. The trade in the
,ity is not only immense, but exceed
ngly profitable to those engaged in it.
The finest favored bivalves are found
lere, and from this point are furnished ,
large proportion Of those used in the !.
Western States. The Morris Coves are Y
lot the largest, but the finest favored oys- !
ers in the market. Morris Cove is on the =.
delaware, commencing at Egg Harbor :
ght, and extending six miles to East !
oint light, which is at the mouth Of /
[orris river. The oysters here are i
planted" The freshness or sadness of
lie oyster depends entirely upon the
alter in which it is "planted." Two a
,jects are in view in transplanting the !
have the different transplant
G depots convenient to the local trade,
I'd to improve the oyster. 1t is siDgu- y y
+ that oysters "planted" in various wa
rs differ in form and regularity. Occa- L
onally we get cargo from the Chesa- D
cake, when the Maryland authorities b
re not vigilant. The trade in the Vir-
lnia business is constantly increasing, IL IL
,me seventy-ffve to hundred vessels
eng employed in it. These vessels
airy from 1000 to 5000 baskets, each :,
obtaining about 200 hundred oysters y
Mess the State of Virginia does some a,
ssing to prohibit people living outside n
that State from gathering oysters, the "
usiness the coming season will be large "
I na Inc prices materially cheapened.- m
mslhia oysters, of various growths, are
aoughe 10 TINS city and sold without