The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-03
THE OYSTER.
A DISQUIsITION ON IT'S vARIE TIES AND
EXCELLENCIES.

|
| EXCELLENCIES.
"A Project for the ultivati0n and Cam
ming OF Oysters I'm Charleston.
| sound and sensible Republican (not the
Republican who tugs at Summers skirt and
reveres the shade of Stevens, but the old-fash-
ioned Republican who honors his own consti
tuition and respects the constitution of his
fathers,) hardly knows which to desplse the
most-monarchcal institutions or the British
! oyster Accustomed TO the dainty favor Of
the Lynn Haven, tho Blue Point, the Bath, the
Mill Pond and other famous varieties, he turns
up his free and independent nose at the insu-
lar egotism which places tn, ''native' oyster
on par with the native" Englishman. The
tyrant-hating American may admit that they are
on par, but tau1 pas, which mars all de-
| light, and have no particular claim to distnc-
tion save the coppery taste Of the one and the
brassy pride OF the other And he who ven-
lures to doubt that the American bivalve is in
comparable and not to be surpassed, will be in
| danger of going to his bier without pewter
accompaniment.
Verilyl an oyster is an institution Of which
we may be proud. 1t has no North, no South.
no East, no West. There Is nothing sectional
| in an oyster, even on a half-shell; and now
that the season is drawing to close we may
be permitted to hint that o company has-been
formed in Charleston for the purpose of inn
proving and canning the already we'll koown
Charleston oyster. But before narrating what
the company is and what it intends
to do, it will be advisable to de vote few
moments to philosophical consideration
OF the habits and peculiarites Of
THE AMERICAN OYSTER,
by that name usually called, the word oyster
being understood to signify the species of os-
tracian bivalve called ostreazeduis or ostrea eat
st-ts, which is characterized by. an inequIvalve
shell composed of two irregular lamellated
valves, OF which the convex or under one ad-
here's to rocks, piles, or to the shell Of another
individual. The oystex. therefore, ts queer
genius. AS it make it's bed it will lie upon it,
being as much indisposed to s'shell out" as
though it were bifurcate instead of blvalve.
In Its natural state the oyster is always tight,
and not until it becomes loose is it ct for
human society. As may be inferred from what
has been said, the oyster is ha I'd drinker, al
though never drunk. Oysters are usually
eaten during the months The names of which
have the letter r in them. The reason Of this
1s not known unless it is because then oysters
in season. There are many ways of cooking
the oyster, aud there is the raw, the fry, the
boil, the roast, the scallop and the stew Some
like them one way and some another. but they
all go the same way al last.
THE SADDLE ROCK
is the most famous Of the American oysters.
and is found at Saddle Rook in Long Island
Sound. The rock is about forty miles from
md fho -
name is celebrated for both size and flavor.
They bring higher prics than any other oys-
ter which goes to the New York market, often
selling at wholesale at FIVE dollars q hundred.
dozen Of these oysters, roasted, is sail to be-
enough to fill every corner in the corporosity
OF man Of moderate size.
THE sHREwsBURY
is the next in rank with the New York epicures.
1t is taken from the Shrewsbury River in Now
Jersey, and can be readily recognized by it's
peculiar golden ii 1t and very thin she'll The
oyster beds in the Shl lewsbury River are closely
guarded, and yield an immense income to the
owner. shrewsburys sell at $12 bushel.,
THE EAST RIVER
was in former years considered to be the best
oyster found in the market. It had salty
taste and delicate flavor, and was considered
the correct thing at luncheon. OF these man
OF elastic temperament might consume Kan
unknown quantity. or late years, owing to the
building of the great Manhattan Gasworks on
the banks Of the East River, they have acquir-
ed coppery and gaseous taste. This causes
them to be sedulously avoided by all true Irish
men. but they are greater favorites than ever
with public speakers and members of leaisla-
tive assemblies.
THE KEYPoRT
is q Virginia oyster, which at tender age is
taken from it's natural bed and plan ted in the
Raritan River, chanting all the while the
plaintive air OF "Who will care for mother
now?" It is allowed to remain in it's new home
in peace for two years, and is then dish wor-
thy OF Lucullus when he sups with Lucullus
tonight. This oyster is sometimes known as
the military oyster, because it will stand fire
better than any other kind, always cook ing
larger than in its natural state. It is there
fore decided swell.
THE CRAVEN on BLUE POINT
from the Passaic River is not to b despised.
The beds yield these fine oysters in large
quantities, and being 80 close to the New York
market, they are sold at fr ,m 81 to 81 as per
buslIel.
oyster As small, but being firm and delicious in
flavor is sought after by the epicure, and al
ways brings high price. Kathleen Villa. not
the home OF Kathleen Mavourneen, but of
Barney Williams, the we'll known Irish come
dian, is on the banks Of the bay, and Barney
knows no greater pleasure, when the footlights
are turned down, than taking fe h friends to
his charming villa, where they may be regaled
with the order OF the Bath---oysters taken from
his own pond.
In the spring Of 1868 q large bed Of fine oys-
ters was discovered between Fort lafayette
and the beach in New York harbor. These
were called the 4
LARAYETTRs,
and soon became popular. The prisoners OF
war In the fort from their hunks looked at the
beds with watery mouths and eager eyes.
They thought Of Norfol1 aud Charleston and