Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-17
Gathering Oysters.


TIM mode of gathering the marketable
oyster may not be generally understood
by consumers, who seldom trouble them
selves about such matters, so long as the
edible suits their palate; but for the ben.
eft of those desirous of information, n
brief description will, no doubt, be inter
v"H"S' coNN ~y-.--e a-n unnrrnllv oh.
tanned by the Shrewsbury men il the
James river, and near Cherrystoae Inlet,
Virginia, and portion are sometimes pro-
cured from the inlcts and bays on the
Sound. These seedlings are very small in
size, ranging from that of II new penny
piece to that of the old copper cent, The
price of seed oysters ranges from 30 cents
to 81 per busheL when delivered at the
beds, and they are then sown broadcast
over the depleted beds of the previous
season, Once planted, tho new beds are
marked oil by long stakes whose tops
gently unduate In the current of the
stream for full three years, the oysters
they guard not being disturbed during
that time, except by some accidental oc.
currenoe. Aner three years quiet growth,
the oyster.beds are prospscted about the
latter part of August and an idea gained
rs TO the probable yield. Ii the result is
u good one, and the oysters prove to be
alive and well, Nking is commenced In
| September, and continued until the ice in
the river stops business and closes the
season. An oyster rake, or tongs, is a
/ singular instrument in appearance, but ex.
| ceedingly effective for the purpose It is I'M
/ tended for, Imagine two long ash sticks
I linked together hy a strong riyet some tif.
/ teen Inches from the lower ends, armed
/ with stout cross piece of steel properly
hraced with iron rods. The inner sides OF
/ these cross pieces bear n formidable row
/ of steel teeth, each row working inside
the other The oyster raker ON arriving
at the bed takes up favorable position
and at once commences operations by
plunging his tongs into the bed, taking
care that the jaws are open. On feeling
| bottom he with "a peculiar rocking motion
of his body and boat takes firm hold the
accumulated oysters, and on getting a full
load hSulS up the rake and dumps the con
tents into the punt. Each rake brings M
nearly bushelof oysters mud, and vast,
shells, and as soon as the beat Is laden the
rakcr pulls in shore. lie then selects d
favorable location ON the beach and shovel,
the mass out of the boat in thick layel
on the shore, usually taking care that the
incoming tide has access TO Il for the pur
pose of washing the mud out The pro
cess of wedding is rapidly gone through
with, aud the oysters are deXterousl\
Cullod out of the mass, all supcmbundanr
shells and refuse cleaned OH, aud the mark
etahle oysters sorted into different baskets
This accomplished the yield is oounte,
and washed in the river the oysters being
subsequently placed In barrels for trans
portaiiOn 20 market Toward the end .
The season the rakmg is continually car
ried on, in anticipation of the appearance
Of Ice, and the culled oysters are thel
dumped In the water near shore as a re
serve for the regular fall supply. Sucl
is the oyster trade Tho busines
Is hazardous one, and reQnire
considerable capital. Some of tn,
beds in this river are valued at IS,
600 or $4,000 each and the smaller one
seldom fall below 81 ,O00. The oystermel
have two or three hoats each, and ar
necessarily wa,ermen IN every sense or Ia
word S.robary Cor y T. Inns