The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-22

The New York Commercial Advertiser
gives The following Interesting facts concern
ing the oyster business of that city. Former
y our oyster dealers got all their supplies
nun 'na' ciy' hence the once common and
familiar name of New York oys,ersn was
anopIeu' NOW they draw directly from the
Virginia mud banks an1 bed in our own no
iers Tor summer use. BY tar the Greater nat
OF the oysters III the New York market comes
from Virginia. along York River Ja,n,s
River and B iack River for eighteen or tysntY
miles frcm the sea, or In fact as far ths
tide flows, immense numbers of oysters are
planted out from time to time, and as they ar
rive al maturity are restlesSy torn IRON their
native mud perhaps to tickle the palate OF a
New York politician. A large amount of
CAPITA is used In this business, and several
New Yorkers embark extensively in oyster
planting. They generally nave a partner Or
agent in Virginia who personally supeiin.
lends the ~oik OF planting aud taking up
when 1t is de,irous 10 take the oysters from
their oozy resting places curious implement
called an oyster tongs," consisting OF two
laSe like implements fastened scissors. wise 10
enpio,ef. with This implement a peck or
Two oil fine, fat oysters can be raked up when
tney are thick. o. course there are several
kinds OF oysters, which are called after the
PiaNC WhCiC tbCJ touHu, afQ which from
variety of Circumstances, such as the nature
OF the mud Oh which they lie, tue degree OF
sahiness In the water 10 which they live, and
other things present. differences Ii. sze or ia
vor so slight as 10 escape the obsei walton of
the uninitiated, but which are insfautly de-
tecied b, those engaged in the business
Oysters used formerly 10 be brought from
Connecticut, bu' with the exception OF sore
few prime ones from Nopwalk ard the Saddle
ts,s.Lr
OF Saddle Rock. some enthusiasts labor uhder
the halucibatIon that Saddle Rock sew"
can be obtained In any Respectable Oy sier Sd
looms. Tins Is another OF those popular delu-
sioos which are dissppated by tue stem ioeic
OF fscts. BE It known then, that all the gem
uine Saddle Rock oysters which curnp To ths
New ,rk market wou not SUPPLY one of tbs
large saloons In Falton Market tor one week.
The name merely I'm lilies a larger aid better
species of oyster, for which the rpicure has 10
paw higher price. o. sters are brought from
Virginia In siaunch schconers, Of from 80 TO
$50 TONS register, which Can stow away rom
1900 to 4,UO0 baskets of oysters in bulk. OF
late, however, a new feature has teen intro
duced into the carr, ing trade and large guam
titles OF oysters are brought up from Norfolk
in barrels on board the steamers winch ply
between that place and New York. The Vir-
c:nii yster tiade begins In November, when
The round trip, including the loaJiny below.
takes about week. The Wholesale market
iu this city, where all the oyster vessels dis
charge their cargo Is at the Il OF of Tenth st.,
North River. Here the wholes ale dealers
have Lighters or scows resting on the water
and rooed overhead, in which they have taelr
offices aud transact their business. These
nondescfipt Structures are connected with ths
pier hy slopinS gangways, and are very SUBJ
stantia. Oysters are sold In various ways.
Sometimes they ara consigned by owners in
Virginia to brokers in New York, who ais
pose OF them to saloon keepers and receive
commission OF ten per Cent. Other parties,
and among this class are chiefly the larger
dealers who own oyster beds, bring the oys-
tiers up at their own risk. AMI sell tn m d.
recly 10 The buyers. While again a third
class combine both branche of the trade, and
in addition frequently purchase a Cargo on
speculation. The pier at The foot oi Tenth
street presents very singular appearance
A number OF vessels are always lying there
discharyug their luscious carsoes. Buyers
and sellers are engaged Il animated discus
sion. Along the pier, In every attitude of
lazipess, are stretched the salts who form
the crews of the schooners, and who disdain
to work ashore. The flooring OF the pier is
hidden under stratum oil oyster shells.
Oysters OF all kinds are lying about in every
direction. The air is inplegnafed with the
pleasing but decided odor OF oysters, aud tho
men who are busiiy engaged about the vas-
sells aud 10 the scows talk OF nothing and ap-
parenily think OF nothing but oysieis.
The price of oysters varies considerably,
according 10 the season of the year aud the
demand. The season just drawing 10 close
has been unusually duh, and the dealers oom-
plain that they have not made any prohis.
Oysters are Sod at present for 5U cents q
buehel, but In good seasons readily con,mand
81 bushe'. When sold by count they are
assorted. and they range now from So 10 $l9
per 600, according to size and qualify. The
very best, or as they are called In the trade,
''extras," bring from 81 20 to So 00 uer hum
dred. The regular season is almost over cow,
as when the weather grows warmer they can
not be brought nom Virginia. and moreover
they are "miiky" CT lul of spawn and conse-
quently unit Tor eating. The summer sup
pI, IS drawn from Princes Bav. Keyport, and
other points along the coast OF New Jersey
and Staten Island, where Virginia oysters had
been previously plan ed. 1t is mani,ested
that these oysters are fit for eating as their
regular time for spawning is changed by be-
ing trausplanted. The oysters are brought to
the city in sloops which make about three
trips week.
A new feature has been introduced intot
trade OF late, namely, the expectation OF oys.
tiers for seed TO England. During the past
month MIR. Ellsworth shipped 2,700 barrels OF
the best varieties Tor this purpose. This
proves that our cousins have al length COM
menced to appreciate the excellence OF our
Splendid bivaives.