The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-02
The OYSTER Season.

Yesterday began the oyster season, the old
maxim precluding all the months which
have not the letter or" in their names from
the luxury Of eating oysters. Nevertheless, on
the seashore and at salt-bathing places they
ore eaten during the four months which have
no /. But they are not good-those months
are the spawning season of the oyster which
is then too soft, too watery, to please those
who know good oysters.
From this time the consumption Will
steadily increase until it reaches the maxi
mum in mid-wihter, and the oyster con-
tinues to improve until he reaches his highest
excellence, and after that he declines, and so
does the consumption, until it stops in May.
The aggregate consumption of this she'll
fishis wonderful. Providence sent no bless
/. ing in the form of sea fruit that can compare
with It. The best oysters that are supplied
by the Atlantic waters are found in Virgil
main the Chesapeake bay, its estuaries. and
tributaries. The number Of persons that
( are engaged in the cultivation, capturing,
8 transportation, aud trading In oysters may
I be estimated by thousands. The oyster trade
!; Of the Chesapeake bay was estimated at $2O,'
0OO, 900 per annum In 1860. 1t must have
largely increased since. The oyster trade of
Baltimore, exclusive of local consumption,
was estimated the same year at $S,5O0,Oo0.
When we see the vast number of vessels
that are ever loading with oysters in Viz
ginia waters, and the extensive dredging
that is so steadily maintained, one would
think that the supply would soon Ike en-
hausted. But Of this there is no danger.
All the dredging that is done falls long
way short Of the increase of the oyster. 1t
is estimated that each adult furnishes be-
tween 100000 and 100000 embryo oys-
tiers. But the spawn inclosing them is the
food of a aumber of fish, which during the
spawning season feed about the oyster-beds
and fatten upon the embryo sperm. Yet,
while large part of the spawn is thus con-
sumed there Is still enough left to keep up
the supply Mt rate That will probably
always be in excess Of any demand for hu-
man consumption.
The great preserving and packing BUSH
ness Is done chiefly by Baltimore. When
the Chesapeake aud Ohio railroad is COM
plete we shall have direct communication
with the West, and large oyster business
must spring up in this city. It will be lu-
erative trade, and deserves the attention Of
enterprising men acquainted with 1t. The
oyster has It's enemies, aud it seems hard
that SO peaceful an inhabitant of the waters
should not be allowed to rest quietly and
dream hls life away i'm his bed, out of which
he never moves. When the eggs are laid
they fasten themselves to the broad beds of
their progenitors and TO one another, and at
termination their home for life is fixed.
They pile up In layers upon one another,
and myriads die by strpte, their successors
superimposed above them like tomb,
marking the place where rest their remains.
One Of the most willy and detestable enc
mics of the oyster is the crab. The mother
crab Is ia the habit of laying her eggs upon
the peaceful shelly beds, and the unsllspect-
ing oyster, sucking In hts food, draws along
with 1t the microscopic embryo Of the crab,
which Immediately becomes 4 tenant with
the oyster, which no writ Of ejectment can
expel The oysterss stomach not digesting
it, In TING It geriniuates, and lives thereafter
upon the oyster until IKE q South Carolina
earpetbagger, it eats him out of house aud
home. The rightfnl tenant perishing, his |
shell opens and out walks the crab as
bold and ecclesiastical Is iff he had not com.
mitted murder, and had MT len the. honseI
where BE was born and nonriahed tenant,
less and desoiated. We have for this reason
. yiadietIse feeling for the CRIB. We espe-
chilly Ike 30 sat The Young fellows taken tsusI
Of the oysteE-steil while stsll living upon
The hapiess y,etln. They are sHee. to ehet
taste, and 20 crisp ss ti,ss are crushed by the
teeth. The recollection og his dslib con.i
Sumption Of the being thus ave him shelter
aids zest 10 thee ling OF him.
sssrs es sing views ,,Iks these 10 d