The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-11-26

leGCl IOn SI.oO 10 s9C.OO IL huu1iSei.
The summer oyster is brought from the
York and James Rivers, Va.
Dragon, or as it used to be called Fair
Haven, was formerly the place where
oysters were put up in kegs for North
ern and Western use. Latterly the
business has gone to Baltimore. In
October the shipping commences to
Europe and California. In shipping to
st. Louis, Cincinnati, and other places,
in cold weather, oysters are placed III
kegs, protected by gunny bags. In
summer the kegs are placed in larger
vessels, and the space filled up with ice
and sawdust. Thirty years ago oysters
were an unknown luxury in the northern
part of the State of New York. Now
many million of dollars worth are sent
from the port of New York alone. Ihe
average retail trade per week of Fulton
market requires 100000 oysters, and
one establishment is called upon to sup
ply from /, 900 to 1900 customers daily.
The yearly returns from the home mar
ket amount to 800, 900 per annum, and
from other localities to about 500, 000.
The trade gives employment to about
$500 in New York City, and to 200 in
Brooklyn. There are $50 oyster saloons
in the metropolis, and 100 in the City of
Churches. Five hundred sailing YES
sells are employed in this vicinity; a
corps of 5000 men is engaged in plant
ing, and bringing to market; in fact, it
may be safely estimated that about TO-
600 men make q living in the oyster
trade of the two cities.
American oysters are now being ship
ped to Europe by steamer. At first
they spoiled, owing to want of air, but
being now put up in barrels, they go
more safely. This business IS destined
to assume inlmence proportions, and q
company has been formed for the ship
ment OF oysters to the London market.
A recent attempt has been made by Jos.
Ellsworth, heavy operator, to acclima-
tie the New Jersey oyster in California.
He freighted car Of seed for San Fran
cisco- As yet the whole matter is an
experiment, but great results are eI-
pected. The business of the oyster
producer Is one of great risk. Many
years ago the village of Keyport suffered
loss in one season OF $4,000 Many
causes combine to destroy the oyster
crop. Sometimes the water becomes
poisoned, occasionally railroads cause
destruction by washings from the neces-
sary working of the road. Meteoric
causes also affect the oyster, also foggy
weather and adverse winds. Moreover,
as viii be seen, the oyster has its deadly
enemies III the animate ranks. But we
must leave the oyster in the hands, Or
rather the mouths, of our readers. Want
of space forbids our entering upon an
account ofhis physiological structure, SO
ably explained in the present article.
Perhaps the ordinary consumer would
prefer to think that his glutinous friend
had no physiology to speak of. He
does not generally think, as he drops a
Shrewsbury into the place where it viii
o..the most good. that he is demolishing
mouth, testicles, q heart, muscle,
mantles, gills, valves, intestines, liver,
and complete assortment of animal
functions, for full description CT which
we must refer him to the article in cues
ton. We shall simply inform him that
the oyster, although a very well-he-
haved shell-fsh, does not know his own
father; that he wears no beard; that his
blood is of pale BLUSH white; that
like ST. Patrick he is born gentleman,
for, in the words Of the old song:
'"The herring it loves the merry moonlight
The rnacSerel it loves the wind;
But the oyster it loves the dredgcr'S song
For it comes of q gentle kind %