New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-30
The New Jersey Oyster Trade.

Reports from all the great plantations of
| Newark bay and Staten Island sound are
| fully assuring that never for many years
has there been such good prospects Tor a
| profitable season as the one just ushered in.
Last year the crop was but "middllng," and
the dealers had misgivings that, owing to
| the long and severe winter, seedlings would
| not fully come up to expecta tiOns, but in
! this they have been agreeably disappointed.
| 1t is estimated that this years yield for
| Newark bay, Staten Island sound, and
other points in Jersey waters, will he up
| wards of 900, 900 bushels against 1900, 900
| bushels last year. This is accounted for by
the large number of Feeds planted; almost
| every owner of grounds having planted at
| least one-third more than formerly, and
have allowed the seedlings OF 1872 to fully
develop before dredging. The oysters from
| this section are pronounced the best in
| the country, and are yearly being trans
planted to the East river, Princess bay and
| Virginia. The number Of men employed In
| the trade is estimated at 5000, and the num-
| Der of sloops and schooners at nearly 1000.
| The value of the oysters shipped from the
| mouth of the Raritan river is estimated at
| 100000. The beds are one mile and half
| in length and one mile wide, The practice
| of taking seed or plant oysters, together
| with the ''shells" or "Ded' with the ''spat'
or eggs of the oyster, from the water and
have arrived at the proper growth, has
| been the source of great alarm, and move
| ment is on foot among the Oystermen to
| have a law passed to remedy this growing
! Ari1 The nvstar is, in the lanonapa of
oystermen, "in milk" that is in the
spawning condition, during the months
| of May. June, July and August. This
the presence of the spawn in state
of incubation, and is caused u leave the
| female and to move under that portion of
| the oyster known to naturalists as the
| mouth. 1t is here that the eggs are Matched,
and not until they are Matched does the fe-
male evict them. When they leave the
| parent they are called "spat,' and he num-
| Der from a single oyster is amazing, being
reckoned as high as two millions. In about
| thirty days, though they have got the oys-
ter form, they are hardly larger than a
| pins head. In about two months they are
| as large as garden pea, their growth now
is rapid, for in three or four months
| they will be nearly or quite an inch in di-
ameter, and in five or six months making
| what is called good plants
| For the want of suitable contrivances, the
| New Jersey oyster farmers fail TO arrest
| these little things as they go of to the deep
| waters and perish, very small amount of
the ''spat" being saved.
The fancy stock known as .'Saddlerocks, g
| "Blue Points," "Prncess BAYS" are the
outgrowth of the Newark bag and Staten
| Island sound oysters.
Owing to their hard shells and dark
color, they are protected from the incur
sons OF the drum fish, which have created
such havoc among the Connecticut and Vir-
| ginia oysters in seasons past. The largest
dealers in Jersey oysters in Washington
Market, are Messrs. William Van Name,
Henry Miller. Garrett P. Wright and the
N H.. az IL
numbers of men the year round dredging,
planting, opening and shipping, botn in
Jersey and Virginia, and owns fleets of
| sch 0oners
The Jersey oyster trade bids fair to take
the lead Of all the States engaged in this
| business from the strides her citizens are
now making.-New York Commercial Ad
| perfiSsr