Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-02-25

VISIT TO THE OYSTER BOATS AT PORT MAHoN-
THE FROZEN OYSTERS AND FEARS OF A THAw-
THROWING THEM MoyERBoAED-soMEIHrSaA ABOUT
PORT MAHoS, ITSELF.
Through tho kindness of George G. schaich'
proprietor of the Railroad Hotel, at Dover, a
representative Of the COMMERCIAL was on Friday
morning, enabled to pay a flying visit to Mahon
landing, on the Delaware, about seven miles east
of Dover, The place appears to be so fortunate
to have no less than three names, viz Ma
hons Landing, Nlahons Ditch, and Mahon's
River, and is now somewhat noted as the place
where
GREAT OYSTER dLUr
has occurred, and from which place hundreds of
tons OF oysters have recently been hauled to
Dover, thence have been shipped by the Della
ware Railroad to Philadelphia, and other points.
Tho place is dreary one indeed, especially at
this season OF the year, when tho Delaware is
full OF floating ice.
OVER sIXrY OYSTER BOATS FROZEN UP
in tho Mallon river, thousands OF acres OF salt
marsh recedins back from the shore and no hu-
man habitation in sight except tho Mahon light
house and little blacksmith shop, the owner OF
which hammers away in it all day and 5 eeps ard
eats dear knows where. The inactivity usually
prevalent il in strong contrast with the bustlug
scenes which have been going Oh there for the
last two weeks and all occasioned too, by the
closing OF the Delaware river by ice and thus
forcing these oyster boats
TO RUN INTO THE MOUTH
of the Mahon river as the best thing which could
be done under the circumstances.
1t WAS somewhat Of a novel sight to see from
sixty to seventy oyster boats anchored closely
together, the masts somewhat resembling field
OF bean poles and along the shore from thirty to
forty wagons with q vast congregation of horses
and mules, all waiting in turn to be loaded with
oysters to be taken overland to Dover.
The most Of these oysters were in a frozen
state and had to be used in that condition or be
entirely useless hence the hurry in getting them
away
BEFORE THAw COMMENCED.
Upon the occasion of our visit, there was
every prospect OF tbaw, and some of the oys-
termeu had already ceased shipping their fro
zen oysters which they feared by the time they
reached Philadephis would be spoiled In case
OF a thaw the oysters would be thrown over
board. The oysters shipped however were not
all frozen, for some boats were away out IN the
bay three miles distant amongst the oyster fields
catching fresh ones and shipping them off in
the same manner.
Although the whole Delaware bay from Ma.
hons up to Leipsic creek, and down to Lewes 10
permanently
ADAPrED TO RAISING OYSTERS,
that part of the bay off from the mouth of A[ahon
river is the only place where the business is car
ried on to any great extent on the Delaware
side.
Mahon river ia deep sluggish stream running
through the marsh land about three miles from
where it intersects Herring creek. The only
thing which distinguishes it from other aud
longer creeks is its depth at the mouth where
VESSELS DRAWING EIonTEEN FEET
of water can ride at anchor in safety. Some
few years ago wharf was erected there which
was considerably uaed in the shipment OF
peaches by steamers to New York, but now the
wharf is in ruins and the peaches have been
shipped by rail. At time charter was
granted for Railroad from Dover to Mahons,
which road was graded nearly half way, but the
Delaware Railroad being soon after built. the
enterprise was abandoned, and naught now re-
mains to mark the enterI rise but few embank-
ments and cuts here and there