The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-29
THE OYSTER TRADE.
Notes OF Interest CONCERNING tiaC National
RiVnIy uIaT FaS0rIie.

BiNnIyuIaT FasSrIte.
OYSTERS are found in both salt and fresh
| water, but the former are superior in
size and flavor, and generally grows in
| shadows, where there are TO breakers.
| The principal breeding time of the com
mon oyster is in April or May, when the
spawn, which at first appears like little
spots of grease, fasten upon rocks oi
stones. Very commonly it adhercs tC
| adult shells, and thus are FORMED oyster
| banks. 1t takes about eighteen month,
for an oyster to obtain table size. "ThC
powers of multiplication the oyster pos
sesses, says a writer 'are ~ wonderful
that the banks or beds which they form
occupy portions of the sea extending tol
miles in shallow parts. The species mos
esteemed in America, are the Nirgini;
oyster %. Virginia), and northern oys
ter 90. Borealisl." Naturalists have
found that the oyster possesses locomo
tive powers; they move from place to
place bvsuddenly closing their shells, and
thus eiecting the water contained be-
tween them with sufficient force TO throw
themselves backward or in lateral dl-
rection. Yesterday Times reporter Wis
tied those piers on Delaware avenue,
specially set apart for the use of oyster
mer. About dozen trim shops were
observable, moored between the quays,
upon which were lying countless dredges,
and their crews were busily engaged
bending sails preparatory to proceeding
to the bank. A prominent oystcrman
gave the following facts yesterday in re-
gard to the trade to the writer
,f this
will be from the western shore and Maui
rice river-the jersey and Delaware
sides of the bay. None of these oysters
have been in the market this summer.
Yes, those are southern oysters you see
the Betsy Jane unloading; they have
come from Chester river, Maryland, and
they are not good for much. l wouldn't
import an oyster out of the regular sea
son, though good many are consumed
during the summer in the cities and fash
ionabIe resorts. About five hundred
Philadelphia boats are engaged III the
oyster business, and they are owned by
about sixty-five merchants, few OF whom
own more than ten or twelve. You ASK
me if last season was Il good season! les,
sir; it was very fair; if this season Is as
good, | shan't complain. We can ten
till the oysters begin to come in, but we
hear favorable reports from the banks as
to the probable yield. All oystermcn
who do a large business, ship heavily to
the country. We send large quantities
to Boston, Ohio Michigan, even as far as
California. Certainly they have got oys-
tiers on the Pacific coast, but they're too
got the English flavor, ]
don't ship many across the Atlantic, but
others do in considerable quantities,
mostly to France. They'll keep in the
shell even as far as San Francisco. The
hotels, saloons and retail dealers are, Of
course, our best customers. n great NUM-
ber of oysters are opened on the dock and
the shells carted away to the lime kilns
along the Schuylkill and the gas-works.
Gas can't be made without the best lime,
which purifcs it. Prices vary 50 much
during the season, according to the sup
ply and demand, that | can't give you
any very close estimate; asa general rule,
common sorts run from 81 80 to So 30
per 1000, and prime all the way from
SG to 50"