The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-26
A NEW AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.


OF THE NEW VENTURE.
The experiment OF exporting American beef 10 Eng
land, and the signal success that has crowned thu
efforts of the pioneers in the movement, despite thu
numerous obstacles which they have combated and
overcome, brings to light another venture OF New
York men, which timc will prove TO be great and
lucrative traffic between this country and Europe.
This other departure ID the expectation OF Amer.
lean oysters the English and continental markets.
It has been for yenrs back that the great Eng.
lsh oyster beds, like their co1 fields, have beer
gradually giving out, owing to tho incessant and
enormous demands made upon them, and
OF late years, despite prolific planting ant
careful attention. have failed Yield enough oyster
10 supply London alone. The Scotch oyster beds have
been drawn upon but they, too, have proved made.
quate for the needs OF the British lovers OF the
delicious bivalve, and scientific men who have mads
tho subject a study predict that, unless radca
remedy shall have been ound the oyster viii soon be-
come extinct the British Isles Two-thirds OF tbs
English bods planted at the mouths Of their rivers
in covcs incts and bays in all parts OF tho island,
whose waters wash great factories and become I'M.
prcgnated with copper and other poisonous minerals.
which have driven away hardy fish and are now dong
the work for the oysters The radical remedy pro-
posed these beds but Is just here that
the difficulty lies, there other grounds SUIT
oystermcn have been close observers OF the
English oyster market for several years, and have
been conversant with the difficulty and the gradual
decrease in tho supply but 1t was only six years ago
that they called upon to act
THE VENTURE.
Then an order came from London firm foI
American seed oysters then for tho FIRST time they
realized tho great field OF profit that would
later be opened out Several claim the honor Of
oyster to England. Among them is Mr. Dorrity, tho
old and we'll known dealer OF Washington Market He
shipped several barrels but his indcr.
cnt that he did not push the business and left II tor
others to follow up Other Dealers by way of expert
ment picked out some OF their bost brands and sent
them in barrels Some arrived In good condition
in Liverpool but many barrels were broken during the
passage and tho oysters were UNIT to DO for
sale tho markets The finest and best species, such
Princes Bays, vrginias, Morris Coves aud Saddle
Rocks, much sought after here. proved to be
abom,natious to tho taste OF tho Englishmen. They
couldn't see how II possible for the "Yankees to
eat such "nahsty coarse, heavy hoysters," and
int,mated that 1t was another OF the tricks
the uncivilized Americans sought to practise upon
them Consequently these brands werc Withdrawn,
and oysters known to dealers this country as the
"bushel oyster' were sent instead. These oys-
tiers are about tho size Of silver dollar, and when
placed beside an oyster Of English growth the differ
scarcely perceptible. To the taste, however,
there superiority their English compet-
tors as they arc devoid OF that coppersh flavor
sentIal to tho genuine London oyster eater and arc
tender and delicious either for stews, raws or ries
PREJUDICE.
Gradually the shipment Of oysters became larger pei
each steamer, and soon the American oyster was SO
frequently mot with sale in the market that the
t~ntn icnn anIn lu nd
The quality was dsparagcd, the flavor was denounced,
and some even went so far as 10 say that
they bred the cholera These stores however failed
10 detract from the American bivave tho favor which
IL had already gained until three years ago, when
new discovery made. Then It was circulated in
the oyster houses in Liverpool and London that the
Yankee oysters should not be eaten under any crcum
stances as they natural, werc disease breed
ing aud only At for swine. Those who were
deeply interested in the American oyster trade found
1t necessary to mako inquiries concerning the new
movement, and discovered TO their dsmay that their
enemies based their charges the tact that the ey Q
OF the American import alton was black, whereas the
English oysters all possessed white eyes. Acomparison
showed that SUCH indeed, the case, but why such
q small difference should prejudice against them
more than they could understand. Even thls se-
charge finally was lost sight Of rs the newcomers
grew favor and thereafter the American and English
agents we're let alone
TRADK
that several great English wholesale dealers IN Liver.
pool havo their hands iull In attending ~ the Ameri-
the large cities on tho Continent The pioneer in the
wholesale business Is Mr. g. White, Of this city, VINO
is associated in the expectation OF oysters with the
| hrm Of Dorion l. Shafter, OF Fulton market Mr..
White attends to all the purchasing and shipping on
this side, and Mr. Shatier maxes tho sales IN Liver.
pool who're he is stationed and where is located tho
branch house. AZ the start but City barrels were sent
over weekly, Dut by judcious management on both
sides the business gradually increased until 15O 2J0
| md
zach week. When questioned on the subject yester'
day Mr.. White remarked mat the trade was yet ~
gave promise OF being vast in proportions and ucra-
tive 10 those engaged in IT, Intelligence, experience
cess This drm ship sounds, Eas. Rivers and Blue
Points, which mostly purchased at Perth Amboy,
Fulton market Here they are barreled and are taken
board the vessels OF the White Star and tho lnman
as as on sSe are
the oysters On board ship they arc placed in apart
ments specially constructed tor them and as the ship
ping season IS during the months OF September, Oclo-
Der, November, December, and up to the close Of
March, but little ice required during the voyage AZ
the oysters must drink, they arc watered at Intervals
and generally arrive British soil fresh, fat and ai
delicious as when barrcled. Tho profits may be
realized when II is explained that but SO "a
is paid per barrel on this the freight
81 45 per barrel, and that they readily command IRON
81 to $40 per barrel in Liverpool THIS amount has
| been often exceeded, aud tho net profit may
DO safely down at from SIS 10 50 per barrel The
American oysters now are sold cheaper than the Eng
sh brands, and year BY year VIII gradually supcrscde
them In their own markets.
The next largest exporter In this city Ia Mr. Edward
Simmons, wholesale oyster dealer ut pier No. "a North
RIVER He commenced shipping oysters 10 England Z
year ago. starting with i've barrels His first consign
inent was 10 Garcia ~ Jacobs, Covent Garden, L0n'
don. As he said, 'Thcy took first rate" and hi
cleared 50 So per barrel, after deducting reightage
and commission. The next shipment was hfty barrels
which was followed by 100, and now his weekly con-
Segment 10 Liverpool and London averages from 200
400 barrels. He has great faith In tho trade and
predicts splendid results.
He ships per order from the other side, as do the
| following named oyster firms, also engaged In the
~. l. Houseman, loot OF West Tenth street
j. n J. w. Ellsworth loot Of West Tenth street
These firms send on an average per week from 10t
| 10 900 barrels Numerous other small dealers ado
their share, which, with all combined foots up the
average weekly shipment from this port 10 200 bar
| rels, divided as follows-
WEEKLY EXPLOITATION
| FIRMS BdrreM
porlon Shaffer White. zoo
Edward simmons. 500
| n.s