The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-15
American Anchovies aud Chinese
Oysters.

Eugene G. Blackford, of Fulton Market,
New York, who found recently that white
bait may be caught in the neighborhood of
New York, has just made another discovery
or revival. This is, that the anchovy, that
delightful fish which in the form of paste
or sauce Is 80 familiar to epcurcs, may be
had without going to Europe for it. Mr..
Blackford's discovery was the result of in
tclligcnt observation. When "whitcbait !"
fishing was at its height here a few months
ago he noticed that great many of the
fish brought to market were not of the gen
uinc whitcbsit type. He carefully declined
to put these fish on the market, although,
as he says, other dealers arc not 80 conscien-
tious; and in order that the American world
might not be deceived, Mr.. Blackford for
wardcd to DR.. Bean, of the Smithsonian
Institute, and to Professor Fred. NIathcr a
well known pisciculturist, specimens Of the
alleged whitcbait. Then 1t was found that
these fish were nearly allied to the anchovcs
of the Mediterranean Sea, tho cn0rauiis
encT0stchotus, the American fish being the
Pittatus. The American fish have been
knows for long time in these waters as
"spearing," and when the question of
whitehall came up, were sold largely for
those fish at rs cents per pound. They are
fonnd abundantly near Gravescnd Bay, l..
l., and in the little inlcts and bays on the
Long Island coast. The whitehall, Mr.
Blackford says, are the young of tho her
ring, while the "spcaring" are spcaring
and nothing else. Within a week there has
been no catch of these fish, the large catch
of blucfish keeping them away. Formerly
when they were caught they were thrown
away rs worthless, although the cncyclope-
dlas recommend them rs anchovies White
bait and spcarin:!s may be readily distin-
gulshcd. The latter arc marked by q bright
silver stripe, on"-siXtecnth of al inch wide
on the lateral line. The remainder of tic
BODY Is scmi-transparcnt, and through the
skin may be seen the stomach and intcstincs
Whltebalt has no mark along the lateral line
ana ls covered completely with fine silver
scales. whitehall are caught mostly off
Bay Ridge, L. l.
Like 80 many peculiar things in the
Celestial Empire, the system of breeding
the Chinese oyster differs widely from
that pursued in Europe and America.
In the southern parts Of China collectors"
OF bamboo are placed in the oyster beds,
much after the same fashion as the clabor-
ate tiles and "hives" employed in France.
Those oystcr-catchcrs arc, however, pre-
pared in curious manner. The cans are
exposed for about two months to the rays
OF the sun, and then placed for similar
period In salt water, after which they are
again dried for several days, the object be-
ing to preserve them from decay and pre-
vent the twisting or warping of the bamboo.
Notchcs arc then cut in the canes, into
which. empty oyster shells are fixed, like 80
many cups, and thus prepared they are
driven into the seashore between high and
low low wnSr %" snnt PhS 5 a sSa
~.~~:~- - ---Lnrn the riae and fall of
the tide is the greatest, 80 that the bvalves
may be alternately covered by the flood and
exposed to air on the ebb. There the young
oysters thrive well and develop rapidly, and
are quite ready for the market when they
arc two years old. A large tradc is carried
on by the Eersons who pursue the calling,
and who lave many thousands. Of these
collectors planted in favorable situations,
and some successful breeders have been
known to realize large fortunes. In China
large quantities Of the oysters are dried in
stead of being eaton in fresh state. For
that purpose they are taken from the shells,
simply plunged into boiling water, and then
removed at once, after which process they
are exposed to the rays of the sun until
every particle of moisture has evaporated.
In that state they will keep for length of
time, and are said to preserve all the deli
cacy of their flavor. The finest and fattcst
bivalvcs, bred and fed on tho leaves and
cuttings of the bamboo, are selected for
preparation by that method, those taken
from the natural beds being inferior in
quality, and not sufficiently plump to stand
the operation. .l