Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-16
Interesting Facts about Oysters.

Several Of the Connecticut and Mary
land iails contain prisoners who were
arrested for stealing from oyster beds at
night
New York's oyster trade Is said to
amount 10 $40 900, 900 every year. About
LOO vessels are engaged in the business
in that port.
Notwithstanding the fact that every
saloon in New York city advcrtiscg
" Saddle Rock oysters there not
been an oyster brought from that bed
for the lust ten years. That bed was
near sands Point. but was cleaned ont
in the COS.
American oysters sold in LIVERPOOL
Last winter for $40 II barrel; and IS. 900
barrels were shipped 90 that port. One
OF the heaviest transatlantic shippers
says that oysters arc delivered in Liver
pool In better condition than In Chica-
go, because when sent across the country
tho. jolting Of the ears opens the shell
and Kills the oyster.
The enemies which Tie owners Of the
oyster beds have to contend against are
the red drumlish, starfsh and small
shelliish called drill" which bore
through the shell and extract the liauor.
The red drumfish varies from two 10
tree feet in length, and his method il
and eat the meat. Eleven years ago a
shoal Of drumfish attacked a bed NJ
Princes bay, and in the course OF two
days ate up 1909 bushels.
III menhadden are caught by steam.
oysiTrs are also dredged by means Of
steamers. The first boat Of the kind /.
the Lockwood. which works AN oyster
farm OF 800 acres on Long Island
Sound. The grounds are in deep water
of the new lighthouse at Savin Rock.
The Lockwood j. equipped with steam
dredges. When the dredgcs are thrown
overheard they sink TO depth of thirty-
five or forty feet and are pulled in by
steam. They are often filled with re-
markablc collection Of big oysters. queer
looking hor-e fish, hammock crabs.
water spiders. pcriwinlics, soft-shell
crabs and other marine wonders.
Oystrrmcn OF Long Island are looking
forward 10 season OF unusual pros
periiy. A. more oysters are being grown
in their waters than at any other time
within twenty-five years. Oyster
planting associations have been formed
in some Of the south side towns. holding
and planting hundreds Of acrcs. 4 few
years ago great rivalry existed between
the planters and no united efforts for
protection was made. Oyster beds were
often robbed nj night Of their entire
contents. 4 better feeling was soon
brought about by the immense profits OF
the business. Ii is estimated that the
yield from the bays on the lower end of
the island will be 1000 barrels more
than last se4son.
European demand for the oyster Is ex-
pectcd 10 be much larger this year than
ever before. The American oyster was
introduced in England about five wears
ago. At that time the English dealers
succeeded In influencing the assistance
of the health authorities there. and a
very stubborn effort was made 10 keep
the article out Of the market In faci.
so strict watch WAS kept for the ar
rival of the oyster that men and women,
who were well paid. were compelled 20
peddlc them about in small baskets for
fear OF having them condemned by the
sanitary inspectors. The people. how
ever. showed a preference for the
Yankee oyster. 20 that last year the slip
ments ran ~ high as 10000 barrels.
some dealears sending ~ many hs !. 200
barrels at one shipment. Last year
prices for Long Island oysters ranged
from % Ia $3.50 barrel. and before the
European demand the prices ran he.
tween 81. 80 and S2.-Ihilalclphi1 7Fnies