The New York herald., 1879-08-31
ADVENT OF THE OYSTER.

THE TREAT THAT SEPTEMBER WILL BRING TO
EPIcUREs-sOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
THE LUSCIOUS BIvALvE.
Tomorrow will be day Of astronomical enjoy
ment such as only occurs year. and thou
sands-ndeed. by far the larger part OF New York's
population-will eagerly celebrate the hrst of
the "Rs" by induging in the luxury of
q. plate OF oysters on tho half she'll.
During the summer months the enthusiastic oyster
lover cannot be said to fully enjoy the beauty and
pleasure Of life. 1t is true that the succulent clam
may afford him some slight consolation for the want
Of his Blue Points extra Saddle Rocks. and soft
shell crab. fresh snatched from tho waters off Coney
Island, may possibly induce him to admit that
the summer season is endurable But the relief is
only partial. and it is safe to say that
many bon-virant will welcome the advent Of to-
morrow with glow or genuine pleasure; for then
it will once be permissible to eat oysters. Be-
side this peasurable feeling which it inspires tn
day has a more serious and practical Importance
for the thousands Of industrious persons who are
dependent on this great and fourishing business
for their support
FINEST IN FIFTEEN YEARS.
Delightful it is to know that from tomorrow
the oyster longer to be tabooed from any we'll
ordered table, the pleasure is greatly enhanced by
the that according to tho opinions of the best
known oystermen of New York, the shellash
promise to be finer, fatter and better this season
than they have been for fifteen or twenty years
past. This was the opinion expressed yes
terday by all the leading oyster dealers.
What may be the Of this is
a mystery which nobody pretends to solve One
savant thinks that possibly the abundance OF rain
and frequency of freshets during the SUNNI er had
something to do with it, but still he admits that
there is rule or logic about oysters, and that the
causes OF the failure success OF often
beyond comprehension. Another said it was gem
orally considered that abundance Of rain conduced
70 Tue VI sne crop, anu YET ne remembered
q very dry season some years ago when the oysters
were superstively fine. "But." said he never
mind the why and wherefore long as the pleasant
fact is well est blished that the oysters promise
be of excellence this year surprising that OF the
past fifteen twenty. Youthful oyster lovers will
have the pleasure Of now tasting the finest oysters
they ever eat.
TLoUR1sH1Na TRADE.
1t is pity that reliable statistics exiet showing
the precise extent OF the oyster trade of New York
the largest in the world The only trustworthy es-
Inmates those for Fulton Market. which, of
city's consumption Of the delicious bivalve A
well known dealer, whose intimate acquaintance
him to speak with authority, says that during the
eight months OF the year which compose the true
season the average daily consumption of Fulton
Market and its dependencies is $4,000 oysters. Dur
ing the four off inonths-May. June, July and Au-
gust-the consumption is about one-sixth of the
total of about 2O,OOo,OoO oysters per an
mum for Fulton Market alone. Now Fulton
Market represents almost entirely the retail
trade while the wholesale business is located from
he foot of Christopher along to Tenth street. North
River, aud at Broome street. East River. What the
extent of the wholesale trade is cannot be definitely
ascertained; but when ii is considered how small a
portion OF New Ycrks oyster consumption Full
orally get their supplies direct from the
scows, it is probably not an exaggerated
100 OOO,UO0 oysters per annum. This is. however,
only rough guess, as no trustworthy data exist on
which to form careful estimate. The greatest day
for the oyster business is New Years, when the
pckled oysters form an indispensable feature of
the New Years table. One firm alone picked few
years ago about $4,000 oysters for New Years Day.
COME.
Where do all these millions OF oysters come from
is an interesting question The great oyster beds
the past and present at Princes Bay and York Bay
the Staten Island coast; at Little Neck Bay Cow
Bay. Oyster Bay and Flushing Bay. Greattsouih Bay
away. Mill Greek. Mil Pond. Parker Bay, Absecom
Shrewsbury and other places along the north
ern ahe tha eaas Long sand and
we'll known sources OF supply; but what is
probably not well known is the marvellous fruit
fulness Of the oyster. which is said often to spawn
from ono to two millions, but of every hundred
ninety rule, destroyed before they arc
two days DID, by their enemies-mussels, gray null
lets and starhsh-or chilled by frost or stiied
under whiriing masses OF mud sand or seaweed In
the winter most of our oysters come from the south
in large schooners. each OF which brings loads of
perhaps 5000 bushels, each averaging $50 oysters
nearly half a million oysters per load.
Oyster dealers, as u rule, ridicue the prevailing
abstinence from oysters during summer, when thcy
say oysters are perfectly wholesome. though, per-
haps not finely favored during the ..r''
months. This summer the oysters have been OK
coptionally good. especially during tho lat
ter part OF this month. when the spawn
ing season proper had already terminated.
dealer said alt is laughablo to observe oyster gour
mands on May licking their lips after splendid
looking oysters devoured during the last days of
April. but still Resisting the temptation of eating
any more on the ground that they would be
wholesome, while they would have eaten
the very fish with perfect cheerful
ness the previous day. During mid
summer the best oysters are procured in
Princes Bay. back of Staten Island. doep waters
where IL is too cool for them to spawn. The pop
ular abstention during May, June. July and August
certainly appears mere result OF prejudice when IL
is considered that during the weather Ill Sep
tembcr the spawning often continues. while oysters
are. nevcri heess. freely eaten. There thousands
OF people however, New York who cannot got along
without their plates OF half shells during all portions
OF the year. and all these will be pleased to that
according to high authority. they need fear evil
effects from their midsummer indulgences. At all
events the oyster will tomorrow be available trade
not to be surreptitously indulgod in u violation
SAINT ,ry but with the sanction OF scientific
authority aud popular favor 1t may be expected to
appear fat. plump juicy and or lovely flavor, as
nourishng the brain and easy of digestion as Il
is delightful to the palate. Then all who acknowl
edge its gastronomical sway may enjoy IL TO their
hearts content.