The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-12-17
THE TOOTHsOME OYSTER.
somc Interesting Facts About the Value
able 1yfyatye.


Some Interesting Facts About the Value
able Bivaive.
The New York correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette" writes: This
shell fish was known to the ancients.
Its name is derived from osreon, the
Greek for bone. Oysters, indeed, have
not only been popular among all ma
tions, but the very name has maintained
q corresponding identity in all Ian
guages; thus, in Latin, it is ostrea; in
Russ, ystrite; Danish, oster; Swedish,
ostra; German, auster; French, huiter,
and American, eistrcn. The notion that
this fish is only wholesome during the
r months is entirely modern, and is
incorrect. but it is advantageous, since
the summer is the spawning season, ana
hence the fish should not be disturbed.
There are at least sixty varieties of oys.
ters, those found in warm latitudes be-
ing inferior to the. product of cooler
CLINE. The oyster lives on minute par
t1cles which enter the shell when open.
1t cannot move, and therefore its food
must come to it. Hence, like Micawber.
it is always waiting for something to
turn up" "Native oysters" are. those
taken in their native bed. Oysters are
improved by changing, and hence trans
planting is an important feature in the
business. "Oyster seed," as the little
ones are called, are purchased for 81 per
bushel and planted in favorable spots,
whence they are taken up by huge
rakes. When the oyster season stops
during summer) the clam season sets in,
and thus each fish has its day. CLAIMS
have been very cheap and immense
quantities have been eaten, but oysters
will now to a great degree take their
place.
During my residence in this city the
oyster trade has increased more rapidly
than almost any other speciality. Few,
indeed, can form any idea of its i'm
mense extent. 1t is estimated that the
sales in this city during the present year
will exceed $4,000, 900, and at this rate
an aggregate of almost thrice that sum
will be reached through the Union.
More than 10000 persons are engaged
in the traffic in this city. There are
those who buy and sell by the cargo,
while others job in smaller way, and
then there is the countless variety of
oyster saloons, from the splendid Broad
way basement down to the street stand
where capital of S5 is sufficient. When
l was lad Canal street was the popu-
Lar center of the trade, and one often
heard OF oysters "on the Canal street
plan" This term, however, is now for
gotten. One of the heaviest dealers is
James Boyle, who has been extensively
engaged in shipping oysters to England.
The great oyster market is now at the
foot of Tenth street, where the boats
daily discharge vast cargoes. You can
get dime stew or buy boat load OF
the same man. The fashion of eating
on the half-shell is on the increase, and
this leads to demand for experts in
the trade. A good stabber," as the
term goes, may now obtain liberal pay.
The rapidity with which the work is
done is certainly marvellous, and the
amount which some will cut in this
manner is equally matter of admira-
ton. One man has been known to open
800 per hour, and keep this number as
an average for more than half day
making 6, 400 in six hours. The reader
can hardly imagine the dexterity re-
quired in this immense execution, and
Ill ldcJ the 6tuteulcub seems almost In
credible.
The late Sidney Dorlon was the most
popular oyster-man in America. He
began poor, but left fortune. This re-
markable degree of success was due to
his rare neatness and good taste. His
place was always attractive, and so were
his oysters. Hence he commanded the
best patrons of the city. Simple as the
cooking of an oyster may seem, there
was fascination in Dorlon's style
which few could approach. He died
few years ago, leaving $50, 900, all made
in moderately y-sized oyster-house. Van
Name, who kept at the corner of Broad
way and Fulton street, won distin-
guished reputation in this line and be-
came rich. He afterward got above his
business and caught the fever of re-
nown. Leaving the oyster saloon he
was induced to aid in organizing saw
ings bank, of which he was made presi-
dent. Instead of serving out shilling
stews he sat in cushioned chair in
business parlor, and signed such papers
as were placed in his hands. The re-
suit was just what might be expected.
The bank failed, and Van Name not
only lost all his money, but narrowly
escaped an indictment. 1t is a curious
feature in the trade that dealers when
sending home oysters to their customers
always use pail painted blue outside
and white inside. Blue and white are
the oyster-man's arms.