The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-11-17
THE TOOTHsOME OYSTER.
ONE Interesting Facts About the vAIu
able RfvRlVe.


The New York correspondent of the
" Cincinnati Gazette writes This
shell fish was known T. 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
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, eistren. 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, and
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 a cooler
cline. The oyster lives on minute par
ticles which enter the shell when open.
1t cannot move, and therefore it's 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. CLANS
have been very cheap and immense
quantities have been eaten, but oysters
will now to great degree take their
place.
During my residence in this city the
oyster trade has increased more rapidly
than almost any other specially. Few,
indeed, can form any idea of its i'm
mense extent. It is estimated that the
sales in this city during the present year
will exceed $25, 900, 900, and at this rats
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 Fcargo,
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 $5 is sufficient. When
l was lad Canal street was the popu-
lar center of the trade, and one often
heard of oysters son 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
Of
get dime stew or buy a boat load of
the same man. The fashion of eating
on the half-shell is on the increase, and
this leads to a 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-
tion. One man has been known to open
900 per hour, and keep this number as
an average for more than half day
making 5,400 in six hours The reader
can hardly imagine the dexterity re-
quired in this immense execution, and
in fact the statement 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 a
few years ago, leaving 800, 900, all made
in a mOderately-sized Oyster-hOuse. Van
Name, who kept at the corner of Broad
way and Fulton street, won q 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 a
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. It 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.
A Copper Mine.