New-York tribune., 1881-08-30
OYSTERS IN ABUNDANCE.
LARGE FALL CROP PROMISED.

The arrival OF September will soon signal
the beginning OF the annual onslaught by the public
the oyster II oysters have dreams they should be
ancted with terrible nightmares. in which visions Of
rakes, dredges. oyster-lnves gridirons boiling water
and millions of open mouths would appal thicker mailed
warriors than the notfensive shesh is however
they are stin enjoying their summer vacation growing
rat able to laugh at beings who have fight mosquitoes
and only having keep eye open
stars mussels, and " drills"
TRIBUNE reporter recently visited some oyster
dealers to learn about the supply oysters for the
ing season. The wholesale dealers occupy covered
boats or barges, about twenty five of which
moored along the waterfront West-st,
North OF the Hoboken ferry, and eleven
Others situated at the foot OF Broomet East River
On OF these crafts the foot of Broomet, the
porter obtained account of the oyster trade from
Alexander Frazer, extensive dealer.
"Well, SIR" said he, " from present iadcatons you
may expect large supply for the comin season, espec
ally OF large oysters such here in the
city, The prospect looks good, indeed The
are growing finely and few beds have molested by
any OF the oysters enemies There have been few
destroyed in Princes Bay by the mussels and borers,
and there have been good many oysters killed by
borers in Oyster Bay. But these depredatOns not
very serious Seastars starfsh have given much
trouble of late. and have heard Of drumhsh much
since about six years ago. they DESTROYED oysters
worth $5OO0O in Princes Bay.
WHERE THE OYSTERS COME FROM.
"Oysters received here from Port Washington
and Genwood, the East River; Stamford and Green.
wtch, Conn; Oyster Bay Cow Bay Rockaway and Blue
Point L. l.; Princes Bay, 6. l.; Keyport, Perth Amboy
and the Shrewsbury River, N. J.: and also from the
Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and Norfolk, Va All
the oysters coming from the East River along the
sound call by the general of East Rivers add
ing the name OF the locality where grown, as Port
Washington East Rivers More oysters being raised
up the East River and Sound every year.
Five times as many come from there did few
years ago. They are suppauting the Virginia oysters
In popular favor. East River oysters salt, while
those from Princes Bay what call fresh' The
burys are of about the quality East Rivers
what we call sounds are oysters taken from
newark Bay, when about the size OF dime quarter
dollar. and planted. Blue Points are the favorites
with eonnosseurs and noted for their sweet rich
flavor The grounds are ON the south side of Long
Island Blue Points arc not salt Easu Rivers
Those are best which grow naturally and are not
planted.
The Virginia oystoys inferior raised IN ths
vicinity and will ouly bring 80 bushel Out OF
the schooners when East Rivers command 81 so There
is much difference between Points virSinias
as between domestic and Havana cigar the
locality where the oysters hav, FROM you should
show me ten different kinds, ds by looking The shells.
But there really varieties, the difference all de-
pending on the locality in which they grown mud
bottom oyster is darker and of poorer quality than one
grown on hard bottom. change from kind of bot
tom to the other make them fat and better
Oysters wiz grow plumper and rounder on n hard
bottom Growing In mud their shape is elongated. IL
where the s years growth sde '1 and y% nStce ea" ss sSs
growth in each year after Many oysters are also
places. Oysters begin to spawn about May Is and are
about Though by August goth.
ROW THE CROP Is MARKETED.
There are,' continued Mr. Frazer. "abou thirtylye
Wholesale oyster dealers in this city, only ten or fiji
teen OF thts are heavy planters We keep number OF
sioops, and employ many during the season. paying
good hand nj "A 1ha runi
something like two iron rakcs with handles hinged
broad iron rake with curved teeth and dredge or
scrapcr with wire hemp netting catch the oysters
The boats usually go out and get back with a load by
evening" In time Tor the next mornings trade Trucks
then take tie wherever orders for he
end any are left they transferred To this
barge which Is easily done Il rides level with
Who are your best customers in the city
The hotels usually: some unpretentious ones
9se %nte asge quantity Of e%siers Then we sell TO
counters, which you the street corners use more
than yoa would think They our best customers in
supply comes from Princes Bay and Keyport In the
way and East Rivers are in market all the season ra
September to May But then some restaurants viii sell
v,rsiay Many oysters cGSas direct in schoonera
are d here IN pa Many toe & ars opened there and
East River beds get frozen over winter winter
deayeG S Ter' 's's''' weeks when oyster boats were
The oyster canning business is large interest here
as oysters are shipped all the country especially To
the West Virginia plants and Sounds mostly used
ur-
as cans preserve he avo e ser @ IN Ffs Of M late years
flled they sealed and put in a box with ic. paeEe
around lhem II the weather is warm, that is hot ne
though could not give very estimate of it,"
GROWING DEMAND FOR EXPORT
"What is The prospect for shipping oysters TO En-
rope9
I'VE could probably ship more than we shall have IN
send. The foreign market oysters that 1n
from 1000 to 800 in barrel. There is going to he
scarcity of small ones, as our home market using
smaller every year. Our export trade has grown
up in the last years. Five years ago sent over
100000 oysters and received word that market was
glutted Now this market sometimes exports a oOo
barrels a week Last year 10000 barrels were ey
ported and In the before about barrels Tho
Enghsh not as great oyster-eaters as Americana
They like their native oysters best they have con
pe'y taste Consequently American oysters only bring
sboat half as much English Some OF their oystnrs
come from Wales and some from Ireland, where large
Our exports go mainly To Liverpool and London. A
80 10 .eed darT The we er send & good many to
they at high tide. law there prevents anv
fpe of Sng t up navs & n oysters during three Of the
stock during three months Oysters Tor not
headed up they Would not ee II opened d mness ea
picked Blue Points the fayorites i'm the for
their being taken up before september 49,
The demand for cams is at its height when that for
been the best for In years back The
IRON FIRE Island and Egg Harbor being INFERIOR
VIEWS OF OYSTER DEALERS
prominent dealer in oysters at Fulton Market said
recently There never was promise of better season
than this There is nothing complain OF in size or
flavor. The ShrewsbuTys and East Rivers we find more
abundant than before and the is ar and Of
q rich and delicate flavor. Rockaways are by soma
thought better yet The outlook for foreign trade
with England and France better, there being
a constantly increasing demand"
One dealer at Fulton Market took more gloomy view |