Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-02
THE OYSTER SEASON.

THE MYSTIC POWER OF THE LETTER s'R"-KING
OYSTER RESTORED TO HIS THRONE AGAIN
WHAT DEALERS HAVE TO sAY-A GAIN IN FAT.
NESS But Loss In FLAVOR THIS SEASON.
Some cynic has remarked that the letter I, &C
cording to the estimate of the generality Of man
kind, is the most important Of the entire twenty
six, and the same authority further alleges that
when the mystic combination 1. O. u. is pre-
sented to man he is filed with the livelest
sensations. But just now everybody is conscious
OF the wonderful power Of the letter R. which
has reversed the sentence of Punishment against
the oyster and allowed the free American citizen
to indulge in this luxury after total abstinence
of four months. The power of this letter tran
sends that Of all the assemblies, paraments
and congresses OF the world, in that it has en-
acted and successfully carried into execution
sumptuary law. If the temperance people
could enlist the sympathies of this letter i'm their
behalf prohibition would soon be an accom-
plished fact Why the letter should have any
TO do with the eating or nOn-eatng of oysters is
one OF those things that no fellow can find out.
The commonly accepted theory in regard to the
matter Is that oysters are unhealthy from the
LIST of May to the LIST Of September. But this is
not the case. Oysters are eaten
THE ENTIRE YEAR
round in this city and In others. prominent
dealer told a STAR reporter that he supplied
physicians in this city with oysters in season
and out Of season. "The fact of the matter isl
continued the dealer, "oysters are good all the
year, providing they are fresh. In hot weather
IT is hard to keep them fresh when they are
brought any distance, but when they are in this
condition they are just as good on the 4th Of
July as on the 4th of September"
The truth about this letter business is that 1t
Is fraud and an imposture and has nothing to
do with oysters, but by a treacherOus usurpa-
ton it has succeeded in dethrOning the king
and reigning instead during four months of the
year. The law, however, lends helping hand
by prohibiting oyster dredging The spawning
season is during the summer months, and if the
dredging went on large number of the Young
oysters would be destroyed. But the law and
the popular delusOn being sufficiently gratIfied,
the hrst OF September witnesses the restoration
OF the most succulent of bvalves to its place in
the dietary. new article of diet is o very i'm
pOrtant event in the lives of most people, and
In the case of the oyster it is very welcome
one 1t breaks in upon the mOnOtOny of our
meals, In which beef and mutton have been re-
ligiOusly alternating; it comes home to our
wives at late hour Of the night and brings
peace: 1t swims vigorously about In a gallon of
hot water and milk until the mixture seems full
OF oysters, and thus repels the cruel ISLANDERS
on church fairs; it cools the parched and fevered
throat OF the man who had attended his lodge
the night before; it makes a collapsed pocket
book feel plethOrc; it is the patron of the quiet
tete-e-tete after the theater or concert and it Is
an oasis in the dreary desert Of the restaurant
bill of fare.
WHAT DEALERS SAY.
Dealers say that the oysters will be very fat
this year, owing to the large amount of rain that
has fallen. Men experienced in the habits of
oysters say that the mixture of fresh water with
the salt has the effect of fattening them. One
FISHERMAN told STAR reporter that while the
oysters would be fatter than thew were last wear
their flavor would not be so fine He Thought
that they would lose that peculiar SALTY flavor
which Is so tOOthSOme. Still he said the main
thing with the American consumer was the
plumpness of the oyster, and the flavor was of
secondary consideration. sin Europe, he con-
tlnued, "a small oyster is preferred because
they have found it has the finest flavor. But
still it Is much matter of taste and we have
customers for both kinds"
During the early part Of the season, and, in
TACT, during the oyster vacation
FRESH WATER OYSTERS
are generally used to supply the market. These
are taken from the fresh water creeks that open
into the salt water bays. Later on in the season
salt water oysters come into the market. The
market here, which is considered one of the
best. In the country. is supplied chiefly from Bal
umore, which lays under tribute the magnificent
oyster fisheries OF the Chesapeake bay. large
from Chesapeake bay, and great many are
shipped from Philadelphia. From the latter
source are obtained the Morris COves a fayOrite
oyster, with consumers. Large shipments are
also made from New York, especially in the
cary part OF the season. There is more than
fancied difference in the various kinds
OF oysters which take the name
from the locality in which thew
are grown. The kind and quality of the food
which an oyster eats makes as much difference
as with any other animal The Lynnhavens,
rom chesapeake Bay, have a great reputation
with epicures and so have the Saddle Rocks.
But a dealer told STAR reporter that it was
dlfncult to get either of these varieties, as the
bed was about exhausted. But he said that
MADE no difference in the sales, as the largest
and latest oysters were picked out and sold
under these names. ''As long as they are large
and fat, :" he said, with smile, '.people are SAT-
lsiled, and eat them with as much relish as If
they were the genuine Varieties
WASHINGTON AS AN OYSTER MARKET.
In further conversation the dealer said that
the oyster market of Washington was one of the
best in the country. 1t was better than Balti
more. because there the best oysters were re-
served for the wholesale trade and packing. and
the local trade was supplied with the inferior
oysters. The business done here in oysters dur
Ing the season Is an immense One The daily
ohphoitS W supply the demand reaches enOr-
nous figures and the business EMPLOYS large
numbers of people. The restaurants at once
begin to experience boom in the volume of
their business as soon as the season opens. and
many OF them would be obliged to close I'M If
deprived OF their revenue from OYSTERS Yes
terday being the first day Of the season. the
oyster fast was broken by the orthodox and the
restaurants did thriving business The paper
boxes which are used to put up fried oysters for
home consumption were once more seen on the
Streets and the glaring signs that announced
steamed oysters lighted up the fronts of the va
rious restaurants The oyster is king once
more, and his reign promises to be not only sat
sfactOry but successful -
The business of exporting oysters from this
country to Europe, which began with q shin
ment OF ten barrels about six years ago. has
grown to large proportions, and is steadily in
creasing. The English epicures turned up
their noses in disdain when first asked to eat
American oysters, but they have since learned
to appreciate the superior qualities of our BIZ
valves.
THE USE OF OYSTER SHELLS
Until recently oyster shells have been used
only for making lime. A few years ago some
body discovered that the shells made capital
foundation for oyster beds, and within q year
or two many thousands Of bushels have been