The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-04
LANCASTER COUNTY.

LANCASTER COUNTY,
RAMBLING ABOUT THE NORTHERN NECK-TIIE
OYSTER INTEREST-DEPREDAuO OF THE
pREDGERS-THE MANUFACTURE OF FISH-0IL
AND GUANO-HOw The FIsH ARE CAUGHT
TRUCKING.
Especial correspondence of the Dispatch.l
WHITESTONE, August /, 1888.
Lancaster is the last county in the North
ern Neck, and has population OF G,1jO-
white, 2,62G; c0lOred, 1884. III is situated
between the Chesapeake bay and Kappa
hammock river. and is nearly surrounded by
water. There are several large creeks,
a mile or more wide at their mouths, that
make up from the river and bay into the
county, and are navigable for steamers and
large Sailing vessels for a distance Of from
two to four miles. On the river side are
to be found Moratica, Mud, Lotus Key,
Deep. Whitehouse. Eastern and Western
Branch, Taylor's, Mosquito, and Carriers
creeks, and on the bay, Antip0isen, Dy-
mer's, Tabb'S, Indian, and Dividen.
THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.
From these different creeks there are
several coyeS that lead up and branch
of in divers directions that are filled
with the choicest oysters to be found
in this section. The oyster-rOcks or beds
are found nj the mouth OF the Rappahan-
mock Is well rs in the bay, and extend as
far up as Russell Rock, near Tappahan-
mock, and during the season hundreds OF
small sail-boatS known 10 the oyster and
fishermen as canoes dot the water, their
owners briskly applying their tongs, catch
ing oysters for the market. They usually
make from s. 10 IS per day. In early fall
f4t rf
sold TO parties who own shores or cOves
in the different creeks. There oysters are
called plants. They are put down and
allowed to remain for one or two seasons,
so rs TO allow them TO fattcn and increase
in size. When taken up they are put in
barrels and shipped to market. They bring
from s. TO $500 per barrel. Tabb's, Anti
poison, and Carriers creeks have the great
est reputation. In the months Of Decem-
Der and January these oysters are superb,
but in September and early October they
are not fat, and therefore not so good, and
the traders often complain.
SHIPMENTS LAST SEASON.
Ten thousand barrels were shipped last
season. The cause Of the high price OF
oysters last winter was owing to the
scarcity produced by dredging. and it is
said that If the oystermen continue ship as
a. heavily ~ they have been doing during
the last few seasons there will be but few
left. and the Legislature that meets this
winter ought 10 enact some law so as to
enable them TO have better protection than
heretofore. Last year vessels dredging
could be seen in the mouth Of the river at
any time. The dredgers did not seem to
mind Governor Cameron's war upon them,
for his fleet was no sooner back i'm the
harbOr al Norfolk than they were again ut
work. Ii Is said that they 20 i'm large
fleets. and that the crews OF each vessel
IRE well armed. Last winter. on the bay
side, where fleet OF them were at work,
they cleaned up the oyster-beds, com
pletely destroying even the smaller oysters.
OYSTER CANNERIEs.
There are two large oyster-canning estab-
lishments in the county. They employ
about seventy-fye hands each III shocking
and canning the oysters. Smokers open
the oysters, and are paid six cents per GAL
Ion for steamed and twenty cents per gal
Ion for raw. The steamed oysters are
placed i'm Authenticated cans and sealed,
and the raw put into barrels solid. meats,
and dry, with large piece Of ice TO keep
them from spelling, and shipped to mar
kets North, South, East, and West. When
bought IN these markets they are taken
out OF the barrels by the dealers, placed
upon perforated board, allowed there to
drain, then thrown into fresh water and
washed. After this they are dipped up and
placed into large Tins or tubs with fresh
water and offered for SALE,
HOW THE OYSTERS ARE SOLD.
During the winter numerous vessels
F.,V oil Of fry no
engaged In tue oyster trade. AS soon as a
vessel casts anchor. IL she is buying oys-
tiers, she runs up to her masthead q basket
or flag. which is signal 10 the oystermen
ashore, who Immediately proceed to board
her. Oysters are sold by the basket. Each
basket is supposed TO hold bushel. These
vessels will carry from 200 TO 1000 bushels,
and il usually takes them from two to four
days 10 load, according TO the price offered
and the size of vessel. Last season oys-
tiers sold for fifty cents per bushel. The
number OF bushels sold was 100000,
TIE FISHING INTEREST.
The principal interest here, however,
and the largest, Is the fishing business,
which has sprung up In the last few years.
AT this time there are twenty-five fish-fac-
tories In the county, representing an in
yestment OF e150.000. They are built OF
timber, and are worked principally by
steam, and are engaged in the manufacture
Of fsh-oil and guano. This oil, IT Is said,
rs shipped TO European markets, where,
after manipulation with other oils, it is
used as olive. sweet. and castor-oils, and
for paints. The fish caught for this pur-
pose is the alewifc. The amount OF oil
manufactured tins season, II Is estimated,
will reach about 100000 gallons. 1t is
worth from 80 10 30 cents per gallon.
Two and bali bushels Of 6sh gene