National Republican., 1883-09-29
He Is Not Sick AT All, But Robust and Healthy
as Mr. TidOn.
Every Indication That He Will Be Nu-
merous as Need Be in the Markets.
Some Interesting Facts About His Home Habits, the
Food He Feeds on and the Climate He Enjoys
The Few Things That Impair His Health
and NhOlesomcness.


the disease which the New York dealers
have reported was about to depopulate the
great beds of the Chesapeake aud its tribu-
utaries Mr.. j. j. Hogan an old and cX-
perienced oyster dealer of this city, says tho
oysters were never better than at the present
season. They are fat and healthy. get them
from New York, Philadelphia, Port Nor |
ris, n. j.; Norfolk, and Chesapeake
bay. The supply is as great as the demand
now, but if the demand continues to increase
as present indications promise, the supply
may fall short. ! am running double force
at present, and the trade is better than ever
before in my experience at this season. Al
though oysters are plentiful now, they are in
reality growing scarce, owing to some cause
or other. ] receive all kinds, but have never
noticed any disease in them.
Cant. Davis, who is in charge of boat
which plies between here and the bay, said
STORMY weather hurts our business very
much, as it is impossible to obtain oysters
during bad weather. / believe that the
oyster is becoming scarce but those now be-
ing brought to market are in good condition.
They are fat healthy, and solid"
At the oyster wharves, foot of Eleventh
street southwest, Capt. Griffin said: II never
saw a diseased oyster i'll my life, and have
been in the trade over seven years. Some
times oysters have blisters on them, which
arc caused by lying in brackish water, and
tions become putrid from the change. The
oyster having been removed from it's natu-
raj element, hasn't q chance to recover from
any disease it may contract, but grows worse
and dies. The oyster crop is growing scarce
because they don't breed fast enough to sup
ply the demand. Oysters are generally i'll
good healthy condition this season. The oys-
termen say it would be of great benefit to the
oyster trade here if all boats were compelled
to obtain license before allowing them TO
dredge in the Potomac All boats which en-
ter the tributaries Of the Potomac, either in
Virginia or Maryland, must first be licensed
This would be check the numerous
dredgers who come into the Potomac from
New York. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and
other places and monopolize the home trade.
The only way to secure this benefit is for the
legislatures of Virginia and Maryland to
enact the same law, and thereby protect their
own interests"
is green gill a disease"
"No. Wherever the oyster lies or beds, it
lives upon the food found there which is n
species OF lettuce, similar to our garden let
tuce, the only difference being that the former
only has a single leaf to each stalk. The
oyster eats this herb and, instead of taking
away, it gives it life. And it is this herb
which produces the dark green color some
times seen in oysters. The only thing which
causes much havoc among oysters 1t what the
oystermen call winter kill 1t is caused by
tile oysters DelDR CauhnU III SuOil WlJeE ny u
severe winter and having the ice freezo thick
aud solid above them. This does not always
destroy them, but makes them weak, emaci-
ated, and, of course, unhealthy Many
oysters gre found this season which have been
effected by the winter kill
"The oysters are generally better on the
Virginia than OH the Maryland side this sea-
son. This is because severe rains, which
affect some portions of the river more than
others. The prices are better below than
here on account of the demand being greater
for the Baltimore trade and for planting pur-
poses in York river. Nearly 1000 men are
employed in the oyster trade in the Potomac
and its tributaries, who receive on an average
$15 per month salary"
Capt. Noland, an old oysterman, said he
had been informed by several reliable gentle
men that in boat load of oysters taken to
Baltimore from East river, the oysters com
menced dying from some unknown cause
soon after their arrival ut Baltimore.
1t has only occurred in this one instance
1t was nevor known before to oystermen in
tn is locality.
Mr.. L. l.. Johnson an oyster dealer, who
has been in the business for nearly twenty
five years. said: II have heard of smoth cred
and diseased oysters. They are mostly found
in planted beds, inexperienced persons who
plant them place them in piles instead of
scattering them. and the under ones are
smothered to death from not having sufficient
space IN WnlCn 10 ODtaln lOOu ana ar L ne
talk about scarcity Of oysters is all fudge
There will be oysters just as long there are
people to eat them. The law Of Virginia,
which prohibits dredging within her
territory will run out in year
or so, and then oysters will be
plentiful The Pocomoke river and
Tangier sound have become widened by
boats having been drawn through them so
often, and hereafter in these places the oyster
crops will be larger than ever before. The
oysters are very good at this time ofthe year, in
fact the trade is booming have been buiser
this season than ever before in my experience.
/ have not seen any diseased oysters, except
ing some which had been planted. 1t is rare
thing to sec diseased oyster unless it comes
from planted bed.
Mr.. George Harvey, who has had over a
quarter of q centurys experience in the busi-
ness, said:
say that from Kent island within twenty
five miles of Baltimore, to Cape Henry, n
distance of l40 miles, the bottom of the bay
is, with slight exceptions, continuous oyster
bed. All the streams that empty into the
bay within the above named limits, are stocked
with oysters as far as their water is salted by
the tide. The area of the oyster beds Of the
Chesapeake and its tributaries may be safely
estimated at 5000 square miles
There is, however, great inequality
in the quantity of bivalves scattered over
the bottom In some places they are so lew
as to render the business unremuneratiye
while in other portions of the bay they in
crease so rapidly that many perish from the
weight sutiocation, and want of food. The
number of bushels taken from the beds in th'
Chesapeake is enormous, and some idea car
be had from the fact that the bay is divided
into four departments, each having its prope
police regulations
From the Baltimore district, which include
Washngton-and is loss than one half of tn
oyster fisheries-an average of 100000
bushels are taken annually in a legitimat
manner, that is by dredging and longing
Nearly 25,0O0,000 bushels are taken annuall
from all the departments, not including oys
ters taken from private beds on plantation
owned by private parties.
Notwithstanding the similarity of the dill
ferent varieties of the oyster each preserve
its identity, and they remain, as il were, Il
separate families. The number of varietie
found in the Chesapeake has not been pre-
cisely ascertained, but it is supposed to b
about thirty.
ssThose in the Ideep water differ from thos
on the shoals, and the same variety is no
Infrequently found in two rivers near thei
ntrance to the bay Nature has provided
hick, hard shell capable of afIording perfeC
eCurity against their enemies for thOs
the deep waters, while the shell
# those in comparatively shallow water
where their foes do not exist al
hin and easily broken Oysters are foun
II most of the saline waters on the glob
where tides ebb aud flow, except in extrem,
- tavo I'm thaxy utt Ia ,