Morning journal and courier., 1883-09-11
The Periodical Movements of the New York Oystermen,
 From fhe NaE York Sual

From the New York Suh.l
 Two men were standing at the head of one of the East river open piers yesterday after noon. While one looked down at the pave ment, as he knocked bits of wood and dirt about with long rule used in measuring lumber, the other wrote down on a handful of loose paper the facts which the first man was telling. As they talked a coIored boy about fourteen years old wandered along the pier, staring, with the air of one who was in strange place, at the rigging of schooner on the north side. As he reached the outer end of the pier he had clear view of the river. Stepping upon the heavy timber at the end, he looked down the river and then up. When he did this he stood perfectly still an instant. aud then, looking hurriedly around, started for the other end of the pier as fast as he could run. Nearing the two men, his great white eyes rolled as he shout ed:
 ''Hi, yah! Dey's had a freshit up de rib. Der, and yere's de fust house what's done fioated down!'
 The two men looked around. Sure enough, a neat two story fame house about 2Ox2s feet was floating along down toward the bay. It had peaked roof and the front ran up square, after the manner of country stores A man was sitting on the uncovered porch in front of 1t quietly smoking 8 pipe. One of the men at the pier looked at the sight in astonishment The other laughed and said:
 s'The oyster dealers at the foot of Broome street, North river"
 On the north side of the pier at the foot of Perry street were half dozen houses like the one seen in the East river. They were built on square boxes called barges. They were arranged promiscuously at the pier, while seventh was being lowed in among the canal boats and sloops that blocked the slip. A long row of these houses was in the slip below the pier. ''James w. Boyle" was painted on the front of one of the un- arranged houses.
 'sWhat is the meaning of this ?" was asked of MT. Boyle.
 t'The oYstermen who have been doing bus. mess at the foot Of Broome street, East riv- CT, |" he said, ''have for long time been dis cussing the propriety of having the business concentrated. By having our depots all as near together as possible it will be more con- venient for the customers and better for us. Yesterday we began to put our notions into effect. We cut loose from our moorings over there, tied on to tugs, and here we are. The rest are coming. We expect to fill this slip here as the one below there is filled. We are not settled quite, but we will be by Monday"
 Twenty-five years ago the oyster markets were situated at Coenties slip on the east side, and at Washington market on the west. The first move up town was to Catharine market on the east side, and to Spring street on the west. The oystermen did not remain very long at Catharine market, the most of those who were there going on to Broome street, where they tied up about seventeen years ago. A few went around to Spring street. About fifteen years ago the Spring street market was moved up to West Tenth, and now the Broome street men have fol lowed. The row of little frame houses, with baskets and barrels of oysters packed three deep all over the parlor floor, with the base ment filled with oysters in bulk, with neat little office, occupied by man who frequent ly eats one hundred Blue Points at a sitting, in one corner of the kitchen, and with the garret filled with tongs, sails, ropes and oth- CT dunnage used on the sloops, will extend from West Tenth to West Eleventh street.
 The oyster business has had the remarka- ble growth of 300 per cent. in the past five years. Formerly about all the oysters were brought here in sloops and schooners. Now during the busy season one line of steamers alone brings 5000 baskets week. Thou sands are brought by schooners and sloops, and other thousands by the cars. New York city alone consumed 5000, 900 bushels last season, it is said The out-of town trade is enormous, also. The capital invested in the New York oyster business is estimated at S25, ,0OO, GOO, the commission business, which once aeurished. having died out. The mum.