The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-02-15
IRISH OYSTERS.
Something About the Celebrated Beds
ofSneem.

Something About the Celebrated Beds
ofSneem.
I recently paid visit to the celebrated
oyster beds of Sheen, writes correspond
ent from Kenmare, Ireland. Kenmare oysters
or rather BANDS oysters have quite a
reputation in the oyster market. MIR. Bland
is the proprietor of the beds, and owns
large property in the neighborhood.
Commencing with this season he has form
ed limited liability company, for the more
profitable working of this valuable fishery.
The oyster beds are twenty acres in extent
produce some 300, 900 annually, which are
selling now at ten shillings ($2.50) per one
hundred. During the past year they have
been sold at twelve shillings, fourteen shil-
lings and up as high as sixteen shillings per
one hundred, wholesale They are shipped in
boxes, generally containing about HOO, to
Killarney, thirty five miles, and from there by
rail and boat to Cork, Dublin, London, Liver
pool, etc. AS may be judged, oysters are
at present beyond the reach of men of even
moderate incomes. They have been rising in
price every season, until they have reached a
point when it is found cheaper hospitality
to take a friend into club or first class res
taurant, and give him a good dinner than to
ask him to have an oyster lunch.
was rowed over the beds, which at the
time of my visit were covered with from ten to
twelve feet of water, shown how the seed was
laid down, and the gradual development from
the " spat ITO the mature oyster. The seed !"
is brought from the French coast, price
varying from three shillings to 60 per 1000,
according to size and age. The coast of
Brittany is the great source of supply for the
English and Irish fisheries. This seed is
placed in trays 6x3 feet and four in height,
made of fine galvanized woven wire, and
divided into six compartments. The frame
is of thick stats; over it is placed tight-ft-
ting Frame called the ambulance :" the
frames are well tarred over with boiling pitch,
and in this condition are placed in the beds
The second season these are picked over, the
large ones taken out and placed in ponds or
"parks which are sections 50x20 feet
under water formed by strong wire. Here
they are left for another year, when they are
removed to the regular bed, as required. 1t
takes four years-two years in these nurseries,
and two years in the regular beds-before the
oyster is matured and fit for market.
With the old native spat the Irish oyster
grew to larger size than is produced by the
foreign seed, although the superior favor and
excellence of the latter is admitted. A large
staff is kept employed at the Sheen beds, and
oysters are taken up from the middle of Sep
TENDER to the end of April. The drive from
Kenmare to Sheen is one of the most delight
full among the many charming drives in this
part of the south of Ireland.
The queen of Tahiti has been travelling in
the United States incognito, under the name of
Mrs. Solomon"
The report of the New Jersey State Fish
Commissioners shows that the effort to stock
the Delaware with salmon has been unsuc-
cessful.
The secretary of the navy has opened ne
gotiations for the purchase of either the
British ship Pandora or the British ship Alert
for the Greedy expedition.
= - -. IL l. c.