Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-30
TIE OYSTER SEASON. 800.
Preparations Now Being Made for the
Opening Day.


Opening Day.
OPINIONS OF DEALERS AS TO THE CONDITION
OF THE OYSTER AND THE PROBABLE SUPPLY
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE OYSTER
INDUsTRY-OYSTERs USED As MONEY-THACKE-
RAYS OPINION.
The oyster season popularity opens on Monday
for the reason that it is the first day Of Sep
TENDER and the name of that month contains the
influential letter r.
ut Is an old woman's tale about the letter R
| having any thing to do with the oyster as an
article OF food" remarked weil-kDown dealer
to a STAR reporter; "oysters are good all
| through the year."
The general opinion, however, endorses the
''R" theory. and consequently on Monday the
oyster market will experience boom. Dealers
acknowledge this weakness on the part of the
people, but are not inclined to find fault with
any thing which maFes business good. They
prepare for the opening of the fall trade and
the oyster counter with the array of bottles OF
condiments are being cleaned up in readiness
for hungry customers.
Il expect trade will be very lively this year"
said dealer. THE oysters are going to be I'M
usually good, and think that the supply will
be plentiful
''Why do you think that the oysters will be
Because they have been undsturbed all
summer" was the reply. 1.-THE law prohibits
dredging from May until November, and during
that period they have a chance to grow and get
fat. Then again the oysters that we have been
receiving during the past few weeks are from
the beds. and they are in good condition The
rock oysters are. as a rule. fatter than the bed
oysters, and if the latter are in good condition
the former must be prime"
THE CHESAPEAKE OYSTERS
The bulk of the oysters that supply the WASH
ington market are obtained from the Chesapeake
bay and its numerous salt water tributaries, and
they are said to be the best in the world. Oys-
tiers, however. are obtained all along the Allan
tic coast, from Canada to Texas, and some
species, such as the Blue Points from the Long
Island coast, have obtained great celebrity
The Lynnhavens from the beds Just inside Cape
Henry. are now a fayorite oyster. Col. NJ Nc
Donald attributes the extreme fairness and flavor
of these oysters to the incursiOns of fresh water
twice each day when the tide runs out to the
bay. Special brands Of oysters. however, are
not OF as much consequence to the consumer in
this District as in other places. for the reason
that the oysters brought into this market are as
a rule In prime condition. The easy access to
the oyster beds insure plentiful supply of
fresh oysters each day. and there is very re-
spectacle fleet of oyster boats going up and
down the river engaged in supplying the WASH
ingtOn market"
THE OYSTER CONSUMPTION IN WASHINGTON.
81 suppose" said dealer, THAT between ten
and twelve hundred bushels of oysters daily
would supply the demand here in Washington.
There are very few oysters shipped from this
place and the great bulk is consumed here. The
trade is growing each year and there Is great
contrast now with what 1t was some wears ago.
| suppose. however" he observed, that this is
only another indication Of the rapid growth in
population that is going on"
TIE OYSTER NAvIEs.
The annual yield ofoysters in the Chesapeake
bay is very large. and besides supplying the
daily market large quantities are packed in cans
and also sent to ether localities to restock the
exhausted beds. This industry Yields large
revenue to the states of Virginia and Mar ylanG,
but In order to enforce the laws it has been
necessary TO enact. for the proper protection of
the oysters both states have large police force.
The police boats are termed ''Oyster navies'
and are armed with cannon as well as small
arms. Some times fierce encounters occur be-
tween the oyster boats and the police boats and
the achievements of Gov. Cameron at the head
OF the Virginia navy last year has been made
the subject Of at least one ode In heroic style.
The main object Ofthe laws is to prevent dredg-
ing. which. it is claimed. is very destructive to
the oyster beds.
HOW OYSTERS ARE TAKEN
Dredging is done by scraping the bottom Of
the river with an open bag made of iron rings.
These bags or dredges are attached by ropes to
winilass in the boat, worked by man power
The oysters that now supply the market are OBJ
tanned mostly from beds Which are planted and
owned by companies and individuals. On the
18th of September the taking of oysters by
"tOngs" is allowed. A ''tOng" is kind of a
rake which the FISHERMAN lets down into the
water and draws up the oysters lying on the
bottom. The process is slower than that of
dredging. but not so Injurious to the oyster
beds.
OYSTER MONEY.
In connection with the subject of oysters, 1t
Is said that in some OF the lower counties Of
Maryland oysters often pass current as money,
and III some places even the subscriptions to the
local papers are paid in oysters.
THACKERAY ON THE OYSTER
It may not be out of place to recall to mind
the wcll-knOwn story about Thackeray's first
experience with the oyster. He was dining
with Mr. James T. Fields in Boston, and q select
company had been invited to meet him. Oys-
tiers on the half-shell formed. of course, part
Of the bill OF fare. Mr.. Thackeray looked with
some wonder at the shell giants before him, in
serted his fork into one of the largest turned 1t
over and finally. lifting it up, succeeded in
getting it into his mouth and gulping it down.
Then he laid down his fork and leaned back in
his chair.
well. Mr.. Thackeray." said Mr.. Fields, chow
do you frel?''
= Feel as if I had swallowed n baby" was the
quick and comiCal retOrt Of the author of Van
ity Fair
The roar that followed can better be imagined
than described.