Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-01
AlesagtIrla 6azet1s.
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MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER l.
LOCAL MATTERS.

For the Middle Atlantic States tcir "eatne d,
slight changes in temperature, 'aFlaolI co.,
mostly northerly. For luoSu"S
weather is indicated.
E1suw.ys-The Washington correspon-
dent of the Baltimore Sun says ;u
1.-THE indications now are tnat tueio WIN
have to he further legislation before the pro-.
nosed tishway on The Potomac, at Tue uiea'
Falls, can be constructed. Aiiuos. as many
dilfirnlties have been IN the way OF the cree
ron of this fishway as the building of free
bridge, and work has now been suspended.
The act ofCougress appropriating 500, OOO1o
the erection of fiShwav at the Great rails
provided that the work should be done I'M
der the direction of the engineer corps OF the
army, according TO paus adopted ny Proi;
Baird, Of the ti-h commits ion. Prot. Balrd
recommended that a patented ilshWay oe
erected. This patent Is owned by Col. NC
Donald and others, who are connected WIN
the fish cummi sSion i'll different capacities.
The owners put in claim for Sl2,OOO roy
atty for the Use of the patent. MAJOR Ly-
decker, who has charge of the work, con-
strued the law 10 the effect that the money
must be used in the construction OF iish-
way, and that be had no authority to pur-
chase any patent or pay royalty Tor the use
of q patent, and the Secretary OF War mas
given an opinion sustaining, Major lIydech.
ers view Of the case. Tne Secretary OF
War holds that the price asked for the roy
ally for the use Of The li>hway III question Is
exorbitant, and cannot aud will not under
any circumstances be paid. The chief OF
engineers therefore directs the suspension OF
the work indefinitely, which means Until
Congress meets again. Colonel Mcdonald
who is now In Scotland, Is also the lsl
commissioner of Virginia. but that State Is
not required TO pay any royalty for MS IN
yen,ion. a provision to that effect being con.
tanned in the articles Incorporating the
Fishway Company, which were accepted by
the Virginia Legislature. There are sever
al these li-hways in the Virginia rivers
The Cumberland Md Ners says:
Sc. w. Delawder, one of the Maryland
Fish Commissioners, and H. +. Howard, OF
New York. who is connected with the NC
Donald ishways, were in the city yesterday
on business connected with putting the hsh-
,yavs into the Potomac Mr.. Delawder in
formed our reporter that he will, in about a
week, commence putting in the ways, START
ing at Cumberland"
THE OYSTER SEAsoN.-We enter to day
upon the first oyster month, and already
dealers are busy shining up cans and meas
former places of business. 1t is generally
conceded, however, that the bivalves are
not in season until one or two cool spells
have spread over this section to chill the
water after which their use becomes aug
mented considerably. Its thought the guam
1ity of oysters this year will be much greater
than for the past few years, for the reason
that they have been undisturbed all sum-
mer. the law prohibiting dredging from May
until November, and during that period
they have chance TO grow and get fat.
The bulk Of the oysters that supply this
market are obtained from the Chesapeake
bay and its numerous salt water tributaries.
and are said to be the finest IN the world.
Oysters, however, are obtained all alongth
Atlantic 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 favorte
oysters Oysters are either procured with
tongs or dredges. BY the latter process the
bottom of the river is scraped with an
open bag made of iron rings. These bags
or dredges are attached by ropes to wind
lass in the boat worked by man power.
The oysters that now supply the market are
obtained mostly from beds which are plant
ed and owned by companies and individu
ais. On the 18th Of this month the taking
of oysters BY tongs is allowed. A tong is a
kind ola rake which the oysterman lets
down into the water and draws up the oys-
tiers living on the bottom. The process is
slower than that of dredging, but not 80 in.
furious to the oyster beds.
PERsoNAL.-The Sunday Washington pc
pers, in their Society Chat" have the fol-
lowing:
The family of Beverly Tucker still re-
main at Berkeley Springs, where they have q
cottage.-Among the Washington people at
the Hygeia Hotel, Old Point ARE Commander
and Mrs. Leary-Miss Mary Custis Lee of
Virginia, daughter Of the late Gen. Robert
T.. Lee, is at Newport as the guest of Miss
Almon. Miss Lee is recently returned from
abroad, where she has spent several years.
One Of the best Oarsmen on the Potomac
is the Marquis de Podestad, Of the Spanish
Legation, who may be seen every fine even
lug on the river in full boating regalla.
The Marquis exces in all manly sports, and
is a great athlete and pedestrian.
Launcelot Blackford, of the High School
of Alexandria, is now in Chicago with his
wife. having been married at Alexandria
on the 9th instant. From Chicago they will
90 to Canada, returning to their home about
the middle of September. For years past
it has been the invariable custom of Profess
sor Blackford to spend each summer trav-
cling ahsoad, custom which was this year
omitted in favor of his wife, who preferred
to visit prominent places Of interest in her
native country before going to Eurol >"
Rev: DR.. 0. F. Flippo, the Jealous pastor
of the Baptist Church here, preached at the
street Baptist Church, Washington, yes
terday., ;
Mrs. Anna Miller, Of this city, who is
quite i'll ut Sandy Spring, Nd, was con-
sidered somewhat better this morning, when
her son. Mr.. f. J. Miller, left that place.
" Nnc onri,ro1 hara Last