The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-23
FARMS NO eve HAS SEEN.
Eastern Oyste. Beds and the Method Of
Planting and Harvesting the Crops.


Planting and Harvesting the Crops.
Oysters are raised by cultivation. just
rs fruits and vegetables are. They are
found in all seas liz from four feet to six
fathoms of water, and never at great
distance from the shore. They are
most abundant in the quiet waters of
gulfs and bays FORMED az the mouths Of
larger rivers. The principal sources of
supply for the United States are the
Chesapeake BIZ. New Jersey coast and
Long Island Sound. Formerly the
Northern beds were almost wholly kept
up by restocking with seed oysters from
Chesapeake Bay and the Hudson River.
but of late the oyster reapeTs have Sc
cured the seed, or spat, as the fisher
men call it. during the spawning sea-
son. and new grounds have been utilized
until the area Of the oyster bells can be
measured by townships. and is constant
" extending.
Althoug., there is no such thing a.
buying the beds of any of the public
waters, vet oyster grounds ara, in q
manner, bought aad sold in this way.
a man OF a company viii clear up 4
new place and begin raising oysters. Ii
these men wish to 20 out of the husi-
ness they sell their squatter's right to
their bed. The right is recognized
in the business, and such sale
holds good by common consent.
The spat gathered in TIE spawn
iny sea 'on is scattered over the
beds from which oysters have been
gathered or on new,y-prenared ground.
As the case may be. Here it lies from
one year to five or six years RocSa-
ways lie about one year and Sounds
from three years to five years. The in
crease is from three to six baskets for
every one of spat. The chances, as a
rule. are in favor of a good crop, bat
the oystermcn have many things to con-
tend with. so that it sometimes happens
that when they go TO gatl,ar the oysters
they find either dead ones or none at
all The oyster has its natural enemies.
such as the drum-iish and star-fish,
second place, the ground sometimes
proves unsatisfactory. Sometimes
heavy weight of grass grows fast to
them, and. pressing them down in the
mud, snOthers them. or.when they are
on sandy soil. storm will occasionally
cover them entirely with sand. HOwev-
er. with the constantly improved meth
DDS of cultivation, means are being con-
tinualiy devised fer the better protection
of the oyster.
Two-thirt.s of the oysters now brought
into the New York marke: during the
summer ana autumn come from the
lower bay ant are called Sounds. The
remainder may be said 10 come from
Rockawav. Blue Point and the East
River. The winter trade depends more
or les; on the supply from Chesapeake
Bay. although large quantities taken
in the New York waters are stored Tor
winter use.
Down on West street, Z few blocks
TIorsh OF Canal street. little fee OF
oyster boats. packed together like sar-
dimes in a box. may be seen any day de-
livering their carmoes. How one ever
gets out Is Il profound mystery. The
hoatmen themselves say it often takes
half day to get one clear OF the rest.
They are small. s;ngle-masted. and each
carries 4 iib. They vary IN length be-
tween thirty feet aud forty feet long
They cost between $500 and $1,000
apiece. accord n@ to their size and the
manner ii which they ere fitted up
There are also Il great MANY steam
tugs il the business. Each boat usually
carries five men. The Wholesale deal
e-s. who have their houses upon RATS
along the dock. Own or have an interest
in most of these boats. One dealer Will
often own n number OF sail-hoa's. CIR an
interest in several. and perhaps 4 num-
Der of tugs rs well. There are. how
ever, many boats that are run by the
men who sail them. The boats usually
STAY out 4 week or six DAYS. Each is
provided with oyster-tongs and 4
dredge. Al first. while tie |
oysters are thick. the men use
the ton@S. Af,erward they finish |
up by raE;ng over the ground with the |
crcd@e. The drcdCe is IN iron rake in |
two sections. 1t has 4 bag ha"ginr |
from the back of it, made OF iron Inks. |
The oysters. a they are rakei up by |
the teeth OF the dradge. are showed |
back into the bag until it is fiilsd. ard |
then it is raised and its contents are |
empticd on board. IL is either dragged |
by tie sajl-boat with spread canvas or
worked By steam.
When boat has Il load Of oysters.
which is from 1000 10 500. according
to the size of the craft. it carr cS tie
oysters to water-!ogged crib. Tnis is
done in order that the oysters may
drink. and thus gain = fine pump Al
pearaaee for market. and also 10 sup
ply themselves with circulating fluid
to stand long transportation. Tnev are
usually put IN the crib ut ebb de u it
is only then that oysters open. After
this other boats deliver them to the
wholesale dealers. Oysters s-e CLASH
fed accord NJ to their size. As extras.
BOX. cullinS and cullentireS- Some Of
he dealers open the oysters that they
handle while others simply deal in
hem in the shell. The openers get one
ioilar thousand for opening the oys-
,ers, and one man can open from 5000
20 6,0UG day Y. sun.