The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-01-23
The Decline OF the Oyster.


The Unitesl States Commissioner
OF fish and Fisheries has in bis re-
cent report called the attention OF
Con- ress TO the decline of the oys-
ter. Beds which formerly produced
forty one bushels to the acre now
prodnce but twenty 1--WE bushels.
Around New York sludge acid too
il doip: deadly work among the
biyalves, and what with reckless
depletion OF the beds, and corrnp-
ton OF the food supply. "a gloomy
prospect is held out. This is u se.
rious question. AT present VIC con
shme i've and u halt millions Of
oysters annually. There is no
Doubt aboutfhc number, for Pro
lessor Baird and Lieutenant Wins
low have counted them aud the
connection Of this vast mass OF
succulent blvalves with the pros.
perity, the material ard moral
health and progress of the country,
cannot be insisted upon too strong.
Iy. How closely the oyster is in.
ierwined with all our deepest and
holiest feelings; how indispensable
1t is to the proper carrying on OF
politics, our commerce, our church,
festivals, aud our love making, per
haps will never be clearly perceiv.
ed until We have lost this ultimate
and most dear friend until the
face Of the land IS darkened and
the gayety OF the nation in eclipsc,l
by tho removal Of the familiar and
ubiquitous sign boards which to.
day carry cheer 10 the heart OF the
gloomiest by their announcement
OF "Oysters IN Every Style.r
For what would America be
without the oysteri A. shutller
would pass from Maine to Florida,
fron, Atlantic to the sun kissed
shores Of the Pacific, at this
thought. Deprived of her favorite
dainty, New York would be a .City
OF Dreadful Night Sixth avenue
and East Fourteenth street, would
echo no more with the shonts OF
the reveller. The burden OF sus.
tanning that region OF nocturnal
festivity would fall upon the CLAN,
and he would sink under il, and
perish amid the scorn of those
whose digestive organs he had in
suited by he offer OF so inadequate
aud inelaslic u substition. Nor
have NC to evolve these alarming
conclusions from our imaginations.
The sad experience of a sister ma
tion confirms but too strongly our
darkest apprehensl0ns. A few
years ago and the drumbeat of
England was M ubiquitous as the
tin horn Of New Years day; her
dag was upon every sea her com.
mcrce was in every market; her
pickles. pale ale, aud globe.trollers
were as thick Ms leaves in Vallom
brosa Ter diplomacy was success.
ful; her colonies were contented ;
her policy, at home and abroad; |;
was admired aud respected.
But there came a day when her
oyster beds no longer yielded as be.
fore. First there was an oyster
famine; then the oyster ceased to
be accessible to the masses. And
30, the deca,Ience Of England dated
from that dreadful day. Since the
Disappearance Of the oyster moth.
ing has gone right. We have all
marked the rapid decline of that
great power. 1t Is no wonder that
the British press should have hailed
the new year dejecteHy. But while
some ascribe the unhappy state OF
of things TO Gladstone, and some to
free trade, and some to other eau
ses, it is clear to the unbiased OBJ.
server that the oyster is ut the bot
tom of all the trouble And with
thls example aud warning before
Us it behooves Congress to take
prompt and adequate measures for
the rehabilitation of our noble BIZ
valve, and to guard zealously
against the threatened extinction,
which must involve IN its consum.
mat;oa the disappearance Iof all
that makes life worth living.