The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-10-07
OYSTERS VERY PLENTY.
An Experienced Dealer Tells all Abe
Them and the Universal Demand
for Them.

Them and the Universal Demand
for Them.
4" There will be plenty of oysters this sea,
son" said Mr. Alexander Frazer, the veteran
oyster dealer of the North River wholesale
market.
''Whcre do you expect to get the oys
tiers ?n
considerable number will be brought
from the james River The Potomac prom
ises to furnish large quantity. Baltimore
and the shores of Eastern Virginia bid fair
to add largely to the supply. Besides these
there will be about the usual quantity from
Princes Bay, Keyport, Shrewsbury River,
East River, Rockaway, the Sound and other
places nearer home. There need be no fear
of n famine in the oyster market"
+" How many oyster will be required for
the season?"
!" should say that during the whole sea-
son fully 10000, 900 oysters, reckoning at
the average rate of bivalves to the bushel,
will be required to supply the market each
day. The consumption of oysters is very
large Some are eaten ut the regular meals,
others as a sort of luxury, like ice cream in
summer. But oysters seem always to be in
good demand during the season. When
scarce, it is hard work to keep up the sup
ply but it has to be done somehow or an
other"
" You speak of the season. Are not oys-
tiers good all the year round ?n
Dut II would NOT 10 In 10
mand should lie kept up all the summer as
heavy as it is in winter. Oysters would run
out and it would require game laws to pro-
tect them from entire destruction. As it is,
many natural oyster beds have been ami
Inflated through reckless fishing. The de.
mand is rendered less by its being consider
ed unhealthy to eat oysters when the letter
or" does not appear in the name of the
month. This allows the oysters time to
spawn and to great extent protects them
without exercise of the game laws. Besides
which it helps the trade in CLANS. There
shellfsh that they feel they cannot live
without eating something of the bivalve
kind. Consequently, when oysters are out
of season. they consume clans, and thus
give oysters rest as it WERE"
" Does the expectation Of oysters serious
ly affect the supply?"
"Well, yes and no. When there is run
on certain kind, say Keyports or East
River. for expectation, it may make that
class somewhat scarce for time. But there
are other equally as fine oysters that will,
in such an event, take their place in the
home market. If there should be large
export demand, more oysters will be plant
ed. The cultivation of the oyster is as much
business now as the raising of garden
truck. You would be surprised, If the sta
tistics could be had, at the number of per
sons now engaged in the artificial produc
ton of oysters. The oyster was at one time
the natural product of the American waters.
Years ago it was only necessary TO fish for
them. Now rs much care has to be taken
in planting them as IN planting green stuff.
70 rob an oyster plantation is rs much of a
mime as to rob q garden. Aud there are
plenty of oyster thieves, too. Planting oys-
ers has become quite trade or profession,
whichever you may like to call it, and the
preparation of oysters for eating has also
became an art"
Are oysters shipped largely into the in
terror where they are not produced 2"
" Yes. The quantities that go West are
something enormous. They are opened
near the place of production, and after be-
ing carefully packed are sent off by rail.
Even with the cost of transportation they
can be shipped SO that they are supplied to
astual consumers nearly rs cheaply as in
New York. The canning process has made
them reach their destination in nearly as
good condition as when fresh opened. OF
course there is difference. But to those
who cannot get the fresh oyster, those can
ned or barreled form delicious substitute
l do not think much of the supply which
comes to this market is thus disposed Of
Those which come here are either actually
consumed in the city or in the outlying
towns and villages. You must recolleci
that there is very large population resid
ing within short distance of New York
They get their supply of fresh oysters from
or through this market. When this is taker
into consideration it will easily be under
stood that supply of 20,OO0,000 oysters
every day cannot be too many"