The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-03-10
OYSTER PACKING.


the SHORES oil the Chesapeake.
The oyster industry of Chesapeake PEN
insula, when considered in its several
branches of planting, dredging, longing
and packing, is something wonderful. 1t
has expanded immensely during the past
ten years. 1t was in 1857 that the nucleus
of this great industry was formed at Sea-
ford, Del, by company of capitalists
from Fair Haven, Conn. At the period the
business was principally that of can pack
ing, and canned oysters commanded a ready
sale throughout the North and East. Previ-
GUS to this time the rich and valuable oys-
ter deposits of the Chesapeake Bay and its
tributaries, covering an area of marine ter.
ritory of about four hundred square miles.
were comparatively undeveloped. Aside
from furnishing subsistence to the immedi-
ate inhabitants, most of whom, although
they kept on planting and multiplying the
beds, were really ignorant of the incalcula-
BILE wealth they lay hidden in the great basin
of the bay, the Chesapeake oyster was
scarcely known. Now, with largely in
creased demand for it rs an article of food,
with the introduction of improved appli-
ances for facilitating the taking of the
biyave from its natural element and prepar.
ing it in various forms for the market
canned, steamed, picked ind tubbed-
with o radical change in the whole system
of operations, and with the augmented
water and rail facilities for cheap and rapid
transportation, each recurring season wit
nesses very perceptible increase in the
magnitude of the industry Packing houses
are springing up oil over the Peninsula,
wherever the facilities for getting the oyster
from the bay and shipping it to market
offer Inducements to locate.
The most prominent packing houses are
those at Crisfeld, Seaford, Cambridge.
Deals Island and Paramount, though there
are numerous houses operated on small
capital in nearly oil thu small towns in
proximity to the oyster grounds. Consid-
cradle difficulty was previously experienced
by packers in towns on the fresh water
rivers and creeks on account of ice block.
AIDES and consequent suspension of naviga-
ton. This difficulty has, in a measure,
been obviated by the erection of branch
houses close TO the grounds, and MS result
continuous trade is maintained through.
out the season without serious pecuniary
loss. The houses are put up without any due
regard for symmetry of proportion or beauty
Of architecture, but are substantially con,
structed of frame. Upon one side of tho
interior, extending the whole length of the
building, are the troughs, with capacity
of two bushels of oysters. Alongside is o
small piece of square-top iron, firmly set in
the bench, upon which the nib is cracked.
On tho opposite side are tho oyster bins,
with capacity of from Eve hundred to one
thousand bushels. Each shucker is provid-
ed with bucket, hammer and an oyster
knife, and for each gallon Of oysters OPEN
ed, when put into the dumping tub, the
shucker receives a check, q small circular
piece of brass, bearing the monogram OF
the firm, and which Is Dashed every Satur-
i y. Crisheid is the most important town
engaged in the industry. Situated near
what Is known rs the Nanticoke md POGO
moke sub-peninsula, on the Annamessex
River, and in the immediate vicinity of the
great Tangier Sound oyster deposits, it pos
sesses unrivalled advantages as to situation
and means for vigorous prosecution Of tho
business.
There are two grades of oysters, known
as the " straights," taken Unfortunately
al he GALE
carefully "cullel." The process of shuck-
ing is simple, and an expert and industri-
GUS shucker will average about fifteen gal
Ions per day of ton hours. The hammer
md knife are in general use, though here
hey open the oyster by process called
stabbing," using thin steel blade about
two and half inches in length. and, in
stead Of cracking the nib or the large end
of the oyster on the 4" bank " with the ham
mer, they insert the blade on the side, al
most in line with the abductor muscle,
and by dexterous twist of the wrist throw
of one valve, leaving the oyster whole and
solid in the other Most Of the packing
houses pay fifteen cents per gallon. Girls
field shuckers receive twenty cents per gal
Ion.
BY n careful computation hsre are ON
ployed in and about the numerous packing
establishments in the Peninsula 8, 900 men,
women and children, white and colored, in
the various capacities Of shucking, wash
ing, transferring and packing. There are
500 boats called " orphans" or boats that
are not regularly engaged in the business,
but which are hold in reserve in cases of
emergency. There are 1000 dredging YES
sells, averaging twenty-five tons each, with
1900 canoes and smaller craft which
" tong about six bushels each daily dur
ing the season, which usually begins about
he 10th o. September and extends to thu
last of April, atmospheric influences per
hitting, for o sudden transition from ex-
IRENE cold 10 protracted warm, sulfry
weather is disastrous to the business, and \
phenomenal thunder storm in February 10
death to the oyster. There are afioat on
these boats Is, 900 men and boys.
The aggregate capital represented by the
several establishments is $1,000,000. The
product for the year 1884 was 10000, 900
bushels, with shipment npproximating
Is, 900, 600 gallons. The oysters are pack
cd in wooden tubs, varying in size from
two to twenty gallons, and are distributed
over the Northern, Eastern and Western
States. Middle Pennsylvania and Upper
New York, receiving large proportion Of
tiade. The trade in bulk, or oysters in the
shell, is gradually extending beyond local
Unite, and in favorable weather many tons
are shipped North, several of the most
prominent houses sending $1,000 tons per
annum. II must DO borne in mind that
this represents merely the industry az IL
exists in the Peninsula, and has no refer
ence to the trade in oysters in Virginia
waters, which, were it added, would swell
he business to prodigious proportions.
Religious Liberty.
There was very sad case in the police
court this morning." said lawyer to his