Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02


Of the Atlantic coast some localities suit them
better than others. And while there are local
dinerences IN shape, size and flavor, there are
still greater differences between those Of Amer
ica ana Europe. The American oyster 10 more
elongated more corpulent tenderer, richer In
nntriment and less saltish in taste It's En-
giish cousin IL almost round and il strong both
In mnscle and 10 the taste.
The Virginia oyster has a narrow she'll in
creasing gradually in size from the hinge: that
OF the north a rounded, white and yery irregu-
lar smell. but it attains immense size.
Inc pest northern oysters are 20 be
found about Buzzards bay, Birds Island. the
81 Charles and Mystic rivers. Blue Point ON
Long Island sound. Little Neck bay and along
the Jersey coast. but the Chesapeake is the
great reservoir and home for excellence and
navor. The Saddle Rock OF Little Neck bav
was once the favorite and most famous Of the
world some specimens measuring il is said
twelve inches in length and sly in width hut
the rocks have long since been stripped and
not genuine Saddle Rock has been seen for
over forty years.
THE BEDS OF THE CHESAPEAKE
The area Of the oyster beds OF the Chesa.
peske bay may be safely estimated a,
5000 square miles In some places. how.
ever, the beds are SO thinly populated as &C
render working them unremunerative. while In
other portions they are so thick and increase
so rapidly millions perish from sufrocation and
the superincumbent weight from accumulation.
In the most favorable breeding localities such
as Tangiers sound. the beds are two feet or
more In thickness, only few inches OF the
upper layers OF oysters being alive The younp
oysters, when they accumulate so rapidly add a
stratum annually, and a corresponding stratum
underneath must perish. The net increase ia,
therefore, only in the extension of the super
ncial area occupied by the beds. From Kent
Island within 25 miles of baltimore.
70 cape Henry, distance Of nearly
Ioo miles, the bottom of the bay is. with
lew slight exceptions. a continuous bed
OF oysters About 30.O0O.OO0 bushels are
gathered annually from the Chesapeake
ana Its tributaries. not including
G 1hose taken from private plants.
s fTSa planting grOInS are valuable and can
to hve feet of water rate at about slOo per
acre, and the most desirable grounds
pay an interest of more than 20 per
cent on that sum. The boundaries OF
planting lots or beds are shown from stakes or
small evergreen trees firmly secured in the
mud at the corners. These fragile corner
marks are strictly respected by neighbors and
a case OF trespass rarely occurs Now and then.
however, raiding fever will occur from bold
and absolute pirates. such as has recently been
progressing about Chester creek. and can only
DE checked by vigorous warfare from a fierce
ana mighty navy, commanded by officers who
may be captured and have their arms thrown
INTO the sea- but will never surrender or die.
AT THE WASHINGTON OYSTER WHARF.
In little by 10 room. cut of from a
larger one, and jammed right up against the
piers OF the oyster wharf at the foot Of 18th
street. is the Office of Capt W. c. holland. one
OF the best known and oldest dealers in WASH
ing. having been in the business there inward
OF twenty years. The captain is an old salt
OF the hrst water, having followed sea-faring
life the better part of his years. and until he
got wrecked away of in Oregon somewhere,
when he came here and settled down-about
as Tar from the wreckage as he could well get
he has bought oysters, sold oysters. eaten
oysters, thought oysters and talked oysters
until he is sizing up to the shape and rotundity
OF fat oyster. Capt. holland is a pretty fair
sample Of the wharf-dealers on the alert quick
TO see an opening, deals squarely, and is in
favor OF enforcing a statute prohibiting the
bringing of oysters into the District under any
circumstances between the 18th of Nav and
18th of September, Just as the game laws are
enforced. He has a list with the name, age
and standing of every craft in the United
States manned by licensed commander. and
can nearly tell the approach of an oyster vessel
before 1t passes Fort Washington by a Their
mometric premonition that something good 10
about to happen.
The vessels that bring oysters to Washington
are mostly in command of their owners with a
crew OF three to six men. The average load is
about eight hundred bushels and a vessel of
that capacity costs about -. 500. Generally
the seasons work is done ON shares One OF
the crew performs the duties of cook and from
all accounts II Is good thing they not at all
fastldlous or have raw oysters handy when they
don't feel like taking anything stronger Prep
aratlons have already been commenced by the
vessels TO supply the demand for the inaugural
event. The harbor will be crowded with boats
at that time, loaded up to the brim. all wanting
to sell and all wanting to get rich ON that oc.
caslon. The demand will doubtless be i'm
mense. When coming into port with a cargo
the captain Is open 70 propositions from buyers.
Under good demand tine dealer often takes q
whole boat-load, but il the supply is very
limited and the demand great the owner will
divide evenly, leaving the dealers TO fight it out
between themselves as to who shall get the
lions share. Sometimes when under these cir
cumstance q dealer is compelled to have a GER
tain quantity greater than his share 20 ill an
an important order he works his wits for all
they are worth to get part Of or all that his
neighbor has.
HOW THE PRICES RANGE.
At this time an inferior grade is bringing
about As cents a bushel. These are the small
river oyster similar to those taken about and
below Cedar Point. The best grades such as the
Annapison, are commanding about IS cents a
bushel. A bushel Of small ones will 'shucks
out about three quarts, good grades about one
gallon.
WHERE THEY ARE GATHERED.
An empty vessel upon starting out for load
heads for the grounds offering the best oppor-
tunities for the grade desired, and upon reach
ing destination basket is run up to the topmast,
indicating what il is there for. The gatherers,
dredgers, and tongers swarm around il like
bees. mostly in canoes, which hold from thirty
to fifty bushels each. The load is bought in-
discriminatory, at prices governed by the de-
mand and quality, and are assorted as they are
put into the hold IL a captain of a vessel
wants a special order filed. or is in a hurry to
load and return, and is willing TO pay a better
price than the ruling quotations, a second
basket is run up and he is soon overwhelmed
with the pedlars. But should another captain
want them cents bushel worse than he does,
up goes his third basket, and every mothers son
OF them will stop short of with No. and sell
the balance to the other man.
TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
Not all the plump, fne-looking oysters that
come to Washington are Cherrystones by
any means Some Of the gatherers have q
peculiar method of semi-transplanting them
for awhile before selling. upon taking them
out of the salt water they deposit them in fresh
water which has a tendency TO enlarge and
otherwise give them a better general appear
anee II an oyster be allowed to stav any length
of time in fresh water il will dilate and finally
burst the she'll The oystermen who bring
oysters to Washington avoid buying this kind,
as a rule. Many dealers in shucked oysters
and the street hucksters especially. enter
l. inf he .fxfn ~ aoha