The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-03

! jaws are lowered to the bed, and then thu
handles are manipulated so as to close the
pair, thereby enclosing most of the oysters
within the span.
The owners of oyster vessels experience
considerable difficulty in procuring work
ing crews, especially for the boats that
operate in defiance If the law. The labor
itself is arduous, and the liability to pun
ishment for Illegal acts deters men from
engaging in this undertaking by their own
free viii. But their will is not Away
consulted in the matter. These piratical
marauders do not hesitate to set press
gangs AT work whenever there is need of
hands, and woe betides the unfortunate
fellow who falls into their power.
1t is said that life on an oyster craft is
almost uncomfortable The busiest season
of the trade IS in the coolest weather; aud
the crews are usually exposed to all the in
clemency of winter, for oyster boats are
not generally constructed with much re-
gard fo- the comfort of the men. Cases OF
frozen hands and feet are common: the
writer has witnessed in the hospitals of
Baltimore q number Of amputations from
the causes here specified. The captains
and
OWNERS OF TIE PIRATE BOATS
exhibit as little conscience in dealing with
their crews as with the officers of the law
The men say they are compelled to toll
from eighteen to twenty hours day, re
cefving but very scanty supply of food
ana no protection against the winter cold.
1t is a common saying among those who
know that the price of oysters should be
reckoned in human blood.
Though many oysters are shipped directly
il their shells, the largest portion are first
opened, or ''shucked.'' The soft little
creatures are taken from their shells,
washed and placed in cans, or barrels, and
sealed and then packed in ice. If designed
for ''coves," however, the oysters are
treated somewhat differently. They are
first steamed; as a result of this process
the shells open, and the fieshy parts are
quickly removed. These are then subjected
10 an additional Steaming operation, then
placed III cans, heated to boiling and her
medically sealed.
A word now in regard to
THE INDIVIDUALITY or THE OYSTER
as a subject of the animal kingdom. The
creature is usually thought to be a type of
duncery. LAS dull as an OYSTER has be
come proverbial comparison indicative of
a minimum of intellect But the oyster is
far from being devoid of sense. On the
coasts Of France, oyster schools are in
successful operation, and thousands of
learned bivalyes yearly make their way to
the French capital. Paris must have
oysters on the half shell, but it is not pos
sible to transport them alive from the sea
board to the metropolis. Before they have
been long from the water, the foolish ere;
lures insist on opening their skells, thereby
losing all the enclosed sea water; and in
of this, if left to themselves,
they soon die. But they may be trained to
better behavior. After being caught the
oysters are exposed on portable trays with
out water In a short time the shells open
and the creatures are left to suffer in 4
half dried condition. The agony is al
lowed to continue as long as is possible
without sacrifice of life and the attend
ants then immerse the trays in sea water,
the oysters are refreshed and
soon
JLosE THEMSELVES Up FOR ANOTHER NAP.
This time they keep their shells shut for a
much longer period; but when at last they
90 re open, they are left once more TO SUI
fer, and then are relieved by another i'm
ncrsion. After several operations of this
kind the interval between successive i'm
nersiOns being constantly heightened, tie
oysters become convinced that it is unsafe
10 open their houses, so the remain shut up
for long periods; and in this condition are
shipped away from their ocean
home and reach the table of the inland cpl
cure in living state.
Surely none Of US need pair of hopeless
diocy. The oyster can learn, and so may
we. j. E. TALMAGE.