The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-24
DAVID WECHsLER.
HOW OYSTERS AXE CANNED.
A Trip Through the Works at Bruins
wick
From the Brr,ns,oics tGa.) Times.


From the Br1tnstcick (Gd) Times
NTANTED--Boys and Girls at Bush dock, to
w shuek oysters.
This was the wording Of colored poster,
handed reporter yesterday, by street
gamin, who evidently thought he was
suited to that business.
Not being familiar with the mode of can
ming oysters, the reporter concluded to
apply at the dock for information. On
arriving there, he was met by Messrs
Bush 81 Hunt, the genial propriebors of the
factory, who kindly allowed him to
inspect the works at leisure.
The factory is located at the extreme
back of the Brunswick and Western rail-
road shops, and is built on an inmense
W arr, owned bv Bush Bros. A long build
ing occupies part of this wharf and the
other end is used as a platform on which
the oysters are thrown from the boats below.
The oysters are found in innumerable
quantities around many of the creeks and
rivers that are near this port They are
secured by oystermen-men who make
oyster gathering their sole occupation.
These men 60 in squads Of three or
more to the boat. Each boat holds
about four bushels of the bivalves, which
are gathered by means of tong-like
Instruments, being forced through
the mud, and drawn up i'll the same manner
that nails are taken from key. When the
boat is loaded, the oysters are carried to
the factory and thrown on the dock. A
force of negroes are there ready, when they
are unloaded, to place them in long boxes,
made after the order of { uit crates, which
are then showed into the steam box--a box
that is almost alright.
When the crates are all in position the
doors of the box are closed ana the steam is
turned into 1t by means Of on pipes, which
connect with the engine close by, the oys-
tiers are steamed thoroughly for a short
while, when the doors are again opened, the
boxes showed out with their content,
almost bursting themselves in efforts to get
out. The immense pressure Of steam had
been the means of partially opening, making
1t an easy matter for the ''shuckers" to com
plete the job.
After the oysters are opened they are
taken to a vat, washed, put into cans hold
ing one pound, and weighed This process
being completed, the cans are placed in
wooden boxes and carried to the filing tub,
where solution of prepared liquor fills
them. This liquor is prepared in such
manner that it helps TO preserve the oysters
after they are canned. From the filling tub
they are carried to the "capper,n who sold
ers tie caps on. From the capper they are
carried to a large tray, which is placed by
GERS KETTLE where they are steamed some
forty minutes, coming out prepared for
table use.
This 'kettle" is made of cast iron, with
an alright cover fitting over the top.
After the top is placed and fastened In posi-
ton, steam is turned into it by means of
iron pipes from the boiler, which keeps the
heat in the kettle" at an even emuerature.
cooking the oysters sufficiently to preserve
them for many days They are then drawn
out Of the "kettle," placed in the cooling
tub until the cans are sufficiently cold to
handle easily, when they are dried, pain ed
over with lacquer, labeled and cased, ready
for market
There is no trouble in securing a market
for the bivalves as orders for many thou
sand cans are now waiting to be filed.
The only trouble the firm has met with so
far is in securing a sufficient number of
"shuckers."
Mr.. Hunt, the senior member Of the firm,
has had thirty-four years experience in the
canning business. He invested his money
in the business at this point, because he Is
convinced that Brunswick possesses great
advantages over other ports in the matter
of shipping facilities.
The firm have large sum of money in
vested 10 their works, and contemplate
working 200 laborers before many days
have passed.
They are now having made two large
RATS, with house accommodations on board
These RATS will be anchored a. the oyster
grounds, with a squad of men al wavs
aboard, and as fast as one raft is loaded 1t
will be towed to the docks, unloaded, and
taken back to the grounds, thereby keeping
a supply of oysters always in readiness for
the shuckers.