St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-01
OYSTER SHELLS.
Millions of Bushels of Oysters
Opened Annually in the United
Gtatac -

Millions OF buSnclSs OF oysters
Opened Annually in the United
States. =
P. t. Peale in Detroit Free Press rG
1t has been estimated that $4,000, 900
bushels of oysters are opened annually
in the United States, and that this rep
reSents all accumulation of smells
amounting to not less than 243, 800, 900
cubic feet. which if spread out would
cover space of more than 100000 yards
square to depth OF three feet.
No doubt the majority of persons who
have assisted IN eating the oysters con-
tanned in this enormous amount of
shells seldom give thought as to what
becomes of these rough, uncOuth cover
the subject. would be likely to reply
that the only way in which they had
seen them utilized was in the filling up
and making roads, embellishments and
Wharves.
Nevertheless. this is but one of their
many uses, as they are extensively EN-
ployed in making ''StoolS" for new oy-
ster beds by spreading them on the bot
tom of the bays and other bodies of
water in which oysters are propagated,
thus forming bed upon which the
spawn settles and grows into maturity.
They are also converted into lime,
serve as ballast for vessels, and are
made into fertilizers.
In addition to this they play an i'm
portant part in the poultry yard, where
in a powdered form they are much
soughtatter by those engaged in raising
fowls OF every kind.
The early colonists used nothing but
ch vol in a-fc af
New England there still exist mills and
kilns devoted entirely to the industry
Of converting shells into that material.
They have been used in making a hy-
draulic cement, when mixed with clay
and magnesla, and gave perfect salts
faction, not only In laying drains, coat
ing ciStefns and the like, but also in
making garden vases, fountains and
other ornamental objects exposed to
the elements.
That these shells have been used for
fertilizing purposes for hundreds of
years is evidenced by the fact that even
now, in some portions of Canada, what
is called 'mussel mud'' is dug out of
the remains of extinct oyster beds by
huge machines adapted to the purpose.
and spread in thick layers over the
land. This is merely survival of an
old custom, as we are told that in early
times they were laDoriously dredged out
and used for the same purpose.
Mr.. Ernest Ingersoll, noted author
ity on the history of this favorite BIZ
valve. states that 'along Pamlico sound,
in North Carolina, when the weather
becomes warm and there is no employ
ment for their boats, the fishermen rake
up boat loads of rough bunch OF coon
oysters and carry them to the farmers
to be sold and used as a fertilizer, for
which from to cents bushel is
paid" -
These ''coon' oysters are seldom
eaten. but are found in imm ense guam
titles in Southern waters, every stake,
bit OF sunken log or the branches of
fallen trees being loaded down with
them.
In the Northern and Eastern states
the immense mounds of oyster, clam
and mussel shells found in various local
tiles along the coast prove iDeXhaustible
mines for agriculturists, who use them
as top dressing for their farms. In
the neighbOrhood of DamariscOtta, Me-,
there are mounds which are estimated
to contain not less than 100000 cubic
feet of ShellS-a lasting monument to
the red mans Partially for crustaceous
food.
Prior to being used the shell must be
burned, which is done in rude, home
made kilns. A very amusing story is
told by Mr.. Ingersoll relative to the
discovery of an old kiln, which was
thought by its scientific finders to be an
aboriginal house until they found the
half OF a well-baked brick at the bot
tom of the structure.