Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-03-06
OYSTER SHELLS.
The Biyalves Put to Many Good
Uses.
Remarkable Evidence of the
Indians Liking For Oysters,

lllOioii , E'N'ilA FOF oysters,
1t has been estimated that 23 600
900 bushels of oysters are opened an
nually in the United States, and that
this represents an acc mulation of
shells amounting to not less than 243.-
39O,0 cubic feet, which if spread
out would cover space of more than
450, 900 yards square to depth of
three feet.
No doubt the majority of persons
who have assisted III eating the oysters
contained in this enormous amount Of
shells seldom give a thought as to
what becomes OF these rough, uncouth
coverings. A few, perhaps, if qucs-
toned on the subject, would be likcl
TO reply that the only way in which
they had seen them utilized was in
filling up and making roads, en-
bankments aud wharyes, Ncverthe-
less, this is but one of Their many
uses, as they are extensively employed
i'll making "stools" for new oyster
beds, by spreading them on the bot
tom Of the bays and other bodies Of
water in which oysters arc propagatcd,
thus forming bed upon which the
spawn settles and grows into maturity.
They are also converted into lime,
serve as ballast for vessels, and made
into fertilizers. In addition TO this
they play an important part in the
poultry yard, where, in powdered
form, they are much sought after by
those engaged in raising fowl, of every
kind.
The early colonists used nothing but
oyster-shell lime, and in many parts
of New England there still exist mills
and kilns devoted entirely to the in
dustry of converting the shells into
that material. They have been used
in making hydraulic cement, when
mixed with clay and magnesa, and
gave perfect satisfaction, not only in
laying drains, coating ci>terns and the
like, but also IN making garden vases,
fountains aad other ornamental OBJ
;-.-'-- v,,usvi.. p 49, s4ses.--,4s
That these shells have been used for
fertilizing purposes for hundreds of
years is cvinced by the fact that even
now, in some portions of Canada,
W hat is called "Musse,- is dug
out of the remains of extinct oyster
beds by huge mach ncs adapted TO the
purpose and spread in thick LAYERS
over the land. This is merely sur
vival of an old custom, as we are told
that in early times they were labori-
ousiy drcdge out and used for the
same purpose.
Mr.. Ernest Ingcrsoll. a noted au-
thorily on the history of this favoritc
bivalye, states that "along the Pamiico
Sound, in North Carolina, when the
weather becomes warm and there is no
employment for their boats, the fish
ermen rake up boat loads of rough
bunch or coon oysters and carry
them to the farmers TO be sod and
used as n fertilizer, for which from
three to five cents a bu .hcl is paid
These "coon" oysters are seldom
eaten, but are found in immense guam
titles in southcra waters, every stake.
bit of sunkcn log, or bss bs..,,..sp asss.n.s 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 var Gus To-
ca.ities along the coast prove mex
haustible mines for agriculturists, who
use them as a top dressing for their
farms. In the neighborhood of DANA
riscotta, Me-, there are mounds which
are estimated 10 contain not less than
5000, 900 cubic feet of shells-a lasting
monument to the red mas partiality
for crustaceous food. Pri to bcin.
used the shell must be burned, which
is done in rude, homemade kilns.-
TDetroit Free Press.