New-York tribune., 1891-08-30
FLAGS FLOAT OYER THE OYSTER FLEET
REVIVAL OF BUSINESS AT WEST TENTu-sT.-
OPENING THE SEASON.

OPENING THE SEASON.
Flags are flying from the mastheads of feet OF taut
little schooners and sloops at the foot of West Tenthst
Bunting floats gayly In the breezes likewise from the
poles on the aholf story Gattop floats that
fastened TO the bulkheads along Westst In this vicinity
silence and idlcncss which have possessed the place
since May 1, have vanished and industrial revival
has been experienced In the neghbOrOod which exceeds
anything before known. It's all because Sepem-
Der is spelled with "r," and whimsical people who
give the oyster rest during the summer months are
ready now for the fan and winter campaign against
this succuent shesh. The little cove at the foot Of
West Tenthst. where the oyster fleet anchors, is filed
with the laden vessels and 5000 men busy bees
unloading and shucxing oysters from daylight until
night intervenes and stops the slaughter. Rows Of
men armed with heavy oysterknives sit on low boxes
in the floats, and other in from the vessels
lying near and dump baskets full Of oysters before
the stters. They are fetching in the oysters and
dumping them before the sltters all day, but the piles
grow. Before each oystcrshucker is up
right piece of iron, sharpened at the point and i'm
bedded In larger piece OF iron something like
blacksmths anvil. Dexterously grasping the oyster
in his left hand and placing its fiat edge the piece
of upright iron with single blow from his knife and
twir of the right wrist the shucker opens the she'll
and wrenches the dumb and surprised oyster from his
limestone shelter and casts it into bucket standing
near The shell heaps bigger and the buckets
filled many times day. The shuckers work long
hours and with wonderful swiftness They get 81
q thousand for all they open, and they make from
$5 TO 81 so day.
How is it, asked Tribune reporter, after sur
veyng the busy scene, of j. W. Boyle, of the lead
ing oyster dealers of the place, that there are many
oysters being opened now 1t is still three days 20
September /. Won't these oysters get stalef"
OH replied Mr.. Boyle, these are for the Western
trade-for Chicago, ST. Louis and Kansas City. They
are not so particular the Eastern people, but open
the season on August % some other day agreed
upon in advance by the dealers, hotelkcepers and
restaurant keepers. This year it Is August % The
Western trade in oysters Is enormous and of course
they all come from the East mainly from this city,
This city does business Of S1O,OOO,0Go year In
OYSTERS and about 100000 represents what is con
sumed here"
DO you ship to foreign countries n
dyes and that business also is growing i'm
mensely. Ten years ago we sent out dozen
barrels or so to Liverpool The English people
were preudiced against the American oysters at
first and the English Board Of Health
condemned them and forbade their sale. But we per-
sisted with what be seen in the fact That
last season the trade in this city shipped to England
an average of 5000 barrels week for the entire sea
son. from October l 10 May. Not only that but on
Nav about $4,000 barrels were bought by Engnshmen
to put down for seed in their waters The coppery
English oyster is not 'in it. with Long Island Blue
Point
How do you ship oysters TO go a long distance?"
"Those to the West ship shuched In tubs, with
piece of ice in the tub. tub will hold about looo
.culls' and about 900 boxes, as we call the Sc
looted size. They go by express, and each their
destination before the ice melts and as fresh as wheh
they started. Those going to Europe 90 in barrels
on top Of the freight in the holds Of fast steamers"
Cheering reports are coming in from the oyster
farmers of Long Island and Staten Island. H. DOA-
sey of Pearsalls, L. l.. writes as follows:
coax Island half-shes finer than they have Dech
for years. The flavor is delicious. They are beau
tif1l I'm shape round a dollar. and single as corn.
From Bayport, L. l.. r.. ,. Brown sends word as
follows:
"a have Just made thorough inspection Of our beds
and find them to be ir much hner condition than they
have been iur years. The California hafshell oyste"
is unusually fine. which should give satisfaction 10 the
hotels and other trade. You may look Tor shipment
on Tuesday next - q, co,ds tho
Freeman Sprague, OF Lawrencn, L. ~ soAuS Wv
have gone very carefully over all our grounds.
and find stock to be much better tlah iGr soe % q ai
past at this OF the year inulcatl0ns arc o %
they will be fullmeated and Of elegant naVOr., INC
growth has been very good and you may depehd OH
large supply" ~ d, . r,ord TINT he
onld he I'm the market with sloopload On september
much better than they were last YEAR; p, ctoter
T9nfan Peter Mcdonald. of Princes Bay Staten
. Have been over our entire grounds. East KiVer
Kills are very fine and have grown nicely We narS W
very large supply, and You can look for plenty Vi
my The OYSTER territory Of this section covers several
hundred thousand Of submerged lanos ana %ooo0
o r7o ,O Onrnsnccts of crop being fine the retail
dealers will probably charge no more than usual lol
Srv or n stew and housekeepers can continue 10 eet
100 saddlerocks for 81 80 and smaller oysters corre
| spondingly cheaper
| n ID a