Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-31
THE sUcCULENr BIvALvE.
Tomorrow win BE the commencement Of the
Oyster Season.
sEPTr1BI1 HAS An \ AND ALL TIE DEALERS ARE
GETTING READY FOR BusISEss-A PLENTIFUL
OUTLOOK ACCORDING TO REPORTS FROM EXPERTS
IN THE TRADE.

IN TIE TRADE.
The owners Of pungies, sloops and other sail
ing boats that bring oysters here from the lower
Potomac and the bay have been busily engaged
In getting their boats ready for the coming sea-
son, which opens tomorrow. and in making the
preparations considerable work has been done
because OF the large number Of boats engaged
In that business.
st. Georges Island, Cone river. Hog Island
and Cornfield Harbor are favorite places for the
oystermen during the summer season and MANY
boats are left at these places all the summer
without being used. Some Of the captains en-
gage in fishing and use their boats in that con-
nection, while others content themselves with
the easier work of hauling fruits and vegeta-
bles, principally watermelons, from points along
the Maryland and Virginia shores while still
others earn a good living taking out fishing
parties.
WILL COMMENCE WITH THE ToNGs TOMORROW.
Tomorrow the tongers are permitted TO begin
operations. as they do the least damage to the
oyster beds and do not take out so many small
oysters as the dredgers The dredgers begin
their work of destruction fifteen days later and
then 1t is that the oyster navy is most needed,
for II some restraint is not put upon this class
OF oystermen the private oyster beds that are
creeks would soon be destroyed.
These men operate under license for par
tlcular locality and the officers ore about to see
that they do not violate the conditions of their
license and to arrest offenders against the law.
This year the oyster question in Maryland is
an important one and promises to be a feature
in the state compaign this fall. The result OF
legislation on this important question is inter-
esting to all lovers of the bivalves and espe-
cially SO to the many thousand persons who are
employed either on the boats or in the canning
factories.
TO OPEN Up THE RETAIL TRADE.
Tomorrow being the beginning Of the season
many retail dealers will make an effort to open
up their trade for the season, and many oyster
bars in restaurants will be formally opened.
Some Of the saloons have handled oysters all
the summer and the wholesale dealers were
ready at any time to fill an order, although the
sales we're not large.
Last week. however. the trade showed signs
of increasing and several dealers gave orders
for an increase in the Norfolk supply as well as
those from Cone river where most of the oysters
come from during the summer months. as the
tongers are permitted TO take what oysters they
want whether there is an RI in the month or
not.
The oysters received from Norfolk and Cone
river during the summer, the dealers say, have
been of fine quality for the season of the year,
and some assert that they were even better than
they were during last winter.
The prospects, SO ovstermen say, are brighter
than they were last year and better season is
anticipated. Last season the oysters we're
small and Of an inferior quality bu. this year a
big improvement in the quality as well as the
quantity is looked for.
At least such are the expressions Of the
oystermen.
WHAT INSPECTOR HARRIS SAYS.
MIR. Gwynne Harris, inspector OF marine
products. said this morning that the oyster,nen
were jubilant over the prospects. and he expects
boat or two to arrive here tomorrow.
Between now and the latter part of the month,
he said. there would probably only be few
loads at the wharf. and on account of the
weather the shipments will be smaller than later
on when the weather is colder.
Last season, he said. the oysters were smaller
than he had over seen them, and good oysters
brought good prices.
Bat he added, good oysters always bring
large prices, ana the market is always good for
them"
The oyster houses about the wharf are ready
to receive all that are shipped. although water
melons are now piled in many OF the houses.
MR.. J. J. HoGAN's OPINION.
From present Indications" said Mr. J. j.
Hogan, wholesale dealer in oysters, "oysters
are going to be very scarce this winter. The
New York oysters are better than they have
been for number of years. and learned from
Norfolk shipper that the Norfolks were the
same. Oysters are higher than ever knew
them before and common stock is bringing 81
and S1.10 gallon.
The floods have killed nearly one-half the
oysters In the Potomac river, and should there
be a freeze here this winter they will be hard
to get at any price. The oysters coming from
the Potomac are only of one years growth and
half OF them are dead now, SO that they are not
worth shipping"