The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-03-02
A GROWING INDUSTRY.
The Cultivation Of Oysters in New and
NeHSG Rivers.
SURPhSS THOSE OF CHESAPEAKE.
Some Interesting Information in Re
gard to the Cultivation of the Lus-
ciOus Bivalves-Neuse River is Par
ticularIy Favored for This Indus
try-The Outlook Bright.
Jesse Mitchell in Manufacturers Record

ticularIy Favored for This Indus
try-The Outlook Bright.
Jesse Mitchell in Manufacturers Record.l
There are probably no waters along
the whole Atlantic coast from Maine
to Flo:ida more fayorably adapted to
the cultivation of oysters that is,
what is known in oyster parlance as
selects, or the best market grade
than the immense sounds and con-
Meeting streams that skirt the coast
of North Carolina, and yet there is
hardly a section of country in the
whole South so isolated and little
known to the world at large. But
new era is dawning upon it to awaken
it from its lethargy and infuse new
life in the dormant limbs, that it may
take its stand in the rank and file of
future possibilities and attract CAPT
talists and settlers.
A railroad now being constructed
by the East Carolina Land < Railroad
Co. will traverse the better part of
this csuntry, skirting the sounds and
salt water tributaries, thus furnish
ing an outlet for these oysters to the
markets of the country, and by the
cheap transportation enable the plan
terS to compete in price with those
from the Chesapeake and other sources
along the coast. Lack of tranSporta
tiOn facilities has been the drawba
to the development of this industry.
This road is already in operation as
far as New river, which has from time
immemOral enjoyed a local reputa-
tiOn for the excellent quality of its
garden oysters, said by cOnnoiSSeurS
to SuTpaS.5 both in size and flavor the
choices products of the Chesapeake.
When the value Of these waters for
oyster culture began to be realized the
government ordered thorough sur
vey to be made and the whole careful
ly plotted, so they are now considered
as government property, and the gar
dens are obtained through grants
from the State, the only requisite
necessary being that the applicant is
a freehOlder and resident Of the
State. Each garden contains fifteen
acres. but it is not unuSualfOr d planter
to own several adjoining ones. having
entered them through the male mem
bers OF his household or outside par
ties and bought in at a nominal figure.
Oysters follow the same inyaria Bile
law applicable to all growing matter,
vegetable or animal, that those grown
by cultivation are superior to the un-
cultivated, so these oysters are trans
planted in the garden from natural
rocks (alSo the property CT the govern
ment, which has prescribed laws reg
ulating the taking of the young ones
and otherS) and allowed to mature,
requiring from two to three years.
The best beds are those lying in close
proximity to the mouth of fresh
water tributary, for it is from this
source that most of their food is Oh
tanned which gives them their size
and flavor.
Neuse river is particularly favored
for this industry in several ways.
First, the ocean bar is too shallow to
float the smallest sailing craft, except
at very high tides, which occur very
seldom, thus providing an effective
barrier against all piracies, so the OyS-
terman can go to his rest at night
with a feeling of security, for piratic-
al depredatiOnS in such place would
| be impossible, without an avenue of
escape to the ocean. The shallow bar
| also serves another good purpose in
| that it keeps out an excess of SaltWa-
| ter. and through the admiXture of the
| river current the sdltineSS is just Deu-
| traliZed to the proper degree and the
| water brought to a state to suit the
| taste of the most faStidiouse biyalye.
| This is a most vital point in the cul-
tivation of oysters; the presence OF
| too much brine is as bad as too little
The outlook for this industry in
| these waters. which are so adapted &c
it, is exceedingly bright, and when
once the oysters are introduced in the
principal markets and their flavor ap
| preciated it will give the old favorites
serious cause for uneaSinesS.