The evening world., 1894-09-01
THE OYSTER IS KING TO-DAY.
Season Opened by the Arrival Of
the Good sloop Betsey Jane.
Fanciers viii Introduce n New
Breed, the Compo-Mill Pond"

with Jim SCOTS other shirt flying
from the peak and all hands at quarters
hooraying like mad. and the cook stand
ing hard by the frying pan. the Betsy
Jane dropped anchor and snugged down
everything at Il. G. Strong's float In the
East River this morning with the first
load of Rockaways for '9i-'9j.
And thus the oyster season opens.
with the advent of September the
last OF the four dread months without
the "R" has passed. and the oyster,
from beng stunned and noxious
thing becomes In "A night, as by the
stroke OF an cnchanters wand, the
flower of the feast.
with the succucn, oyster
! could revel aud TOyster
But for the tough clam, sir,
| don care rap, sir.
Sang Joe proutt as he proceeded to
open his first bushel in Fulton Market
this morning.
All hands in Fulton and the other
markets OF the city were hailing the
return OF the king OF mollusks. Dealers
everywhere report an abundant ana eN-
cellent crop, and say that already the
demand exceeds the supply.
h. G. Strong. the veteran who raises
oysters with that fond pride In their
lucky horse fancier devotes to his stable,
said this morning that the present sea
son was going to be one Of the best from
every point OF view.
He has beds at Rockaway, Glenwood,
Blue Point and Bayvllle, and has been
over them all within he past week. he
Of them ali are better than ever before,
and as for the market. he declares that
he is scarcely able to meet the orders
that are pouring In upon him;
ket. says that he is going to Introduce
a new oyster that he is sure will become
the fashionable. substitute for Blue
Points; lie, calls 1t the. "Compo-Mill
its first year. He says that It is large,
fat and white. with particularly deli
Along the North River front. about
Christopher. Tenth and Perry streets,
there were hundreds OF oyster boats ad-
yancing upon the numerous floats there
| this morning.
1t is said that New York City is the
| greatest oyster consumer in the world
and devours 100000 oysters every day.
Many times that number are daily
| shipped to the West. About twenty-five
| thousand men are employed In neighbor-
ing waters in collecting and handling
| the product.
The oyster beds are conducted by pri-
vate concerns, under State lease. and are
protected by law from poaching and en-
| croaChment. The leSsees are obligated
to plant and care for their beds under
penalty of forfeit if they are found
guilty of neglect or improper methods:
BEFORE the State took hold OF the
| beds, some years ago, the oyster in these
parts was in danger OF annihilaton
| through the reckless and unscientitic
| methods OF free lance fishermen.
Eeus are planted with 250shushels OF
| seed oysters to the acre, and yield In
| three years an average Of 1900 bushels.
| y careful grower can thus gain profit
| allie returns from his investment and
| labor, and n number of dealers are men
| of substantial fortune.
| Many New York oysters are shipped
| to Europe. They are very popular in
| the London market, hut II took several
seasons. as with all American innova-
lions, to break down British preiudices.
| The first load sent to England was
dumped into the sea by the Board of
Health The English are now very glad
| to get our great American oyster.
| Joe Proutt Is responsible for the state
ment that there Is an unusual run OF
pearls in oysters this season. He says
| that he found three in a hundred yes
| teriay, AMI, although they were small.
they were perfectly formed and OF fine
| lustre. He expects to fall into a fortune
| In pearl this season.