The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-23
CAN GROW THE OYSTER.
SUBSTANTIAL INDUSTRY ADDED
TO THE LIST.


1t is more than probable that within
three years the oyster, instead of being
an imported luxury, will be a Hawaiian
staple. The cultivation of this valuable
edible here will be due to the personal
effort of General w. r. Armstrong.
That gentleman is largely interested
with one OF the prominent and success
full oyster companies of the United
States. He believes that the business
has an inviting field here and wants to
see it established. Like many other
leading citizens the General offers time
and the lessons of experience for the
general good of the Islands. He is of
the opinion that more than enough
oysters for the market can be produced
within few miles of Honolulu. The
industry might in time reach such pro-
portions that expectation would be the
| feature of it. Most of the oysters used
on the Pacific coast are brought from
the eastern States. Every week there /,
sent from New York to London from
1000 to 5000 barrels of oysters in the
shell.
Until about ten years ago the oyster
business in the United States was
marked by crude, hap-hazard methods.
The field was open and breeding beds
were the choicest fishing grounds. In
the mission of systematizing, Connec-
ticut took the lead. Water covered beds
suitable for culture were offered in fee
for $.25 an acre. The result is that
fully 10000 acres are actually owned by
oyster farmers. A few years ago Gen.
| Armstrong and his associates induced
the state of Virginia to follow
the example of Connecticut. Maryland
next came into line. These two states
owned oyster grounds of 100000 acres
area. These holdings are now open to
individual possession. The company
with which Gen. Armstrong is identi-
fed owns 1,500 acres, planted with
Thousands of bushels of oysters.
| In the state the favorite farming soil
is sandy and muddy. 1t must be
sheltered, must be in a current and free
from starfish and hammerheads, the
enemy of the oyster. In Long Island
sound land is prepared by dredging up
starfish and using them ashore for
fertilizing. In cultivation seed oysters
are procured from breeding beds.
Among them are thrown from vessel
decks great quantities of old shells.
The latter receives the spawn. The
John Hopkins University estimates the
t"spat" of single female oyster at
l0,000.000 to 60,090,000. Cultivation
consists III aking the young oysters from
the bottom and placing them few feet
apart in feeding courses. The food of the
oyster is the diation, a microscopic insect
common to freshened ocean water. 1t
is known to exist in Honolulu harbor,
in Peal Lochs, on the other side of this
island, and in places all over the group.
AS the oyster cannot hunt its food must
come to it with the current. If storms
reach the bed sand and other foreign
matter gets into the shell and kills it. Ii
France and Holland, where labor is
cheap and plentiful, oysters are grown
III pans. This insures high class pro
duct, The pans are simply shallow
wire boxes piled one upon another. The
oyster natures in two years. Genera
Armstrong; farm is in historic Hampton
Roads, where the navies of the worlt
assembled fifteen months ago.
1t seems certain that both the NATIVES
and Chinese now engaged in fishing o
taro growing would readily fall into tn,
oyster business. They have here ever.
favorable condition, including warn
t sea water, the absence of which on tn
, Pacific Coast makes the industry prac
:, tically impossible. The oysters of Cub
! and the Florida, and Texas coasts are O
superior quality. Oysters were form
erly grown on Oahu. There are We
evidences of fields destroyed by earth
+ quakes. Good oysters, such as could b
grown here, sell at from ~ cents t
a l50 bushe. Canning is done RICH
on the ground.
/ At the suggestion of General Arm
T strong experiments i'll oyster cultur