New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-21
OYSTERS FOR THE MILLIONS.
FINER AND MORE PLENTIFUL THAN
EVER BEFORE.

PRESENT PRICES LOWER THAN THOSE OF A
YEAR AGo-THE c1Ty's ENORMOUS ANNUAL
SUPPLY AND HOW 1T is DISTRIBUTED.
"oysters grown In this State are better and more
plentiful this season than before" said e. e.
Strong OF +. c. Strong & Co, Fulton Market. the
other day. land they are considerably cheaper IMAM
on the corresponding day OF last year Inc! are
plump and as fat as butter. 'Culs, which are the
cheapest grade and used mainly for ordinary stew
Ing etc. are as good this season as box oysters
two grades higher-are in ordinary seasons Inc
present price OF oysters per thousand at wholesale
are as follows: Culls 81 to 81 5O haf-she.ls. %; poX
s. to 49, and extras. of which few are used nova
days. sl2 SO. Cus are Is cents thousand ana ooN
oysters from 50 cents to 81 thousand cheaper than
they were at this time last fall The deciine on
culls is about per and box oysters over 10
per cent, which is pretty large reduction on
wholesale rates. There is no change IN the price
of half-shes. and the price Of extras remains u"-
changed. but few extras are used that theE are
scarcely worth mentioning. oysters around Key
also fine this season bu, a greater part of those
in the beds OF Southern NewJersey are 100 poor 10
s'''' WHERE THEY COME FROM.
THE immense quantity OF oysters annuaiF
handled in this city comes mainly from the pure
waters which wash the northern and southern shores
Of Long Island but large supplies arc also received
from the coasts of New-Jersey and Maryland the
main supply in summer comes from Virginia
oysters are brought from tHdt carry
spring and transplanted in the Keyport beds. Only
that they may be within easy reach, however, ana
not for propagation. The transfer OF the Virginia
oysters from their native beds begins about April
/ and ends about June |. The oysters are brought
from Keyport to this market in soops constructed
especially for the carrying of oysters. The active
oyster season begins on May and ends on sep
TENDER J. Many people will not eat oysters In any
month which has not letter Il in its spelling be-
cause they think them unwhoesoMe ia those
months.
THEY ARE IN ERROR.
They are TO considerable extent in error The
spa wning season in this State begins about June
and ends about August l. after which the oysters
improve rapidly. The oysters III May are the best
and during June. July and August the Virginia
oysters supply the market
There in this city fifteen oyster planters VINO
receive and sell at wholesale the product OF their
own beds. and there is an equal number OF eN-
clusively Wholesale dealers. The annua. sales OF
each Of these thirty firms including sales OF clans
which constitute about one-quarter of the business
average about SlV0c apiece. making the aggregate
wholesale trade about 100000 annually. II Is
estimated that equal amount of sales is made OF
and in boats to supply the general retail city trade
and by large retailers who get their supplies from
beds OF their own. About one-haf Of the oysters
and clans sold by the wholesalers are exported or
shipped inland towns. II would be difilcuit 10
say precisely how many oysters and clans are
annually brought to this market As an onhand
estimate would say that there are az Least 200
10000. OF which about 100000 are shipped 10 more
less distant points leaving about @eOWooN 10 be
consumed by people who visit or dwell In ana
around this city, which receives the finest shelfsh
the world"