The evening times., 1896-03-28
OYSTERS GROW SCARCE
As the lenien Season Ends
Prices Go Up.
SOME CAUSES ARE GIVEN
Pirates Killing Off the Supply In Ches-
valve Feeds Oh IA Moss Which Turns
It's ellis Red-The supply In This
City.

As the Lenten season ends oysters are
becoming very scarce. II is gro wing near
Inc end OF the seasOn, though theIe are
many People who eat OysteEs throughout
the entire year.
There are lew oysters boats at the
wharves, ANA The majority OF the trade
Is in shucked oysters from Norfolk. There
is scarciiy UT Chesapeake bay oysters,
aSthc dredgcrs have ceased Interpretations,
The beds DSinS 80 poor they could not make
a living, and The supplies coming from the
bay are what are known as ''tonSueu''
stock.
Washington is getting shell oysters now
from the nciShDornoou OF North River and
Thomas Point, III Virginia waters. The
prices are higher than they have been III
Ten years. the dealers say busincSs is Just
good. but The profits are small. Shell
oysters are SO to 30 cents a bushel. and
snucked selects from 10 cents TO Sl-2o.
As Inc season waneS the dealers rely on
Potomac oysters in the vicinity oil fin-y
Point. The price Is also going up. from u
singular reason.
GILLS TURN RED.
Heretofore considerable shipments were
made from the beds IN the Ra ppa hanback,.
The oysters in those waters nave been feed
ing lately on a moss that covers their sills a
bright red, rendering them worth less in
the market aud increasing the demand FOR
tue POtUmacs.
Cape Charles oysters eau be procured In
large quantities, hut tney retain an unlieds-
aut ouur, offensive 10 the COnsIiIiier.
oysters from Jhc Caesa PEE. ke a re- becoming
Scarcer every year, owing 10 The depretia-
lions OF the pirates, AMI TINS fact has never
been felt so much as this season.
The CHESAPEAKE 81 y oyster stands without
a rival IN The wOriu iOr tenderness lnd deli
cacy of flavor. They are shipped all over
The continent, ana sOtIe have been sent
across the water. Their scarcity has put
the price up from 10 10 20 cents a busiiei.
No city III the country gets a finer supply
f,f han SfItt YInft hr
John j. Hogan, who was telling the re-
porter some fucts about them. THIS city
mas worldwide reputation for the ex-
ceiience OF ito bivaives, and can discount
any other place in the modes OF preparing
and serving them.
Mr.. Hogan said the business had increased
marvelousiy Ill the last twenty years. and
that the prices ranged higher every season
because oysters were growing scarccr.
SALES WILL DROP OFF.
when the warm weather opens. sales
drop Off % per cent. decreasing steadily until
the fall. In the summer the dealers rely on
the dccp-sea oysters. like the New York
Sounds ana the Shrewsburys ana AbseCuns,
found along the Jersey coast.
Any man who iia. ever been to Atlantic
CIT, can testify TO the rare taste OF the
Ab~-cums. Norfolk oysters are carried
a through Tie hot weather by tle dealers,
but Il Norfolk oyster III June or July is Il
pCur thing compared TO its luscious quail
ti,S when the leaves begin 10 brown.
Blue folnlS, hoCka dysdnu Lynn ravens
fInm the North are larry SCou W. 40 the
18TH of MAY, ana then a ttrtaln CDniin-
Ccu, prefer them 10 the Southern article.
From the iSL of September until the
present time Washington has been cOnsuIu-
ing from 1000 TO 1000 bushels OF oysters
ddIy. considerably more Than last year,
although the prices are higher.
Some idea of the enormous traffic in
oysirrs may be gained from the quantity
received and disposed OF in BaiIlmore.
tn. greatest oyst"r-Shipping port IN the
world, this year.
Up TO the list OF last January 2.90l.700
bushels were received and disposed of. a
falling Off, however. OF 10000 bushels
compared with the previous cason. Dur
ing the seaSonof / s94-'9 there were nearly
$500 900 bushels received and disposed
OF.