The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-12-26
OUR OYSTERS.
MORGAN cry rs. HouMA.

mOAeAAA VII 10 AAOgAAAt
Morgan City Independent Democrat.
T~lsoyster business started at morgan
City in the latter part of the seventies.
on very small scale aud consisted
exclusively of shipments Of shell oys-
tiers to Galveston by steamer. At
that time we were conducting the
Free Press and after extended talks
with the late Jacques Lehman the
writer sent TO Texas for copies Of all.
the country papers and from them
selected some four hundred names of
persons to whom We addressed circu-
lars setting forth the fine qualities of
our Berwick Bay oysters, and shipments
commenced in a crude way bat the
oyster soon became celebrated. The
business increased slowly until 1882
when with through railway connections
a new and m~uchiarger field wasopened
and the trade at once assumed large
proportions. Yet for several years
Texas was the principal theatre Of
operations but having driven out the
last oyster firm of the East our dealers
reached out for new fields; first Indian
Territory then Kansas. Colorado, Utah,
New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska, Cali
f%Oruis, Oregon and tho Republic Of
Mexico. This trade was wonderfully
and successfully increased from year
to year until the Celebrated Berwick
Bay Oyster became as we'll known as
the eastern product and more favor
ably because OF its excellence in flavor.
Up to 1893 Morgan City was alone
in the business but during that year
HOuma stepped III as a rival and not
outstanding the el .cOuragement given
it by the parish government of Terre-
bonnie and the substantial assistance of
its citizens it did not become fOrmid-
able untils the present season. They
had to build a reputation first and in
80 doing every oyster firm in HOuma
has dropped money. Yet they were
and still are determined that only the
frat grade Of oysters should be shipped
and to this end the country was to he
flooded with good advertising in u ju-
dicious and systematic manner. These
things have brought them many good
customersa4d slicedof paltofuur trade
and thus increased their trade very
largely over that Of last year. Now,
surely Morgan City ought to hold its
own and SO it does from i money part
of view. because our dealers are way
ahead so far this season and have all
tho required capital to back them. We
are sit uated on the main line, have
much better railroad and mail facilitles
and vastly superior teIegraphic privi
leges, and the same express rates; an
order by wire at 9 j. M, eau 10 flied
aud forwarded. A Isimilar wire to
Houma will delay tile order "a hours
nearly. Why hen this small loss III
y trades. An mvestlgatiun Of re
ports. coming Through what is consid-
cred good authority, as shown to MS.
indicates that while We ship large
quantities Of oysters that cannot DO
surpassed, yet there are many slip
ments of inferior goods ne tn size as
compared with what is claimed to be
the general output, from HoHma. W.
are well aware that many Of the com
plants do not properly represent
matters, and in many instances they
are spreading taffy on the new dealer
after having neglected to take out a
G. o. d. from "a former one.
AS the situation now stands we be.
lieve that Mugan City will receive all
the attention possible from the express
company, and every facility afforded
them. In view of this and the claims set
up by HOnma, we must impress upon
the consumer that we have the best
oysters, and the boatmen must be in
structed to bring monty the best. The
field must be worked frequently
thoroughly and intelIig4ntly. Welmust
remain on top and be the central depot
for oysters. If tlis Is done, we will
not have occasion TO remind our
dealers Of the fact that they are losing
ground, but rather to congratulate
them on their Increased sales and the
town of it's prosperity through them.
It will take time to look up the penny
we have lost. So let US not lose il.