The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-29
SOMETHING ABOUT OYSTERS.
Where the Kind We Eat Comes From-No
Sewer Trouble.

Sewer Trouble.
"Chsrles, F" W no presides at wilbur's oys-
ter bar, knows good oysters at sight, and
his customers rarely swallow bad one. II
there Is one thing more than another
that viii tempt man to use rheuma-
tism lapguage,it is the surprise attending
the unexpected absorption OF an over ripe
oyster. The careful oyster seller makes
it point to keep his weather eye open
for the oyster who has taken too much
sewer gas. 1t is declared by those sup
posed to know that there will be no good
"Providence River oysters In q few
years because the city's sewage will de-
stroy them for eating purposes. They
declare that cities with the same system
for caring for sewage have lost their
oysters In this way.
"Cbarlie" says: "Tbat is ell bosh, be-
cause careful dealers will not plant oysters
where danger from sewer gas exists. 1t
sufficiently charged with gas to hurt
oysters, and before that happens differ
ent arrangements Will be made and the
oysters will come as good as they ever
have. No one ever saw better oysters than
are coming to market at the present time.
many years, but 1 never saw them so
good as they are now. They amt Provi-
dence River oysters. That kind went out of
existence long ago. Nearly all we get arc
plants, aud they come from Virginia and
Maryland. And there arc q good many
different kinds, soo."
"The winter supply and the sum
mer supply In this market como
come from different sources. The oysters
used here in summer come from Virginia,
but they are first placed in temporary
beds. The transfer of Virginia oysters
annually begins ABOUT April end ends
about June 1. These oysters spawn
earlier than the northern oysters, and
ere, therefore, considered more fit to eat
in the months whose names are spelled
without the letter X. As a matter OF
fact. the northern oysters are at their
best in May, and again become fine in
August, but the popular superstition OH
the subject is so strong thst II is useless
to resist ii.
"The oysters are net placed in the beds
for propagation, ut-simply to have them
at convenient distance from this city.
They are brought to this market In sloops
especially constructed for the purpose,
but just before shipment they are placed
In brackish water at the mouth of some
neighboring stream ana allowed to
drink during one tide. In the drink
ing process, the oysters open their shells
and absorb the water, which makes them
plump and. In connection with their own
natural juice, fattens them. After that
they close their shells tightly and do not
again drink or feed, but, as We say, fiat
ten on their own juice until they are
taken to market.
'The northern oysters, which are al
most entirely out Of the market in Nay,
June, July and August, come in freely
and are In full supply during the OF her
months OF the year. They are grown
principally In the bays and inlets on Doth
sides OF Long Island SOUND, in Jamaica
Bay, the Great South Bay, at Long Beach
and other points on the south eide of
Long Island az Pert Amboy, the Shrews-
bury River. Rsritan River, Barnegat Bay,
Mars River Cove and Little Egg Har rbor,
New Jersey; Parker's Bay, Cnincoteaguo
and other points along the coast OF Mary
land. Young oysters, or seed are sn.
nually planted at these and other places.
They run about 5000 In the bushsl and
come to maturity, II they live, in three
years from the time of planting. II the
crop is good one we can rake about
.ix busnels for every one busbel planted,
but the oyster-planting business is pre-
carious and frequently all the seed
planted dies and the result is an entire
failure and heavy loss TO the planter. The
aggregate annual business done in oysters
and CLANS In the entire country is esti-
mi cd at from s11 nl0 OOu to So5 OOo O00