Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-28

Richmond, Va, January -, 1876
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Several months ago ] promised a gem
tleman Of Richmond To put in writing
for publication ideas Of my own about
the Virginia oyster. with which he seems
to be favorsbly struck Meeting him the
other night at the legislative banquet
he reminded me OF my promise and OF
its non-fuihlment. The season is 50 ap-
propriate for discussions" OF the oyster
that ] beg leave 10 present the ideas TO
which ] have referred through your col
umns. in fulhlment OF "A neglected pro-
mise.
The Virginia oyster Is superior to all
others In the world in two respects--it
is much larger than all others, and ii
is OF superior flavor. These qualities are,
IN my judgment. due TO the same cause
that Il 10 say. 10 the greater amount Of
lime held In solution by the waters Of
Hampton Roads and in the lower Chesa-
peake bay than in any other waters in
which the oyster has its habitat.
This fact Is true generally of the lower
'Npanses Of the Chesapeake. into which
the Elizabeth. James. York. Mobjack.
Rsppahannock. and Potomac rivers make
their debouche. These waters are all
charged. more or les. with the
caicareous ingredient This comes
from TWO sources. Almost all that
part OF Virginia which is watered
by he streams I speak Of contains de-
posiis. almost amounting 10 strata. OF
mani tSee the works OF Edmund Ruff
fin and Commodore MauryJ Some OF
these deposits OF mari lie deep below
the surface, and are unknown to the gem
ersl public. Many of them are nearer
the surface and are familiar 10 our Tide
wafr- population. The waters Of the
love- estyaries OF the Chesapeake all
hold lime "a solution from these beds
Of mari which are saturated by them
aud from which they are constantly
drawing h the cob and flow OF the tide
the small ingredient of lime which gives
size and qIanty 10 the oyster which
ias ts birth and life in those waters
Ii is lime which gives size 20 the shell
aud which tnus gives the oyster Itself
room enough 10 develop and become as
delicious as more room and comfort In
its growth naturally make IT.
l think NV theory on this sub
iect is fully demons rated b.
the I.ynnhsven oyster. That par
ticuar catch OF oysters greatly
ranks all Others IN size. and is commen-
surately superior IN quality. IL IL very
obvious 20 any one who viii take the
trouble IN use MS eyes in passing over
the waters Of Hampton Roads and Lynn
haven bay what il is that pro-
dnces the size OF the Lyrlhaven oyster
After every considerable freshet in james
riVsr tho passenger on steamboat pass.
Ing over The waters | have named will
observe that the whole southern shore OF
Hampton Roads from ne mouth OF the
river out 10 the has and Cape Henry.
IL lined WIKI muddy water. This muddy
nstei =. to be seen there after ever
considerable freshet IN the james The
fac proves that the waters OF the Iames.
not only after The floods but at all times.
pass along the southern shore OF the
lower Chesapeake in vending their way
20 the ocean. The James has its princi-
pal sources In the limestone region OF
Virginia west OF the Blue Ridge: and
It's waters. more in seasons OF drought
than of fresbeis are charged with lime
They pass very slowly out 10 sea after
they reach Lynnhaven bay. and have
time to deposit all or much OF their cal