The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1896-12-04
FRIDAY
A Good Rock Oyster Item.


The Portland Telegram tells the fol-
lowing splendid rock oyster story:
Mr.. Frank j. Kelly, returning this
morning from Yaquina bay. brought
with him sack containing a quantity OF
the luscious rock oyster iourd in that
region. These he distributed about
among his friends, giving to each what
would suffice for dinner course.
One of these friends, aware OF the de-
lightful gastric qualities of the rock oys-
ter, in exultantly showing his gift to a
a number of acquaintances in q Third
street resort, attracted the attention Of
two Northeastern tourists-who. after
listening with incredtfllty to the state.
ments of the prospective diner as to the
oysters, concluded the speaker was pre-
varicating regarding the oysters being
delicious eating, and opened the ques-
tion between themselves as to how the
oysters found their way into the rock.
Ii had finally been about decided that
the oysters, through some upheaval OF
nature happening years ago had been
buried IN tie reef and had since there
remained
ers; land these 0regon people eat those
stale things. What stomachs they must
ave Pf
The remark was overheard by gov.
eminent official. who has Just returned
from trip to Yaquina bay, the time OF
which was mostly occupied in digging
and eating rock oysters. He at once
proceeded to set the visitors right.
''You are mistaken in your deduction
regarding the Oregon rock OYSTER" be
said, ''for il is fresher, plumper and
sweeter than the ordinary bivalve that
YOU are accustomed to. How the species
came to take up its abode in the hard,
blue clay of the Yaquina reef is Ques-
ton which has ruzzled scientists, but
once there, nature has provided the oys-
ter with the means of making its home
in the rock and OF propagating its kind.
The rock oyster is shaped more like
a mussel than Blue Point, the shell be-
ing quite rounding. At the base, or
larger port OF the rock oyster, the shell
for about one third its length, is covered
with hard, whitish substance, scanned
with lines in exact representation OF q
file. 1t is with this cutting surface that
the oyster works out his home in the
rock. The spawn is thrown out upon
the surface OF the reef, where 1t ut once
adheres. AZ it grows in size, the file
like shell at its base begins to develop.
and the work of sinking into the reef
commences"
.'But an oyster is not able to take on
a rotary motion sufficient to bore into
rock" interrupted one OF the strangers
"No; the element in which ii lives
supplies the force" replied the officer.
"N ith each oncoming sea. the oyster so
throws out one of its shells as to give the
wave surface to act upon, and il takes
spin OF perhaps revolutions. With
the receeding OF the wave the operation
is reversed. Thus, day in and year out
the Yaquina rpck oyster rotates AMI
drills to the unceasing movement OF the
sea.
During the p ist two weeks. have
spent hours in watching the drilling mo-
ton Of the oysters as they turned IN their
rocky bed. 1t il astonishing the depth
to which some Of the larger oy sters have
reached. At very low tide, some ten
days ago. party of Us, armed with picks
and axes, went out on the reef, and, Sc
lecting = creyice some six feet deep, pro-
ceeded to cut away the rock. In less
than five minutes we had uncovered .
ing nearly four ounces. Through curi-
osity, we followed up the shaft sunk by
this oyster to its outlet II was . lesson
in natural history. At the opening Was
tha boi.> OF sis< eiec IL is.i made whea
probably year old, for the reel natural
ly was washed away 10 certain extent
then, on down the size OF the shaft in
cres sed until, az feet inches from the
point in the creyiee where the oyster had
started to bore was the room he had last
made. How many years, or centuries
to accomplish this work have no idea,
but the time must have been immense.
Then the instinct, If il can be 50 called,
shown in the running OF the shaft from
the side OF the creyice, 90 as not 20 lose
the swirllng motion of the sea ss it rush
ed in and out was again wonderful.
mo, Yaquina rock oysters are not
stale things"