Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-03
OYSTERS MAY Be CAUGHT.
@. w. Ainscow Tells Something About the
Maurico River Product.

q. w. Ainscow Tells something About the
Maurice River Product. ~
The oyster season opened Tuesday,
and for the first time since June 18th,
when last season ended in Cumberland
county, New Jersey, the first consign-
ment was received from Maurice River
Cove, location which Is faIniliarly
known in Wilmington.
George w. Ainscow,' who handles
oysters by the boat load, recently loased
the wharf at Front and Church streets
for the recommendation of his business,
and he and his men were as busy as
bees there Tuesday morning.
Mr.. A inscow found time. however, to
explain to a reporter OF The Gazette
how oysters are banded before they
reach the tables in the households, res
taurants and hotels.
tYes,'' said Mr.. Ainscow. "this is
the first day OF the oyster season as ii
is generally known, for the reason that
New Jersey, where Maurice River Cove
last day upon which Maurice River
Cove oysters could be caught or sold,
there being a local law to that effect,
but in the adjoining county of Cape
May. there is no prohibitory law, and
oysters are caught there and sold
throughout the year Most OF the oys.
tiers sold in Wilmington during the
summer are caught on the Cape May
shore. In fact, some of the best oysters
come from there. had two boats run.
ming from Cape May bed all summer,
and the oysters j received were nice
and fat and Of the finest flavor. /, un.
loaded boat from there yesterday, AND
although it brought up l25 bushels,
the demand was greater than the supply.
Indeed it has been that way all summer,
and the demand has been growing.
The fall season opens up aus
piciously, the cool weather making the
demand much greater than it was q
year ago.
1.-THE oystermen who have been out
on the cove within the past few days
say that the oysters will be as fat a.
last fall, and then they were better
than they have been for years. This
condition has boen found to exist al
over the cove, and the outlook is yer,
encouraging.
Each one of the captains running
into Wilmington has three or foui
grounds--in shore, middle and deer
water Early in the season the oystel
is better in doep water, and as thu
season advances they become better il
shore. The supply for Wilmington
comes mainly from Maurice river unit
along about Christmas. when the Chesa
peake beds are called upon to con
tribute their quota"
According to Mr.. Ainscow abou'
1000 oysters per day are consumed
in Wilmington throughout the season
Sometimes the quantity is more anc
sometimes less, but that is about tn,
average.
The oyster industry is quite import
ant here, several boats being required
to do the hauling as long as navigation
will permit. Mr.. Ainscow has the fol
lowing boats running: The 'sloop Gyp
BY, Capt. Hance; schooner Volunteer
Capt. Lee; sloop Sylvan Dell, Capt
Riggin, and sloop Armstrong. Capt
Hilton. Each one of the boats 70
quires about week to mi AXE the rount
trip, including loading and unloading
so that they are all kept actively en-
gagged throughout the season, except a
such time as navigation is closed
Local oystermen generally anticipate ,
prosperous season, as the oysters Civ,
promise Of being good and plentiful.