The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-03-13
SUMMER AND WINTER OYSTERS.
Where They Come From and How
Treated for the Market.

Treated for the Market.
THE winter supply of oysters and
the summer supply in this market,
said an extensive oyster planter and
Wholesale dealer a few days ago, come
from different sources, The oysters
used here in summer come from Vir-
ginia. but they are first placed in tenn
porary beds at Keyport, N. J. The
transfer of Virginia oysters to the Key
port beds annually begins about April
1, and ends about June |. These oys-
ters spawn earlier than the northern
oysters, and are, therefore, considered
more fit to eat in the months whose
names are spelled without the letter r.
AS q matter of fact, the northern oys-
tiers are at their best III May, and again
become fine in August, but the popu-
lar superstition on the subject is so
strong that it is useless to resist it.
1.-THE oysters are not placed in the
keynort beds for propagation, but
simply to have them at a convenient
distance from the city They are
brought to this market in sioops espec-
ially constructed for the purpose, but
lust before shipment they are placed in
brackish water at the mouth of some
neighboring stream and 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, they fatten on
their own juice until they are taken to
market.
THE northern oysters. which are al
most entirely out of the market in May,
June, July and August, come in freely
and are in full supply during the other
months of the year. They are grown
principally in the bays and inlets on
both sides of Long Island Sound, in ia
mica Bay. the Great South Bay, at
Long Beach and other points on the
south side OF Long Island; at Perth
Amboy, in the Shrewsbury river, Rali-
tan river. Barnegat Bay, Marsh River
Cove and Little Egg Harbor, New Jer-
sey; Parker's Bay Chincoteague and
other points along the coast of Mary
land. Young oysters, or seed are
annually planted at these and other
places. They run ABOUT hFe tAouSauu
to the bushel, and come to maturity, if
they live. in three years from the time
of planting. If the crop is good ore
we can rake about six bushels for eve
ry one bushel planted, but the oyster
planting business is precarious and fire.
quently all the seed planted dies and
| the result IS an entire failure and
heavy loss to the planter. There are
only about twenty-five dealers in this
city Their annual business amounts
to about twenty-five hundred thou
sand dollars. or an average of one hum
dred thousand dollars apiece, Some
extensive retail dealers grow their own
| oysters. and there are many small
planters who send their product to
market These have an annual bust
| ness amounting TO about the same sum
as that of the wholesale men, so that
| the total is about five million dollars.
This includes both oysters and clans,
| of which about twelve hundred and iif-
| ty million are annually marketed in this
| city The aggregate annual business
| done in oysters and CLAIMS in the entire
country is estimated at from twenty
| to twenty-five million dollars."-N
| York Tribune.