Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-20
OYSTER CROP VERY SHORT
The Recent Cold Snap Has Disastrous Effect
Upon Dredgers.
BivaIves Frozen in Their Beds-Prfces
Advanced in Every City-The
Local Conditions.

The dearth OF oysters throughout lhe
east is being keenly felt here in Washlns-
ton sending the prices of the few obtain
able bivalves soaring high above anything
previously known. An oyster famine Is re-
garded by many as one of the most serious
of calamities, but unless the ice now COW
ering many of the famous oyster beds
is thawed or artificially removed within
the next few days such will be the result.
For the past week the price of oysters has
sailed upward at a rapid rate, until now
those on the market are bringing from two
to three cents apiece by the thousand-an
almost unprecedented figure.
Reports from down the bay state that
the oyster dredgers have been unable to
work on account of the extreme cold ana
the thickness of the ice. oyster dredging
is an undesirable occupation under the best
conditions and tales of suffering on the
part Of the crews of some OF the larger
boats are frequently heard In extremely
cold weather such as has been experienced
during the past ten days, 1T has been I'M
possible for the masters of the dredgeS TO
sign a working force. Those who were out
from port in the storm have either been
ice bound or escaped the fury of the storm
by running into some harbor near at hand,
where they are now locked in the frozen
waters. 1t has been impossible to work
some of the most profitable beds, and Will
continue to be for some time to come, on
account of the drifting ice that must neces-
sarily be encountered
Matter of Difficulty.
The difficulty of securing cheap transpor-
tation for the oysters dredged has also
tended to send the prices upward. Steamer
traffic has been all but suspended, and the
few shipped to market have been sent by
rail. the added freight tolls being consid-
cradle. The scarcity is more widespread
hafn on
wide area of the recent storm and its ac-
companying low temperatures. Southern
beds seldom covered with more than a
coating of the thinneSt ice are now under
six eight inches of soldiy frozen sur
face. In New York oysters can be obtained
with difficulty and wholesalers and retailers
alike are holding out for the most exorbi-
tant prices. In all the larger cities where
oysters are consumed in great quantities
the same conditions prevail. Baltimore, re-
noWned as an oyster center, is suffering
commensurate.y with the rest of the east.
Chesapeake bay is filled with heavy ice,
especially inShore, where the oyster beds
are located. When the Norfolk and Balti-
more markets suffer the effect is first felt
Capt. Jack Roby. one of the best
known and most reliable oystermen in this
vicinity who has worked his way up from
the tongs, speaks of the situation as being
serious The ice, he says, has compelled
nearly all of the dredgers to suspend OPP
erations. Just when the market supply
will be increased he could not say. oyster
dealers generally are much concerned.
Their business has suffered greatly on ac-
count of the high price paid and neces-
sarily charged for their goods The oyster
depots are practically empty and mos of
the bivalves now being consumed are from
the stock dredged before the fearfully cold
and freezing weather set in.
Situation Serious.
Mr.. w. II. Yeoman of the Philadelphia
OYSTER HouSa boS CT
to Norfolk and the Chesapeake oyster re-
gion. He went over the ground just prior
to the great freeze, when he contracted for
and secured a large quantity.
Inc SITUATION, he said to a reporter for
Inc Star, is more serious at present than
at any time during my business career in
Washington. Most of the reStauranteurs
have had to pay double and treble the or
binary market price for their oysters. A
number of the finer brands of oysters the
famous blue points and Lynn Ravens, are
still to be had but most people have run
up the prices. If the oystermen could only
get their dredges to work now they would
make small fortunes in little or no time
as the demand in the northern markets is
not nearly supplied and great prices are
being paid all the way through. My re-
cent trip was the most profitable l ever
made, and it was fortunate a few of US
got in our supply just before the beds We're
frozen over tight. People here can hardly
realize how the freeze is affecting the in
dustries of a number of the smaller bay
cities whose principal trade in winter is
Clustering. In Norfolk the scarcity of oys-
tiers has thrown any number of men out
of employment, and the same is true here
in Washington
The oystermen are hoping for a rapid
thaw in the lower waters and are 10 King
forward to such a condition as their only
salvation. In many places it is reported
oysters have been frozen and DESTROYED
entirely. The bivalves will be scarce as a |
result for year or more to come