Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-30
THE OYSTER SEASON.
WIN BE Her. Nos. saturday with the

VIII BE Here Noxt saturday with the
Advent of September,
On Saturday next tha month with
ar" will he here and with Ut the oyster
season. Already word comes from the
bays and rivers whore the oyster has its
habitat that this years crop is in finer
condition than for tho 10 preceding
years. This is cheerful news to the
many thousands OF Philadelphians who
are eagerly waiting for tina opportunity
to have the JUICY bivalva served 10
them in the sack, on the half shell or
in the "altogether. !" In any event
there will bs more than enough to go
around, II the predictions OF packers
and shiEpers count for aught.
Among the latter is Il. p. Timmons,
Of Delaware avenue and Dock streer,
Philadelphia, who owns extensive
oyster beds 10 Maurice River cove and
also on the western shore of Delaware
Bay.
In making rough estimate Of next
weeks invoice from Delaware Bay MIR.
Timmons said that about 10 vessel
loads, or 400, 600 oysters, would be
shipped by rail to this CITY for the
opening oil the season, This initial
supply viii be served early next Satur-
day morning. The ruling prices Will
DO 81 for primes aud 81 for culls. These
prices now prevail.
OF the 100000 oysters which will
arrive the latter part OF this week Mr..
Timmons has already booked orders
for 100, 900. These will be distributed
principally among several Of the big
department. stores, like John Wana.
maker, Partridge & Richardson and
Lit Brothers, and two or three OF the
Zig kotols.
Since early August oyster dealers
along the Delaware avenue wharves
have shipped more than l50, 600 bushels
Of shells TO Maurice River cove and the
Western Shore. Last week three boat
loads, representing 10000 bushels Of
shells, were shipped to the beds. In
the next five weeks 200, 600 more bushels
1t is expected will be collected through
out the city aud shipped. For each
hushel OF shells oyster planters pay the
dealers two OF three cents, according to
size and condition. The price used to
be four and five cents, but competition
has reduced the price.
The great demand for oyster shells is
due to the growing scarcity Ut mineral
growth In the oyster beds. Each year
the dredRss lessen the supply, The
maturing oyster requires rock or a
stone to cling to in order to expedite
its growth and also as q means Of pro-
lection AGAINST heavy storms.
The planters realiza that 10 order to
foster the propagation of the bivalve il
is necessary foi them to strew the
oyster beds with shells. For this pur-
pose upwards of $1,000 will be expended
this year.
Another cause of anxiety on the part
Of those engaged in the oyster industry
is the latter's growing scarcity each
succeeding year, This may be easily
traced to Increased consumption OF the
biralye. Few PERSONS dislike its de-
| lioious flavor and nearly oil relish an
oyster, cooked or raw.
/ As a proof of the growing scarcity ol
| oysters it was pointed out to a reporter
that oyster plants we're worth 10 cent:
q bushel four years ago. Nov the SAINT
ara worth % cents bushel, The in
crease of oyster plants naturally led Il
the greater use of SHELLS for tho same
| purpose.
The supply from Delaware Bay will
last until about November 1st. Their
the shippers will fall back on thu
supply from Chesapeake Bay and iti
tributaries, Rockaways will soon hegiI
to appear in the loual market and th,
price they command Ia usually Sl,5
more thousand than those from Della
ware and Chesapeake Bays.