Evening star., 1902-08-22
| OYSTERS N>HOLLAND
CULTURE OF B1vAnvns A
NETHERLANDS INDUSTRY.
Population Of q sof Goes Given Up
to the arg of the
sHsllaA.
From the Paris Herald.

The old town Of Goes is the center of the
oyster culture in the Netherlands, and Is
about as quaint and primitive place as
can be found in Holland. Situated on the
island Of South Beofiand, in the province
Of Zealand. Goes is entirely off the beaten
route of tourists. The whole population.
with few exceptions-men, women and chill
dren-is engaged in fishing, and more par
ticularly in the oyster industry. Entire
families are engaged in the cultivation of
oysters during the whole year, for the oys-
ter beds demand unceasing work
The oyster fisherwomen are a queer sight
when attired in their costume-especially
adapted for the purpose-tight-f1tting red
flannel knickerbockers. black stockings. a
shirt with sleeves rolled UP to the elbow,
and a quaint sunbonnet which thoroughly
protects the head and neck
Oyster Parks.
Though the natives of Goes are engaged
all the year round in the oyster parks" II
Is in April that the most important part of
their work is done. 1t is then that the '.col-
iectors are placed in the parks" These
collectors are curved tiles about foot long,
which. after being carefully washed, are
covered with layer of mortar
Thus prepared, the collectors" are able
to retain the oyster ova known to fishermen
as white spat," or ''naissains," as they arc
termed in France. These embryos are very
minute and float about on the surface of the
water until they become affixed to the col
lectors."
They are then gathered into boxes eight
feet long by two feet In breadth and the
bathed by the sea water. From 800 to 100
are attached to single collector"
Cleaning the Shells.
from the beds" and taken on land to be
put through a first process of cleansing.
This operation, which is performed by
women, is destined to cleanse the young
oysters from all kinds of impurities and
Ing affixed to the young oysters might him
der their growth Once thoroughly cleansed
the tiles are replaced in the boxes where
they remain until autumn. The collectors
are then once more removed and the oys-
ters, which are already the size Of shil-
ling piece, are sufficiently strong to live
alone without being affixed to anything
To remove the young oyster from the col
lector a special kind. of scissors is used.
For this purpose the collectors are placed
In the middle Of a large table, around
which the oystermen and women are gath
cred. -. SAT-
Women Excel Men.
The women, who are far more dexterous
than the men in this matter, hold the col
lector in one hand, while with the other
they carefully remove the mollusks and
throw them into baskets This operation
requires considerable skill, for, il performed
too hastily, the thin shell of the young
oyster would be injured. But notwith-
standing all the care that is taken there
Is always loss of from 20 to 25 per cent.
Thus removed from the collectors, the
oysters are placed for few months In an
apparatus called an ''ambulance" These
are fiat boxes about ten inches high, the
bottoms OF which are of wire grating
Thus Isolated, the young oysters are COM
pletely protected by box Identical with
the one In which they are inclosed, but re-
versed, so as to constitute kind of cage,
IN which the water can circulate freely
without allowing fish or crabs to enter
The boxes, which contain no fewer than
1909 oysters each, are arranged side by side
and firmly affixed to the bottom of the
park by means OF stakes. In this man.
ner the young oysters can thrive in peace
ana without fear Of being attacked by any
OF their numerous enemies, who appreciate
oysters fully as much as man appreciates
them.
Ready for Sale.
The oysters remain three months in these
boxes, during which time they are jealously
cared for to remove the impurities and sea-
weeds which have gathered among them.
At the end Of the three months they have
reached diameter of from two to two and
one-half inches. They are now of sufficient
size for sale. but not yet large enough to
brlng In much profit. They are, therefore,
thrown along the bottom Of the park"
where they continue to grow. their shell be-
Ing OF sufficient strength to withstand the
attack Of fish. After the age of three they
stop growing, and there Is no advantage in
allowing them to remain any longer in the