The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-13
OYSTER FUNDUM
Where to Find the Most
Delicious BivaIves.
Col. R. 3. Creecy Thinks Best Oysters
are Found on Robinson's Chan
mel in Dare County.

We do not know what is the special
meaning of oyster fundum." 1t was a
word much used by Governor Henry A..
Wise, OF Virginia. during his admins
tration, in relation to the oyster inter
ests OF Virginia. It's general meaning is
a supply" and we suppose its special
meaning as used by Governor Wise, was
the supply" of the Virginia oyster bot
toms.
We. formerly, about the time our "shen
fish commission" was organized, devoted
much thought to our oyster fundum, and
although we gathered much information
about the subject OF oysters, aad came
To be regarded as a sort OF expert au
thority concerning oysters. we finally be-
came dlsgusted with our ignorance and
dismissed the whole subject from our
consideration.
But last week We met an old friend
a native and long resident OF, Hatteras,
Mr.. b. +. Whedbee. who had been vls-
iting his old home at Hatteras and while
talking with him the subject of oysters
turned up and he gave US some inter
esting information about oysters. that
w
We discussed the various localities il
our own waters where the best oysters
were found. Among others, "Rolinsons
channel" oysters were mentioned. Mr..
Whedbee was familiar with them. AS
we both knew, the oysters OF Rolinson's
channel were very fine, much finer than
those near 1t, outside the channel, We
asked the cause. He said il was owing
a. al a. Il
and the nature of the bottom on which
they grew; that sandy bottom was des-
sructive to oysters, and they would die
out on such bottom, that they needed
mud, and too much mud was as destruc-
tive TO them rs a sandy bottom. They
would sink into muddy bottom, and would
continue to sink as they grew iii size
and weight. until they were smothered,
to death in mud. -
Oysters are more fastidious in the Sc
lection of their homes than n new de-
hutante IN the selection of the bird feath-
ers on her bonnet.
Mr.. Whedbee is a born oysterman and
gave us vast deal of information that
would be extremely valuable to our peo.
pie in North Carolina but we fear It will
be all lost to them, as neither Of us are
spelbinders or professional book makers.
But he told us one thing that we will
make n record of, and lay by for further
practical use.
He was familiar with all high-bred and
low-bred blue blood and no blood ras-
econ and elephant, rock and planted, far
creeks and broad creeks, and lorg shoals
and core sounds, in North Carolina, and
Lynnhavens and Cherrystones and Slecoy
Holes in Virginia, and he said the finest
oysters he had ever seen and eaten were
found in a wide slash" just north
Of Hatteras Inlet The slash" is a nat
ural ditch that runs into the Hatteras
sound back from Pamlico sound, not far
from Rolinson's channel II Is about one
hundred and fifty yards wide, varying
in depth and width. 1t Is over a mile
long and runs parallel with the beach.
1t varie. also in the character of the bot
tom, and a singular popularity is that
II takes to an oyster planted in Rolin-
sons channel and will rear a better
planted oyster from there than from any
where else He says that if ii was ad
vertised as we'll as the Lynnhavens Il
would run them out of the market
We made a note of that. for we are
fond of a good oyster as duck is OF
June bug
The next afternoon call we mad from
Mr.. Whedbee we had another from oar
old friend, Bob Smith. eX-sheriH OF Dare
county, and the most beloved man there,
rnd soon after we had given him the
"pump- handle" shake. we told him OF
our conversation with whcdbee, the day
before. He said Whedtee and he were
old friends, that he was perfectly reliable
and we might depend on anything he
might say.
He said in addition TO what Whedbec
had said about the slash" oyster. that
no place in the slash" produced oysters
equal to the grounds of-Gaskill from
Rolinson's channel paintings Happy Gas.
ill., lucky dogl fortunate man. vcur land
is worth 81 600 an acre.--Col r. b. Creecy
in Elizabeth City Economist.