Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-31
OYSTER SEASON OPENS
BIvALvEs TO BE ON SALE
WITHIN "a HOURS.


The oyster season on the Potomac river,
Chesapeake bay and other waters in Mary
land and Virginia will open at Il o'clock
tonight. and within the next twenty-four
hours It is expected a vessel laden with
oysters from the beds down the river will
arrive at the oyster wharf here.
For three weeks or a month past the
oystermen have been at work at hundreds
Of points along the Potomac river. and in
the York. James and Rappahanncek rivers
in Virginia. in the Patuxent. Choptank and
other rivers in Maryland, on Chesapeake
bay and wherever there is salt water in the
two states, preparing for the opening OF
the oyster season September 1. The canoes
and other small boats Of the tongers were
overhauied and the tongs that are used to
lift the oysters from their beds into the
boats are being put in trim for service.
The pungies and bugeyes that bring
cargoes OF oysters from the taking grounds
to the market here have been cleaned up
and painted, and everything Ii In Teaoi-
ness. to begin work.
with the first showing of dawn tomor-
row morning the longing boats Will leave
their harbors for the oyster beds. ana pc
fore the sun mounts to a high attitude
the oystermen will be at work FROM
September until the 18th the tongers
are only allowed to work in the main
river, bat after the 18th they can tong IN
the tributaries OF the river.
fined to longing until October Is, when
tho scraping season begins, but no dredg-
ing for oysters will be allowed until NO
vember 1. These regulations are for the
protection Of the oyster beds. and are
designed to allow the young oysters time
to grow and become of marketable value.
Leads Hard Life.
The oysterman's life is described as
T. ri on
darkness still covers the water he leaves
his home for the oyster-taking grounds
No matter how cold 1t Is. If the weather
will allow his little boat-to ride at anchor
he goes to work. II the wind Is favor
able he will sail to the oyster-taking
grounds; If not, there is a row OF four or
five miles before he puts his tongs over
board
The tongs are heavy, but all day long they
are raised and lowered in the water as the
oysterman feels about on the bottom for his
catch.
The results Of his Iabors vary. Some
times he Is fortunate and strikes partic-
ularly good bed, and the tongs bring up
oysters every time they are drawn to the
surface; but often more stone and shells
are caught than oysters, and the days
work Is poor one.
: After, several hours Of longing the catch
is culled. and all understood oysters, stones
and shells are thrown back into the water
at least this is what is supposed to be done.
but 1t Is said to be often dfsregarded.
When the culling is completed the catch
is sold to the run boat, and is brought to
market here. The tongers continue work
after the dredging season opens, and 1t Is
said that the oysters they catch are gen.
orally the best.
The bulk of the oyster supply used in
this city comes, 1t is stated, from the beds
in the lower Potomac, though during the
past two or three years much shucked
stack .Shinned from Baltimore and Norfolk
to this city has been used.
The Finest Ever.
The oysters taken from the Potomac are
as fine as any in the world, and raw or
cooked in any one of dozen different
ways they tickle the palate Of the epicure.
From Maryland Point to the mouth Of
the Potomac the tongers will start work
tomorrow morning. and 1t is expected that
the first cargo Of oysters from the lower
river will arrive here tonight or tomorrow
aboard the schooner Fannie Shepherd.
These oysters, 1t is understood, will come
fall for the purpose of getting them to mar
ket here on the first day of the season.
1t is hard to predict what kind Of season
the coming one viii be. Men who have
been in the oyster business for years say
there is no rule by which to tell what the
season will produce All they can do Is to
wait and see how 1t pans out.
Owing to the warm weather the dealers
are hot expecting a heavy business, but
the demand for oysters will be good when
'coid weather comes.