The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-06-05

GULF COAST BIVALVES THAT
ARE EATEN IN SUMMER.
The Point Isabel Product Is in Season
from the First of May Until
the First Day of Sep
TENDER.

The fact is not generally known, even
in Texas, that the tropical oyster,
which is entirely different in appear
ance and habits from the oysters found
in the markets OF this country, is sue
cessfully raised along the extreme
southern gulf coast of this state, says
an Austin TEX report. f. W. Sea-
bury, speaker of the Texas house OF
representatives, who has made study
of oysters for several years says in re-
gard TO this tropical breed of oysters:
The oyster which is grown in the
vicinity of Point Isabel and along the
gulf coast as far as a short distance be-
low Corpus Christi is tropical bivalve
and of wholly different species from the
oysters along other portions of the
Texas coast and Atlantic seaboard. The
Point Isabel oyster is eaten during the
summer season, commencing about the
LIST of May, the season lasting till about
the LIST of September. This tropical oy-
ster begins to spawn in September,
which is just at the time the oysters
north of here become fit for eating. The
Point Isabel oyster spawns in fall and
winter, and the northern oyster, even
those at Corpus Christi and Port Lavaca,
spawn in summer. The Point Isabel oy-
ster can be eaten in any of the months
not containing the letter r The re-
verse is true of the other oysters.
THE fact that the Point Isabel oyster
has a season entirely different from
that of other oysters should make it in
demand, and look for great industry
to be built up in cultivating and ship
ping these bivalves. The Laguna Madre,
where the Point Isabel oyster is grown,
affords splendid place for oyster beds.
The lagoon is four or five miles wide, ant
the water is highly impregnated with
salt, which insures the growth of good
oysters. With direct railroad connec-
ton with the outside world there is no
reason why an immense oyster ship
ping business should not be built up at
Point Isabel.
"Of course the people would have to
be educated into eating oysters during
the hot months of summer, but believe
that could be easily done. know of my
own knowledge that these oysters form
most palatable dish on the hottest days
of summer | have eaten them many
times. In Brownsville these oysters are
the principal food for many people all
summer long. There is fine opportun
ity awaiting some enterprising person
to plant oyster beds in the Laguna
Madre, in the Point Isabel region. It
will bring a big fortune to whoever I'M
dertakes it. These tropical oysters are
far better than the other Texas oysters.
They are smaller than the Corpus Chris
ii, Port Lavaca or Galveston oysters,
and more resemble the famous Blue
Points. Oyster roasts have been popu
lar form of entertainment for a long
time during the summer months at
Point Isabel"
The fish and oyster laws contain
provision exempting oysters from GER
tain point below Corpus Christi from
the operation of that provision which
prohibits their shipment and sale dur
ing the months which do not contain the
letter "r." This exemption was placed
on the bill through the effort of Mr.
Seabury. There is, therefore, nothing
in the way of the Point Isabel oysters
being shipped during the summer
months If a market can be made for
them.