Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-09-10
OUTLOOK FOR
OYSTERS GOOD.

UISlED uUUU.
Reports Agree That Com
ing Season is to Be a
Good One.
Washington, d. c., Sept. 2-Assur-
ance of an abundant supply of whole
some oysters during the present newly
opened season is given by DR.. II. F.
Moore. expert on oysters and assistant
of the United States Bureau of Fisheries
who returned today from an extended
and exhaustive investigation of the
oyster beds of Maryland and Virginia.
The State Boards of Health are
of the beds to insure cleanliness" said
DR.. Moore. land the pure food bureau of
the Department of Agriculture is main
tanning strict supervision on all inter-
state shipments. Many cases of typhoid
fever are unfairly charged to the oys-
ter. While some cases may be traced
to the mollusk, the oyster Is not res
ponsible for as many cases of the fever
it is credited with. Every precau-
ton is being taken, though, and the
boards of health of the several States
in the East are prohibiting the planting
and replanting of oyster beds in impure
waters"
The natural beds of Maryland and
Virginia are well stocked with the oys-
ter growth and the planters of these
States have a considerable supply of
the bivalves.
IRichmohd Times Dispatch.l
The month with an "R" is here and
with it oysters. Not of the small, lean
variety, but of the kind that generally
come at midseason. All the oysters re-
ceived yesterday were taken from Vir-
ginia beds. In restaurants the counter
where the bivalves are served was the
most popular. 1t is roughly estimated
that 500 dozen were sent in to Supply
the demand.
One hotel proprietor boasts the larg-
est sale, having served more than sixty
dozen on the half shell, and an
other is second, with more than forty
dozen. ''This will be the greatest year
the Virginia tongers have ever known,
said one dealer, Gas the demand will
about equal the supply. 1t is almost
Impossible to get oysters North, and
this will greatly increase the output
from this State. The oysters received
are of much better grade than they
were this time last year, and in fact.
we could not complain if they do not
improve as the season advances.
Reports from Norfolk indicate that
the outlook is good. Some planters
have examined their private beds, and
finding them well stocked with oysters
of good quality, are led to hope for a
prosperous season. In addition, the
tongers expect the market to be strong,
as the "sets" in Narragansett Bay and
along Long Island Sound were failures
this year. The Virginia bivalves will
therefore be in demand, and should find
a ready market in the North.
The consensus of opinion among
dealers this year is that the entire crop
will be from Is to 20 per cent, better
than last year. They judge this, how
ever. from the favorableness of the
summer season for the growth and de-
velopment of natural rock.
This is pleasant news to all who are
interested in the welfare of this great
industry, and should be the occasion of
rejoicing throughout Tidewater.
baltimore Americana
1t is claimed by those thoroughly &C
quainted with the business that the
present supply in the Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries promise to be larger
and of finer quality than during last
season. as great many medium-sized
oysters which were left on the beds
have had chance to mature, and these
will constitute the principal catch of
the season. Reports from different
sections of the Bay and it's rivers are
meager, but from the accounts of boat
men there will be plenty of oysters fol-
the local supply and the packing houses.
The opening of the longing season for
oysters was marked by the beginning
of work on local oyster grounds by
most of the Oystermen. Prospects of q
large catch are excellent, while the dry
season has improved the flavor of the
oysters by allowing the water to become
salty. Prices are low at this season
and most of the oysters are caught and
bedded.
| Norfolk Ledger Dispateh.l
Captain Tilton Conklin. one of the
largest oyster planters in this section.
said today that the Indications point to
a good oyster season In Virginia 30 far
as the supply is concerned. The oys-
ters have had favorable weather for
early spawning. are now fatteninp up.
and ne thinks everything points to
fine year.
The outlook for good prices for Vir-
ginia oysters seems good. They are
somewhat ahead of the Maryland ovs-
tiers and just so long as the Virginia
market can keep in advance of the
large supply sent out from Baltimore
following the beginning of "oyster
dredging, the local packers will do
we'll Pho HhasanaaLa oyotar ALL