Evening star., 1909-08-29

around. oystermen are busily engaged in
overhauling their boats. oyster-taking
tOngS and other paraphernala. and early
Wednesday morning next they will go to
the oyster grounds to start the work of
supplying this and other cities with the BIZ
valves. Under the laws enacted by the
states of Maryland and Virginia for the
protection of the natural supply of oyS-
ters of the two states, longing on the
Potomac river proper is allowed from
September 1. but dredging cannot start
until October Il. The longing for oysters
in the tributaries of the Potomac is not
allowed to start until October /. and the
season for taking the bivalves ends April
/. This curtailing Of the season has had
a beneficial effect on the oyster supply.
and larger and better oysters are now
being obtained. The Maryland authorities.
it is claimed. are much more vigilant in
enforcing the oyster laws than are the
Virginia officials. and the Maryland oys-
ter police boats are constantly patrOlling
the river in the oyster season.
How the Tonger Works.
The life of the oyster tonger is by no
dawn, and often before, he is up and
away to his boat, and If the breeze is
fair he sails to the oyster-taking grounds,
often ten or fifteen miles away, but if
not fair he rows his boat to the point
try after the bivalveS. Down go his long
handled tongs to the bottom OF the river.
and feeling around with them he gathers
up what he touches and brings 1t to the
surface and dumps it on the culling board
lying in the stern of his boat. All day
long he maniplates the tongs with vary
ing success. Sometimes he locates a par
ticularly good bed and the tongs will bring
APP oysters each time they are put over
board, but more often there are more
Sh lc "a be mr.
the days work is poor. When the culling
board is full the tonger or his partner
proceeds to Gull the catch--that is, all the
shells and undersiZed oysters cleaned
out and thrown back into the water; but
Judging from some of the cargoes brought
here the Gull law is often evaded and the
oysters caught. be they big or little, are
brought to this market, there being no
law here regulating the size oyster that
can he sold in the District
While all kinds of boats are used by the
tongers. the 'favorites seem to be the
nancy" and the canoe" The canoe, a
regular dugout from single log, 10 a
stanch fast-sailing craft and is good
cheap boat to build. but for all-around
work it's equal cannot be found It is a
good sea boat, light In weight compared
with the canoe, and Is steadily growing
years ago, but hundreds OF them are now
in service.
Where They Abound
BY far the larger portion of the oysters
used in this city come from the oyster
beds in the lower Potomac, and they are
as fine stock as can be found anywhere
in the world. The oyster is found in the
Potomac from Lower Cedar Point to its
mouth. and those coming from Nomini
Lower Machodoc, the Coan or Yeocomico
rivers in Virginia or from the Wicomico.
Smiths creek or the St. Mary river in
Maryland are always in demand and serv-
ed raw stewed. fried, psnned steamed,
roasted or escalloped. 1t is hard to saw
in which style they most tickle the palate
of the epicure. for they are always good.
no matter how served The tongers after
gathering their days catch dispose of it