Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-03-19
OYSTERS AND FISH ARE
UNLIMITED.
CA. Won Nyvenheim. in virrinian-Pilotl


oysters and fish in this country formed
one of the chief articles of diet to the
Indians before the white man ever set
tied here. When John Smith and his
colonists landed in April, 1907, on the
shores of Virginia, many of his COM
panions expected to find quantities of
gold and precious stones, but what
they found was more valuable to them,
being the most delicious and nourishing
sea food they had ever tasted. An
abundance of oysters and fish awaited
them which were the means of giving
them food TO retain their health and
strength during the long time they
had to wait until they received help
and provisions from England.
Since that time until the present the
Virginia oysters and fish have always
taken most prominent part in all the
markets of the United States and Cam
ada. and this fact has been acknowl-
edged by the citizens of this country.
1t is known that as far back as the year
1900 trading schooners commanded by
captains living at Cape Cod sailed from
Massachusetts, to Virginia and returning
to their homes took Virginia oysters
back with them. AS early as 1910
citizens of Boston, Mass, established
wholesale oyster houses in that city.
getting their main supply from Virginia.
and few years later planted oysters
in Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and
Connecticut. While in those States
they had some small natural oyster
beds, Virginia oysters were used for
laying the corner stone of the present
oyster business there.
This business grew to such magni-
tude that Virginia could not alone sup
ply the demand, so some of the vessels
oading for New England markets had
20 go to other oyster beds in the Ches-
lpeake Bay for their cargoes. BY
1870 thirty-siX schooners freighted oys-
ters to Boston, Mass; three to Salem,
Mass; four to Portland, Me-; eight to
Providence, X. l.. and about the same
amount to New Haven, Conn, besides
those which were bringing oysters to
New York and other places, and it can
easily be seen what. an immense
amount OF oysters were being taken
out of the Chesapeake Bay by this
fleet of vessels, as they generally made
i've trips each during the season and
carried from three 10 four thousand
bushels per trip.
But even this was not filling the
demand, so Boston wholesale dealers
in 1879 looked around to find suitable
place for establishing oyster packing
houses in the South and majority of
them decided that Norfolk, Va, was
the best adapted for such business.
Several packing houses were already in
operation here at that time, as on ac-
count of its climate the people could
work the whole year, also the city had
better transportation facilities than any
other where oysters were handled.
A few years afterward Western, and
New York State dealers, seeing these
advantages, also established branch
houses in Norfolk, so the business
grew to such proportions that for
several years ], 800, 900 to 1000, 900 of
bushels were opened each season and
gave emplo, ment to from 1000 to
1000 men during that time. While
many of our competitors claim to pro-
duce the best oysters in this country,
we dispute their assertion very much,
for where can you find finer favored
oyster than our 'Lynnhaven'' or Cherry
Stone?' Having over one hundred
thousand acres of planting ground il
this State under cultivation, and 23O,
900 of natural rocks furnishing oysters
we can give our customers any kind oi
oysters they want in regard to flavo
or size, also guarantee them to be O
as good and pure quality as are grow
| anywhere.
When 1T comes to shipping then
through the country, no city in tn
United States has the combined trans
! portation facilities to reach the mort
south, east or west that we have from
Norfolk. With steamers sailing daily fo
New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia
Providence, Boston and Washington
besides having railroad connection witt
the whole country, and express com
panies taking shipments daily from a
m. to Sp. M, we can fill orders prompt
ly to any part of the United State
and Canada.
Every industry in the world has it
prosperous and its dull times. and W
I have the same III this business. At tn
same time it is an acknowledged fac
that while we are the oldest oyster cul
] tivating State in the country, we sti
have several hundred thousand acres O
planting ground laying idle, and ther
is no doubt when we get this groun
under cultivation Virginia will take he
Justly entitled place in the front ran