Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-09-23
GOOD NEWS FOR
OYSTER PEOPLE.
State Dairy and Food Commission
Not TO Be Harsh.

1t is estimated that only about forty
per cent of the firms heretofore pack
ing and shocking oysters throughout
Virginia have resumed business this
season. This is serious proposition in
the oyster region, and in consequence
there is very little market for the
catches made by the tongers, and prices
are low. On the James seed oysters,
clear of shells and mussels, are selling
for 10 cents bushel, the lowest price
In twenty years for clean stock. Shuck-
ing stock is bringing 25 cents. With
1000 boats, containing 1000 men and
cull-boys, the catch per day there is
estimated at from 10000 to $4,000
bushels. Last year saw the largest
crop in many years, and this year by
far exceeds last year. Some of the
chronic GROWERS among the oyster peo-
pie charge the low prices to the Com
mission of Fisheries, who they say are
responsible for the big crop-thus max
ing glut on the market. They admit,
however, that they can now catch more
than twice as many day at Is cents
as when few years back they were
selling (seed) for 20 and % cents.
From the other rivers come also reports
of abundant catches, but low prices.
Reverting to the dearth of packers,
the small packer has hesitated to go
into the business because of the uncer-
tainty as to how far the State and
Federal governments will go in enforc-
ing the new pure food laws. AS the
situation is serious, Commissioner of
Fisheries Lee paid a flying trip this
week to the office of the Dairy and
Food Commission at Richmond. Com
missioner Saunders went over the 90
provisions in the Departments circular
No. Ia with him, and showed every dis
position to grant the request of the
Commissioner not to be severe i'm the
enforcement of several of the most
| stringent provisions.
Section D, which is thought particu-
larry grievous, will be enforced within
moderation. That is. the oyster Com
missioner was assured that if the
trucks, trays, boxes. baskets, chutes,
platforms, racks, tables and shelves
were kept reasonably clean, and the
knives and receptacles for holding the
opened oysters were sterilized by boiling
water or steam, there would be nc
trouble. The boiling water feature is
easy and can be provided without hard.
ship by the smallest packer.
As to sleeping quarters above shuck.
ing houses. the Food Commissioner was
| satisfied, provided no opening or pas
sage way admitted from above down
into the shocking or packing rooms
and the ceilings of the latter were made
tight and dust proof.
Section 10. relative to packages.
should not cause the State authorities
trouble, rs ninety per cent of our oys-
tiers were shipped outside the State.
and any package admitted by other
States or the Federal inspectors would
be passed here. Hence wooden pack
ages that were hard enameled mot
painted) inside would not be inhibited
by the State authorities unless held up
by the Federal inspectors.
These three features appeared to be
the points on which our people have
been uneasy and hesitated to begin
business. We feel that the result of
the conference between Food Commits
sioner Saunders and Fish Commissioner
Lee should restore confidence in the
packers. Certainly the Food Depart
ment shows no disposition to be harsh
in the execution of its orders.
Of course no ice is to come in con-
tact with the oysters in shipping.