New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31

this port should be furnished with meats
that are safe and sound. and at least az
! cheapy as at any other.
AMPLE SEA FOOD SUPPLY.
a depression at this jun. ture may be
! pardoned, since it is for the purpose OF
| describing one sustenance feature of the
locale upon which Moble-,and, indeed, the
states bestowing much attention-sea
food more particularly the oyster.
In an earlier day cultivation was prac-
! tised here, and to the large superior oyster
produced was given the name plants -
a name that, although il originated in Mo-
| bile, is now common property everywhere.
IL has been discovered not only that the
warmth OF water i'm the sub-trOpcs gives
the Mobile oyster its marvellous reproduc-
tive functions. but that Alabama's river
system, coursing as it does over limestones,
brings an amply supply OF lime for shell
structure and for the creation Of food ma
terial for the bivalve's subsistence. And
also that the requisite firm bottoms for its
repose are superb REDUNDANT.
The thin shell oysters" secret has
been disclosed. Alabama seed" on bot
TOMS nearest 10 NIltit llNtl anu IN
waters meet are OF softer shell and grow
more rapidly when transplanted to the
deeper waters of the Gulf, where lime is
limited and insufficient to encourage
growth from "spat." With the supply OF
lime il has already obtained, the trans
planted oyster extends and naturally
Trims its shell. This discovery will likely
revolutionize the culture Of oysters for
commercial purposes.
Alabama has thousands of acres of out
lying bottoms on which no oysters grow
naturally. and there are thousands on
which seed" oysters grow too thckly to
obtain any size.
Since the enlightened Alabama oyster
Commission is actively carrying out the
states intent to make the most of this
resource. there are open here excellent OPP
portunities for the employment Of capital
backed by experience.
There are three grades of oysters
here" Gays Mr. Manuel Canizas, special
list in the trade; 1.-The plants, extra large
plants and extra select
"Oysters are shipped to the interior by
express in United States government regu-
Iation containers where ice does not come
in contact WITH them. Unfortunately, the
express charges are out of all reason, the
industry not being organized to protect
itself against the eXppss companies. With
reasonable rates we could double the trade
in three years
Mobiles fisheries are Of not less conse-
qucnce as a fine source of food supply.
The Gulf teesSs with the req snapper
ami many other fine kinGs OF fish. They
can be. with motor boat, gotten to mar
kot in not very much over twelve hours, -
saws Mr.. Canizas The snapper, the stand
ard fish of the market. runs from two
pounds TO twenty pounds, while the latter
range from one to one and half pounds
i'm weight"
Then there come the 'shecpshcad' the
founder, tie rcd fish, sometimes called
channel bass" and sea bass and the
"croakcr' ct weighs from half pound
TO a pound and half, and is a very good
food fish, These arc known as choice
mixed" fish, and I'll the want for variety.
Mr. Canzas is the very experienced gen
cral manager of the Mobile Fish and Oyster
Company. which was established in 1861
by his father, Frank Canizas, who died In
1851 It was incorporated later, in 1900.
It's officers are a :. Lyons, president;
Manuel CanZas, vice-president and gem
eTal manager, and T.. j. Lyons, secretary.
The president is a man OF great executive
ability, has proved his worth in the ad-
ministration Of the affairs of several others
OF the citys big business institutions and
has marked influence here; the secretary
has been Mayor of Mobile, is a notable
L., . q, ole ~ .
biggest bank, as well as one OF the three
commissioners to whom is intrusted its
municipal government. And the vice-presi-
dent and general manager has grown up
in land has probably few peers I'm the con-
duct of his specialized line of business.
Its capital authorized and paid up is
$1,000 The company owns lO2 feet Of wa
terfront," by l7j feet depth. on which ~
erected a frame building of the size and
character common TO the industry 1t has
a fleet of six snapper (sailing) vessels,
ranging from forty-five to siXty-flve tons.
These vessels were built in Essex. Mass,
at cost Of $4,000 apiece delivered here.
II also has some thirty other craft under
contract-one-ffth of these being motor
boats-running in tonnage from five TO
fifteen
II leases from the state three hundred
acres of oyster beds. which Il planted with
some jhirty-fye thousand barrels Of seed
about sixteen months ago.
The company. which does 100000 worth
of business annually, has increased its
business at least 100 per cent in the last
decade. II employs some sixty people in its
red snapper feet and some twenty at head
quarters. besides contributing TO the en-
ployment OF the independents and their
help.
BY reason Of it's location on the river
front which enables il to get its daily
arrivals at small expense, its track con-
nection with all the railroad lines enter
ing Mobile and also its superior equip
ment it controls about 40 per cent of the
business here in this line.