The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-23
POOR SET AND MARY BOATS
 REPORTS OF OYSTERMEN
Season Backward and Set Too Small to be Caught With PFofit-Ex- tension of Close Season Again
 Advocated
STAMFORD
Special to The Farmer1

Stratford, Sept 23-Oysterrpen. began operations the natural beds last Friday and those who make this town their Headquarters report that the set on the Bridgeport bed is very poor The set is very small and not at all plentiful Experts attribute this con- dition to the cold summer. Oysters need warm water to breed in and the oystermen say that the waters of the Sound have not been as warm this summer as usual For years many sion of the close season at least two weeks as the set the opening day Sept. (20th is almost always too small to be handled with profit. If the weather is warm the set is so weak and soft that it dies on the deck in a few hours. Under these conditions the oysterman is at the mercy of the buyer for he must dispose of his catch imn ediately at any price he, can get or throw it overheard again. The big growers and companies have, as set. They always appear to be satis- fled although they give out no infor- nation which is liable to affect the market. The number of boats en- son is much larger than has been seen there for years and the ground will be pretty well cleaned up before the set gets large enough to bring much prifit to the small eysterman.
 STAMFORD BRIEFS
 Miss Ethel HOugntOn. who mas been passing her vacation at Camp Way side, Monterey Mass, will, return home about the middle of next month and will prepare to reopen the danc- Bessie, now Mrs V. Morehouse, for several years with remarkable suc- cess. Mrs. Morehouse now resides in Wa tervliet, N. Y., and her sister Ethel will take up her work here. Miss Ethel was her sisters able assistant last season and is capable of carrying ter fThe classes will assemble about Nov. 1.
 The telephone company is removing the iron pipes which carried it's wires by order of the selectmen. The pipes were laid in the bed of the brook and the frequent stoppage or that water way by rubbish and the consequent flooding of the town was attributed to this obstruction. The pipes are be- ing reiaid two feet north of the brook Should this measure fail to relieve the situation other plans will be adopted by the selectmen.
 Rev M. J. O'Connor of St James and festival will be given to aid the building fund of the church on Oct. 1, ?, 3; 4. g., s, g, 10, at ao the eod1re1 town for the affair which is expected to ex- ceed anything before given by the church. Besides the refreshments and useful articles Whlcn Will aLITdcI dL- tention there will be dancing every evening to the music of the Stratford string orchestra Amusements will be provided for every taste.
 (Communicated)-"In regard to the no-hcense agitati I cannot refrain from offering the following comments which perhaps you m may f. @ see II Tt tbo 10 state exist in their present form the sale of liquor :s a legitimate business which cannot justly be taken from -1Y.c them of a means of livelihood. With g. large city so close at hand no- license regime in this town would have very little, if any effect on the con- sum ption of intoxicating liquors by its residents The most effective tenn Derance work may be done with the allure in that quarter will accomplish the ends which the so-ca1led temper ance element is working for When there is no demand for intoxicat1nS who wink q the use of liquor prlVate- ly and fight the saloon openly are doing the greatest harm poss1ble 10 the cause of temperance Total ab- stinence education from the very start in the home, in the schools ana every where and on every occasion IS the only hone for the real temperance ad- vocates. As long as liquor IS used in the homes at the clubs and at social events by people of high social stand ing the saloon must exist for those who cannot afford the luxuries of the wealthy The evils charged to the sa- loon should not be attributed to that institution alone but to the almost universal habit of using intoxicating Iial1ors and the effort to make it re- specta bIe by fighting the saloon. As long as the habit Of drinking con tinues the saloon will exist for the poor man as well as the club for the wealthy CLER1CUS."
 The Taxpayers Improvement club will hold smoker at the club house on Nichols avenue this evening. A pro gram of excellent numb bers has been prepared and refreshments will be served. Members of the other civic clubs in the town have been invited and many have made arrangements to attend. The evening will be de- voted to social enjoyment and there will be no business session so politi clans may rest without fear that any schemes will be matched to beat them out at the coming election.
 The Holy Name society of St. James church will meet at the church this evening to choose delegates to meet with those of other societies to ma ke fTo