The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-07
OYSTERS FOUND
IN GLOUCESTER
Continued From First Page)

NSoHtihueu FROM First Page.)
tSome benlghted folk like Vinegar or
lemon with the oyster. With the salt
air blowing over him and the banks OF
the river crowned with stately man
sions In full sight with river craft
coming and going for environment
oysters ia oysters" indeed.
An oyster roast on the banks Of the
river under the soft ray of the hunt.
ers' moon IN another :lme and place
Tor the enjoyment OF the oyster, to
say nothing of when It 10 served at an
old-time Gloucester dinner or supper
ANY one living at a distance from the
oyster section may have the delusion
tnat they have eaten oysters and will
not be disillusioned until they visit
the homo OF this bivalve.
AT low tide few scattering oysters
can be picked up on the river shore.
NO such easy task. however, awaits
the FISHERMAN. who, armed with an
Implement resembling two long garden
rakes, riVetcd together and known as
oysters longs, works hard and long,
catching and drawing up oysters from
the bottom of the river at depth
varying from two TO thirty feet. The
catch is emptied upon o cullinR board
whence the culls are thrown back into
the water. and the oysters selected &C
cording to their grades are placed In
tho boat Tho oysters then are either
put on board of schooner and sent
direct to market. or barreled in the
shells and shipped by steamer. Former
~ 1t was the custom OF some oyster
men to open their oysters and drop
them into fresh water to increase their
BULK. after which they were put in
cans and sent TO market with q large
piece of Ice imbedded to keep them
cool and plump.
a later law. however has changed
all this. The oyster is now shipped
IN dry measure and the ice is packed
around tho can. This method dimin-
ishes the proiit of the oysterman, but
maintains the favor OF the oyster
No weather is too bad for the
tongman. ss, clothed In his slicker,
ne hies forth early in the morning 10
better the market II Is hard work,
but healthy. for II he should get wet
ting in spite of the slicker he is not
supposed TO catch cold, for salt water
is not conductive 10 colds. Those who
so by water are healthy. happy lot
Let us hope that the causes which
nave operated against the oyster
tons viii make il more profitable
Among the things that have hindercd
the industry were several successive
warm winters, then a season of green
gills, followed by one Of poor oysters,
and the prolonged freeze this winter,
during which some OF the oysters died
Tho freeze proved to be the proverbial
darkness before the dawn. Lately q
hne market has prevailed and oysters
ha In
To get the very best oysters the
catcher takes his boat to the ooves
and inlets on q frosty morning, when
the water Is clear and the oyster can
be sighted sticking OUT of the mud.
from which he draws them out one ct
limo with special tongs called nip
pers.
The aquatic right OF those living on
salt water does not exceed one-half
acre. The rest OF the oyste. land is
owned by the State, and is rented to
the planter. oyster beds are stuked on
Tor these reasons: 10 note the metes
and bounds OF the ground ana 10 en-
able the planter TO distribute them
better and TO work 10 the best advant-
age in getting them up
AS oyster thieves abound, small
Warehouses; built on piles in the river
are used as shelters for watchmen To
guard the oysters.
They must have keen ears, as the
wary thief nuflcs his oars.
We hear much OF oyster rock. which
after all is any substance under the
water on which the spawn strikes
Many years ago quantities OF oyster
shells were embedded In the bottoms
OF the rivers and were known az the
natural rock" This has been almost
] Al u ii q
are thrown into the water every sea :
son Tor the spawn to strike OH II
, takes three years before these are
ready for market.
! y curiosity tonged up some years
laco was an old rubber boot on which
fifty oysters had struck.
Oysters In the time OF the Indians
F.. differed III shape from those of to-day.
The growth was rank. The shell thus
Hrew IN length instead of width. This
was more particularly the case on the
James fiver. where the shells were
dubbed cat tongues"
King powhatnn spent his winters
on the York River. either at Roswell
or finbcrneck Creek. probably at both,
Tho deposit OF shells at Rosewen, cs-
peciaiiy at Sicily. which at ono time
was part of the Roosevelt estate. "a
very sreaV in fact. the name OF the
place was changed from Werowomoco
TO smelly because OF said deposit. to-
sether with the fact OF the difficulty
OF pronouncinG tho name.
King Powhatan and his tribe we're
evidently great oyster eaters. and also
eNidchtly preferred the York TO the
James River oyster, az we do not hear
OF amy such vast deposit of shells on
ms James River haunts an are found
at Shelly.