The Washington herald., 1912-03-09
BANNED BIVALVES
SLIP OUT OF PORT
oysterren Will Try to Sell Their
Rejected Cargo in Other
(. Ports Near By.

The two little vessels containing the
500 bushels of oysters which were con-
demned by officials OF the Bureau Of
Chemistry, Department Of Agriculture,
last Monday, slipped quietly down the
Potomac yesterday for Virginia and
Maryland ports, with their entire cargoes
aboard. The inspectors Of tht Bureau
of Chemistry who had been stationed TO
guard the craft and see that they did
not steal away with the condemned oys-
ters stood back crestfallen and watched
the vessels depart. The little boats had
clear books of sailing, and they left the
city unmolested by government officials.
When the oysters were first seized. on
Monday. the captains Of the craft went
Immediately TO Representative William A.
Jones, OF Virginia. and requested him TO
intervene. The Congressman paid DIR.
Harvey W. Wiley, chief OF the Bureau
Of Chemistry. friendly visit. and as a
result the order for the inspectors to
treat the oysters with kerosene. so as
to destroy them. was countermanded.
DR.. Wiley then notified the captains that
the government had no intention Of seiz-
ing the bivalves bodily. but that II would
not permit them to be sold in the Dis
trict.
VIII Try Other Cities.
The captains at once realized that there
were such places as Baltimore and Nor
folk and Alexandria, where people are
not so particular about the exact number
Of germs IN oysters; 20 they decided yes
terday 70 start without delay for those
ports. Consequently, early yesterday
morning the two vessels pulled away
ha ElavnpNh afraQf wharf Ahna I'd
one vessel were about $50 bushels OF oys-
ters, while the other contained about 80
bushels.
Local oystermen are greatly aroused
over the eSrecent concentrations by gov
ernment officials. The market has been
affected to a considerable extent. The
demand for oysters has decreased per-
ceptibly since the first newspaper ac-
counts OF the supposedly contaminated
bIvalves were published. Yesterday
afternoon II was estimated that there
were not 100 bushels OF oysters at the
wharves. The prices are luctuating be-
tween 50 cents and 81 per bushel.
Because of lack of organization, the
oystermen are greatly handicapped, and
II Is practically impossible to take any
steps In the matter. Oyster dealers feel
that they have been imposed upon by
the government officials, but have no So
luton TO oner.
'T really don't believe that the con-
demned oysters were contaminated" {"
said J. c. Barry. q big oyster dealer.
yesterday afternoon. I'D certainly like
to be as perfect as those oysters were.
tried some Of the condemned oys-
ters, and believe me. never tasted more
delicious biyalves. Now there might
have been germs IN them, but don't
think the germs would have hurt any
body.
THE condemnations have greatly af-
fected the oyster market They have
cut the trade just about one-halt. Con-
seQuently. We oystermen are greatly
perturbed over this matter. And still.
We don't know what TO do about II. The
logical thing is. first, to organize. Last
year / attempted to form an associa-
tion OF oyster dealers, but the plans
proved futile. II was impossible to IN
terest the oyster dealers IN organization.
I feel certain, however. that an asso-
citation VIII be formed next season.
don't think the oyster dealers would be
able TO get along another season with
out organization OF some kind to OFFSET
the Impositions which are being made
upon them by government oficials.'
Early next week an investigation OF
the oyster beds of the Lower Potomac
will be made by oficials Of the Bureau
OF Chemistry to determine the cause OF
contamination.