The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-16
THE TRUTH ABOUT OYSTERS.

There lie a great deal more than idle Curl
osity in the anxiety to ascertain the results
OF the investigations and the conference now
on between representatives OF the government
and the States of Maryland and Virginia In
the matter of Potomac river oysters. 1t Ia
understood that the report will not be ready
for some time yet. and in the meantime hun
dreds OF people are being deprived of a legiti-
mate method Of gaining livelihood on which
they are absolutely dependent and thousands
everywhere are deprived of the privilege OF
obtaining oysters, which State Commissioner
Lee declares are finer and fatter this year
than ever before. And of the commits
sscners openly stated it as his belief that this
whole trouble brought about by some two
fy-four expert" who seeking notoriety.
On this subject the Mobile Item believes
that the popular tendency TO exaggeration was
neyer more strikingly illustrated than in the
case of the recent attack on the wholesome
ness of oysters.
9 There may have been some instances in
the last fifteen years, says the ftesn 'sn which
most OF these. where circumstances permitted
{ thorough investigation, it was found that
the accusations against the oyster originated
In the imagination. and in or two cases
n least TO desire to attract public attention
OF. the part OF persons who placed the matter
u print.
THE real facts concerning oysters that
oF md rfn Ire re
which we partake every day are likely
to be unwholesome than oysters. because oys-
tiers are now principally grown In the deep
pure waters of the large bays and sounds
where they continually swept by the clean,
saltwater currents, These grounds are miles
from land and are remote from all sources OF
contamination. This is especially true of Mo-
bile oysters,
1T Is no longer permitted to market oysters
from the grounds formerly used in the vicinity
OF large cities Bacteriologists employed
BY State authorities to examine the oysters
and the waters where they grow, and certif-
Gates issued covering only such grounds
as are suitable. Wherever the standard OF
purity Is not fully maintained the marketing
o. the oysters is strictly forbidden.
1.-THE cause of most of the complaints against
oysters consists in the fact that II writer
can acquire public notice by making sensa-
ficnal attack upon oysters or any other food.
he can thereby place himself in position Of
great personal advantage although to the reck-
less injury of others.
1.-THE slogan of pure food is very effective
one and IL deserves to be so, but II 1t Is
abused In order to build up personal prom-
hence which can then be used for the purpose
OF financial benefit to its possessor, then the
assertions need 10 be carefully scanned In
order to make due allowance for exaggeration.
1.-THE best authorities pronounce oysters
wholesome and easily digested. They are GER
tainly economical, as there are no bones or
waste, and the cost is reasonable"
All of which is true preaching. but II
always requires a campaign of education to
unroot popular fallacies, and 1t may take some
years longer to entirely eliminate these foolish
notions about the oyster, but they will dis
appear in time. In the meantime The Vir-
gs#iam expects to continue to eat all the oys-
tors ii can get and laugh at the theorists