The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-27
OYSTER TO HAVE ITS DAY.
30 1T NOW,

It begins to look very much like the oyster
a. at last coming into its own after all these
years OF combating the assaults of its enemies,
who have held up the hivalye ms a source of
disease and unit for food.
The national department Of agriculture-prob-
ehly penitent over the blow which one Of It's
food faddists dealt the Potomac oyster industry
the past season. and from which 1t has not yet
recovered-is planning. We arc told. a syste-
matte study and inspection of all the oyster
beds from Cape Cod to Texas, preliminary to
the promotion and announcement of the oyster
Industry, in putting the seal of governmental
approval upon the product, properly handled,
Is a food. just as it supervises the meatpacking
industry now.
DR.. Alsberg, who is chief OF the bureau Of
chemistry of the department OF agriculture. out.
lined the plans of the department the other
night in an address to the oyster growers in
New York and made the declaration-in line
with the policy The Tirointan has persistently
scvoeated-that the prejudice against the oyster
in some quarters is undoubtedly A factor that
adds TO the pressure of the high cost OF living.
OYSTERS, In their season. take the place OF meat
and it follows that If folks stop eating oysters
they eat more meat. and the greater the de-
nland for meat, with the continually subsiding
supply, the higher the price.
Combating the criticism of those who hold
that the oyster is a sourse of disease, Or, Ais
borg said:
As = general proposition IT is fair 10 state
that people run less risk Of contracting typhoid
fever from oysters than they, do from drinking
raw milk. or the water supplied in many com
1~nunlties. The great bulk Of the oysters sold
are wholesome.
The department Of agriculture is planning
70 deal with this question in a new and con
The department is about to begin a systematic
sanitary study Of the entire question of oyster
production, The first thing is TO learn what
beds from Cane Cod to Texas. are polluted.
These, I think, viii prove to be few. We should
then te a8tc to control interstate shipments
from these beds and publicity thus given will
make II a simple matter for State and mum
cipal authorities 10 prevent local sales.
The second step IS to see that oysters from
wholesome beds are handled in a sanitary man
ner Those TIVE things shoald go far to restore
pubic confidence IN oysters. The industry then
Will flourish and do its share 10 keep down the
cost Of living.
While The department has the necessary au-
fhority for this work. its present appropriation
does not admit Of carrying on the survey on the
great scale demanded for complete results. The
department feels that the question is Of national
importance, and would warrant the special in
adequate appropriation for this work to he done
either by the department If agriculture. the
department 0f commerce or the department OF
tn speed with which q can he carried on
will depend on the funds made available and
,he date A. which the department is empowered
70 begin It's survey.
This policy differs widely from the old one
under which shippers of inferior oysters were
punished. but nothing was done to help pro-
dacers keep oysters Wholesome In the future
we SHAH 90 more than punish and sympathize.
Tha INV rrff~r re- .ba rattnr.I arp ~ art