Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-05
FIND FINEST OYSTERS
IN WATERS OF VIRGINIA
State Food Commissioner Says This
| Seasons Product Is Pure
! and Wholesome.
CONSUMER is sAFEGUARDED
Packers Required to Use Labels Ger
tifying Bivalvcs Have Been Han
died Under Supervision of Author
ities-Pollutcd Areas Policcd

The State Dairy and Food Depart
spection of the oyster beds and oyster
packinE-houses of the State. Commits
sioner Benjamin l.. Purcell said la st
night that after a personal inspection
of the conditions surrounding the
oyster industry he Is satisfied that
! the Virginia oysters found on sale this
season in the State, or in the mark cts
OF other States, may be accepted by
the buyers with confidence that the
product is pure and wholesome. Every
precaution has been taken to insure
the public against getting oysters that
come from polluted areas, or that may
be prepared In unsanitary shocking or
packing houses, or that have been
handled in packing houses that en-
ploy other than approved methods
This assurance has been brought about
in part through the active operation
OF the United States Public Health
Service and State Commissioner of
Fisheries Parsons, with the Dairy and
Food Department.
WILL. POLICE ALI.
POLLUTED TERRITORY
Surgeon II. S. Cumming. of the United
States Public Health Service, has de-
voted practically all Of his time for
the past year to examinations Of the
oyster beds, water and oysters Of Nir-
ginia. AS n result of his work the
polluted areas have been charted and
marked. The State Food Depa rtment
has notified the oystermen that oysters
can no. DO taken from the polluted
beds and with the assistance of Com
missione, Parsons. tho polluted beds
will be constantly policed. and parties
nj fnr To-,
rously prosecuted
Commissioner Parsons has large
free of oyster inspectors who are pro-
vidcd with motor boats and who patrol
the oyster beds during the entire
oyster season These men and the
State food inspectors will be constantly
on the alert, and thcre will be but little
opportunity 20 evade their vigilance.
CERTIFICATES INSURE
PROTECTION OF 8UYER
There are about 10000 people directly
and indirectly connected with the oys-
ter industry in Virginia. the majority
OF these are dependent on this industry
for Livelihood Millions OF dollars
are invested in the business by Vir-
Einia growers and packers, and since
the volume of the oyster business comes
from tho demand outside Of tho State
the Food Department has adopted for
tho protection of the BUYERS in and
out of the state, 4 form OF certificate
of purity and cleanliness which will be
issued to growers and packers en-
titled to secure It, Copies of these
certificates will he used by the pack
ers and shippers rs labels on their
packages of oysters. and will certify
mat the oysters contained In the
package came from beds free from
pollution, and that they have been
handled and packed in sanitary
I nlf I've,
the state requirements Virginia oys-
ters, when truthfully labeled as in
dicated above. will pass without moles
tation. by the authorities of other
states. Arrangements have been made
by tho State Food Department with
New York and other cities, to accent
these certificates. and since the Federal
government requirements arc practi-
cally Identical with Virginia's, this
arrangement will give to the certified
Virginia oyster the advantage of get
ting to the out-of-State distributors
without delays other oysters will have
to undergo awaiting examination by
the local authorities before they can
DO sold.
1t will be appreciated that this ar
ranecment must add economic value
To the Virginia oyster and since the
superiority of the flavor and appear
ance OF Virginia oysters are univer-
sally acknowledged. there appears no
valid reason that the Virginia oyster
industry should not have this year the
banner season Of it's existence