The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-11-14
OYSTER PACKERS ARE
SQUEEZED BETWEEN HIGH
and Low PRICES
Demands; OF Dredgers And Poor Re
turns From Market Make For De-
pression-NlusselsA Affect Size OF
Individual BiValVeS.


Crisfield, Md, Nov. -. Oyster
packers in lower somerset county
end other tidewater counties are
much concerned about tn" outlook of
the oyster season which normally is
az its height about this time OF the
year. Some o. h, large oyster pack
en-. say they hGV> tIen operating at
. loss s:ncc the beginning OF the oEs-
to-, season H. :. rlrm0r, "Iilt others
state they have simply been trading
dollars in an effort to keep their
cuisines. organized and the shuckers
employed.
They say that unless conditions
take ? turn fol the better they are
dubious a. to just what the maj IL
nancial Result will mean tic the busl-
n, IS. lwu causes Az. advanced loI
the poo, season. First, the mussels
have attached themselves 10 the deep
water oysters, while last year they
VIC ere found principally in shallow
water. Second. the high prices de-
manded for the shell stock.
Dredger: Make Profit
Apparently the dredGers are the
only class engaged this year III INC
oyster business making q talr pro-
fiji. vet, even they say the oysters are
scarce on the natural rocks ana the
catch Smallei than unull. Inc pack
en-, are discouraged because OF tue
inferior oystera which are belnS
drrdgnd. They say the growth mas
been retarded because OF the pres
ence OF tho mussel and that it re-
o,lires bushel and q half OF shell
stock to shuck one gallon OF oysters.
while formerly q bnshel would cas-"
lily shuck gallon and frequently
more.
During the present week packers
have been paying for oysters IL the
Shell ranging from 20 cents to 81
bushel, while the Eastern market Tor
the shucked stock is $3.50 to Sl.4O |
gallon. The initial price paid for
oysters. coupled with the cost OF
shocking, packing and other over |
head expenses will not allow even
small profit, the packers say.
With perhaps not less than 2O
boats filling the basin Of the haroor |
this morning. laden with more oyS-
ters than at any other time during
the present season, prices went WIG
again during the competitive bidding !
among the buyers, soaring from
SLIP to 1920 a bushel, reaching
market peak for the week. II Is
reported that shell stock at Hamp- |
ton. Va. is selling for only 80 cents !
bushel. while the present Cristleld
market is just 400 per cent higher
for practically the same stock.
L'xnhanOQ
There is no central exchange here
that controls the market price OF the
shell stock and prices frequently
fluctuate many times within an hour'
due to the methods practiced by the
hackers and so-called "water-bush
houses in buying al the docks. Inc
oysters entering the harbor are not
sold az specified market price. Out
are sold usually at auction TO the
highest bidder. 1t was thought at
the opening oil the present season
that this method of buying shelled
oysters would be abolished and ell
forts were made to secure the CO.
operation of all oyster buyers by Or
ganizing the Crisfield Oyster EX-
change.
So far this movement has not
proved success because OF the
failure OF the water -busherS' VINO
buy. shuck and sell to the Crlshelo
packers to enter this association ana
buy and sell through the clearing
house. Should the present condl-
lions continue the oyster packers en-
terrain little. il any. hope of making
the oyster business profitable this
,1r 1N- haT of mack
ers have threatened to close their
houses or sell their business for the
season.
Shuckers Affected
The oyster shuckers also nave
been seriously affected by the infer
ior oysters and have barely been able
to meet their daily living expenses.
In recent years the rapid shuckers
could easily open Is gallons day,
while this season six or seven gal
Ions has been the average daily open
ing of good shuckers, due to the
small sibe OF tho oysters. Inc
price paid last year for opening oys-
ters was IS cents a gallon, while this
wear the packers are paying Is cents
gallon. The shuckers because OF
these circumstances are feeling a
financial loss equally as much as the
packer.
There is. however. some of the
shuckers say, a noticeable improve
ment in the stock since dredging be-
gan on November /. They are do
ing slightly better now, averaging
perhaps 10 gallons a day. but even
This is below the usual daily produc-
ton. The business generally ap-
pears to be demoralized and the sea-
food towns are feeling the effects OF