The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-15
Tots, 5 or 6 Years Old. Work

Most children who work in the
oyster canning factories are tiny
tots. From to - their ages run
Many of the smaller children work
with their parents, contributing
their efforts to the common family
shucking pail
All day long you can see them in
moistureladen rooms. bending over
cars OF steaming oysters, shucking
away at the shells and filling pals
with the meat for cents a pound.
The workers stand swaying back
and forth with a rhythmic sort Of
motion. which experienced shuck
ers say, enables them to increase
production.
Empty shells are thrown on the
floor. These afford treacherous
foothold TO the women and children
who climb the slippery piles to
reach farther for tho oysters as they
empty the cars.
Practically the same method Is
pursued in the preparation OF
shrimp. except the shrimp are iced.
and the women and children who
work on them are called plckers. or
peelers.
Those who shuck oysters receive
sharp cuts which often becorae in.
fected from the oyster shells and
from the knives used. &
The shrimp picker is attacked by
both an acid In the shrimp head
and a sharp thorn or prong which
projects from the head.
This burning substancs. which
has the odor Of strong ammonia, es.
capes from the shrimp when the
shell is broken preparatory TO
squeezing out the meat.
When It gets on the pIcker's
hands. as one factory worker, boy
of IL. remarked; 1T burns like
hell. mister"
To protect themselves. the oyster
shuckers wear gloves. and later in
tho season when they become
shrimp pickers or peelers. they wear
gloves. too, and bathe their hands
in alum water to make them hard.
Shrimp pickers say they cannot
work more than a week at time.
You gotta give your fingers q
chance to heal up" a little girl Of
IL and the veteran OF three factory
seasons advised.
On the other hand, factory own
ers and employers of the child snd
women workers say they try TO
minimize the hazards attendant up
on the picking and shucking They
report that only careless and mex
perienced persons are injured.
In one factory to which the writer
gained unlimited entrance despite
the usual signs forbiddng visitors,
he was puzzled by the consternating
effect his presence had upon the
workers.
Children fed from his sight in
all directions. Some hid beneath
shucking tables. and others, who
were small enough to escape de-
lection that way. scurried to retreat
under their mothers dresses.
When he had been placated. the
head STRAW boss" of the factory
explained the reason for all this
furry.
Child Labor Law Causes Trouble
Them kids amt old enough to
work." he said. "and they think
you're an inspector. I taught them
to run away when anybody strange
came into the factory.
But we haven't got anything to
be afraid of, though. because the
Government hasn't any more au-
thority to make the kids stop work
ing. I'm glad they knocked out those
Federal child labor laws. They sure
caused US Gamers a heap of bother
while they were in force"
From Biloxi's oyster and shrimp
canning industries, which aside from
tourists comprise the towns chief
support, is estimated to come 80 per
cent of the country's supply of this
sort Of timed seafood products.