The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-10-07
THE OYsTER---THE TRUE SYM
Boil OF GOOD EATING
DR.. Lewis Radcliffe, Director
The oyster Institute of N. America,
Washington, d. G.

Was fondness for oysters the de-
Gliding factor in Caesars determin-
Iation conquer Britain? Did you
know oyster farming was begun be-
tore the days Of Christ? Why do
chimpanzees and other primates
make regular excursions to the sea-
shore to feast on shellfish? One of
the great Kitchen middens" or oy-
ster shell heaps along our coast Is
located at Demarascotta, Maine and
contains millions of bushels of oys-
ter shells left by the American
aborigines. To-day Cape Cod is as
far North as oysters are taken COM
mercially. Did you know that oys-
| ter are our most widely distributed
seafood, our second most valuable
fishery, and the worlds most valu-
able water crop? A noted American
expert on nutrition has said "In no
case have any foods gained more re-
cognition as having unique dietary
values than have the principal fish
and shellfish."
This Is the first of series of ar
ticles on oysters in which the an
many other interesting facts will be
revealed. You will learn of the basic
reasons why oysters, priced by cpl
cures, have held first place on the
menu for more than 1000 years,
and why mo other article of diet
i ,tr,r tvn fro
value"
Before delving into the past his
tory of this delicacy of the sea, re-
plete with interest, 1t is we'll to re-
member that the oyster Is an edible
bivalved shellfish belonging to the
genus Ostrea including at least one
hundred species differing consider
ably in size, shape, flavor, and food
value In some 35 countries the oys-
ter supports a commercial fishery
and in still other countries enters
into the food supply. The principal
producing countries in the order of
their Importance are the United
States, France, England, Holland,
China, Japan, India, Ireland, and
New South Wales. A quarter of
century ago world production was
estimated at 100000 bushels,
with value of $25,O0O,0OO, 88%
in quantity and $50 in value being
credited to the United States.
"He was a bold man that fist ate
an OYSTER" said Dean Swift, but to
Il 1, ha nd
more l have often wondered, not
that the ancient member of the hui
man race enjoyed the oyster, but
just how he succeeded in separating
the two shells to gain access to the
delicate tissues making up the meat
of the oyster Certainly primitive
man had no implement comparable
to the oyster knife of today. Was it
the result of an accident such as has
been ascribed to an American
aborigine long before the white man
landed on our shores? According to
legend, this Indian brave, spear in
hand, watching for unwary fish
was attracted to peculiar looking
stone in the water, divided in two
slightly separated halves. Thinking
it would make an attractive gift for
his squaw, he reached for it and as
his fingers closed around it, he
howled in dismay for the stone had
suddenly snapped shut, imprisoning
one of his fingers. Selling his toma-
hawk, with a mighty blow, he broke
the shells apart and put his injured
finger into his mouth to relieve the
numbing pain. His look of anguish
quickly changed to one of sstonish-
ment and then to pleasure when he
discovered the delicious flavor of
the oyster which millions now en-
joy regularly.