THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 125 



In November, 1855, the Tribune "wrote np" Fulton market, and described eight stands devoted to the sale of 

 shellfish, the total annual sales of which aggregated $200,000, of which about one-sixth was for clams, etc. 



"The trade in oysters," said this account, "is retail, and not more than one-tenth are sold in the shell. Some 

 shipments are made to Liverpool during the winter-seasou by the Cuuard steamers ; but the quantity disposed of 

 in this way is very limited, not exceeding eight barrels a mouth. There is only one company which exports oysters, 

 and they sent more than $20,000 worth last year to California. The same company pickled in one week 15,000. 

 As the oysters are not sold in the shell, a large luiinber of persons are employed in oi)ening them. This is a business 

 by itself, and the persons engaged in it are paid at the rate of about 50 cents a thousand. Some, who are well practiced 

 in the art, can open .'i.OOO in one day, but 2,500 is considered a good day's work. Nearly all the oysters sold in this 

 market are obtained at Oliver slip, near Catherine market, which is the principal rendezvous of the oyster-boats. 

 No adequate conception can, however, be formed of the extent of the oyster-trade in this city from the business 

 done in the markets, for immense quantities are bought from the boats without ever passing through the hands of 

 the dealers." 



The number of retailers in the city, at this time, was placed at 5,000, all of whom would lose a large measure of 

 support if a prohibition of oyster-selling during the summer months were enforced. There was one feature, however, 

 of the trade heartily condemned, but unfortunately not extirpated. I refer to the ruffians who, in the most dirty 

 way, peddle oysters from an old wagon at one cent each. Their furniture consists of stentorian lungs, from which the 

 most ear-splitting cries disturb the peace of every street and the temper of all the denizens, a pail of nastj' water, a 

 soda-water bottle of vinegar and another of a ferocious compound called pepper-sauce, and a box of salt, pepper, and 

 street-dust mixed. Buying and selling onjy the cheapest oysters in the dirtiest way, they offer many spoiled ones — 

 very likely to be productive of disease, and otherwise engender and minister to ill-health. 



Oyster-booths. — Only a grade higher are the fixed street stands for opening oysters to eat, of which a 

 clever description appeared some years ago in the New York Evening Telegram, in the following language : 



All along the [East] river front are places, rude huts, paralytic shanties, where oysters aro sold at a i^enny apiece. You can stand 

 on the outside and tish them up from the shells that are passed through the window to a ledge, or you can go in and have a 10-cent stew 

 behind the red-hot stove. A man with a checked jumper on attends you and juggles the porter bottles containing catsup iu so artistic a 

 manner, that the thought of his being a base-ball player minus a position, will not be "put out". The frequenters of these al fresco 

 oyster-houses are longshoremen, truckmen, stevedores, sailors, and others of that ilk, and a very large bowl of oyster soup, not stew, can 

 be obtained for 5 cents. 



Markets in 1861. — It will be observed that in all these accounts the city markets are mentioned as the 

 wholesale depots for shellfish. It is only within the last twenty years that Broome street and West Tenth have 

 become the headquarters of oyster-dealings. When Lieutenant De Broca was here in 18G1, he found that the " two 

 most important markets for the wholesale trade in these mollusks <ire Catherine market, on the East river, and 

 another at the foot of Spring street, on the Hudson river. As to the retail sales, they are made in all the markets 

 of the city indiscriminately, in the oyster-houses, and in markets intended especially for the sale of fish". Then 

 follows a description of the "floating-houses, constructed on rafts", which were the same then as now. Eleven 

 at Catherine market and twenty-three on the opposite side of the river are enumerated. He continues : 



These floating-houses possess one great advantage, which is, that the oysters can be preserved iu them alive for several days during 

 the winter-season, however low the temperature may be ; and also in summer during the greatest heat, since the part under water is 

 always cool. The oysters, or clams, placed iu baskets containing about a bushel, are stored iu the cellar and attic of the oyster-boat. In 

 the room are placed only specimens of the dilferent qualities for sale, from which samples purchasers make their choice. Here, too, all 

 the packing which the necessities of the trade require is done. 



Although there are always a great many oysters in these establishments, they never remain more than a few days, and arrangements 

 are made with the plantations for constant and regul.ar supplies. The number of boats of all kinds emiiloyed by the merchants an<l the 

 planters of the bay, including those engaged in fishing for the oysters and clams, is estimated at 15,000. 



Prices in the past. — Prices of oysters in New York in the past, at least for half a century, do not seem to 

 have greatly differed from those at present, save that then, as now, periods of excessive storm or other unfortunate 

 contingency would produce a momentary scarcity, which would cause a sudden and temporary increase in price. 

 Such a "famine" occurred in January, 1857. Quotations from files of new.spapers, courteously oi)ened tome by 

 Thomas F. DeVoe, since 18.50, show that for all sorts and grades of oysters in general sale the price at wholesale 

 ran from 35 cents (rarely so low) to $2 per hundred. The large majority of quotations gave "cullens" at 35 to 40 

 cents; "boxes" at 62J cents to .$1, and "extras" at $1 25 to $2. An inferior grade to all, sometimes sold as 

 "bushels", brought 50 cents. More recently (1870) the uewspai)er market reports give the following prices for 

 oysters in Fulton and Washington markets in midwinter: 



Per 100. 



Saddle-Rocks |1 75 to $3 CO 



East Rivers 1 00 to 2 00 



Blue Points 1 00 to 1 50 



Prince's Bays 1 00 to 1 75 



Virgini.is 1 00 to 1 75 



These were all, however, grades above the average quality sold. 



