THE OYSTER-INDUSTRY. 



129 



an order from Prescott, Arizona, which deserves notice. A man desired some of their choice bivalves for the 

 entertainment of his friends. When they got the order, and learned how mnch the expressage would cost, they 

 hesitated. In answer to their telegram of inquiry, they were told to send them along. There were twelve gallons 

 sent. It took them fourteen days to reach their destination. The exi)ressage came to $96 25. The telegrams cost 

 some $30. The oysters reached their destination without delay, and in excellent condition. Opened oysters have 

 also been sent to Great Britain, and gave good satisfaction there. Long traiiwi)ortation, without harm, has been 

 made possible by various improved and patented contrivances for refrigeration, in the shape of barrels, cans,_and 

 smaller packages. 



The retail oyster-trade. — An attempt to ascertain some of the statistics of the retail-trade in oysters — the 

 eating-saloon business — proved very unsatisfactory. I got the names of about 250 oyster-houses, and dispatched to 

 each a circular asking the kinds and amount of oysters, clams, and scallops used, number of persons employed, 

 wages paid, and capital invested. Of these 250 circulars, only about one-tenth came back, and these, I believe, did 

 not represent an average of the whole, since few or none of the establishments of large size reported themselves, 

 and in many cases the questions seem to have been misunderstood. 



In genei-al, it may be said that in the cooking of oysters the southern kinds are used, because these are chea])est, 

 a S]H'cial price being charged for a "stew" of northern oysters. For fried oysters, on the other hand, which require 

 to be of larger size to make a show, the "box" size is used, and these are generally "Sound" or " East Eiver" oysters. 

 Oysters sold to be eaten raw may be anything and everything of respectable size; but the old brand names, 

 "Saddle-Hock," "Shrewsbury," "Sound" "Blue Point," "Keyport," etc., the popularity of which was won long ago, 

 are still attached. I suppose, for example, that twenty times as many "Shrewsbury" oysters are sold every season 

 in New York as are raised each year in that river. 



The largest oyster-saloons have always been in Fulton market, and have a world-wide reputation. Now they 

 are so well rivaled by up-town establishments, that much of their prestige has disappeared. 



As to how many persons are concerned in the retail oyster- business of the city, only a mere guess is possible, 

 since a very large proportion of them are temporarily engaged, or have their business so inextricably mixed with 

 the liquor-trade, or the business of selling fish and general provisions, that it is out of the question to define it 

 separately with any exactness. Twenty-five years ago, when the "oyster- riots" attracted attention to the matter, 

 the number of persons supported by the restaurant-trade in oysters was estimated at 5,000. Whether it is not 

 double that at this time it is imi>ossible to .say ; but I consider it safe to say that 5,000 families, at least, find their 

 chief or exclusive support in selling or preparing the moUusks for immediate consumption in the metropolis and 

 its closely adjacent cities. 



The wages vary immensely, depending on employer, sex, age and capacity of the employed, amount of working- 

 time, kind of work, etc. Womeu receive from three to six dollars per week; boys and men from four to twenty 

 dollars. A correct average is almost impossil)le, and a total approximate sunnnation of the wages paid out in the 

 course of a year in the retail-trade is impossible. Of course this information might be accumulated, but the time 

 allowed by the Superintendent of Census for this investigation, did not aduut of such study of the retaUtrade 

 as would have been necessary in order to estimate its total values. 



The oyster-fleet or 1879. — The following is a list of vessels engaged iu the oyster-business in 1879, and 

 hailing from the custom-house of New York : 



Name. Tons. 



Arrow 7.2t> 



Aiislcy Bodfll 7.13 



Ally 7.33 



Atlclaiile 1L29 



Alice 5. 74 



Alarm 5. 74 



Alonzo E. Smith 18. 98 



Amity 7. 47 



Alert ir,. «7 



Am. L. Barnes 15. 20 



Amice 7. fiO 



Army 9.13 



Antoinette 5. 11 



Baniet Jones 18.00 



lilanehe 18. 9.5 



Belle 7.90 



Banner Id. 54 



Blue Rock 111.00 



Cornelius Cole 10. 79 



Crystal Fountain 8.10 



B. B. Al^er 19.41 



Charles Wall 8.79 



9 o 



UNDER TWIONTT TONS. 



Name. Tons. 



Cupid 14. H7 



Continental 7. G8 



Catharine W. Burbank 16.83 



Celia Ward G. 37 



Carrie 7. 58 



C.vrusF. Pell 15.87 



Daniel E. Egbert 17.9G 



David Crowell 12.43 



D.Bennett 12.42 



D. Joline 13.18 



Delphinia 11.66 



Dolphin 6. 28 



Elizabeth J. Wright 19. 19 



Expres.s 7. -32 



Ella Fleecer 13.33 



E. C. Page 8.07 



Eniniogeuo 11.86 



Ella Wesley 12.41 



E. R. V. Wright 10.64 



Edith Thurber 9. 09 



Emma 7. 58 



Emily Kobbin 15. 54 



Name. Tons. 



Edgar Bai-nard 16.42 



Etta 10.69 



Elizabeth Rowe 7.13 



Euphcimia 18.39 



Enmia 5. 49 



Eliza Snedker 5.90 



Eliza Rhodes 13. 35 



Edna 7.09 



Eliza and Jane 9. 08 



First 19.89 



Fannie Scolield 7. 07 



Fawn 10.13 



Flaunt 5.39 



Fe.arNot 5.57 



Flag 7.92 



Frank Hopkins 8.73 



Favorite 8.89 



Flying Cloud 9.48 



Fannie Fern 5. 79 



Georgiana 19. 07 



George B, Wood 7. 28 



Georgiana 5. 11 



