562 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



turned after being emptied, and then refilled. On this account only 1,400 packages, costing $1,000, 

 were bought by Seaford packers during the season of 1879-'80. About 400 persons are dependent 

 upon the oyster trade of Seaford. The local consumption, added to the packing, gives a total of 

 200,000 bushels handled at Seaford." 



The packing trade of Virginia is of much later origin than that of Maryland. About 1859, Mr. 

 Edmonds states, an oyster-packing establishment was instituted in Norfolk ; but it was not until 

 1865 that the trade became extensive, and during the last few years it has developed rapidly, much 

 to the benefit of the town, where now employment is afforded to a large number of new people. 

 The trade in Norfolk (which is in the hands cf Boston and New York capitalists) is almost exclu- 

 sively in raw oysters, and in 1879-'80 its sales reached 1 ,370,855 bushels, more than all Maryland 

 together, outside of Baltimore, and ten times as much as the rest of Virginia. 



A great difference exists between Norfolk and Baltimore, also, in other respects. While 

 Baltimore supplies the inland demand, and has branch houses in Chicago, Norfolk sends her stock 

 northward and along the sea-board through agents in New York and Boston. No less than 250,000 

 gallons were thus received in Boston alone between September, 1879, and April, 1880. Tiie effect 

 has been very marked upon the trade in these northern cities; whether for good or ill there are 

 two opposite opinions, the general verdict being that this feature works against the best interests 

 of the trade. In their favor, it is said, in general, that these oysters can be sold cheaper than any 

 other, and hence are accessible to the poorer class of people ; that they are as good as the cargo 

 oysters, and that in the increased number sold is compensation for the diminished percentage of 

 profit, hi opposition it is asserted that their quality is poor ; that they are unhealthy ; that the 

 losses attending them are greater than with cargoes, and that they unduly cheapen all superior 

 grades of stock. Two grades are brought to Boston from Norfolk, but ten times as many of the 

 " common" as of the "selected." They are often dirty, and are washed again and again until the 

 aroma and delectable flavor is all gone from their lacerated and rinsed remains ; hence they are 

 only fit to be cooked in a method calculated to disguise their insipidity by the time Vermont, 

 Maine, or Canada gets them for dinner. 



Providence takes a large amount of the Norfolk-opened stock, but New Haven has little 

 reason to do so. In New York dealing in these raw oysters forms the whole business of two or 

 three firms, who disposed in 1880 of about 600,000 gallons, selling chiefly in the city, but also 

 shipping by express to interior points. More or less of the raw oysters from Baltimore and other 

 points in Maryland and Virginia are also mingled with those from Norfolk in this channel of 

 trade, and the trade is increasing. It gives better satisfaction in general in New York than in 

 Boston, both because the stock itself seems generally of better quality, and because the shorter 

 distance and superior accommodations in transit bring the oysters here in better condition. The 

 reshipmeuts are very widely scattered through the country, especially northward. Occasionally, 

 however, orders come from the distant west. Opened oysters have even been sent to Great Britain, 

 and gave good satisfaction there. Long transportation, without harm, has been made possible by 

 various improved and patented contrivances for refrigeration in the shape of barrels, cans, and 

 smaller packages. 



At some places on the remote southern coast a packing business has sprung up. Attempts at 

 New Berne, N. C., have proved failures only on account of the utter unreliability of the laborers 

 employed, who could not be persuaded to work with steadiness, no matter how large the pay. In 

 treating a perishable article and meeting a delicate market, such as the oyster packer handles, 

 this obstacle, of course, was fatal to the enterprise. Savannah opens enough for the local demand 

 and a narrow range of shipments in Georgia and South Carolina, Charleston offering little compe- 



