Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1898 — Drinking Oysters. [ARTICLE]

Drinking Oysters.

It may sound odd to speak of “drinking” oysters. One would assume their opportunity to quench their thirst was fairly good, but oysters must be “drinked,” “drank’ ’or “watered”—os oystermen say—before they are fit for market. The “drinking” process is simply a matter of fattening, or, to be more truthful, Inflating. When oysters are “raised” (taken from the beds to the air) they are dumped aboard of the sloops, and when a load is obtained the Sloop sails for some fresh water stream. At the mouth of these streams are floats Into which the oysters are dumped at full tide. As the tide ebbs, and the fresh water from the stream gradually freshens the water in the floats, the oyster opens. He appears to be drinking, but instead is simply allowing the fresh water to wash out the salt. When this is completed the oyster closes. The fresh water causes it to swell, sometimes till the shell gapes open. Thus the oyster becomes plump, and when opened looks fat and fit.