Ford Motor Company

Description

The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Part One, Oyster Fishing.” “United States supplies five out of every six of the world’s oysters. This shell-fish is one third the value of our fisheries. Chesapeake Bay furnishes one half of this country’s oyster.” Map of the Chesapeake Bay area. “The oyster is a shell-fish living in shallow salt water. Its fleshy body is enclosed in two shells or valves, hence it is called a bivalve.” Close-up of closed oyster shell - hands opening and closing shell. “The oysters are obtained by dredging with a dragnet, which is pulled by a boat over the oyster beds on the ocean bottom.” Fishing boats under way. “The small oysters are returned to the beds. Young oysters are constantly planted by the government, to replace the supply. The planted oyster beds produce over half of the total supply.” Oyster boat under way. “After a day’s dredging the oysters are sorted and the boat docks to sell the catch.” Oystermen unloading baskets of oysters from hold of boat. “The oysters are hauled to the packing plant.” Horse-drawn wagon load of oysters outside plant, heaps of shells. “Some of the finest oysters are shipped in the shell.” Worker shoveling oysters from pile on dock into basket. “Most of the oysters are ‘shucked’ or removed from the shells before shipping. An expert chucks several hundred oysters daily.” Man picking oysters from basket. “A broad bladed knife is used to open the shell.”...

Record Contributed By

National Archives and Records Administration

Record Harvested From

National Archives and Records Administration