Evening Capital And Maryland Gazette

Bureau of Fisheries Recommends Use of Oysters

The Bureau of Fisheries, Department of Commerce, is distributing a poster giving reasons for eating oysters more generally. The oyster production of the United States is greater than that of all other countries combined, and there is available in this resource a vast quantity of animal food which should be utilized to the utmost at this time.

Federal and State inspections are now given to the sanitary condition of the beds and the handling of oysters, and the producers are cooperating to assure the purity of the product.

Particular attention is called to not only the harmlessness but the excellence of "green-gilled" oysters. The gray-green color characteristic of this condition is never found on the body of the oyster. but is confined to the gills, fleshly plates which are brought into view when the edge of oyster "crimps" in cooking. It is derived from a vegetable coloring matter in some of the delicate microscopic plants on which the shellfish feeds.

Green-gilled oysters are usually fat and of excellent flavor and in France are regarded as the best obtainable.

In the United States there has existed a prejudice against them on account of the erroneous belief that the color is due to copper.

The Bureau recommends oysters as without waste. digestible, wholesome, and affording an appetizing variant to the diet. A cook book containing 100 recipes can be had gratis by addressing Division F. Bureau of Fisheries, Washington, D. C.