The OrsTER Trade of New York It is only within the last thirty years that the oyster trade was established in this city. Before that time, it is true, oysters were sold here ; but the business transacted was exceedingly limited, and there was little or no inducement for per sons to engage in it. Nearly all that were brought to market were procured from the natu ral beds, for the benefits to be obtained from planting were hut imperfectly understood by a few of the dealers, or entirely unknown t& them. In the course of a few years, however, the business grew into importance, and men of capital and enterprise engaged in it. The planting of beds—a very essential part of the trade—was commenced ; the few oyster boats, of diminutive size, engaged in supplying New York, became an immense fleet ■, anextensive trade with Virginia: the east river be came a mine of wealth to those who worked its beds ; the coasts of our bays, and the shores of our rivers were explored, and given over to the tongs, the scrapers, and the" dredges of the oystermen. It was found that by removing the oyster from its natural bed to an artificial one, it could not only be increased in size, but im proved in quality, and rendered fit for use at any period of the year. This was a very im portant matter to understand, for there are cer tain months when the oyster is unfit for use, in consequence of its being full of spawn. While they remained in. the natural bed, they were always subject to this objection; but'if not permitted to lie too long in the artificial one, they could be preserved free from spawn. Al though they increased in size, they seldom or never became more numerous by transplanting. Hundreds of vessels are constantly employed, during certain months, in transplanting in"the Enst river, in Prince's bay, and other parts of the waters of this State. The importance of the oyster trade may be judged from the fact, that the wholesale and retail sales exceed five mil lions of dollars annually, and more than fifty thousand persons are employed in it. We in clude in this estimate those who are engaged on the weds, and in conveying them to market by hunts, and the retail anil wholesale dealers. 