History Seafood during ACW

[KianGaf]

I was wondering was much seafood consumed during the war. I assume if any it was canned. A lot of the campaigns were near coastal areas or rivers did sutlers sell fish or quartermasters procure it ?

 

[SeaTurtle]

Commerce raiders like the CSS Shenandoah were known to re-supply their rations with fish, either caught themselves, taken from a prize vessel, or bought/traded from foreign fishermen.

But from the way you phrased your question I assume you're asking about campaigns on or near land, rather than high-seas stuff, so someone else will have to help you there...

 

[KianGaf]

Commerce raiders like the CSS Shenandoah were known to re-supply their rations with fish, either caught themselves, taken from a prize vessel, or bought/traded from foreign fishermen.

But from the way you phrased your question I assume you're asking about campaigns on or near land, rather than high-seas stuff, so someone else will have to help you there...

Your correct I meant land based army's. I should have phrased the question better. Id say navy men were very adapt at catching their supper.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Oysters, fresh and canned, were a common people´s food at the time. Canned lobster was the ¨chicken of the sea¨ of the day. Fish was not a part of army rations, but was very much part of the civilian diet.

 

[KianGaf]

In Great Britain oysters were so common one time they added them to pies to act as filler for beef. Its amazing how expensive they are now. The last time I ordered oyster it was six for twenty bucks.

 

[donna]

That is a lot for oysters. Know there is recipe for Oyster pie on here. The soldiers did catch fish at times. I have to research more.

 

[nc native]

In Great Britain oysters were so common one time they added them to pies to act as filler for beef. Its amazing how expensive they are now. The last time I ordered oyster it was six for twenty bucks.

They are really expensive here in North Carolina too. A pint at a seafood market will cost you over $ 20.00 now. When my paternal grandfather was still alive over thirty years ago someone in the family would give him a gallon of oysters for Christmas every year. That gallon of oysters would be over $ 180.00 now which ends up being a fairly expensive Christmas gift in today's world.