OYSTER CULTURE IN AMERICA. 749 



. . . . In one way the use of dredges is a positive 

 advantage to the beds. . . . The dead shells which 

 are found on an un worked bed are usually so covered with 

 sponge, slime, and other substances, that they furnish no 

 clean surface for the attachment of spat ; and as dredging 

 tends to turn up clean shells, to break up and scatter the 

 clusters, and to tear away the sponges and other foreign 

 bodies, it is a positive benefit to the beds. . . . the 

 teeth of the dredge take hold of the rank growth of the 

 oyster beds, and, by being dragged through them, loosen 

 them and give them room to grow and mature properly ; 

 moreover, beds are continually increased in size, for when 

 the vessel runs off the rock with the chain-bags filled with 

 oysters, the oysters are dragged off on ground where no 

 oysters existed, and thus the beds are extended ; and when 

 the vessel is wearing or tacking to get back on the oyster 

 beds, the catch just taken up is being culled off, the cul- 

 lings thrown overboard (to) form new cultch for drifting 

 spat to adhere to. 



. . . . Many persons who do not advocate the 

 total prohibition of dredging, believe that the size of the 

 dredging boats, and the size and weight of the dredges, 

 should be restricted by law. They give two reasons why 

 the size of the boat should be restricted, urging that the 

 large boats are able to work upon the beds when the police 

 boats cannot venture out, and that their size permits them 

 to use very large dredges, and thus catch great quantities 

 of oysters. 



The police boats are unfit for service in rough weather, 

 but that does not seem to be a sufficient reason for render- 

 ing the dredging boats unseaworthy also, but rather for 

 constructing better police boats. 



