CHAPTER XLII. 



ARTIFICIAL OYSTER CULTIVATION. 



CHOICE OF LOCALITY SUMMER LAYINGS BREEDING COLLECTORS 

 THE COATING OF TILES COCKLE-SHELLS CULCH DISTINC- 

 TION BETWEEN PARCS AND CLAIRES FATTENING CULTIVA- 

 TION ON THE ESSEX CREEKS TANK SYSTEM OF CULTIVATION 

 RULES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OYSTER BEDS PRINCIPAL 

 ESSENTIALS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL OYSTER-CULTURE 

 CONCLUSION. 



THE oyster culturist should in a great measure be guided in 

 his choice of locality by the presence or absence of natural 

 beds of oysters in the neighbourhood. 



In many instances, both in England and France, 

 thousands of pounds would have been saved if the pro- 

 moters of the various enterprises had recognised the fact 

 that, where oysters are not naturally present, it is probable 

 some important conditions necessary to their development 

 must be wanting in the soil, temperatures, or water of the 

 place. 



The best places for the industry are estuaries of 

 rivers, the arms of harbours and protected bays, and ebb- 

 dry shoals and foreshores. Where there are disused sal- 

 terns or salt-pits, oyster-ponds are almost ready made. In 

 the first successful attempt to breed oysters artificially in 



