I 1 66 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



effectually as collectors of weed and floating rubbish than 

 of oyster spat, even when the resistance they offer to the 

 current does not result in their being carried away alto- 

 gether. Another disadvantage is the rapidity with which 

 they become slimy and covered with weed ; when in this 

 state they are utterly useless, as the spat will not adhere to 

 the wood unless it be perfectly clean. Probably this is one 

 of the causes of the failure of the extensive experiments 

 carried on in the Bay of St. Brieuc. Those who had charge 

 of the undertaking do not appear to have paid sufficient 

 attention to keeping the culch and collectors clean, and 

 defective falls of spat resulted. 



It has been said that oysters have a tendency to con- 

 form their shape to that of the object to which they are 

 attached, and those fixed on twigs certainly appear to grow 

 in a somewhat elongated mussel-shape. This malformation 

 corrects itself, however, when the bundles are broken up 

 and the young brood separated. 



Another great disadvantage attaching to all wood col- 

 lectors uncovered by cement is that it is impossible to 

 remove the young oysters from them without great risk of 

 damage to the shell, until the latter has become hardened 

 by at least two winters' growth. 



HURDLES 



Are used in some places to catch spat. They are sup- 

 ported in a horizontal position by a stake at each corner, 

 and placed about two feet above the oysters. Their use, 

 however, as well as that of sides of hampers and other 

 makeshifts, has been superseded by cemented tiles, and in 

 the most advanced oyster farms by other forms of collectors, 

 coated with a solution of lime. 



