OF MASSACHUSETTS. 135 



taking care that the oysters are properly scattered, as for the best 

 growth oysters should lie separate and not in crowded masses. The 

 .amount of " seed " that can be planted on a given area depends upon 

 the natural conditions of the locality. 



VI. Enemies. — The oyster, having passed through the countless 

 dangers of his embryonic career, is still harassed by several enemies. 

 Of these, the most destructive is the starfish. This animal, commonly 

 known as the " five-finger," occurs along the entire Massachusetts 

 coast, and is especially abundant in Buzzards Bay. Occasionally whole 

 oyster beds are wiped out by this pest, which sweeps over the ground 

 in vast armies. The method of attack of the starfish is unique. By 

 exerting with its tube feet a steady pull in opposite directions on both 

 valves of the shell of the victim, the starfish tires the contracted muscle 

 of the oyster, and the shells open. The starfish then extrudes its 

 stomach so as to enwrap the prey, and in this curious manner devours 

 the oyster. 



A close second to the starfish in amount of damage is the oyster 

 "drill" or "borer" (Vrosalpinx cinerea). This little mollusk with 

 its rasping tongue drills a small hole through the shell of the oyster, 

 and then sucks out the contents. 



A third enemy, according to the oyster planters, is the " winkle " 

 (Fulgur carica and F. caniculatus) . The method of attack is somewhat 

 obscure. 



Besides this dangerous trio of living enemies, the oyster is subject 

 to constant peril from inanimate agencies. Probably the greatest of 

 these is shifting bottom. Where oysters are grown on sandy soil, the 

 violent waves of winter storms frequently tear up the bottom, or else 

 the force of currents is such as to kill the oysters by completely bury- 

 ing them in the sand. Again, if the oysters are growing in very 

 muddy bottom they are constantly liable to be smothered in the slimy 

 ooze. Ice in winter frequently tears oysters from their beds and bears 

 them to some unfavorable environment, where they soon die. 



VII. Harvesting the Oysters. — The oysterman completes his plant- 

 ing about June 1. During the summer months, the growing period 

 of the oyster, the grants remain idle except for the care and super- 

 vision of the oystermen. As the oyster takes from three to five years 

 to attain its growth, the oysterman practically harvests but one-fourth 

 to one-third of his entire stock each year, beginning about September 

 1 and continuing through the winter as the weather permits. 



In winter the oysterman, to keep up the market supply, beds " culled " 

 oysters near the shore, where he can tong them through the ice when- 

 ever it is impossible to obtain oysters from his grant. 



The implements used in gathering the oyster harvest are of three 

 kinds: tongs, dredges and rakes. Tongs are employed principally by 

 the smaller oyster growers, and on ground where the water is com- 



