174f 



PHILIP H. PARKER 



water depth. Also, by using appropriate modifications 

 of the basic floating method, it would appear that wave 

 action or exposure would not be a significant problem 

 in any portion of Puget Sound. In addition floating 

 oyster culture offers advantages of nearly double growth 

 rates and improved fatness. It does have the disadvan- 

 tage of heavy initial financial outlay (Quayle 1956). 

 "To determine the total amount of area 

 potentially available in Puget Sound for floating oyster 

 culture, I have utilized data published by the University 

 of Washington Department of Oceanography (McLellan 195-4) 

 on area and volume of greater Puget Sound (Figure 2). 

 Based upon the need for boat access along the shore line, 

 and the difficulties that would be encountered in anchoring 

 floats in water depths greater than 20 fathoms, the sur- 

 face areas between the 3 and 20 fathom contour was selected 

 as being suitable. There are about 442 square nautical 

 miles of surface area within this depth range in the 

 greater Puget Sound area. If an attempt were made to 

 utilize all of this area, major problems would be en- 

 countered because of public health, pollution, water 

 traffic, and recreation. However, it seems reasonable 

 to believe thai perhaps half of this area could be made 

 available for floating oyster culture if demand and need 



