174e 



PHILIP H. PARKER 

 organisms In the marine environment for conversion of 

 plant material to animal protein. 



"From the foregoing it seems evident 

 that if the tremendous fertility of Puget Sound could 

 be combined with the efficiency of the oyster con- 

 verting this fertility to animal protein we would have 

 a highly effective system for large scale production 

 of animal protein. 



"The next question to consider might 

 logically be the available area for expanding oyster 

 production in Puget Sound. At the present time, many 

 of the more favorable intertidal areas for conventional 

 bottom-culture of oysters are in use. While it seems 

 evident that significant increases in oyster production 

 thru conventional bottom-culture could be made, these 

 increases are definitely limited. 



"There is however, a different method of 

 oyster culture, such as is practiced in Japan, and to 

 a limited extent here on the Pacific Coast, involving 

 raft or floating culture of oysters (Cahn 1950, Quayle 

 1956). This method would appear to offer tremendous 

 potential for increased oyster production, both because 

 of the greatly increased surface area it would make avail- 

 able, and because it would utilize up to 15 feet of the 



