BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 235 



126 RE POUT KKSPECTirVO THE PRESENT CONDITION AN'O FU- 



I [ ISK PROMPLCTM AT SAINT JEROITIE CREEK FOR THE %VORK 

 OF OVSTER CULTURE. 



By JOHN A. RYDER. 



I have tbe honor to report that, in my opinion, the place is eminently 

 well fitted for the pnrpose of oyster experiments since the recent im- 

 provements there have been made, and, that with sundry minor im- 

 provements, it can be made to offer still greater advantages. These will 

 be discussed in another part of this communication. 



I have, as requested, instructed Mr. Kavenel in the art of taking" oyster 

 spawn successfully, and have also indicated the lines of experiment 

 which I thought it desirable to follow in the administration of the work 

 to be there conducted, as follows : 



1. Artificial rearing from artificially fertilized eggs in some of the 

 smaller inclosures now prepared. 



2. The introduction of collectors of various forms into the ponds and 

 open waters under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion. 



The collectors which I have recommended are the following: 



1. Shells strewn upon the bottom. 



2. Tiles, slates, bricks, «&c., coated with lime, and then with cement. 



3. Oyster shells strung upon wire and suspended from stakes. 



4. Brush or faggots fastened about the margins of the ponds. 



I have suggested sundry variations in the use of these devices which 

 I have very fully explained to Mr. Eavenel, and I think he will make an 

 effort to do his best to get favorable results. 



The following suggestions I would respectfully submit, in the hope 

 that a sufficient appropriation may be granted by the present Congress 

 to carry out improvements which are still desirable, as follows: 



The orighial pond, as it was when the Commission first obtained i^os- 

 session, is still in large part too deeply covered with mud over the bot- 

 tom to be available in order to obtain the best results in oyster culture. 

 I would therefore suggest that this portion of the property be dredged 

 outduringthe coming winter in order to deepen this water-right consid- 

 erably as well as to extend its area where the shores are marshy. This 

 is now the more necessary since the canal has been cut from the creek 

 to the original pond, as a consequence of which the rise and fall of the 

 tide is so much greater that the water is too low at low water to rear 

 and fatten oysters advantageously in this portion of the domain. 



The ponds which have been excavated by Mr. Eavenel seem to be 

 suitable for the work, and can be used in their present state for experi- 

 ments in artificial impregnation and rearing. 



The larger ponds which have been inclosed by the work of the dredg- 

 ers are well suited for planting oysters, since those seen by the writer 



