332 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



t6«.— SOmE OF TBIS DIFFICUL.TIKtii Wmcn CONFROIVT OYSTCR 



BRFFDERS.* 



By H. H. PIERCE. 



[From two letters to Prof. J. A. Eycler.] 



At the suggestion of Mr. Eugene Blackford, of New York City, I 

 take the libertj' of addressing you a few lines regarding certain points 

 relating to the oyster business. 



The company of which I am treasurer have several beds of planted 

 " seed," upon which last season's spawn set to a considerable extent. We 

 have a quantity of shells near our oyster house also and are desirous 

 of planting these shells at once, so as to catch the spat of this seasou. 

 Our experience and practical knowledge in this direction is very limited. 

 Can you assist us ^ To inform you definitely of what we want to know, 

 it is perhaps well to ask the following questions : 



1st. The bottom under and above the principal part of our beds be- 

 ing saud, covered by from 1 to 3 inches of mud, should we plant our 

 shells before spawning takes place, or immediately after it commences ? 



2d. How can we tell from the appearance of the oyster when it. is 

 ready to emit its spat? 



3d. After the spat is emitted how soon does it attach itself to its 

 future home, and how long is it supposed to float before sinking to its 

 resting-place I 



4th. How long after becoming attached to its resting-place before it 

 becomes sufficiently developed to be discernible to the naked eye 1 



5th. What is the general appearance of the young oyster when first 

 large enough to be seen by the naked eye or by the aid of an ordinary 

 magnifying glass ? 



6th. How can we secure Government assistance in the way of scien- 

 tific investigation and experiment in Sinepuxent Bay? 



Snow Hill, Worcester Co., Md., June 7, 1883. 



We have b^en almost daily i^lanting shells since the 1st of June, in 

 a small and experimental way, in close proximity to one of our ht^ds 

 of two-year-old oysters and upon which we find a considerable " sf 1," 

 varying in size from that of the diagram in your esteemed favor before 

 us — supposed to represent the oyster about ten days after fixation— to 

 about the size of a half dollar. So tar, our operation seems to have 

 been pretty nearly in line with what you have suggested. 



We are anxious to make our business here as large as practicable, and 

 to this end desire to avail ourselves of all the scientific assista-nce ^e 



• These letters introduced the remarkable series of experiments conducted hy Nert^n. 

 Pierce and Eyder at Stockton, and described iu Bull. F. C. 1883, p. 281 ; 18*34, p. 17 

 andp. 43.--C.W.S. 



