22 



As the bottom becomes softer, more and more shells will be 

 found to be necessary. In some places as many as 5,000 bushels 

 have been planted and did not prove to be enough. Each 

 one must be governed by the location of his bed as to the number 

 of shells to plant. Remember that each shell lying well above 

 the bottom will act as cultch for a number of young oysters, 

 which if separated at the right time, will grow to well formed 

 oysters. 



Enemies. — We have enumerated above several conditions 

 governing the selection of an oyster bed. The enemies of the 

 oysters may constitute a condition, but we shall not treat it as 

 such, since they are to be found wherever the conditions of liv- 

 ing are suitable to each. The enemies of the oyster larvae have 

 been previously mentioned. There are others that prey upon the 

 oysters after they have become attached. Among those that are 

 found on the Louisiana coast are: the parastic worm, Bucepha- 

 lus; the stone crab, the oyster drill. Purpura; the clam drill. 

 Lunatia; the string-rays ; skates and the drum fish. There are 

 other forms that indirectly may be considered enemies, they do 

 not directly prey upon the oyster, but in one way or another 

 retard its growth. Of such, are the hydroids, commonly known 

 as Frog's hair, algae, or sea moss, mussels, tunicates, sea 

 anemones, and the boring sponge, Clione. All of these but the 

 last are found attached to the shell, and by taking up the food 

 and absorbing the oxygen, starve and smother the oyster. Some- 

 times their numbers are sufficient to kill the oyster or to render 

 it unfit for the market. But this rarely occurs where oysters 

 are handled or cultivated. 



The boring sponge is the cause of the outside layer being 

 perforated by numerous holes and canals. This in itself 

 rarely causes any harm to the oyster unless it makes its way 

 to the inside, which it seldom does. The parasite worm, Buce- 

 phalus, although frequently found does but slight, if any, dam- 

 age to an oyster bed. The larger sting-rays and skates are 

 accused by oystermen of doing considerable damage. But it is 

 doubtful that much destruction can be attributed to them, since 

 authentic reports are lacking; and what may be laid against the 

 ray might more likely be the result of drum fish depredation. 



