14 



thus giving each oyster the greatest possible chance to develop 

 into a genuine "Louisiana oyster." By thus breaking up the 

 clusters each oyster is given a better chance to survive and the 

 shell will widen and deepen; whereas, if left in clusters, the 

 oysters crowd each other and the shell lengthens and flattens 

 and forms the characteristic ''Coon Oyster." 



It has been objected that dredging ruins oyster beds. There 

 are no just grounds for this except jealousy. On the contrary, 

 it benefits the reef, by breaking up the clusters of long narrow 

 oysters that are found in all reefs. It cannot, however, be 

 handled with as good results in waters less than 8 or 10 feet 

 deep, and should therefore be restricted to such areas. It can, 

 however, be used profitably for "cultivation" on one's own bed. 



Under favorable circumstances, with proper cultivation, 

 ©ysters raised in the warm waters of Louisiana can be put on 

 the market in excellent condition and medium size at the end 

 of 28 or 30 months, but this demands a certain amount of labor 

 expeuded on the beds. We have spoken of the "breaking up" of 

 the clusters at the end of about 8 or 10 months, but the labor dojs 

 not end here. We have taken it for granted heretofore, that 

 the oiiginal beds were located in brackish waters. (For selecting 

 of bottom see later.) In order to obtain the best market prices, 

 the oysters must have the best flavor. This can only be gotten 

 by transplanting the oysters to a new bottom. As will be ex- 

 plained later, oysters grow more rapidly in brackish water than 

 in salt or water with high density. But the flavor of these has 

 a characteristic flat taste to it and the meat is lacking in firm- 

 ness. To obtain these two desirable qualities, the oyster must 

 be transferred to water that is "salty," that is, of a higher 

 density, say 1.018 to 1.024 specific gravity. One month of salty 

 water is sufficient to obtain an oyster with good flavor and 

 texture. 



Transplanting. — The best time for transplanting to the so- 

 called bedding grounds will be found to be during the second 

 fall after the setting of the spat. At this time, the weather Is 

 generally cool enough to allow handling the oyster for some 

 considerable time out of the water. It also gives the oyster a 

 -chance to live its second summer in brackish water and so at- 



