31 



where the highest prices are demanded, and should be done the 

 second fall after the setting of spat. 



Spat is practically universally distributed, and it only needs 

 a suitable place for attachment to continue growth. Cultch is 

 available in the form of "clam" shells which are found in banks 

 in many places in Louisiana. Also in the form of oyster shells. 

 These must be clean and planted not long before the spawning 

 season to prevent their being covered with foreign growth. The 

 clusters formed on these should be broken up at the end of 

 nine or ten months. This may be done by running the dredge 

 over them, or better yet, by culling them into individuals. 



The four conditions governing the selection of oyster bottoms 

 are : Currents, supplying food and water for respiration ; amount 

 of food supply obtainable ; density or saltiness of the water ; and 

 conditions of the bottoms. 



The currents supply abundant food, plenty of fresh water for 

 respiration, and remove waste matter and deoxygenated water 

 and prevent, to a large extent, overstocking. These are to be 

 considered in connection with their source, as food material in- 

 crease more rapidly in shallow, brackish waters. The food sup-< 

 ply, then, would naturally be more abundant if the currents 

 flowing over a bed have their source from shallow ''mud" lakes. 

 Grounds for cultivating oysters should be selected in brackish 

 waters, not subject to freshets of long duration. In these, the 

 oyster grows the most rapidly and is in no danger of being 

 killed by summer heat. The condition of the bottom must be 

 considered, the harder the better, other things being equal. 

 Too soft a bottom should be avoided, as it is a waste of time 

 and labor, if not a failure, to try and build up a reef on 

 such grounds. Locations that are subject to deposit of sediment 

 should also be avoided. 



The enemies of the Louisiana oyster are not many, the most 

 detrimental being the drum fish, the oyster borer, and the stone 

 crab. The ravages of the first may be prevented by fencing 

 in the area. The only way to get rid of the drill is, as an oyster- 

 man put it, ''Attrapez le, et arrachez ses dents," and in the case 

 of the crab, to catch and eat him. 



