XII. — YOUNG OYSTERS (Natural Size). 

 The bedding- ground from which this shell was taken had been planted 

 with fresh oyster shells just ten days before this picture was take^, so that 

 the oldest spat shows not more than a ten days' growth after attachment 

 This shell had attached to it 79 oyster spat, and in two weeks more it would 

 have been literally covered with the young. Out of this number that became 

 attached, only three or four could possibly survivi 

 broken up. 



unless the cluster were 



