47 



time when the spat are becoming attached. If the bottom is 

 naturally very soft, it may be prepared by the application of 

 some hardening agent as was mentioned in the section on plant- 

 ing seed. On a moderately hard bottom, clutch may be applied 

 without any previous preparation. 



One of the greatest difficulties in spat collecting is to avoid 

 the deposition of sediment on the clutch, as an amount of sedi- 

 ment, which would have no effect on an adult oyster, will h^ 

 sufficient to destroy the spat. At the time of the attachment 

 of the spat it is about one-nineteenth of an inch in diameter, so 

 that a very slight deposit of sediment immediately before, or 

 after, its attachment would be sufficient to smother it. 



On this account it will be seen that the soft bottoms which 

 present the best conditions for the growth of the oyster offer 

 special difficulties in the collection of the spat, while localities 

 where the conditions are the most favorable for the attach- 

 ment of the spat are the ones Avhere the later erowth of the 

 oyster will of necessity be slow. 



CLUTCH. COLLECTORS, STOOL. 



By these terms is understood any linn and cIhuu body 

 placed in the water to afford a chance of attachment for the 

 oyster fry at the time when it is ready to abandon its free- 

 swimming existence. A great many different materials have 

 been suggested and used for this purpose both in this country 

 and abroad. Some of the most important will now be discussed: 



OYSTER SHELLS. 



Oyster shells have been most generally used for clutch sine;- 

 the be-inning of this method of culture in this country. Tb.' 

 chief factor which has drtormined their use has probably been 

 the fact that they were available in almost all sections' where 

 oyster culture was taken up and could be obtained cheaper thaii 

 any other material that would serve the same purpose. 



The shells ai-e usually scattered broadcast over the ground 

 which is to l)e planted in the same manner that was described 

 for preparing the bottom for plnnting with seed oysters. When 

 the bott(mi is snffifiontly firm to prevent the settlinir of the 





