41 



PLANTING OPERATIONS— GENERAL CONSIDERATION. 



In the early days of oyster planting it was cnstomary to 

 make the plant, whenever possible, on bottom that had been pre- 

 viously occupied by a natural reef. By this means it was 

 thought that the best bottom in the region had been secured and 

 that the venture would be certain to give good results, since it 

 was known that oysters had grown well in the same place. 

 Usually also these areas afforded the only bottom that was oi 

 sufficient firmness to bear up the seed in the quantities ordi- 

 narily planted. When the places where there had been natural 

 reefs were all taken up it became necessary to resort to other 

 areas where the conditions were not so well known and where 

 the success of the undertaking was more problematical. 



The success of any plant made in a new region will depend 

 to a great extent on the physical conditions prevailing in the 

 locality, these should be carefully studied before any extensive 

 operations are begun. 



The temperature of the water, one of the important factors 

 in a general consideration of oyster culture, may be safely 

 neglected in a consideration relating to the Louisiana fields 

 alone, where the temperature of the water is constantly within 

 the limits favorable to the growth of oysters. 



The salinity of the water is always an important factor,^ 

 and in these waters the record of the salinity should, if possible, 

 extend over the period in the spring when the lowest salinity 

 is to be expected. The salinity should be above 1.007, and it 

 should be definitely determined that there will be no extended 

 period when the salinity will fall below this point. While oysters 

 should not usually be planted in water of which the salinity is- 

 over 1.023, this consideration does not apply to the Louisiana 

 territory, for it is very seldom that the water, even in the Gulf 

 at several miles from the shore, has a salinity higher than 

 this figure. 



The success of a plant, other things being favorable, may 

 depend on the direction and strength of the currents in the 

 water in the vicinity. The area actually covered by the oyster 

 bed has usually very little to do with the production and main- 

 tenance of the' food supply. Thp patHios of barren Ixtttoni be- 



