40 



2. An increase in the surface available for fixation, and 

 thus a consequent increase in the number of spat which will 

 become attached. 



3. The utilization and salvage of the spat which woiild 

 otherwise perish under natural conditions. 



4. A decrease in the liability of attack from enemeis. 



5. The utilization of otherwise neglected bottoms and food 

 supplies. 



Of these results, the first and fourth may be brought about 

 without directly causing any change in the other conditions. The 

 employment of any methods that will bring about any of the 

 other results will be found to fulfil the requirements for two or 

 more of them at the same time. 



The usual methods practiced in this country are extensive 

 rather than intensive, and methods that would have for their 

 aim the increasing of the number of the eggs fertilized in a 

 given region are not such as would appeal to the American 

 •eulturist. 



In general the results mentioned above are brought about 

 by the use of some method of "planting." This consists of 

 either transferring the small oysters to some place where the 

 conditions are more favorable for their growth than on the 

 reefs from which they were taken; or in exposing shells, or 

 other hard bodies, to offer a place of attachment for the fry at 

 the time when they are ready to settle down to their fixed 

 mode of life. 



The oyster reefs in any body of water occupy only a com- 

 paratively small portion of the available bottom. An examina- 

 tion of these barren areas will show that the physical conditions 

 are the same here as on the reefs, with the single exception of 

 the character of the bottom. Usually the bottom between the 

 reefs is very soft, so that the application of some hardening 

 agent will fulfill all the requirements mentioned above. 



The different steps in the usual methods will now be taken 

 up more in detail. 



