36 



doubt as to the cause. In practically every case, except when 

 leausecl by fl'eshets, the destruction has been brought about by 

 excessive lishing. 



The reproductive capacity of the reefs was in a state of 

 nature sufficient to maintain the life of the bed and eprhaps allow 

 an increase in size from year to year ; but the excessive drain on 

 the beds necessary to supply the increasing demand for the 

 oysters soon went beyond the reproductive capacity and the 

 beds beagn to deteriorate. 



Even after the enactment and partial enforcement of laws, 

 looking to the protection of the oyster beds the destruction con- 

 tinued under the guise of taking seed with whieh to establish 

 artificial plants. In this case the seed included everything that 

 was brought up from the bed by the tongs, shells and larg-3^ 

 oysters, as well as the small ones which by their growth and im- 

 provement in condition were expected to make profitable the 

 artificial culture. 



By the removal of the shells with the oysters, all chance for 

 the recovery of the beds was taken away, because even though 

 enough breeding oysters to furnish an abundance of spat were 

 left on the beds, there would be no place for these to become 

 attached as the whole upper surface of the bed had been removed 

 in taking the "seed." 



During the oyster season, Avhen the oysters were being taken, 

 for market, it was frequently customary to leave a part of the 

 load unculled on the deck of the boat and to cull this part of 

 the fare after the boat had started for the port where the oysteri. 

 were to be sold. 



This practice, more than any other, was particularly de- 

 structive to the oysters, as the greater part of the eullings thrown- 

 from the boat during the journey to market would be certain 

 to fall on unsuitable bottom and be lost, without their having- 

 been of any use to insure an increase in the number of oysters- 

 in the region, as was the ease when they were taken for seed. 

 When the reefs had been reduced to a statet so that they were no 

 longer able to supply young oysters to offset the drain caused 

 by fishing, disintegration took place rapidly under the action 

 of the waves and the attacks of the boring animals that are so- 

 abundant in the warm waters of the Gulf coast. 



