34 



In order to definitely settle the question of the availability 

 of any particular area for planting oysters, it would be necessary 

 to have a knowledge of the liability of the occurrence of destruc- 

 tive freshets, and this knowledge could be obtained only by hav- 

 ing a series of records extending over a number of years showing 

 the frequency and the amount of damage done by the freshets 

 at each occurrence. Having this knowledge, there immediately 

 arises the supplementary questions: What are the chances of 

 the recovery of the beds, and how much time must elapse be- 

 tween the destruction and the time when the beds will again 

 become profitable? The answer to both of these questions will 

 depend to a great extent on the location of the beds in regard to 

 their relation to the other beds in the same locality, and to the 

 nature and strength of the tidal currents in the region. 



If the destruction has not been complete, the chances are that 

 there will be enough breeding oysters left to furnish the spat 

 necessary to restock the beds, and if the currents are favorable, 

 there is every likelihood of there being a good set of spat, as the 

 shells will usually be in good condition to afford a place of at- 

 tachment. When, as is usually the case, the destruction has taken 

 place just before the breeding season, there will not have been 

 time for a very heavy deposit of sediment, and conditions will 

 be favorable for the * ' set. ' ' 



Where practically all of the oysters on the reef were killed 

 and where the freshet was local in its effect, the set of spat will 

 depend to a great extent on the direction and strength of the 

 currents. The free-swimming fry of the oyster, while it is in- 

 capable of being carried very far as a result of its own activity, 

 may under favorable conditions be carried for long distances 

 by the currents. On this account it will be found that in any 

 body of water where there are numerous beds or reefs, unless 

 the water is very quiet, there will be an abundance of the em- 

 bryos moving about to settle down wherever there is a hard 

 body to afford them a proper place for attachment. In actual 

 experience it has been observed, that under conditions not espe- 

 cially favorable for the transportation of the fry, the set of 

 spat was nearly as abundant five miles from the breeding oysters 

 as within one mile of them — and over the whole area the set wa.-? 

 as heavv as is se'eured on the average bed. In some of the larger 



