154 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



"2. Many of those who entered grounds for oyster planting did so with 

 the expectation that large profits would be immediately forthcoming and 

 were not sufficiently interested to continue in the work 



"3. The laws framed for the encouragement and protection of oyster 

 culture were defective or have not been observed." 



Grave (1904) conducted further experiments in the North and Newport 

 rivers to ascertain thoroughly the possibilities of oyster culture. He states 

 that on the whole the experiments were satisfactory but pointed out that the 

 lower parts of the two rivers were not suitable for cultivation of market 

 oysters but could be valuable for securing seed. The upper parts of the 

 rivers are well adapted to oyster planting, but the industry could never be 

 extensive on account of the limited area. Both areas have through the years 

 continued to produce small quantities of market oysters from the upper 

 regions of the rivers. The lower portions have not been utilized except for 

 the gathering of "coon" oysters for the canneries. 



One of the causes of the failure of oyster culture was, as Grave stated, 

 that those engaged in oyster culture had an erroneous idea of the require- 

 ments for such a venture. Oyster culture consists of more than the mere 

 shifting of oysters from a natural bed to an area under lease and keeping 

 them until they grow or a favorable market develops. This practice is 

 common in many areas and often is profitable. There are three distinct 

 businesses which are recognized as oyster culture. These have been de- 

 scribed in various ways but fundamentally they are: the production of seed; 

 the growing of oysters from seed to marketable size; and the preparation 

 of oysters for market. 



Each of the three businesses may consist of several different activities. 

 The production of seed requires preparations to secure a set of oysters. 

 Spawning sanctuaries containing adult oysters are necessary to provide a 

 source of spawn. At the right time it is necessary to plant shells or other 

 material in the most effective manner. 



The growing of oysters necessitates: first, the clearing of the ground 

 upon which the oysters are to be raised; second, the transplantation of the 

 seed to growing areas, usually to waters of a higher salt content than the 

 area where the setting occurred. In growing oysters, the control of enemies 

 is a vital factor in determining the ultimate yield that will be realized. The 

 theoretical yield from a heavy set would probably exceed 50 bushels of 

 market oysters from a bushel of shells planted. In the Delaware Bay region, 

 oystermen who do not control enemies secure one to two bushels of market 

 oysters for every bushel of seed planted. Those that practice some means of 

 control realize a yield of four or five bushels of market oysters. In the Long 

 Island Sound area, yields up to 8 bushels of market oysters are obtained 

 from a bushel of seed planted when enemies are controlled. With new 



