The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster 



The oysterman knows that if he is to get maximum 

 setting he must have his seed ground covered with a 

 suitable cultch. In the early days it was observed that 

 clean shell was the best. These were obtained from the 

 oyster opening houses where the shell had been saved 

 and piled for this use. So the oysterman would secure the 

 amount he needed, bring it to his beds and spread it upon 

 the ground he had cleaned for use as a seed bed just as 

 near the time the setting took place as he could, so that 

 the set would take place before the shell became silted 

 p.nd dirty. 



DIFFERENT TYPES OF CULTCH. 



In time the demand for the shell for cultch became 

 greater than the supply. A biologist, Dr. A. E. Hopkins, 

 was successful in his experiments with a new type of 

 cultch, later known as the "Hopkins' Collector." He took 

 egg crate fillers, dipped them in a thin solution of ce- 

 ment, lime, sand, and water; then let them dry slowly. At 

 the proper time these were placed on the seed ground. 

 The surface was clean and rough enough for the baby 

 oysters to cling to. These were found to be a highly ef- 

 ficient cultch, and millions of them were used. Also fish 

 net dipped in cement and lath dipped in cement, dried 

 and placed on the seed ground, have been used. 



MOVING SEED AND MATURING THEM. 



After the set of seed had taken place, it became the 

 practice to leave it for about two years until it had taken 

 on sufficient growth to be moved. 



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