The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster 



draws and leaves the oyster to die. As soon as it dies, its 

 shell begins to open and crabs finish the job. 



The Olympia Oyster Growers met this new enemy 

 with their customary fortitude. They employed drill 

 pickers, and in other ways kept them down to where 

 they could get along and live with them, and still pro- 

 duce oysters on a commercial basis. 



SLIPPER SHELLS OR CUPS (CREPIDULA) 



The slipper shell may be termed as an enemy of the 

 Olympia Oyster, although it does not kill the oyster. At 

 one time Eastern Oysters were brought in from the At- 

 lantic Coast. The slipper shell came with them and 

 thrived here. 



It has a shell that when grown, is about two inches 

 across, and holds to shell or rock to which it had become 

 attached by a suction cup. Its body is held into the shell 

 by a sort of foot which hooks under a partition in the 

 shell, just as the foot fits into a slipper. Hence, the name 

 — slipper shell. 



The shell is of such quality that the spawn of other 

 animals do not attach to it. But one slipper shell will set 

 on top of another, until there is a half -moon of them, 

 from five to ten inches in length. 



These animals may eat the same food as oysters. In 

 some beds at times may take up as much room as the oys- 

 ters. When the oysters were taken up to cull for market, 

 the slipper shells were culled out, but caused extra ex- 

 pense for culling and disposing of them. 



(78) 



