Galtsoff and Loosanoff (1939) made several surveys in different seasons at 

 a large number of stations in Long Island Sound, Buzzards Bay, and Narragansett 

 Bay to study the local geographic distribution of the starfish. Generally speak- 

 ing, there was no evidence of marked seasonal changes in abundance, within the 

 same year, nor of migration from one area to another. Heaviest concentrations 

 were found where food was abundant , in the western end of the Sound, and in Buzzards 

 Bay near New Bedford and Wareham at the head of the Bay. In Narragansett Bay, near 

 Prudence Island, starfish were plentiful, but relatively few were found in Block 

 Island Sound. 



ABUNDANCE OF STARFISH 



Starfish have been the subject of control measures by the oystermen of the 

 New England area for most of the 100 years since the beginning of the cultivation 

 of oysters there in 1845. 



Among these men, it is common knowledge that starfish on the oyster beds 

 show very large fluctuations in abundance from year to year. Many of these men 

 are of the opinion that decreases in the number of starfish are due to the intensive 

 control efforts that are instituted when it is realized that the numbers are on 

 the increase, and conversely, that the periods of great abundance follow temporary 

 relaxation of control efforts when few starfish are to be found. Migrations from 

 uncultivated areas not subject to control measures are considered largely re- 

 sponsible for maintenance of the starfish population (Anon., 1945). 



With the exceptions of a 30-year record by a company on Narragansett Bay and 

 one of 7 years by a company in Connecticut, the oystermen do not have records of 

 how many starfish are eliminated by these control efforts. Their primary interest 

 is in the reduction of the number of starfish to the lowest practicable level. 

 Burkenroad (1946) attempted to determine starfish abundance over a period of some 

 75 years by a study of trade journals, newspapers, and records of public com- 

 missions. Fluctuations in starfish abundance appear to have a definite periodic 

 characteristic, with a range of intervals between the peaks of maximum abundance 

 of 11 to 16 years. This information corroborates the limited data from company 

 records that fluctuations in population are fairly uniform throughout the area 

 involved. Based on Burkenroad 's report also, the interesting hypothesis is ad- 

 vanced that the variation in numbers of starfish is due predominantly to natural 

 causes, and is not markedly influenced by the controL efforts of the oystermen 

 or by the occasional State or Federal financed efforts toward local elimination. 

 If fluctuation in abundance of the magnitude suggested above were proven, it would 

 require careful consideration whether to recommend utilization, nominal control, 

 or an attempt at complete eradication of starfish. 



ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF STARFISH CONTROL 



An accurate estimate of the damage caused the oyster industry by starfish is 

 difficult to make since it should include not only the direct cost of control ef- 

 forts, but also the potential value of young oysters killed and the value of mar- 

 ketable seed-stock and older oysters lost. No recent data are available on direct 

 cost of control efforts, but with increased wages and operational costs, it is 

 likely that the total amount spent for this purpose is more than $500,000 annually. 



The oystermen continue these costly controls through the years because they 

 realize what would happen if the starfish were permitted to grow unchecked on the 

 oyster beds . 



