Possibilities for oyster oulture 



Possibilities for developing the oyster industry of Puerto 

 Rioo and the Virgin Islands through cultivation and improvements 

 of the native oyster are slight. The introduction of a new oyster 

 to the region, with good oyster-farming practices, may prove to 

 be a solution. It should be borne in mind that the industry would 

 not be a large one for the areas suited for the growing of oysters 

 limit the opportunities for expansion. There is good possibility, 

 hOT/ever, that, with proper utilization of these few areas, there 

 could be developed an industry that would more adequately supply 

 the markets of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 



Since Ostrea glgas was sucoessfvilly introduced to the Pacific 

 coast of the United States and a sizable Industry has developed, 

 consideration was given by the Puerto Rican Government to the 

 introduction of this oyster to Puerto Rico. Although Ostrea gigas 

 grows repidly to large size. It is generally considered to be ini^erior 

 in quality to other species. It is also better for marketing as shucked 

 oysters than for the half -shell trade. In the Pacific Northwest it is 

 grown in waters with salinities of 16 to 17 parts per thousand, or fresh 

 as compared with those of the Caribbean islands. Excessive cost of 

 importing seed oysters from the Pacific coast for planting also must 

 be considered. For these reasons we believe that the introduction of 

 the Japanese oyster, Ostrea gigas , into the Caribbean area would not be 

 desirable* 



Ostrea virginioa as found along the eastern coast of the United 

 States might be introduced in experimental plantings with reason to 

 believe it might prove successful. Transportation costs would be 

 much less, and this species is regarded as having meats of particularly 

 high quality. Along the south Atlantic and Gulf coast* of the United 

 States this oyster grows in waters that are not markedly different in 

 temperature range from those of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, 

 In a few areas it is even grown in waters of very high salinity, although 

 its best growth and reproduction takes place in more brackish water. 

 Selection of seed for planting in the waters of the Caribbean should be 

 carefully done with the thought of avoiding drastic changes in salinity 

 for the planted stock. The seed should come from waters having as high 

 a salinity as possible. 



Methods of oyster oulture are varied and the type used depends 

 on the local situation to a great extent* In general it may be said 

 that seed-producing gro\mds are not often good oyster-growing grounds 

 and that transplanting of oysters is the general rule in cultivation* 

 There are a variety of methods for catching the oyster set as well as 

 methods for the growing and fattening of the oysters for market. They 

 may be grown directly on the bottom or on specially constructed trays 

 and racks* 



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