In addition, it is imperative to the establishment of experimental 

 oyster plantings in the Virgin Islands that ownership and riparian rights 

 be ascertained and that these plantings be made on Government-owned water 

 bottoms with acoess to the pleuatings assured. 



CONCLTJSION 



Although it is impossible to predict in advance whether an in- 

 troduced species will become sufficiently adapted to new conditions 

 to assTime commercial importance, there are several well-known examples 

 of good adaptations where this has been the case - the Japanese oyster 

 (Ostrea gigas ), the shad, and the striped bass on the Pacific coast of 

 the United States, and the smelt in the Great Lakes, for instance. 

 Introduction of a new species of oyster rather than improvement in the 

 native oyster now present seems to be the best solution for the develop- 

 ment of an oyster industry in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, The 

 magnitude of the industry could never be large, but it would be adequate 

 to meet the needs of the market in these islands* 



Any attempt to develop Puerto Rican and Virgin Island oyster 

 industries through the introduction of a new species of oyster must be 

 started on an experimental basis and should be accompanied with a care- 

 ful scientific study of the biology and ecology of oysters in the waters 

 of the islands. The two Governments may well institute the planting of 

 experimental oyster beds. These plantings and examination of the plantings 

 at regular intervals should be under the supervision of biologists who can 

 follow the chemical and physical conditions of the environment as well as 

 the growth, survival, conditions of the oyster meats, and the spawning and 

 Betting cycles. 



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