512 U. S. BUEEAU OF PISHEEIES 



cooperation with the State shellfish commissions and various oyster 

 producers, small experimental oyster farms have been established 

 in each State for the purpose of determining and demonstrating the 

 most efficient methods for oyster culture in each particidar region. 

 The production of oysters for both the canning and raw trades are 

 important industries in this region, and the industry is cooperating 

 in this work with a view to improving the size, quality, and quantity 

 of oysters grown for these purposes. 



In this section a greater industry and market for raw oysters can 

 be developed not only by increased production of large oysters but 

 especially through improvement in the methods of opening oysters 

 and their preparation for market or shipment. The latter is par- 

 ticularly important in this warm climate and consequently experi- 

 ments along this line have been undertaken at the Beaufort labora- 

 tory, which, as described later, show excellent possibilities for sup- 

 plying the market with oyster meats in a fresh sanitary condition. 



The results of the experiments in oj^ster farming in the South 

 Atlantic region are described briefly according to the States in which 

 these operations were conducted. 



Relation of copper content of water to oyster setting in the South 

 Atlantic. — Previous studies in the North have shown that the copper 

 content and salinity of the water are the chief factors controlling 

 setting and the production of seed oysters. Further investigations 

 sliow that a similar relationship also exists in North Carolina, South 

 Carolina, and Georgia. Chemical analyses of the water in these 

 localities showed the presence of copper in amounts varying from 

 0.05 to 0.4 milligram per liter. The heaviest setting was found to 

 occur at the surface of the water during the stage of tide Avlien the 

 copper content was highest. Partition collectors placed at such tidal 

 levels gathered from 1,200 to 3,500 seed oysters per collector. 



In southern waters the reproduction and setting of oysters is so 

 abundant as to constitute the greatest handicap to their cultivation. 

 Usually there are two crops of seed each summer, which fasten 

 chiefly upon the adult oysters and so seriously interfere with their 

 feeding and growth as to kill them or produce an inferior oyster. 

 Consequently the studies on setting are being continued in the hope 

 of finding a practical means for controlling or preventing the heavy 

 setting of oysters in certain areas. While copper in minute amounts 

 is beneficial for setting, it also true that slightly higher concen- 

 trations of this metal are decidedly toxic to the oyster larvae. Ex- 

 periments are in progress to determine the practicability of using 

 copper salts or other toxic substances to prevent the overcrowding 

 and inferior growth of oysters in southern waters as a result of 

 heavy setting. 



hnpn'oved tnethods in the preparation of oysters for marhet or 

 shipment. — The shucking of oysters and their preparation for mar- 

 ket are costly operations and of considerable importance in deter- 

 mining whether the consumer will receive this valuable sea food in 

 a first-class physical, chemical, and sanitary condition. Experiments 

 conducted at the Beaufort laboratory by Drs. Vera Koehring and 

 H. F. Prytherch give promise of developing an inexpensive and 

 efficient method of removing oyster meats from the shell more 

 quickly, with less difficulty and labor, and particularly with little 



