516 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



gathering seed oysters if planted vertically, as the surface remains 

 clean and offers the oysters better conditions for feeding and growth 

 than is afforded by old shells. The development of oyster culture 

 by brush and pole methods, similar to those employed in Japan and 

 Australia, appears to be the most practical means for utilizing the 

 extensive mud flats in South Carolina and improving the quality of 

 oysters grown in these waters. Experiments on a small commercial 

 scale will be carried on along this line during the coming year. 



Oyster investigations in Georgia. — At Turtle River experiments in 

 oyster farming were conducted in cooperation with T. Q. Fleming, 

 of Brunswick, and the Georgia State Board of Game and Fish. Two 

 phases of modern oyster culture were successfully demonstrated 

 through the collection of seed oysters on brush and shells and the 

 transplantation of year-old seed oysters to hard-clay bottoms, where 

 conditioins proved favorable for growth and the prevention of over- 

 crowding by heaving setting. During 1931 the spawning and setting 

 of oysters were heaviest in this locality during the period from the 

 middle of May to the middle of June. A very light set of little 

 importance was also obtained the early part of October. Oak poles 

 and brush were planted on the tidal flats and gathered a good crop 

 of seed oysters, thus demonstrating the value of such operations for 

 utilizing the extensive barren mud bottoms in this region. Several 

 hundred bushels of year-old seed from the overcrowded coon oyster 

 reefs were transplanted to cleep-w^ater, hard-bottom areas and have 

 shown rapid growth and considerable improvement in shape of the 

 shell over those left on the natural beds. Studies of the temperature, 

 salinity, hydrogen-ion concentration and copper content of the water 

 and their relation to the setting and distribution of oysters in the 

 Turtle River region were made. An examination of many of the 

 natural oyster beds in Georgia showed considerable evidence of deple- 

 tion from overfishing and the necessity of rehabilitating these beds 

 and adjacent areas by increased planting of shells and brush seed 

 collectors. 



CONTROL OF STARFISH 



Starfish investigations carried on by Louise Palmer were con- 

 ducted with the view of finding an efficient method of combating 

 this dangerous enemy of the oyster. 



The common starfish, Asterias forbesii, is found along the At- 

 lantic coast from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, and is the only species 

 common from Ca])e Cod to New York, an area which is the center 

 of the largest cultivated oyster grounds in the United States. 



The problem of starfish control from a practical standpoint re- 

 solves itself into the following points : 



(1) The present mechanical method of controlling starfish is 

 quite inadequate in decreasing the population to any noticeable de- 

 gree and is very expensive. 



(2) Overhandling and manipulation of oysters results in stunting 

 the growth or even killing individuals. 



(3) Great, or perhaps the greatest, damage is done by young, 

 almost microscopic starfish on the spat, for which loss no method 

 of control has been practiced. 



