548 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
of the coast showing the general location and extent of the natural 
oyster beds and the distribution of salinity. 
It was found that, with very few exceptions, the natural oyster 
beds are situated along the shores on the tidal flats and lie in a zone 
between low and high water mark. This is due largely to the fact 
that setting occurs, for the most part, in the zone between tide marks. 
There are areas of the bottom, however, below low-water mark in the 
tidal streams, sufficiently firm and unshifting, which can be utilized 
for growing oysters, which can be obtained as seed by planting brush 
and shells in the vicinity of the natural beds. 
High-grade single oysters can be cultivated on these bottoms where 
setting does not occur, but their marketable quality will depend upon 
the environmental conditions in each locality and the care expended 
on the beds. Some of the natural oyster beds are depleted and 
should be restored and enlarged by a more extensive planting of 
shells. 
The following recommendations are offered in order to restore the 
natural wealth of oyster resources, increase the production, and 
improve the quality of the oysters grown in South Carolina waters: 
1. A greater quantity of shells should be returned to the natural 
beds. 
2. The natural bed should be extended by planting shells on ad- 
jacent firm bottoms. 
3. Depleted oyster beds should be restored by planting seed and 
adult oysters. 
4. The closing of depleted areas until they are built up to a self- 
maintaining basis is advised. 
5. The collection of set on brush and shells planted on tidal flats 
should be practiced. 
6. Seed oysters should be transplanted to suitable bottoms below 
low-water mark. 
7. The experimental transplanting of seed oysters on the tidal 
flats in the upper portions of the streams where setting does not 
occur should be undertaken. 
8. Adult oysters should be transplanted when necessary to prevent 
overcrowding and to facilitate growth and fattening. 
9. The development of oyster farming should be encouraged by 
leasing the grounds and protecting the private beds. 
Massachusetts —During the latter part of the summer a survey of 
important oyster grounds on Cape Cod was made by Dr. P. S. 
Galtsoff and H. R. Seiwell. The survey covered the following locali- 
ties: Wareham River, on the Buzzards Bay side of the cape, and 
Waquoit, Cotuit, Centerville River, and Chatham on the ocean side. 
The first locality differs from the others in being chiefly an important 
seed-producing region, while most of the oyster bottoms on the ocean 
side of the cape can be regarded as growing grounds primarily. 
This especially refers to the Cotuit region (Osterville Harbor), where 
not a single young oyster can be found in spite of a very careful 
examination of the shores and bottoms made in August. It is diffi- 
cult to tell why the set does not occur on this bay, where general 
conditions (namely, the character of the bottom, the temperature and 
salinity of the water, and the tidal currents) are favorable. The 
probable causes may be either the failure of oysters to spawn or the 
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