50 OYSTER CULTURE EXPERIMENTS IN LOUISIANA. 



7. The configuration of the Louisiana coast, with its broad front- 

 age of salt marshes, which w^ill probably always preclude its occupa- 

 tion by a considerable population, renders the oyster grounds prac- 

 tically immune from dangerous sewage pollution, a consideration 

 of vital importance to the consumer and of corresponding advantage 

 to the producer of oysters. 



8. The greater distance of the Louisiana coast from most of the 

 larger centers of population is its chief disadvantage as compared 

 with the oyster regions of the Middle Atlantic States. In respect to 

 the growing population of the West, however, it labors under no such 

 impediment to development, as is shown by the vast increase in the 

 quantity of Louisiana oysters marketed since the enactment of the 

 laws now in force. 



9. The oyster food supply in the waters of Louisiana is generally 

 good and the growth of oysters is rapid. As shown by the experi- 

 ments previously described, good marketable oysters can be produced 

 within two years of the time at which- they attach to cultch, and a 

 corresponding growth occurs in seed oysters. The oyster planter 

 therefore reaps a quicker and larger return on his investment than 

 he would in places where the growth is slower. 



10. The results of the experiments show that a larger quantity of 

 oysters can be growni per acre than can be produced in most places. 

 On the small experimental beds at Falsemouth Bay, Three-mile Bay, 

 and Bayou St. Denis there were, at least, upward of 1,000 standard 

 bushels per acre at the end of two years from the time of planting 

 the cultch, and it is understood that this quantity per acre is grown 

 on planted beds in other parts of the state. 



11. The area of bottom available for oyster culture is large, but it 

 varies in the character of the oysters produced and consequently in 

 the purposes for which they can be used. It is probable that in 

 practically all places wdiere the fresh water exceeds the salt water 

 and the latter does not fall much below 20 per cent in the admixture, 

 seed oysters can be raised on suitable bottom, either for transplanting 

 to places more favorable for growth or for the production of market 

 oysters in situ. Three-mile Bay and vicinity appears to be of the first 

 sort and Falsemouth Bay and Bayou St. Denis fall in the second 

 category. In places in which the salinity is higher than that de- 

 scribed above, the salt water in the mixture being in excess of the 

 fresh, seed oysters usually can not be produced in considerable quan- 

 tities, not on account of the absence of a strike but because most of 

 the spat is destroyed by drills. Such localities, of which Bay Tam- 

 bour is a type, may often be excellent for producing market oysters 

 from seed raised elsewhere. 



12. The experiments at Three-mile Bay demonstrated the possi- 

 bility of producing a heavy growth of oysters on planted shells, but 



