PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 1934 377 



in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Conserva- 

 tion and the Federal Emergency Kelief Administration. 



Over 8125,000 bushels of seed oysters at un average cost of approx- 

 imately 8 cents per bushel have been planted, and 78,5G7 bushels of 

 old oyster shells have been scattered over the bottoms to provide a 



flace of attachment for subsequent generations of this shellfish, 

 nspection of the rej^lanted beds in Pamlico Sound during Sep- 

 tember 19-U shoAved that a high percentage of the seed oysters have 

 survived transplanting and culling operations and, because of their 

 rapid growth under more favorable conditions, would provide good 

 market stock in approximately 2 years. At the recommendation of 

 the Bureau all replanted areas have been closed by a recent ruling 

 of the State Fisheries Board for a period of 2 years in order to 

 enable the transplanted oysters to reach market size. 



INVESTIGATION OF OYSTERS AT NEW RIVER, N. C. 



A general survey was made during March by Dr. IT. F. Prytherch 

 of the oj^ster beds in the New River region to determine the cause of 

 the poor condition of oysters during the previous winter. The results 

 of the Bureau's investigation, briefly summarized, are as follows : (1) 

 The poor condition of New River oysters is attributed to excep- 

 tionally dry weather and decreased river discharge during the period 

 from October 1933 to February 1934 when precipitation was 75 

 percent below normal; (2) closure of the inlet has not interfered 

 with oyster growth and reproduction, as sufficient salt water now 

 passes into this region tlirough two larger inlets via the Inside 

 Route Canal; and (3) deepening of New River Inlet is not advis- 

 able as it might easily increase the salinity of the water to such an 

 extent that oyster beds now producing a high-grade product would 

 be overcrowded with seed oysters and also subject to severe attacks 

 by the boring sponge. 



OYSTER INVESTIGATIONS IN FLORIDA 



A complete survey of the principal oyster-producing areas in 

 northwest Florida was conducted by Dr. H. F. Prj^herch in co- 

 operation with the State Department of Conservation and Federal 

 Emergency Relief Administration for the pui^pose of restoring and 

 developing this natural resource as a work-relief project. The most 

 important beds were found to be in a depleted condition and in need 

 of restocking wnth seed oysters and shells. Experimental planting 

 operations of the type successfully carried out by the Bureau in 

 this region last year clearly demonstrate the advisability of employ- 

 ing such methods on a large scale. Biological studies w'ere made 

 of the spawning and setting of oysters in these waters, which show 

 that the planting of old shells should be carried out during the 

 period from A]:)ril 1 to September 15. 



In Choctawhatchee Bay over 12.000 barrels of shell have been dis- 

 tributed over barren bottoms to ci'cato new beds and to increase the 

 acreage of areas whicli are producing high-grade oysters. The gen- 

 eral procedure is to plant 100 to 300 barrels of shell per acre, over- 



