298 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AKD FISHERIES. 



PLANTING WITH SEED. 

 PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS. 



Preliminary to planting, the first essential is to determine whether 

 private ri^lits in oyster bottoms are recognized by law or conntenanced 

 by public opinion. Unless the planter is assured of exclusive owner- 

 ship in the product of his labor and enterprise he will find more j)rolit 

 and peace of nimd in devoting his energies to some other calling. 

 Unless the law, backed by the public sense of justice, makes the theft 

 of oysters from planted grounds i)unishable like theft of any other 

 kind, it will be impossible to expect success in oyster-planting. Very 

 remarkable views obtain in some places concerning the right to property 

 beneath the sea, and in such places the planter will find it impossible 

 to protect his interests. 



Having determined that his rights in his riparian property may be 

 successfully maintained, the next step is to select beds that present the 

 proper conditions of temperature, density, bottom, food, etc. 



Temperature. — If it is desired to establish a self-perpetuating bed 

 the temperature should rise for a considerable time during the spawn 

 ing period to between 08 and 80 degrees. If it be desired to merely 

 increase the size of seed oysters obtained elsewhere, it is not necessary 

 that the temperature should ever rise so high, although, as a rule, 

 warm waters induce more rapid growth. The range of temperature to 

 which adult oysters are subject will be seen on page 280. 



Density. — The density should be above 1.007 at least, and the beds 

 should be so located as not to be subject to the influence of freshets 

 which would reduce the density below that degree for any length of time. 

 A density over 1.023 is not advisable, although oysters grow in places 

 in a somewhat greater salinity. (See p. 281.) 



Bottom. — The character of the bottom is the most important consid- 

 eration, and it is probable that, upon our coasts, the other conditions 

 will be fairly met in any locality where suitable bottom is available. 

 The selection should be made with care, and the methods employed 

 should be adapted to the character of the ground. Otherwise the 

 planter may be put to labor and expense without return. 



Hard, rocky bottom is in general un suited for the cultivation of the 

 oyster. Such ground, while aftbrding facilities for the fixation of spat, 

 does not supply sufficient food to cause a rapid growth, such as is desired 

 by the planter, unless there is abundant muddy bottom in the vicinity. 

 Heavy clay is open to the same objection. Loose sand is liable to drift 

 and bury the oysters, and deep, soft mud is absolutely fatal, as it allows 

 even adult oysters to sink to such a depth that they are smothered. 



The best bottom consists of a firm substratum, above which is a layer 

 of soft flocculent mud. In Long- Island Sound, firm, sandy bottom is 

 often used with great success. The oysters do not grow so rapidly 

 there, however, as they do upon the soft mud of Jamaica Bay and other 

 l^laces on the south shore of Long Island. 



