304 REPORT OF CO! MISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The bottom from which tlie oysters have been shitted is, of course, 

 cleansed of rubbish when the oysters are taken up and may be at once 

 utilized for fresh seed. Some oystermen prefer to let it lie idle for a 

 year, supposing that this increases its fitness for a further croj), but 

 tliere appears to be no good reason for this, though it may be that this 

 course permits of a recui^eration of the food supply on the fallow beds. 



The length of time during which the plants are allowed to lie depends 

 upon the location of the beds, as affecting the rapidity of growth, upon 

 the size of the seed planted, and upon the judgment of the planter. In 

 many places "yearling" seed will be ready for the market in two or 

 three years after being planted, i. e., when the oysters are 3 or 4 years 

 old, but in exceptionally favorable localities, such as Jamaica Bay, 

 Long Island, such seed is said to grow to marketable size in six months 

 or a year. In some places it is said to now take a year longer for the 

 oysters to mature than when planting was first i)racticed. 



As large oysters bring a better j)rice than small ones, it generally 

 pays to allow them to grow for a year or two after they reach a market- 

 able size, but this is a matter which the planter will determine for 

 himself, as conditions vary with the locality. 



As the planter generally wishes to harvest a portion of his crop each 

 year, it is customary to divide the beds into sections, which are planted 

 in successive years in such a manner as may suit the plan of operations 

 of the particular grower concerned. 



PLANTING WITH CULTCH OR STOOL. 

 PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS. 



This method of oyster- culture is that which was first adopted, and to 

 it and its modifications we must doubtless look for future growth in 

 the oyster industry. The method of planting seed oysters improves 

 the size, shape, and flavor of the plants, and to some extent increases 

 the quantity of oysters available for the markets, but, nevertheless, 

 many of those which are raised from seed derived from the natural 

 beds would liave reached a marketable size if left to remain. Moreover, 

 the natural beds are now being depleted at a rapid rate by the drain 

 which has been made upon them. Not only are they compelled to 

 supply oysters for market, but the young growth is now carried ofl" to 

 I)e i)lanted elsewhere. As the number of spawning oysters on the beds 

 is reduced and as the spawners become more scattered, the reproduc- 

 tive cai)acity of the beds is being lowered, and at the same time the 

 removal of both oysters and shells leaves fewer points of attachment 

 for the young spat. As the seed-producing power of the natural beds 

 becomes reduced from these various causes, the planter must have 

 recourse to other methods for obtaining his set of young oysters. 

 Fortunately, there is a well-tried method which may be adopted. The 

 oystermen long ago noticed that under certain conditions not only did 

 natural objects of various kinds become covered with young oysters, 



