28 THE OYSTER AND THE OYSTER INDUSTRY. 



done in the fall after setting occurs, but sometimes set is allowed to 

 grow for a 3'ear or two and then treated as "seed, " which is discussed 

 on page 33. 



This method of oyster culture is more extensively practiced in 

 Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, on the southern side of 

 Long Island, in New Jersey waters, and in Louisiana than elsewhere. 

 The bottoms are cleaned up by dredging from them the old shells, 

 debris, etc. This is done in May, after the close of the season. The 

 shells are put down during the last half of June or the month of July. 

 In Long Island Sound the old rule was to begin "shelling" the clay 

 after the Fourth of July. In Louisiana the shells are put down in 

 June, since the oysters spawn earlier there because of the higher 

 temperature of the water. 



For shelling purposes in northern waters, the shells are usually 

 loaded upon large scows (PL V, fig. 1) and towed out to the grounds by 

 steamers or gasoline boats. Then while the scow is towed slowly 

 back and forth oyer the beds, the shells are shoveled overboard by 

 men on the scow (PL V, fig, 2). If the ground is new and somewhat 

 soft, sufficient shells are put down to form a firm coating such that 

 the upper layers remain clean and exposed above the mud. In any 

 case, enough shells are put do^^^l to form a fairly leA^el continuous 

 layer over the bottom. 



In northern waters, examination is made about September 1 to 15 

 to see whether a set has been obtained. Since many factors — such 

 as time of spawning, condition of the cultch, temperature of the 

 water, storms, currents, etc. — enter in to affect the setting, this is the 

 most critical point in the cultivation of oysters by tliis method and is 

 the one at which the most failures occur. If no set of consequence 

 has fixed on the shells, sometimes they are left until the following 

 season and "harrowed" just before setting time by dragging over 

 them an oyster dredge wdth the bag removed. This stirs them up 

 and cleans them somewhat, so that often a fairly suitable surface is 

 provided for the attachment of set. Often, however, they are 

 dredged up and heaped upon the ground beside the oyster house. 

 Here they dry, any oyster enemies upon them dying in the meantime, 

 and may be used over again next season. In case a set (by wliich the 

 oysterman means a sufficient c^uantity to be of commercial import- 

 ance) is found upon the shells, they are either left, in order that 

 oysters may develop on that bed, or are shifted to other beds. 



The shifting is accomplished by dredging up the shells, set and all, 

 with ordinary oyster dredges or, rarely, by lifting them with tongs. 

 Sometimes the oysters are moved after attainmg the age of one ox 

 two years, since growth and fattening proceed more rapidly on some 

 beds than on others, due to differences in food content of the water, 

 etc. In certain places oysters become green, and their sale is hin- 

 dered by the unsightly appearance. When shifted to certain other 

 beds, this color is thi'own off in the course of a few months and the 

 oysters are marketed. 



The planting of cultch to catch set is mainly performed on "bar- 

 ren" ground, that is, bottoms practically fre(i from oysters. Such 

 ground is leased from the State or purchased outright by the planters. 

 Some States make ample provisions for such procedure, and the 

 lessee or owner has complete protection for his oysters. In other 

 States public sentiment has not supported efforts to provide for leas- 



