THE OYSTER. 1 39 



and the establishment of new oyster-beds by collect- 

 ing the floating spat upon clean shells and other proper 

 substances, is very much more important than the 

 encouragement of oyster-planting ; but the various 

 extracts and illustrations which have been given are 

 surely enough to show the very great advantages 

 which we should derive from a thorough system of 

 planting. Deep-water cultivation cannot be under- 

 taken to advantage on a small scale, and it requires 

 both capital and expensive appliances ; but oyster- 

 planting can be carried on without any great expense, 

 and as success in it depends to a great degree upon 

 constant intelligent supervision, small cultivators will 

 always have the advantage of those who attempt more 

 extensive operations. 



The most serious obstacle to the development of a 

 great planting industry in Maryland is the absence of 

 all respect for private property in oysters. In enclosed 

 or artificial ponds oysters would be much more safe 

 from theft than in open water, and as the shores of the 

 bay abound in suitable spots for the construction of 

 ponds after the French system, I have given a long 

 account of the way in which these ponds are made and 

 managed. Under our present system oysters are often 

 sacrificed or sold at unremunerative prices, because 

 there is no way to keep them in good condition until 

 they can be sold to advantage. A system of ponds 

 after the French pattern, for the temporary storage of 

 oysters, would be a very profitable piece of property 

 in the vicinity of any large center of the packing busi- 

 ness, and the experience of the French planters shows 

 that the construction of storage ponds where the oys- 



