THE OYSTER. 1 89 



I have made a study of the spawning time of our 

 oysters, and have carried my observations over several 

 years. I have found spawning oysters in our waters 

 in every month in the year except December, January 

 and February, and I have had no opportunity to visit 

 the beds during these three months. 



By far the greater number of these oysters, how- 

 ever, are found to spawn between May 20th and July 

 1st, and although the temperature of our spring months 

 causes considerable variation, this period may properly 

 be called the spawning season. At any time before 

 May 20th, the disturbance of the beds can do little 

 harm, and the experience of the Connecticut oyster- 

 farmers shows that the thorough raking of the beds 

 just before the spawning season is a positive benefit. 

 The young oysters cannot attach themselves to dirty 

 and slimy shells, and if all the sponges, hydroids and 

 sea-weeds could be dragged from our beds in April 

 and May, and if the old decayed and slimy shells 

 could be plowed under and covered with the cleaner 

 shells from below the surface by dredging just before 

 the spawning season, the fertility of the beds would be 

 greatly increased, and there is, therefore, nothing in 

 the nature of the oyster to demand the closure of the 

 beds in April and May. 



I believe that no increase in the value of our beds 

 can be hoped for until it is brought about by private 

 cultivation, and that the State should use every possi- 

 ble means to foster and encourage the oyster-planting 

 and oyster-farming industries. I show elsewhere that 

 the States where the oyster industry is most prosper- 

 ous have found it necessary and to their advantage to 



