Contents ix 



Origin of the belief that artificial fertilization might 

 simplify oyster culture — Persistence of this hope to the 

 present time — Liberated embryos gathered on collectors 

 in France — Experiments in America — Oyster and clam 

 culture have nothing to gain from artificial fertilization 

 of the egg 109 



Chapter VIII 



OYSTER CULTURE IN AMERICA 



True oyster culture not extensively practised — Advantages 

 from the capture of seed on collectors — Collectors em- 

 ployed in America — When collectors or " cultch " should 

 be spread — Slime — Care of growing oysters — Labor 

 necessary for success — Varying methods in different 

 fields — Nature of the labor of the northern culturist . 118 



Chapter IX 



IMPLEMENTS AND THEIR USES—BOATS— 



THE PREPARATION OF OYSTERS 



FOR MARKET 



Tongs and their uses — Nippers — Patent tongs — The use of 

 dredges — Opposition to the use of the dredge — Form and 

 sizes of dredges — Hand and steam windlasses for draw- 

 ing dredges — Boats — Tonging boats — Schooner rigged 

 vessels — The lugger — Steam vessels — The " Early Bird " 

 — Increase in the number of steam vessels — A demonstra- 

 tion of the superiority of steam power — Preparing oysters 

 for market — Cleaning and culling — The freshening of 

 oysters — Bad features of the practice — The matter of 

 taste and the flavor of oysters — " Shucking "—Washing 

 the " meats " — Containers, tin cans, barrels, pails, bottles 

 — Shipping — Steamed oysters 129 



Chapter X 



NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE AMERICAN 

 OYSTER 



The starfish in the north Atlantic— First recognized as a 

 dangerous oyster enemy in 1882 — Structure — Its migra- 

 tions — Its food— How "tbc starfish opens an oyster or 

 clam — Removal of starfish from oyster beds by means of 

 tangles— The oyster drill— Formerly not numerous— The 

 drumfish— Sheepshead— Rays and skates— Crabs— The 

 oyster crab — Mussels — The boring sponge — The boring 

 clam— Sea-weeds and bydroids— Oyster diseases . . . 147 



