Conditions Governing Oyster Growth 103 



There has always been much discussion among those 

 who are interested in oyster culture over the relative ad- 

 vantages of different sections of the coast, especially as 

 they concern rapidity of growth. But it is evident from 

 the statements that have here been made, that the length 

 of time during which planted oysters must be left in the 

 water to mature, depends on several factors that must 

 vary even in neighboring localities. 



One might ask how long planted oysters must be al- 

 lowed to grow in Long Island Sound as compared with 

 the Gulf of Mexico, before attaining marketable size. 

 But to answer accurately would require a volume of com- 

 parisons and averages. The rate of growth may be twice 

 as fast on one bed as on another a mile or two distant, 

 for it depends on the nature of local currents, tempera- 

 ture, salinity, the character of the bottom, and the num- 

 ber of oysters placed on it. The size of the seed when 

 planted would make it necessary to leave one lot six or 

 eight times as long as another. As a matter of fact, this 

 time in northern waters varies from six months to three 

 or four years. 



The question of relative rapidity of growth in certain 

 specified localities is one worth determining when pos- 

 sible, and some known cases of increase, from the time 

 of the attachment of the embryo, will be mentioned in 

 another place. 



After the culturist has prepared the surface of his bed, 

 he must determine the number of oysters to be planted on 

 it. If there are no other beds in the immediate vicinity 

 on which the matter has been tested, he may need to ex- 

 periment in order to determine how great a number the 

 waters will support. The greatest danger is from over- 

 crowding, for when numbers reach a certain limit, the 



