Enemies of the American Oyster 159 



noying. It is a bottom feeder, and by means of its 

 powerful jaws is able to crush oysters of considerable 

 size. The interesting statement is made by oystermen 

 that the drum is unable seriously to injure clustered 

 oysters on natural reefs because, in attacking a cluster, 

 its mouth is soon lacerated by the sharp edges of the 

 shells. It is only when oysters are culled and scattered 

 singly on prepared bottoms that they become easy vic- 

 tims of this enemy. 



Drumfishes are perhaps not more numerous in Louisi- 

 ana waters than elsewhere in the Gulf, but because 

 oyster culture has only been seriously attempted here, 

 their depredations have been specially felt in this state. 

 Their attacks are not constant, and it has been observed 

 that there is greatest danger to the beds immediately 

 after planting, and that if no attack is made during the 

 first few days, there is little subsequent danger of it. It 

 has been suggested in explanation of this fact that after 

 oysters have sunk slightly into the mud and have been 

 sprinkled over with sediment, they become inconspicuous 

 enough to escape observation by the fish. 



There seems to be but one means of protection against 

 these fishes, and that is to build a stockade or fence about 

 the beds that they cannot pass through. This is done in 

 some parts of the Louisiana field. 



Other fishes sometimes make trouble for the oyster 

 farmer. In warmer waters, from the Chesapeake south- 

 ward, a valuable food fish, the sheepshead, often feeds 

 on young oysters, crushing them by means of its large, 

 blunt, incisor-like teeth. 



Rays and skates abound all along the coast. They are 

 bottom feeders and their bodies are greatly flattened and 

 spread out laterally. Several of these destroy oysters, 



