794 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [42] 
sary in the working of the beds. Moreover, it demands neither much 
skill nor long and wearisome labor; but there is one bad feature: the 
oysters which develop upon the stones become attached to them so firmly — 
that they cannot be removed without destroying a great number, and 
they often grow in such a bad shape that they are not of much value 
in the market. I think, nevertheless, that the nature of the pavement has 
Fic. 12.—Tile collector, simple form. 
much to do with the first of these two defects, and that, where one can 
make use of soft stories, such as limestone and pudding-stone or frag- 
ments of coral, the adhesion of the shells might be easily overcome, and 
in this case the pavement collector, as being economical and easy to use, 
would give most satisfaction. Those misshapen oysters, on the other 
Fic. 13.—Double tile collector. 
hand, which are little sought after for the table in their natural condi- 
tion, can be used without disadvantage in making pickled oysters, or 
preserved in any other manner, and thus supply a constant and remu- 
nerative demand. 
Second. Tile collector.In regions where rocks are scarce, and also to 
avoid the disagreeable features mentioned above as pertaining to the 
pavement collector, one can make use of curved tiles, similar to those 
