HISTORY OF THE OYSTER. 33 



CHAPTER VII. 



SUG-GESTIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF NEW 

 OYSTER-BEDS AND THE PRESERVATION OF 

 OLD ONES. 



The conditions which appear to be necessary for the 

 estabhshment of new oyster-beds, or of feeding-beds, 

 according to my observations, are the following -. — 



That the bottom should be tolerably level and 

 hard, either composed of fine gravel or old shells on 

 the surface, — the depth not more than 1 5 fathoms for 

 first-class oysters. 



That no dredging should be allowed dming the 

 spawning season, or until the middle of August, 

 and then only to remove the sizeable oysters to feed- 

 ing-beds, and from thence to market about the 1 5th 

 of September. If there is a run of fresh water near 

 the bed, or over it, all the better. In making a 

 new bed, if possible, good cultch should be obtained 

 from a bed of repute in the first instance, to stock it : 

 this is preferable to old oysters, as they do not spawn 

 well after moving, and do not attach themselves. • 



To renovate the old beds that are nearly exhausted, 

 rest would of course be the most certain method, if 



D 



