108 THE OYSTER. 



further on, and the process repeated. Thus a thin 

 and evenly-distributed layer is spread over the whole 

 ground. Just how many bushels a man will place on 

 an acre depends upon both his means and his judg- 

 ment. If he is shelling entirely new ground, he will 

 spread more than he would upon an area already im- 

 proved; but I suppose 250 bushels to the acre might 

 be recommended as an average quantity." 



This is very much too small a quantity, and in our 

 waters, five or six times as many shells, from 1000 to 

 1 200 bushels, should be used. The amount that is 

 required depends upon the nature of the bottom, many 

 more shells being needed for a muddy bottom than for 

 a hard one. 



" Having spread his shells in midsummer, the planter, 

 by testing them early in the fall, can tell whether he has 

 succeeded in catching upon them any or much of the 

 desired spawn. The young oysters will appear as 

 minute flakes, easily detected by the experienced eye, 

 attached to all parts of the old shell. If he has got no 

 set whatever, he considers his investment a total loss, 

 since by the next season the bed of shells will have 

 become so dirty that the spawn will not take hold if it 

 comes that way. Supposing, on the contrary, that 

 young oysters are found attached in millions to his 

 cultch, as often happens, crowding upon each old shell 

 until it is almost hidden, what is his next step ? 



" The ordinary way in the East River and else- 

 where, is simply to let the bed remain quiet, until in 

 the course of three or four years, such oysters as have 



