Contents xi 



dustry Production in Virginia exceeds that of Mary- 

 landThe Chesapeake oyster in politics Laws not en- 

 forced Oyster pirates and their raids Oyster culture 

 impossible How the crews of the pirate vessels were 

 recruited Their treatment by dredging captains Present 

 and future of the Chesapeake industry Ineffectual polic- 

 ing by " oyster navies " No surveys of barren bottoms 

 Natural beds still the chief source of the supply Plant- 

 ing on the increase Features of Maryland's oyster laws 

 of 1906 Survey of the natural beds by the new Oyster 

 Commission Criticism of the new law 206 



CHAPTER XV 

 THE NORTH CAROLINA FIELD 



Physical characters of the region Oyster reefs How oysters 

 form islands Why natural oyster beds do not appear 

 between tide lines in the northern field as in the 

 Carolinas Why, in North Carolina, natural beds seldom 

 form below the low tide line Oyster clusters " Rac- 

 coon " oysters and how they are formed Small oysters 

 from clusters available for seed Formation of river 

 tonging beds Possibilities of oyster culture in Pamlico 

 SoundExtension of natural beds The appearance of 

 the Baltimore dredgers Destruction of the natural beds 

 Dredging by non-residents prohibited Cull laws not en- 

 forcedThe future of the industry in North Carolina . 229 



CHAPTER XVI 

 THE GULF OF MEXICO 



Florida Natural beds between and below tide lines Laws 

 Alabama Mississippi Rapid development of the in- 

 dustry in Louisiana Subsidence of the shore line Great 

 area available for oyster culture Nature of the coast 

 east of the Mississippi River Chandeleur Islands and 

 Sound Rapid growth of oyster culture west of the delta 

 Silt deposit Experiments showing that the softest of 

 bottoms may be reclaimed Great deposits of small shells 

 Ideal collectors Rapid rate of oyster growth Oyster 

 enemies Destructiveness of floods from the Mississippi 

 Advantages in the conditions in Louisiana Wise laws 

 Production rapidly increasing Texas Natural beds 

 Prospect for the future 251 



CHAPTER XVII 

 THE PACIFIC FIELD 



The native Pacific oyster Atlantic animals introduced into 

 the Pacific Planting the native oyster in Washington 



