viii Contents 



the mantle chamber Cilia tracts on the side of the 

 visceral mass Mud collected by the gills The palps 

 organs for determining whether collected material shall 

 be carried to the mouth or away from it Ciliation of 

 organs of the oyster Selection or rejection of material 

 determined by its volume Experiments Automatic selec- 

 tion of food by the gills of Pecten Special organs for 

 the rejection of mud in Pholas 49 



CHAPTER V 

 OYSTER CULTURE IN EUROPE AND JAPAN 



Ancient shell heaps Oyster culture in antiquity European 

 flat and Portuguese oysters Destruction of natural oyster 

 beds in Europe Scientific experiments of M. de Bon and 

 M. Coste Great initial success of oyster culture in 

 France Early disaster to the industry Ignorance of the 

 biological factors involved Revival of the industry 

 Spat collectors The breeding season Caring for the 

 growing oysters Oyster culture between tide lines- 

 Oyster parks and their construction Racks for the young 

 The " greening " of oysters Final preparation for 

 market Japanese oysters The use of bamboo collec- 

 tors Growth of the young 68 



CHAPTER VI 



CONDITIONS GOVERNING OYSTER GROWTH 

 OYSTER PLANTING IN AMERICA 



Why European methods will not be employed in America 

 How American is different from European oyster cul- 

 ture Biological conditions governing oyster growth 

 Bottom to be selected for oyster culture Food require- 

 ments The effect of a variable salinity Oyster planting 

 " Seed " oysters Time required for growth The 

 amount of seed to be planted Method of planting the 

 seed Gathering the seed Natural beds as sources of 

 seed Former use of Chesapeake seed in the North 

 Irregularity of the set in northern waters .... 91 



CHAPTER VII 

 REARING OYSTERS FROM THE EGG 



A method of artificial fertilization of oyster eggs Wide- 

 spread interest in the discovery of Professor Brooks 

 Impracticable modifications of the method by others 



