The North Carolina Field 249 



out. Usually clusters were removed from a reef and 

 thrown unculled on a convenient bottom. Naturally, these 

 transplanted oysters did not improve, and more often 

 perished. Usually, however, young oysters became at- 

 tached to their shells in great numbers. In this way it 

 was shown that in some localities a good set could be de- 

 pended on, and that with suitable collectors a seed- 

 gathering industry might easily be established. But 

 sooner or later the river beds have invariably failed as 

 growing and conditioning grounds, and probably never 

 can be improved. Until the present, also, there has been 

 no protection against trespassers, a condition that alone 

 makes oyster culture an impossibility. 



Natural conditions in Pamlico Sound are much bet- 

 ter than in the rivers. At about the time of the publica- 

 tion of Winslow's report, on the natural beds of the 

 sound in 1888, and again a decade later, much enthusi- 

 asm over oyster culture was developed, and many beds 

 were constructed in the sound ; but here, also, the failure 

 of all attempts was complete. The reason given for this 

 by the Fish Commission experts who studied the matter, 

 is that those making the experiments were unfamiliar 

 with the biological requirements. Of the planters it 

 was said, " They were not aware how very much depends 

 upon the selection of ground, the accessibility of an 

 abundant food supply, the specific gravity of the water, 

 and its freedom from extreme fluctuations, the time and 

 methods of planting cultch and oysters, etc." State 

 laws also, very defective and seldom observed, rendered 

 success impossible. 



There are, nevertheless, reasons for believing that the 

 biological conditions in many parts of Pamlico Sound 

 are favorable for the maintenance of an artificial oyster 



