264 Our Food Mollusks 



been possible to close. The map shows how flood waters 

 from the Mississippi and the Red rivers may also be 

 poured into the bays west of the delta. It should be said 

 that, in the majority of instances of widespread destruc- 

 tion by fresh water, the usual profuse set of young has 

 occurred during the breeding season following, from 

 adults that have escaped destruction in deep depressions 

 in which the water remains salt. If the much discussed 

 plan of improvement of the waterways of the entire Mis- 

 sissippi basin by the federal government should be 

 realized, this greatest danger to oyster culture in Louisi- 

 ana would disappear a fact that seems to have at- 

 tracted little or no attention. 



The chief advantages possessed by the Louisiana cul- 

 turist may thus be summarized : Growth is much more 

 rapid in the Gulf than elsewhere. This is due to the 

 unusually large supply of diatoms found in the warm 

 waters. They are plentiful enough to support an enor- 

 mous oyster population. The growing season, also, is 

 of long duration. 



There is nowhere anxiety lest the set of spat should 

 fail. The collection of young is much more certain than 

 in a colder climate. The chief reason for this probably is 

 that sudden and extreme declines of temperature, and 

 cold rains, that destroy so many swimming oysters in 

 the north, do not occur here in the summer. Usually the 

 salinity of the water is very favorable for reproduction 

 over the entire field. Small shells, that may be used as 

 collectors, are almost everywhere piled up on the shores. 

 Gulf oysters have very few natural enemies, and none 

 cause extensive or frequent losses. Winters are mild 

 and short, so that the gathering of oysters is never dif- 

 ficult on account of cold. 



