i 4 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The seed oysters having been removed from the tile or wood 

 " collectors," they are taken to the low- water line and arranged in 

 flat wire-gauze rearing cases, which " lift from the bottom and 

 prevent the young from being stifled by the shif tings of mud; 

 it also renders the growth regular and rapid, and, above all, it 

 protects the oysters from their enemies," the starfishes, drills, 

 etc. " During the first few months rapid growth renders it neces- 

 sary to pick out each fortnight and transfer to other cases the 

 largest oysters." This is generally done by women, who at , the 

 same time take out the dead shells. And so the process goes on 





FIG. 9. WOODEN TRAYS IN POSITION ON MACADAMIZED BOTTOM. 



until the oyster is sufficiently grown for table use, usually two 

 to three years. 



Sometimes the river banks or beaches selected for the oyster- 

 developing cages are soft and muddy ; and here again the French 

 culturist teaches us a lesson. He is not deterred by the unsuit- 

 able bottom; he at once macadamizes it with sand and gravel, 

 giving a crust tluat is clean and serves admirably for cultural 

 purposes. 



Another method for collecting spat is in enclosed ponds pro- 

 vided with spawning oysters. Flood gates prevent the escape of 

 the water, which is kept at " an average depth of about four feet." 

 The same style of " collectors " that are used in the open sea 

 "parks" (as each individual's holding is called) are used in these 



