CONSERVATION AND INCREASE OF PRODUCTION 111 



the greatest natural production without risk of experiment in artificial 

 methods. 



In the United States the oyster industry is enormous. The fishery 

 extends to every state bordering on the Atlantic ocean from Massachusetts 

 to Texas, of which the most important include Maryland, Virginia, New 

 Jersey, New York, Delaware, Connecticut and Massachusetts, or those 

 states in proximity to Chesapeake, Delaware and New York bays. The 

 waters of these regions undoubtedly furnish as favourable natural con- 

 ditions as are to be found anywhere in the world, and their capacity for 

 production is stupendous. But, being situated in the oldest inhabited 

 portion of the American continent, in proximity to the densest population 

 and largest cities, and near great railway and steamship lines of distribu- 

 tion, they have been subject to constant and incalculable drain. Accord- 

 ing to Brooks: 



"In many states, as in Delaware, a great part of New Jersey, and especially in 

 Rhode Island, the natural beds have been so heavily drawn upon that they long ago 

 ceased to furnish any marketable oysters, and they are now valuable only as a source 

 from which a supply of small oysters can be gathered each year for planting. In the 

 early days of Rhode Island, oysters were found there in greatest abundance, but al- 

 though dredging was forbidden in 1766, under penalty of ten pounds fine, the natural 

 beds have been so depleted by excessive tonging that they are now of little value, and 

 they supply only a very small part of the seed used in planting." 



Methods of oyster culture have originated in the United States inde- 

 pendently of those in Europe. 



"The oysterman of East river having observed that young oysters fastened in 

 great numbers upon shells which were placed on the beds at the spawning season, 

 started the practice of shelling the beds, in order to increase the supply, and in 1855, 

 or three years before Coste represented to the French Emperor the importance of similar 

 experiments, the state of New York enacted a law to secure to private fanners the fruit 

 of their labor, and a number of persons engaged in the new industry on an extensive 

 scale. The industry has grown steadily from that time and East river is now said 

 by Ingersoll to be the scene of the most painstaking and scientific oyster culture in the 

 United States." 



The first kind of culture to be made use of was that of "planting," 

 which has been employed in New Jersey since 1810. Small, young oysters, 

 gathered from crowded natural beds, are taken to fresh places, where they 

 may be regarded as private property, conveniently looked at from time 

 to time, have more room and food and be freer from enemies or other 

 disadvantages. A greater number are likely to live, they grow larger 

 than they would otherwise do, are more regular in shape, and have a finer 

 appearance and flavour. In two years they may become worth ten times 

 the value of the original small oysters. Planters can afford to go long 

 distances and collect or buy their seed or have it shipped from distant 

 parts, while those from whom they buy may make a specialty of collecting 

 and selling seed. 



The seed-collector or the planter may soon pass to the next stepjn 

 the industry and plant shells (or other cultch) for the purpose of obtaining 



