Photo from Dr. Hugh M. Smith 



OYSTERS ENCUMBERED WITH A MASS OE EGGS OE THE WHELK 



When the eggs hatch, the young whelks will devour young oysters by boring through the 



shell 



Mexico. The grounds are virgin, and are 

 capable of supporting a large industry. 



HOW OUR GOVERNMENT AIDS THE OYSTER 

 FARMERS 



The Federal government, as repre- 

 sented by the Bureau of Fisheries, does 

 not hatch oysters artificially and dis- 

 tribute them by the billion for the stock- 

 ing of public and private waters as it 

 does food fishes. A much more potent 

 way to increase the oyster supply is the 

 one that has been followed for many 

 years, to the entire satisfaction of the 

 oyster-growing communities. 



This consists in practical aid to the 

 States and cooperation with them in de- 

 termining the physical and biological 

 characters of the oyster grounds, in sur- 

 veying and plotting those grounds with 

 a view to their allotment for oyster cul- 

 ture, in conducting .experimental and 

 model planting operations, in recom- 

 mending oyster legislation, and in giving 

 disinterested expert advice on the 

 various problems that arise in the devel- 

 opment and administration of the oyster 

 fishery. 



Assistance of this kind has been ren- 

 dered to every coastal State, and offi- 

 cial requests for additional aid have of 

 late been so numerous that the facili- 

 ties of the Bureau of Fisheries have 

 been overtaxed with respect to both 

 funds and trained men for the work. 

 The most recent surveys, experiments, 

 and inquiries have been in Delaware, 

 Maryland, Virginia, Alabama, Missis- 

 sippi, Louisiana, and Texas, in several 

 of which States the Bureau of Fisheries 

 and the Coast and Geodetic Survey have 

 joined forces in the accomplishment of 

 special plans. 



The beneficial results of the govern- 

 ment's efforts in behalf of the oyster in- 

 dustry of the various States have been 

 conspicuous and lasting. The recent re- 

 markable increase of the oyster output 

 in the Gulf States is directly attributa- 

 ble to those efforts. 



Especially noteworthy has been the 

 outcome of certain experimental plant- 

 ing operations in Louisiana. In Bara- 

 taria Bay, where there had previously 

 been no oyster industry, experimental 

 beds laid out by experts of the Bureau 



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