Oysterlng In Hyde County is centered at Engelhard and Swan 

 Quarter, but small catches are also landed at Mtddleton, Ocracoke 

 and Scranton, The largest amount of oysters is processed at Swan 

 Quarter where there is a sizable oyster shucking and packing 

 plant which distributes oysters throughout North Carolina and some 

 other s ta te s o 



If the downward trend of oyster production in Hyde County 

 could be reversed, this industry could become an important 

 economic asset. The shoreline is almost entirely salt marsh, 

 which is an excellent growing environment for the "single" oyster. 

 The single oysters are of a much finer quality than the "coon" or 

 cluster oysters produced in the southern part of the states 

 However, single oysters require one or two years longer for matu- 

 rlty« Production in the Pamlico Sound area increased 100 percent 

 from 1963 to 1964o This at least indicates that the downward 

 trend has ceased and that oyster production is capable of increas- 

 ing,. 



The State of North Carolina has a very extensive oyster re- 

 habilitation program for the purpose of improving oyster production 

 within the Stateo This program normally Involves three types of 

 planting operations: (1) shells available at local shucking 

 houses are planted in locations where optimum growing conditions 

 are expected to occurj (2) "seed oysters" are removed from over- 

 crowded beds and transferred to new beds; (3) oysters classified 

 as unsafe for human consumption because of water contamination are 

 relayed to clean water areas from which they may be safely harvested 

 at a la ter da te ^ 



Perhaps the most Important planting operation is that of 

 planting shells In choice locations in order that new beds may be 

 started and so that older beds may be rehabilitated o This operation 

 has been relatively slow compared to the efforts of other states, 

 and not extensive as it should be. The main reason for the slow 

 rate of progress has been the lack of an adequate supply of shells^ 



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