85 



123. Does a wet or dry season affect the time of spawning, or the coming to maturity of the 

 spawn ? 



124. Is there any difference as to the amount of young growth found on the beds in different 

 years ? 



125. What is the reason for this ? 



126. Have any means ever been tried in your locality to propagate the oyster by artificial 

 means other than by planting ; if so, what means ? 



127. Do you ever attempt to increase the amount of " cultch," or objects upon which the young- 

 can become attached, by placing old shells or other rough substances in the water upon the beds? 



128. Is there any law for the protection of oysters in your locality; if so, please give reference 

 to date of law ? 



129. If so, is it carried out? 



130. Are there any means by which protection is afforded to the oyster, to allow them to 

 increase upon the beds, other than such law, if this exist ? 



131. Do the oystermen try to uphold all laws and all methods for the protection and increase 

 of the oysters? 



132. What is your method of fishing for oysters — with tongs or dredge ? 



OYSTEB ECONOMY. 



133. At what age are the oysters upon the beds in your locality best for market purposes? 



134. What size are they at that age ? 



135. Do the oystermen try and select only such oysters from the beds, or do they take every- 

 thing that will sell ? 



136. W T hat is the size of the smallest marketable oysters ? 



137. How old are they ? 



138. Are oysters divided into classes according to their market value? 



139. If so, what are these classes, and how recognized? 



140. Do oysters from particular beds command better prices than those from other beds 

 near by ? 



141. If so, what are the names of the preferred beds? 



142. What is considered a profitable day's work with a dredge? 



143. Can you catch that number now ? 



144. What kind of a boat, and how many men are employed with a dredge ? 



145. What is the size of the dredge ? 



146. In what depth of water can it be used most profitably? 



147. Do all the men on board a dredging-boat share in what is taken, or are they paid regular 

 wages? 



148. If paid regular wages, how much per day ? 



149. What is considered a profitable day's work with the tongs? 



150. Can you catch that number now? 



151. In what depth of water can the tongs be used most profitably ? 



152. Do oystermen fish exclusively for any one grade of oysters, such as those which will do 

 for barreling, or for canning, or do they catch promiscuously all and everything ? 



153. What kind of a boat is used in tonging, and how many men in each boat? 



154. Which is most profitable, to tong or dredge exclusively ? 



155. If dredging is injurious to the beds, is it more or less so in deep than in shallow water? 



156. Why? 



157. Would it not be most profitable to catch one grade of oysters exclusively, and that the 

 first grade? 



158. Is a very fat oyster more profitable for barreling, or for canning, than one not very fat ? 



159. Are oysters sold by the load or by measure? 



160. What is the price paid at present time? 



161. What is the highest price you have ever received for oysters ? 



162. What is the lowest ? 



