CXI 



tainty to replenisli beds which have been so far exhausted 

 as to have lost, to a great extent, the power of reproduc- 

 tion in themselves, and to establish new beds in localities 

 where the oyster does not now exist. 



I trust that the experiments made and to be hereafter 

 conducted, will enable us to determine the best form of 

 collector to be used in our waters and the best manner 

 in which it should be treated and the attached young 

 oyster cared for. 



The importance of the discoveries as to the means of 

 artificial propagation of the oyster can be appreciated 

 when we take into consideration the fact, that the soils 

 and localities which are favorable for the reproduction 

 of oysters are not always favorable for their subsequent 

 development, as there are many places where oysters 

 thrive but where they will not breed, it being generally 

 accepted that the best conditions for iDropagation are 

 sandy aud gravelly bottoms and quite salt water, whereas 

 muddy bottoms and a mixture of fresh water are most 

 favorable for fattening. 



The many conditions which inliuence the breeding, 

 growth and development of the oyster — that is the soil, 

 temperature, sudden alternation of heat and cold, direc- 

 tion of current, the occurrence of very low water at 

 periods of extreme heat or extreme cold, and many other 

 natural conditions, all indicate the importance of estab- 

 lishing now the artificial propagation of the oyster, not- 

 withstanding its wonderful reproductive capabilities. 



The importance of the oyster of the Chesapeake Bay 

 can be appreciated by a perusal of the following figures, 

 which I have obtained through the courtesy of Professor 

 Gr. Brown Goode, Superintendent in charge of the fishery 

 statistics of the census of 1880 : 



