OYSTER BOTTOMS OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND, ALA. 57 



dition so far as cleanliness is concerned, probably through the destruc- 

 tion of slime-pix>ducmg organisms, it frequently happens that a late 

 spawning season produces an enormous set. 



OYSTER CULTURE. 



In the United States oyster culture is carried on by two methods, 

 the planting of seed or young oysters and the deposit of shells and 

 similar materials on the bottom for the purpose of securing the fixa- 

 tion of spat. The first of these is that which is generally, if not exclu- 

 sively, employed in Mobile County, Ala., and it is probable that in 

 the immediate future it will continue to be the dominant practice in 

 that region. 



The large number of small oysters in certain of the natural beds, 

 as described in the foregoing pages, renders it advisable that some 

 of them be removed to permit the proper growth and fattening of the 

 remainder. These superfiuous young can be utifized to best advan- 

 tage if planted on suitable barren or depleted bottom. For ordinary 

 cannery purposes merely the roughest culling of this seed is required, 

 but if it be desired to produce oysters for consumption on the shell or 

 for shipping raw shucked, the large clusters should be broken up. 

 By this means only can they be grown to goodly shape, for it crowded 

 they must accommodate themselves to the space available and will 

 develop into irregular and inferior stock. It is usually not necessary 

 to break the clusters into single oysters, and it is often inadvisable to 

 do so, especially in locahties in which the drumfish is hkely to occur 

 in numbers. As has already been explained this fish is particularly 

 destructive to culled oysters. The method of planting shells, etc., 

 to promote the attachment of young oysters is highly productive in 

 many locahties on the coast of the United States, and in the case of a 

 large development of the oyster industry in Alabama is that in which 

 chief rehance must be placed. The system first described saves 

 oysters which have already set and gives them an opportunity to 

 survive and improve, but sheU or cultch planting increases the set by 

 preventing the loss of the fry falling on muddy and other unsuitable 

 bottoms. 



It is not necessary to give here an account of the methods of oyster 

 culture, as the subject is discussed in a special pamphlet" which may 

 be obtained, on request, of the Bureau of Fisheries. 



Within the limits of the survey oyster culture is at present carried 

 on principally along the north shore of IMississippi Sound, although it 

 is understood that there are a few small planted beds in Dauphin 

 Island Bay and vicinity. The north shore beds are located in Heron, 

 Portersville, Fowl River, and Isle aux Dames Bays. No oysters 



o Oysters and methods of oyster culture. By H. F. Moore. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 349, 

 Extract from Manual of Fish Culture, p. 263-340, pi. i-xvm, 1900. 



