82 OYSTER BOTTOMS IN MATAGORDA BAY. 



Spawning takes place, in the main, during spring and summer, 

 in any given region extending over a period of some months, depend- 

 ing upon the latitude and the climate. On the gulf coast I have 

 found during almost every month oysters which were apparently 

 ripe, and from which there were obtained eggs which readily sep- 

 arated in the water and had every appearance of maturity. Whether 

 such eggs would be extruded during the winter under natural con- 

 ditions is doubtful, and if they were it is practically certain that they 

 would not develop, as the experience of all investigators has shown 

 that development is inhibited if the temperature of the water drops 

 materially below 70°. In Matagorda Bay no ripe oysters were 

 found before the early part of April and it was toward the end of 

 that month before they occurred with any frequency. A reference 

 to the tables of temperatures w T ill show that this time was practically 

 coincident with a maintained temperature of over 70°. The 

 winter had been an unusually severe one and it is possible that in 

 more normal seasons the conditions favorable to spawning occur 

 earlier ; but it may be assumed that a heavy discharge of spawn rarely 

 if ever takes place much before May 1, and, judging from experience 

 on other parts of the gulf coast having similar conditions, spawning 

 is in all probability practically concluded by the first week in 

 August. Such oysters as ripen at other times are abnormal and 

 very much in the minority. It is said that sometimes in other 

 places a heavy strike is obtained in September, but the writer has 

 never observed this and believes that such statements are due to the 

 fact that the spat is very minute at the time of fixation and is 

 usually not noticed until several weeks after the actual strike has 

 occurred. 



SEED AND CULTCH. 



Two general systems of oyster culture may be pursued in Mata- 

 gorda Bay, either of which wisely followed would materially increase 

 the productiveness of its waters. By one method young clustered 

 oysters might be removed from the natural beds, where the competi- 

 tion among the individuals of the dense population is so keen as to 

 be injurious to all, and planted more sparingly and separately on 

 suitable bottom wdiere a favorable environment would inevitably re- 

 sult in general improvement. The second method is practically to 

 produce new beds by distributing over the barren bottoms shells or 

 other materials to serve as spat collectors. 



The first method, which may be appropriately distinguished as 

 transplanting, is that which is usually followed in the incipiency of 

 oyster culture in a given locality, and for a time, at least, if placed 

 under proper restrictions, it serves a useful purpose. On many of 

 the upper bay beds — Middle Lump, Raymond Shoals, etc. — there are 

 vast numbers of young oysters which by very reason of their abun- 



