274 SEALE. 



Large oyster beds are found along the south side of Manila 

 Bay, where the cultivation of the mollusks receives considerable 

 attention from the Filipinos. Almost all these beds are staked 

 off as private claims, and a watchman is employed by the owners 

 to prevent any serious thieving. In these beds small branches 

 of bamboo are stuck in the mud as spat collectors. It is prob- 

 able that these privately-controlled oyster beds have prevented 

 the complete destruction of the Manila oyster industry by preserv- 

 ing the oysters until they are large enough to spawn. There is 

 no law in force limiting the gathering of oysters. 



The oysters found in the cultivated beds reach a length of 

 from 12 to 14 centimeters, while shells 18 centimeters in length 

 are not uncommon. Oyster beds of considerable extent and con- 

 taining unusually well-flavored oysters are found in several 

 localities in Palawan, especially in Malampaya Sound. No chart 

 or survey of any kind has ever been made of the Philippine 

 oyster beds except a preliminary inspection by the writer during 

 the past year. They are well worth a thorough investigation, 

 and no doubt the output could be greatly increased by propel 

 cultural methods. An adaptation of the methods employed on 

 the oyster farms at Arcachon, France,^ could be inaugurated 

 easily, especially in the oyster beds of Manila Bay. 



The Manila Bay oyster is looked upon with considerable sus- 

 picion by the American population of this city, but, if fresh 

 oysters are selected from the beds at a distance from the city 

 and properly cooked, there is no reason why they should not be 

 used as food. 



In Manila markets, oysters sell for from 20 to 50 centavos ^ 

 per liter, very small ones can be bought for 1 centavo per dozen. 

 It is estimated that about 50 liters are sold each day. The method 

 of handling oysters in the local markets is to be deplored, and 

 should speedily be remedied. They are usually brought to the 

 market husked, placed on or in a tin box where the proposed 

 buyers run their fingers over them. The seller also frequently 

 dips in an unclean hand and gives them a generous mixing. 

 There is no doubt that oysters are taken from certain of the 

 esteros quite near the city, especially one draining the district 

 of Tondo where there is every possibility of their being infected 

 by sewage. The gathering and sale of such oysters in the market 

 should be prohibited. 



'Hornell, Madras Fisheries Bull. (1910), 1, 1 to 90, pis. 

 ' One peso (100 centavos) Philippine currency equals 50 cents United 

 States currency. 



