134 THE MOLLUSK FISHERIES 



choosing the right time to plant these shells, ■which after a few weeks 

 in the water become so coated with slime that fixation of the " spat " 

 becomes impossible. In Massachusetts the area between high and low 

 water mark has been found by experiment to be the most valuable 

 territory for this purpose, as shells planted here collect the heaviest 

 set and can be handled with the least expense. A projecting sand bar 

 or point with a current is also well adapted for catching oyster spat. 



The scallop shell is the most serviceable in spat collecting, because it 

 is more brittle, and the clusters of oysters when attached are readily 

 broken apart. After the oysterman has obtained a successful set, he 

 allows the young oysters to obtain a suitable growth before he makes 

 a final planting, either in the spring or fall. 



III. Size of the " Seed " used for Planting. — While many oysters 

 are raised from native spat in the Buzzards Bay district, the greater 

 part of the seed is purchased in Connecticut and Long Island, and is 

 carried in schooners or steamers to Massachusetts waters. The usual 

 price ranges from 35 cents to $1 per bushel, according to size and qual- 

 ity. The oystermen cannot always choose the size of " seed " they desire 

 for planting, as tjje set of any one year is very uncertain, and several 

 seasons may pass before a large quantity of " seed " can be obtained. 

 Thus the oyster planters are forced to take whatever size they can ob- 

 tain, whether it be two, three or four year old " seed." As a rule, the 

 small " seed " is most in demand, as it means relatively faster growth 

 and less money invested. Often, when the ground is most favorable for 

 fattening, large oysters are preferred for planting, and certain oyster- 

 men make this line of work a specialty. Certain localities where there 

 is plenty of lime in the water are well adapted for growth, and yet 

 produce poor-" meated " oysters, while in other grounds the reverse 

 is true. The oystermen occasionally by a double transfer utilize both 

 grounds, planting oyster " seed " for the first few years in the rapid- 

 growing localities, and then transplanting the large oysters to the 

 " fattening " ground six months before marketing. 



rV. Preparing the Grant. — The first step in preparing the grant 

 is to remove all debris. In the deep water, this is usually done by dredg- 

 ing; in the shallow water, by whatever means is the easiest. If the 

 bottom is of firm soil, the grant is then ready for planting; however, 

 if the soil is soft mud, it is necessary to shell the bottom in order to 

 give it greater firmness. The oysterman continually has to keep a sharp 

 lookout in order to protect his grant from enemies such as the starfish 

 and the oyster drill, and to keep it clear of seaweed and other matter 

 which would interfere with the growth of the oyster. 



V. Sowing the " Seed." — The " seed " oysters are planted on the 

 prepared bed by scattering them with shovels or scoops from the boats 

 and scows. The oysterman, knowing the maximum amount of " seed " 

 the bed will grow to the best advantage, plants the required number, 



