forest, fish axd game commissioner. 12 1 



Preparation" of Beds. 



The planter at the proper season carefully cleans the beds by scraping- 

 over them with dredges, and tests the bottom so that he may have full 

 information of its character and formation. Oysters cannot live in mud or 

 slime, they require a clean, gritty surface. He then, selecting those por- 

 tions of his lands which he has found to be suitable, spreads over the bottom 

 a covering of shells which have been cleaned and dried or strews it with 

 clean broken stone. This is done in the early summer, just prior to the 

 spawning season. Sometimes the experiment of placing upon the beds large 

 oysters, called " spawners," which are ready to exude their spawn and milt 

 is tried, but the oyster set may be said to be like the wind, — none can tell 

 whence it cometh. 



The preparation of the larger beds may cost many thousands of dollars 

 which have actually been cast upon the waters in the hope of a suitable 

 return. 



Jingle shells and quarter-decks are favorites for planting, as they are 

 fragile and easily detached from the oyster when it reaches marketable 

 size. The quantity of shells planted in this State reaches well into the mil- 

 lions of bushels. 



The spawning months are known to the public as being those months 

 of the year, the names of which are spelled without an " R." 



The Oyster Set. 

 As may be imagined, the planters anxiously watch during the advanc- 

 ing season for the first indications of a set of young oysters, and when it 

 is definitely determined that there is indeed a good set, their joy may be 

 said to be full, for an abundant set of young oysters means a replenishment 

 of stock which may be made to extend over several years of dearth of set. 

 A satisfactory set of oysters is not by any means a circumstance of annual 

 occurrence. Indeed, from the summer of 1899 to that of 1904, a period of 

 five years, there was no general set. "Here and there, in little spots, set was 

 found, but not enough to ease the situation materially; but, at the present 

 writing, it may be said that the bountiful set of 1904, followed by another 

 satisfactory set during the current year (1905) has delivered the planters 

 from their chief difficulty, filled their hearts with rejoicing and, it may be 



