Photograph and copyright by Keystone View Co. 

 A MOUNTAIN OF OYSTER SHELLS READY FOR PLANTING: OYSTER CULTURE, HAMPTON, 



VIRGINIA 



An essential of oyster farming is to spread on the bottom clear material for the attach- 

 ment and temporary support of the young oysters. When first hatched, they are free-swim- 

 ming, microscopic creatures, but in a few hours they fall to the bottom and are lost unless 

 they can adhere to a firm, clean surface while making their shells and undergoing develop- 

 ment. 



The fish hosts of the various important 

 button-making mussels have been deter- 

 mined, and it is the province of the labo- 

 ratory to provide those fishes and have 

 them inoculate themselves by swimming 

 in tanks or ponds in which the spawning 

 mussels have been placed. 



When a fish is sufficiently infected, it is 

 turned loose in the river, and in a few 

 weeks the young mussels, having attained 

 a proper development, become detached 

 from the gills, fall to the bottom of the 

 stream, and begin their independent ex- 

 istence. 



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