PRODUCTION AND COLLECTION OF SEED OYSTERS 
253 
collected on the average 15,000 spat per bushel of oyster shells and a few thousand 
less on the clam and mussel shells. The spat were not uniformly distributed through- 
out the baskets, but were most numerous on the bottom and outside edges and com- 
paratively scarce on the shells in the middle. By actual count the oyster shells on 
the top, bottom and sides of the container were each covered with from 25 to 200 
spat, those on the next inside layer from 12 to 50, while in the center from 2 to 10 
spat were found per shell. The representative distribution of spat in these baskets 
is shown diagrammatical^ in Figure 33. 
These initial experiments with wire baskets showed that the principle of putting 
shells into a comparatively open container was an efficient and practical means for 
collecting seed oysters and worthy of further development in future investigations. 
The studies and experiments in 1925 brought out certain fundamental facts which 
should be summarized briefly as they have a direct bearing upon the development of 
methods for the production 
and collection of seed oys- 
ters in similar bodies of 
water. It was found: 
1. That inshore areas 
such as Milford Harbor can 
be rehabilitated as prolific 
oyster-producing regions by 
the establishment of spawn- 
ing beds. 
2. The optimum con- 
ditions for successful spawn- 
ing and setting are to be 
found in Connecticut pri- 
marily in the harbors, bays, 
and river mouths. 
3. Oyster larvae will re- 
main and set in the vicinity 
of the spawning bed in spite 
of adverse tidal currents 
and river discharge. 
4. The attachment of the greater proportion occurs at the time of low slack water 
and during the first two hours run of flood tide. 
5. Setting is most intensive in a definite zone near low-water mark and conse- 
quently the spat collecting operations can be concentrated at this level. 
6. The planting of suitable spat collectors near the spawning beds is a practicable 
means of obtaining seed oysters and will be successful almost every year. 
* WIRE ML5H 
OUTSIDE LAYER 
MIDDLE LAYER 
INSIDE LAYER 
Figure 33. 
-Longitudinal section of wire basket showing distribution of spat. 
Figures indicate number of spat per shell 
EXPERIMENTS IN 1926 
The experiments in oyster seed collection during the previous summer indicated 
that a change in the shape of the shell container should be made that would facilitate 
the passage of the larvae amongst the shells and thus produce more uniform setting. 
For this purpose triangular lath crates were employed, the design and construction of 
which has been previously described. (See fig. 1.) Three hundred of these crates 
were planted in various formations on the tidal flats so as to determine their efficiency 
