360 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
tlie seed oysters, a second park maybe of value in growing tbe oysters, and a third may 
serve to fatten or prepare them for transport. A Taren tine park may represent every 
branch of the industry; in an area of 15 feet square a culturist may collect the young 
oysters, grow, fatten, and prepare them for the market. 
The Italian process may best be understood by referring to the accompanying 
sketch (Fig. 1), which illustrates a Tarentine park. It consists roughly of corner posts, 
a web of* ropes and various suspended devices for collecting oysters (A), growing (B), 
fattening and storing them (C). 
Fig. i. 
The corner posts, firmly implanted, mark the boundaries of the park. At each 
corner these are usually arranged in pairs, as seen in the figure, somewhat inclined 
toward each other and lashed together a few feet above the surface. Thus fixed they 
appear to be quite permanent, especially as their displacement by storm is not usual 
on account of the sheltered nature of the Mare Piccolo. The firm calcareous character 
of the bottom allows the posts to be readily inserted by blows of a heavy mallet. 
The posts themselves are of green pine, 6 or 8 inches in diameter, are not costly, and 
are apparently never tarred. The depth of the harbor allows their average length to 
be about 20 feet. In deeper water two or even three require to be spliced together, 
bringing, therefore, into culture a depth as great as 40 feet. The ropes forming a net- 
work between the corner posts must support the weight of the collecting devices (A 
and B). The cordage must therefore be strong and durable in water. A wire- grass 
rope an inch in diameter is manufactured in Naples for this purpose. It lasts for one 
or two seasons, and costs about one-half cent per yard. 
