478 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
28. Contingencies of the business, etc . — The greatest care and good judgment in pre- 
paring oyster grounds may fail to secure the chief object aimed at: the obtainment of 
a good “ set.” If the shells spread over the beds are permitted to lie on the ground 
they become covered with silt or slime, which renders them unsuitable for obtaining 
a “ set” the following year. Nevertheless, some oystermen permit the shells to remain 
on the bottom and simply stir them up with a dredge the next summer, a short time 
before the spawning period of the oyster. The best method is to dredge the shells 
during “slack time” when the steamers are not needed for other purposes. The 
shells are lauded and left on shore until the proper time to again spread them on the 
grounds. This method is comparatively new and is increasing in favor; in 1887 onh 
39,000 bushels were thus taken up in the whole State ; in 1888 the number increased 
to 157,000 bushels ; and the quantity in 1889 was 334,500 bushels. It is only just to say 
that a considerable percentage of this increase was due to the decrease in the quantity 
of spat secured. The value of the shells covers the cost of taking them up, so that 
there is no actual financial loss in the transaction, while there is an important advan- 
tage in having a “ clean bed ” for the spawning season. 
29. Care required. — Constant care and vigilance are required to insure complete 
success in oyster planting, even when conditions are fairly favorable. In the first 
place the young oysters are exposed to the danger of being “ winterkilled,” even if a 
good “ set” is obtained. If this peril is escaiied, there is always danger of destruction 
by starfish, drills, or other enemies. 
Many of the largest cultivators remove the young oysters into deeper water in 
the spring, where the conditions are better for growth, the crop less liable to injury 
or destruction by storms, and less exposed to other harmful agencies. When two years 
old the oysters are large enough for “seed,” and quantities are usually sold every year 
to planters of Rhode Island, Long Island, and to some in Connecticut who have not all 
they need. 
30. Classification of oyster -planters . — Those engaged in the cultivation of oysters 
in Connecticut may be roughly classified under three general beads. Most of them 
give greatest attention to one branch of the industry, engaging in the others to a less 
extent ; while many do not divide their interests, considering it most profitable to limit 
their operations to one si>ecialty. The classes may be designated as follows : Growers 
of oysters for opening; cultivators of stock for exportation to Europe; and seed-pro- 
ducers. 
Those embraced in the first class are mostly located at New Haven. Of 863,890 
bushels of oysters obtained by the cultivators of that city in 1889, 632,990 bushels 
were opened, 26,050 bushels sold in the shell for market purposes, and the remaining 
204,850 bushels sold as seed to the planters of Rhode Island and Long Island. Besides 
the 632,990 bushels of oysters of their own production opened, the New Haven oper- 
ators purchased 117,900 bushels, of which 80,500 bushels were raised in Connecticut 
and 37,400 bushels brought from Virginia. 
Those who devote themselves chiefly to producing stock for exportation are mostly 
located west of Stratford, although during some seasons many oysters are taken east 
of that town for European markets. 
Many of the oyster-planters give exclusive attention to raising “ seed,” which 
they sell to other cultivators, mostly out of the State. This business is increasing. 
The seed grounds are distributed all along the coast, the greater number being olf 
