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I J A * "v; SOME HINTS OYSTER CULTURE at ERNEST KEMP. 3732—1 PREFACE. Th|. wi»(.w .,f thn Miirifiino Proviii.rji of ('Hn«d» are admirably adapted for the cultivation of >,yMcn. Natural IhmIh pxiiit from the Bay de Chalpur along to Ni-w BrunHwirk. and the Nova Scotinn coant*. riven and bays, an far m the rntranre to the Strait of CanHo. inrludinK the waters of Cape Breton and praetically all the waters of Prince EdwanI Island, Riving the oyster cultunst ample opportunities to select suitable ar.as on which to cairy on operations. Frequent enquiries have been made for Information necessary to the successful cultivation of oysters. Such information has not hitherto been readily accessible to p^-rsons interested in the oyster industry of the Canadian provinces, owing doubtless to the fact that it is only within recent years that the pnvato cultivation of oysters has been seriously attempted or considered in Canada. It seems therefore timely that the results of wide observation and practical experience should be available to those interested in oyster culture, in order that they may have a general idea of the work required for successfully main- taming and increasing the oyster supply, and in exten.''ng the oyster areas, so as to enable the markets to be supplied with a superior quality of oysters. With this end in view, I shall endeavour in the following pajjes to make clear to the beginner, or those who are already engaged in the practical rultiva- tion of oysters, an outline of the general requirements. 'marlottetown, P.E.I., July, 1916. Khnkst Kemp, Oj'ster KxjKTt. SIME HINTS ON OYSTER CULTURE in which th« foUowInt aHbitcti un rcfarrtd to: CMsduin Oyrtw Imiitntry. The Hoil. ice and KrtMt. Tiflmi ami ('urrenU. Oyitn Fmid. Oatmeal an a Ruppcxmi Artiiicial Food. TMnprrature of the Water. Oy»ter FUhing Mt-thodn. Oyater DredRna, Oyiitef Areaa. Oyiitmr PlantiiiR. Enemuw of the Oynler; — Miarflnh, Sea Urehinn, DiiR-whrllu, Sea-woe cut. IVparations. ' Expenses of an 0)-ster Farm. Manaffemenl of an Oyster Farm. Kxtrart on the Close SeaMon. Oyster Culture in Enitlund:— The Whitstable Oyster (,'oiri|>.ni.v Essex Oyn<>r Grounds and Aroaa. Oyster Culture in F'ranre. Oyster Culture in Holland. Oyster Culture in Italy. Conclu.linK Remarks. 3732— P MM*' Some Hints on Oyster Culture. CANADIAN OYSTER INDUSTRY. The waters of the Maritime Provinces are well adapted for the cultivation of oysters, as will be seen by the enormous quantities that have been taken in the past, from the natural beds which extend from Caraquet, in New Brunswick down along the shores of Nova Scotia to the Gut of Canso including the inland waters of Cape Breton, and the shores, rivers and bays of Prince Edward Island. The output would have been very much more, had the cultivation of oysters been in existence in the palmy days of oyster fishing. These natural beds are becoming more depleted each year, through inumerable causes, the chief one being overfishing, which is induced by the high prices that prevail for this delicious bivalve. The waters of the lower provinces abound with oyster food. It is high time that persons should take up this branch of industry which has proved so profitable, and has been so successfully carried on by our southern neighbours. I shall, therefore, endeavour to give a few hints that will assist those who may take up oyster culture. Theoretically, oyster culture seems so simple, that the wonder is that there are so many failures at it. When we come to put theory into practice, we begin to find out how many local circumstances there are, apparently trifling in them- selves, which really exert a powerful influence on the outcome; and it only by many years of watchful observation that any one can acquire sufficient experience to be able to understand and cope with the numerous difficulties which will beset the path of an oyster grower. Several things have to be taken into consideration to ensure success, and I shall enumerate them, and give an explanation in connection with each. The Soil. Oysters cannot thrive where the ground is composed of moving sand, or where soft mud is deposited, and as the size and number of suitable areas are limited, only a very small percentage of the young oysters can find a resting place. The remainder perish. By putting down suitable cultch immense quantities of the wandering spat (or fry) may settle on it, and thus be saved. Unoccupied ground may be prepared for the reception of oysters by spreading sand, gravel and shells over muddy bottoms, or beds may be made in locations where the bottoms are already suitable, by putting down oyster and cultch just before the time of breeding, thus giving' the spat a chance to fix themselves before the currents and enemies have had time to destroy them. Oysters will find a resting place on various kinds of soil. They are to be found on rocky and stony bottoms, attaching themselves to twigs and branches of trees that may be lying in the water, or on any hard, clean substance. Tht oyster is also found on shelly and muddy bottoms. It will live and thrive in mud as long as it is not too soft to allow it to become entirely buried, and has free access to running water. Such oysters are generally long and irregular in ^hape, with a soft chalky shell, while an oyster taken from a firm bottom will not, as a rule, be as large, and the shell will be harder and more regular in shape, especially when found .singly. Oysters that grow in clusters are chiefly found 3732— 2i ' 7 '% on areas where there i. a lack of ^'d Jef ut^ltroTd \^^^^^^^^^^^ to each other. If these areas were dredged upon it wou^ ^^^^,^,^ ^^e An oyster is a ^^YVVCSeZSvi^li^yXp^^^^^^ ••^P*''"'^*^ employment cultivation of oysters is therefore a P^^^^J '''"^ u j ^^'^t ,„ time give way to for capital and labour, and the ';«™™"" "«J* ^^^^tri^^^^^^ tTthe upland has given private enterprise, just as ^.^^^.^y .*^f,f \^°™hTchange as this cannot be brought way before the progress of civilization buch a cnange » .^ .^ ^^^^^^ about rapidly ^ith«ut causmg jmag nar^ Se coS°» «>^'"°^^^^ ""' P*'"^'' ""» fore best that it should come slowly .but tnecomii r ^^^.^^ ^^ industry. Ice and Frost. Great care must be exercised ^^^X^^!^'^^^^- will not rest on the bottom, or f.^^i surface lying in about four or six feet at One may choose an area ^'^'^/.^.'^"f L\"',,^^^^^ The water shouhl be low water, or up to twelve ««■ fi^^^^/^^^e^" "„ the bed«. ^ut where they are sufficiently deep not to allow he ce Jo^^J •^^^^^^^'.^ the bottom and the ice, covered by ice and a *^""|'"/ «^7hf weSef and are considered safe. The SXCr'thrwa^eMi/elitTtl/e U-th and easier the labour, but probably fh^Xld be safer fro« t^eft m ^-P- -^^ , ,,, ,,, ,, , , during the hot It is ust as mjurious *»««*»«> f^f^^.^Sice has been curried on, heaps weather and spawning season. .^^^^^^^.^'^^S'S found bleached by exposure, of refuse, consisting of dea.i =;j! "''^^J '^^".Vheen '^normous. Where the ice The loss of oysters m this ;^'^> "^"^^^^X nractical effect of protecting the does not actually rest on the beds, it has t^!^ F™'"^^,,^^ to be the case in oysters from. change in the t^mP^^^^^^^h.^J^Ld to'^free^^^ over. Originally Ostend, Belgium, when the «>^^^!P"thfnS it might hurt the oysters to be Shave found scarcely any moriah^^amo^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^ Frost sometimes congeals ^^e shells together ana i . .^^ .^.^ j^^ starvation. Shells have been "P^^f./" f.^J^^ten Jt °""''' *'"* '''^'''' *'"'*^'^ thisstate.thoughdead theyarej«>r ectb ^ _^' ,„„^ ^^ter t.^t:i^^^^^^^^^^^ '-^ -^- ^" '-' "'' ^"^"* as to cause great "^"'^f ^^ ^ll \tr under the water the weather would make Although one might t^ nk that under te > a ^^^^^^^^ ^,^^ no difference to the ^'^^'^X^Kl- Z\r& of the water becomes loos-:> and weather is mild that the soil btjow J^^ '' f ^j^^^^^f^en. but when the weather soft, and in these places .jyslc-r, '^"**;^'^'"„.''Vster brood cannot be taken at al becomes cold,the ground hardens up, f "^^ *;> ''^^M^'^^i,., .,r just after the cold il^&r^K^'X^tf^Ut iniit;;Si^o work too m^h upon the beds during the winter months. It has been noticed that during the last few years oysters have h«en taken in very fair quantities from the river fiats and areas that dr>' at low water, but these areas are not always to be depended upon in their yield, as they are in such exposed positions and subject to the frost. It makes a great difference when the frost sets in on areas such as these, whether the frost comes with any force during spring tides when these areas dry at low water. It is nearly always fatal tc the oyster if it does. If on the other hand the ice makes during neap tides and remains, it acts as a covering and protection to the oysters, and, when the ice actually rests upon the flats the soil is sufficiently soft to allow the oysters to be pushed into the mud until the ice rests on the whole an ;i, in such cases the oysters will live, but where they are exposed to the frost, by low tides and heavy winds, they become frozen, which meHns certain death, especially to the half-grown ones. This was particularly noticed on the flats at Davies Point, Orwell river, P.E.I., covering an area of about seven acres. In 1896 over 1,000 barrel.* were picked up. That winter, the ice made during low spring tides which appeared to kill nearly everj'thing off, as there was not one-fifth taken from there the following year. Pownal Bay was found to be in the same condition. This has been noticed and watched by practical men. Tides and Currents. An oyster requires a clear, dean current of water of sufficient strength to carry off all excrement of the oyster, and other foul matter that may have previously been deposited on the area, either by the preceding tide or lodged there accidentally. Sa\v-dust, mill rubbish, and heavy soil drainage are very injurious to any oyster bed, and sites where such are apt to obtain should be avoided if possible. Fresh water in moderation does not harm ,and when mixed with sea water, the oysters appear to fatten and grow more quickly where they are subject to the effects of numerous fresh-water depof^its, but with fresh water alone, the flesh of the oyster increa.ses in size, it becomes fat and flabby, and eventually the oyster gapes and dies, with the appearance of bursting open. Where fresh and salt water are mixed by the tidal currents in rivers, bays, etc., the conditions are excellent for the growth of diatoms, which breed and abound so plentifully on the muddy bottoms. These are carried by the tides over the oyster beds. I shall now give a short description of oyster food. Oyster Food. In discussing the question of oyster fou%*«*«' T^'f-^i^'^^^in^hfeX^^^ as it will only hasten that it will fatten it. This notion is \b«"™ J" *Sf ^^^^ ^well and eventually its death. Meal of any description when ''^^ J'" ?fJX ii^w water will enter turn sour, and so it is when given to_the oyster that the w .^ ^^^^ the shell, filling the fish with '^Jiff^^'^^^f^^^^t^^^^ puffs up, turns the same way as sand will. J*>;^/^°3Xcomes very insipid, and if left a deathly white in coU.urlos^^^^^^^ the oyster long in this state, will d>e, wniie perso ^^ ^^^ caught, is thriving. Let any person, i^ he «;hoo8e to ^^^P «y receptacle, putting try the following planj-Place the oyjers^ P^^ each oyster m separately with the deep sneii to keep the air and draught possible and cover o/er with a wet «l°7Xrfn their Uquor, ana I am confident from them. The oysters will feed and J^tt^^^j^"^* JJ^^'^^^^^^ palatableness, and they will be found m a much better condiUon «avou ^^Q^^meal scattered will keep much longer, than if P a«f >" °f ^"^^^^^^ them moist, as it would absorb over the oyseters may have a tendency to keep t^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ j,y. ffi ^^Ly^'SX'^ov^^^^^^^^^ with a wet sack or cloth without the ill effects of using oatmeal. Temperature of the Water. While working on the beds ^ ^^^Xrftl^l^^'^e': fall ^a" -h of the water, and I see no reason why Jhe^e Pould no ^^^^^^^ gradually year, if the grounds are in \«" *^,*^ V^^^ degrees and over. The nit rises during the summer months "«J^;.** S to becomi attached to any object, gradually falls, giving arnple time for the sp^^ *Th. water in the bays and rivers ^t:&!urXSLXr£^f£n of oysters in that respect. Oyster Fishing Methods. used to a'great extent in the Umted States but^ are vety^ ^ ^^^^^.^^ Dominion, although a very necessary machnewner^^ v^^ and on cultivated areas thay *'^ 'Tfld si^^s fo" the Afferent localities wher. They are made of various shapes a^^. f ^^^rL hand. Others are hove up they are worked Some are "f^e *" ^\t"am and Ssolene power is used to as^tm\rS's:H^e.'%fLS:\ttrms\he1or^^^ are mostly used. 11 Tongs are used in many parts^of the United States, and chiefly in Prince Edward Island. They are formed of two rakes joined together with a bolt, so arranged that both handles will work easily at about on?-third .the length of the handle from the rake. They vary in size and length of handle? according to the depth of water in which they are used, the average length of handle being 14 or 16 feet. The width of the rake is about 30 inches, in which curved iron teeth, about three inches long and one and a half inches apart are fixed ; when working with the tongs the boat is moored over an oyster bed and moved about from time to time, as required. The tongs are then used on the bottom, and collect oysters, shells, and weeds, which may lay in their way while being drawn together. On raising the tongs to the surface, the contents at ■ culled nut, the oysters being saved, while the shells are returned to the water settling on the bottom as the tide carries them. A man eqi.ipped with a small row-boat and pair of tongs is able to go where he pleases, and often finds good fishing on very small oyster beds; while dredges require a heavier boat, which they must propel over the grounds with either sails, steam or gasolene power, and need a larger area of ground to work on. The single-handed rake is used where the bottoms are softer, and also from an open boat, moored. This also varies in size. The rake is about 30 inches wide, with curved teeth from 8 to 10 inches in length and arranged about one ana a half inclies apart, with a handle from 15 to 25 feet long. It will collect the oysters and shells from the outer edges of the bed, breaking through the crusts of the beds, making them very uneven and doing more damage to a piece of ground than the good they reap by their catch. By this method of fishing the beds are continually becoming more contracted. An oyster bed requires to be as even as possible, and where depressions are made on oyster beds the sediment soon settles, making mud holes, where eventually eelgrass will grow and the beds soon become covered over with it. I have seen Indians use the flat eel-spears bent round at right angles, making a hook of it, with which they will fish among the rocks and ledges. They are expert in obtaining oysters by that method. In Cape Breton an instrument called a dip-net is used. It consists of a circular or oblong band of iron about 8 inches in diameter, and when oblong will be 12 inches by 8. At the back or bottom of this is attached a small net, made of either wire or twine and fixed to a pole from 10 to 1^ feet long for a handle. When an oyster is seen on the bottom by the man in the boat it is scooped into the dip-net. The water is clear, as a rule, the bottom being easily visible at a depth of 6. to 9 feet. At times when there is wind and it is difficult to see the bottom, some of the fishermen will sprinkle oil on the rough water around their boat, enabling them to see the bottom more clearly. But the most crude method of all was a split stick, which was formerly used in Cape Breton. The person using it would be looking over the boat's side as it drifted along, and on seeing an oyster, this pole, which was split at the lower end into four parts and slightly opened, was thrust over the oyster, and when a firm hold was found to have been obtained the stick was raised and the oyster extracted. It was a slow method, but these men obtained a very good sample of oysters and no very small ones were caught. Indeed each locality seems to have its own pecu- liar method of fishing oysters. ]l! r Oyster Dre.^ ;s. An explanation of the dredge and its uses in oyster culture will now be given. In preparing grounds for cultivation, the main object is to have a clean area to begin with. The most efficient, effective, and economical method in this case is the use of the dredge, which is a triangular shaped instrument, 12 ; I - coMHrtinK of a'bit or rake nearly three fe?t long, made of flat iron »bo"t three- S^ o^ an inch thick and two inches in width and set at an angle bo that it fome^in contact wi\h the «ound, behind which a small ^^.^^JX,^^i^'^\^, K„iH from nne to two bushels. This w receive and collect all the bit oi ine drSJe h" turn*^ ^er^^T^^^ Bides of the bit are joined to two P'eces of iron «hm.t th^e feet rix inches long and welded together at the upper end, to which a^ni i attel A ro^ is attached to this ring, and in this way it is towed Lid biiught to thi sudFace when required. It is al«^«t'f «t*'«"«.'*„^y j, P de! rfhon running from the ring down the centre two-thirds the length of the sides «.H connected bv- a cross-piece of i-'.n holding the two outside limbs m their Sace wWch strenihen, tL frame considerably. To this is also secured the Soner ride of the "Set The ba- or net is so constructed that the lower or Se'rnS. ride is generally made of iron or K-lvan-d we ""f^^^^^.a^Jed into a nettinK, because there is more wear on the lower side, as it is araggeu over the Sm and most of the weight of the contents >«/ on that sjde. Th^^ uDD-r side is an or-ilnary piece of common netting made with strong twine. T^U heiM much lighter, it fills out, forming an open-mouthed bag by the action S ^he wateTrunning through the meshes wl ..e the dredge is being towed over Se «o^nd- The lower end of the bag is kept square by means « a stout itick atSec to both the lower corners. This keeps the net from fouling, and ll^ acts as a^hdle when emp^ving the contents of the dredge on deck. The drTdJe is KenemUy towed behrnd a small steamboat or from the weatjier side nf a B«il L boat the boat being allowed to fall to leeward and forge ahead slowly, ZLtSZ th° line m" y* t«, "hort, and «„• dmlBo doe. not .ven touch ffi bomm Thi' i' Sw .Wimminn the dredje .nd e«n only b. "dju'ted •"•; SguUtTby pSceJUh „ regard, the ,peed of the »e.,el o, the length „t rope. Where dredges are worked by hand it is not de.irable to have them inade too heavy t wouffbe a greater advantage to work two lighter one. than Dknted or are laying on the area, they are caught much faster than by the ordiS- methods now in use in this country. Large quantities may be caught hi the cou" e of a dav from a well stocked bed, by the use of the dredge. A large item in savSg labour wou d be noticed in the r-urse o a ^ason it hZir far more economical and satisfactory to use >. Iredge than any other SoTemento? method It also disturbs the sediment or silt which is naturaUy carried awav ™ the currents, and the result is the grounds are c eaned while ?heov«Ss are being caught for market. It keeps the areas level, and if the Sell/are old and decaved, they may be removed to the outside edges of the bed. The dredKes are s3mes towed to the extreme length or breadth of the oulti- 1 he dreages are soiin-iimc thrown overboard :S:i'X'edyc^ oKhTbed:!^^^^^^^^^^ it can easily be seen that the beds must soon become more extensive, and the result is that by the use of dredges trbeds are increasing in size, while the methods now in use are o no Jlll^ whateve' in c eaning or kf eping an area in order, and tend to contract rather 13 than extend the bedn, as is the desire of any one wishing to make an improven-' it and success in his undertaking. Oysters and other kinds of shel'fish can aken by thit« method in any depth of water. Oyrters are thus caught from the beds at Whitstable, England, where they lie in six or seven feet at low water, there Wing a rise and fall of tide averaging about twelve feet. They are also caught in the North Sea off the Dutch coast in from twenty to thirty fathom" of water, and other places where the depth varies from one to thirty fathoms. The shape and weight of the dredge varies with the locality and nature of the bottom where the fishermen intend workinj:. A dredge is made much heavier and r.ider for deep water than for shallow water, and dredge.s vary in weight from twenty to eighty pounds and upwards. All 'personR who have used oyster dredges in this rountrj- speak very favourably of them. I am certain that when the dredge is fairly introduced and its merits thoroughly tested, it will supersede both the rake and tongs on private areas, and open up a new feature in the private cultivation of oysters. Dredges are also used in England to obtain the whelk, which is used as an article of food, and also a valuable bait by cod-fishermen. It is likewise used to catch mussels and starfish, utilized by the farmers as a fertilizer, and ()uite a number of men find employment in loading their boats with them for the different markets. Oyster Areas. I will now deal with the ground which is most suitable for cu ture. Dead oyster beds which have a sufficient depth of water over them to avoid the ice resting upon them, are the best to select. These areas give the culturist a firm bottom, and probably only require a little raking over to put them in a condition to commence laying down oysters. Areas selected for the cultivation of oysters should have a level, smooth and firm bottom, consisting of clay, shells,' firm sand (not shifting) gravel or mud not more than two of three inches thick with a hard bottom underneath. Soft mud is undeo..able for several reasons. First, if it is sufficiently soft for the oyster to sink into it and become buried. This is fatal to the oyster, as it must open its shells to breathe and allow a flow of water through its gills to receive nc irishment. Then the bottom requires so much material to be spread over it to make it firm, and if this has to be done, sand spread evenly over the area will often form a crust firm enough to lay a coating of shells upon the crust before depositing oyster seed. Rocky bottom should be avoided as it would cause so much wear and tear to the gear. C'ten flat areas are to be found with eelgrass growing all over the bottom. This can be removed by hauling rakes over it and tearing it out by the roots and then spreading gravel and shell over the area before planting the oysters. Areas should be avoided where ey are exposed to shifting sand-ba s as they will often destroy oyster beds I covering them up entirely, and all the work and expense laid out on such areas will be entirely lost. Inland bays, mouths of rivers, and rivers are the best sites to choose, as they are generally protected by land, against heavy gales of wind and sea, which would often destroy beds if exposed to heavy ground sweels. Persons in the oyster business, and having a piece of suitable ground on which oysters can be temporarily laid, find it invaluable for keeping their stock until they find a firm market. These persons can afford to be more particular in their culling as they can return all immature oysters to t*'eir beds. These can lay and develop into larger oysters, giving a profit, if only in the growth ■ » 14 alone, where oystew are sold by the measure. It is especially so with those who buy"rom the ordinary fishermen, when so many small ones are to be found ''''%n"ob"t!iLTnKT«--i^^ "^ •"> "- '"' '^' P"'P«^„"^ P""'"" 'l^"; f T' of cultivation, the ^ds may be stocked by picking small °f *"" ,«« »';^t,^^*;-"J"f^ and shallows, which if they are not removed are mevitably lost, as they would nerish with the winter's frosts. , . ^ • iu i„„,„. ^ It must also be borne in mind that the taking up of private areas m the lower provinces for the cnltivation of oysters is of recent date, a"^ ^^mt fo areas a e leased where oysters exist, so that persons who take up areas are not thoroughly acquainted with oyster culture in all its branches, and it is only fair to give these pioneers in oyster culture a start that will encourage them to keep it up. The oyster industry in Eastern Canada has been purely taking- advantage of a naturkl resource: and it has had many things to hinder it^ «"«cess In the past a great many more small oysters have l)een destroyed above the h gh- wate^rnark and at the doors of packers warehouses than have ever been relaid by per^s having licensed areas. Then again, mud-digging has destroyed many K^^ well as brood and valuable soil which can never be reclaimed. SiS' inclose season and through the ice has had also its .11 effects; but I am in hopes that with proper regulations and leased areas, combined efforts of fishery officerthe oyster industry may vet be able to hold its own It is far Preferable for a few barrels of oysters to b. transplanted on an area where^no oysters exist, and see that they are being watched and cared for, than to see heaps of bleached Sirpiled up on the shore, being the cuUings and young oysters left to ^^^'''in allowing persons to take up areas on depleted beds or other grounds they may choose and stocking them with young and full-grown oysters- >* must not be forgotten that these persons having no «onf"j> ^^^atever over the snat and may be the means of restocking many natural beds which are in X vicinity of the leased ones, and I therefore consider it of very great jmport- ance to grant licensed areas when not interfering with the public fishery, and I strongly advise the encouragement of private culture, which ;j''» eventua.ly b^ the only means of keeping up and maintaining the supply, which at the present time does not equal the demand. After selecting and securing a suitable area the next step is to commence operatons on this marine farm. The first thing is to ascertain the nature Tthe bottom, if it is clean, or dirty, iiard or soft, even or uneven. If dirty \t should be d;edged over and cleaned. The weeds if any, should be removed and Sbottom made as even as possible. Should the area ccms^t of an old deplet.-d bed, the turning over of the old shells will greatly benefit it. '^ Areas of any size may be undertaken now there are such facilities in motor power If the area is small or large, a boat can be obtained of any power required For the work. Motor boats and steam power make easier the work, which was originally carried on by sails and oars. After an area has been prepared the next step is to stock it In planting oysters no hard and fast rules are given. If oysters are found to thrive >n certain waters, it is well to continue cultivating them on the same area, b"t it h«^ f f^" been observed that the removal of oysters from one ground to another has he Keneral effect of improving both their flavour and their size. The spnng of the yeJr before the hot weather sets in, is the best tinie for planting By placing the Oysters in shallow water during the spring and summer months, they will grow much faster than if placed in deeper water, as he sun causes the water to become much warmer, the oyster being very sensitive to the action of light and heaT which promotes a rapid growth. Oysters phmtedm the autumn are not so likely to thrive, "as owing to the change of soil and falling temperature the "iter is not properiy acclimatized before winter sets m, which very often 15. prove!* diitarttrous. Oysters grow but little durinR the winter months, with the exception of getting thicker. Con8equently fall planting is full of risk, and will likely result in Iomh or in little ur no gain, although there are exceptiomt in every case. Young oysters taken in the spring have survived the winter, and the change of water and warmer temperature, will give them every chance to live and grow. In ol)taining the necessary quantity of oysters fur planting purposes, extra care should be taken to secure them in a fresh condition, and if time will admit of it, thev should l)e very carefully overhauled, and if they are found to be in clusters they should be separated as much us possible, either from ot^er oysters, shells, stones, or anything else they may have adhered to. This separation gives the oysters a better chance to grow into natural shape, as oysters grow better singly than when in clusters. In securing the stock the size of the oyster should l)e considered, for which I give the following reasons; — Small or young oysters planted on a bed are preferable us their growth alone will result in large proportionate returns and profits. A young oyster is nut so likely to die when transplanted to another bed, as when older, nor is it uny advantage to transplant a full grown oyster unless for immediate use. One greut advantage in the tiatle of this country, is the rapid growth of the oysters, as they are bcught and sold by measure. Great care should be taken of the spat, as the older it is, 'the hardier it becomes, and if the young are saved a gootl harvest may be reaped in the future. The living and the dead shells of the adult oysters furnish the best surface for the attachment of the young, and for this reu.son the localities where ureas are already established are those where the young have the most favourable surroundings and thr best show for life. The l)eds thus tend to remain periv>unent a. d of substantially the same size and shape. It is well known ihut shell-fish of all kinds thrive best where the supply of lime is the greatest. The dead oyster-shell is soon corroded and in a few years almost entirely dissolved by the sea-water, and I think this fact is another reason »vhy the young oysters thrive best on a natural bed. It is also known that the temperature on a live bed of oysters in winter is higher than on the barren bottom, and where there is traffic over the ice, oyster beds are always avoided, us the ice is much thinner, und is the first place to open up in the spring. In some cases it is unsafe to cross oyster beds at all, as the ice is so thir. As u rule, oy.ster brood picked from an ebb-dry ground or ubove low-water mark, are much hardier than those taken from deeper water, and by removing them into deep water they would be secure from the heavy frosts which prevail around our shores. The quality of these oysters is, as a rule, very good. Cultch is the name given to the debris of shells, stones, etc., which are found at the bottom of the sea, on or near oyster beds. It has been the practice from time immemorial to supplement the natural supply by throwing down deposits of this sort on oyster grounds. Oyster und cockle shells make the best material for this perpose. In default of this, stones and pebbles may be used, the great point being that the cultch, whatever it is composed of, should be clean, and for this purpose the shorter the time it is laid ddwn before the spat falls the better. Shells may be collected from oyster saloons and deposited near the shore. Exposing them to the weather, the sun, the rain, frost and snow ;vill have the desired effect upon them. They will be thoroughly cleansed of all organ'c or other matter, and when laid on the oyster beds, are excellent spat colleci )rs. They also serve to make a firm foundation in extending an areji if required by the plunter. Also they may be obtained from oyster beds, taken in the dredge when fishing for oysters and laid on shore in heaps until required for use, or when enlarging an area, may be deposited there each day as they are caught, according to the discretion of those who have charge of the work. i : 16 Thf quantity of AitW* to be pUnt«l per ar-e will depend "»t|"''y "P«» the chaJioter of tKe bottom in question, being of coume Rraater where the Wtom I. at Xwft In any ca«. enough -belli should Im* Ui»d to completely cover the b«' torn with aUer of at lea-t one *hell deep f fvenly .h^outed 2 000 bushelt of thelU will give a layer of one •hell in thicknew ovei onTacre^and the «nount» nece*«»ry to prepare any bottom may be reckoned °° * WhenTingle oyrter «helU are u«ed for pUnting, it will be found that they will fall with tl^e concave ride of the shell upperm. nW hoots iron etc. B rch brush is also laid down. In fact any obiect S; lean riiigh s"urf^^^^^ and the smaller the article the better it us Xeoyitersarenot i!o likely to grow in clusters, which distort the shape of the oyster, and they have to l>e separated as soon as possible. Oyster Planting. After the ground has been cleaned of all weeds, and .-ther ^^bns removed and fhelrea shelled, the next thing W to .tock it with oysters »">»» f J« t^e *Mality Great care should be taken to plant them ip water of a depth of from fm,r t.. «ix feet at low water in sheltered places in order to protect them from rost and ice and iherrth" areas are exp^o.ed to the weather deeper water is advisable in order to avoid the ground swell breaking upon the Ws. The deoth of the water is an item to be considered. Oysters planted in shallow water w 11 grow much faster than those planted in deep water as there n rfferenceTn the temperature and light, and an o.ster grows much faster in warm water than in cold. , The choice of oysters to be planted rests with the owner home will prefer to Dlant the small seed and wait until it matures, while others will lay a ha f Lrown oyster Xh will be ready for market much sooner, while others will AM their areas into .ections, planting different sues on each lot. To get J^ets resXthe seed Thould be'uniform in.size, so that the -mpU- -ha.-^^^ size it is, will mature at practically the .ame time This w. 1 save a lot of labour the returns on the capital ivestcd. Another item is the number of oysters to be planted on each acre, and that is a matter which requires a little consideration before determining how to act The ovstersXukl not be deposited too thickly over tlie beds and the amount that apSrs to give the best results is from 500 to 800 bushels to the acre. This if couEa matter of judgment of the owner. / t]>^„^eds a^e sown t^^^^^^ thev get crowded when growing and do not get the nourishment they wouia if they were spread more thinly over the beds. ,. . ^ ♦k^,^ Hn not If seed ovsters are single and thinly spread over the beds they do not rpnuire the attention that a bed would which is thickly covered with oysters. sZ ovsters of a sizes may be obtained from reliable firms of oyster grower^ in the UnUed sSes. When planting these oysters, the greatest care should be exerSd to distrib *e them as evenly as possible all over the bed. This 17 Mn be clone by the inen in clwrRe of the boat u he uils over the bed*, iwinR his iudffment in coverini the whole area, the rrew Hpreading them with a iihovel in the Hme manner as a fanner itpreatJH manure over hiit tieldM. Then when HpattinK time arrive (>>«>tw«^n July and Auguiit) the Nhel'm on hand should be scattered over the whole area under his control, in the hope of catchinK spat on his own lieds. Oysters will «pat in shallow water Mmner than they will in diH'per water, owing to the difference of temperature at different depths. They will breerious influence on the sf awn, and on the adult oyster's power t>f spawning. A cold, wet and windy coason is very 'avourable, and a de- idedly cold day will kill the spat, so that it will Ih> neen that while in the embryonic state young oysters are very delicate anci suscep- tible to cold. If the tcmperaturi- «if the wa suddenly drops many degn'es, they ail close their shells and fall to the iHtttom dead, just as a frosty night will "nip up" and cause to fall off from the brunches the delicate blossoms of fruit trees. If, on the contrary, the weather continues of a warm and etjuable temperature day and night, and if it lie at the same time calm, the young oysters will have a chance of taking up their positions on the various substances they love best, viz., stones, gravel, empty shells. I'ving oysters and other clean, hard substance. Holding an oyster area doe.'* not compel a person to ship his oysters to market as soon as the season opens, to be sold for whatever price they will bring, but rather the inverse. The oysters may be kept until un order foi them is received. In filling orders go'id uniform .sized oysters should Ih' used, whether they be large or medium size. Oysters should always Ih- graded, so that the customers moy know they can dcpeml upon getting what they order. 1'his will soon J'reate business. If the weather g( N warm at the latter port of Septeml)er, it is the shipper's business to use his judgment in sending oysters to market. That is one great advantage to a person holding u license for an area of oyster ground. He can meet the demands of the market without overstocking it, by sending the Ijest quality and size, leaving his small ones to develop into full-grown oy.ster8. Let me also add tlmt it is imperative that whatever dose time is required by law, shall be honourably and conscientiously observed; as there is nothing to be gained by supplying a few oysters to the public during the summer months. If the oysfers are caught for market during these months, the grounds would be disturljed, the supply of breeding oysters lessened, and it would be impossible to calculate the amount of death and injury caused to spat, young brood and immature oysters, by securing a small quantity, in order to satisfy the palate of a few fastidious persons who are entirely ignorant of what they Mr • eating. The close season should be well observed, not only as far as the oyster is concerned, regarding its breeding qualities; but at that period it is really not in a fit condition to i)e eaten, and fatal cases have be*n reported through eating oysters during the hot weather. As to the working of oyster beds, an eminent authority has said it is utterly useless to enclose a piece of ground and simply plant it. It is also u.seless to throw a lot of oysters down among every state of filth. One must keep constantly dredging, not only the bed itself, but the public beds outside, so as to keep the l)ottom fit for the reception and growth of the young oysters, and free of its multitudinous and natural enemies. An oyster ground is natura'ly dirty in the summer. Seaweed grows rapidly in hot weather. Weeds collect mud and consequently, as the summer advance, the grounds become dirtier and dirtier. Time may also be devoted when cleaning an area, or catching the ovrtm. which h.vr rown V.O' f«^^^^^ .r;it 7rom thl mallcllt .l.e up to the reception of the young oymirp. iii , , . scattering the tthclU of removing the mud and ""^^^T^lf JS Wh^n circum^^^ oypten. and other "*''}^''J^'' ^J^JZ^A^I^^a wWch kill ovrterx or conMuroe their ■oil. The Enemle* of the Oyeter. Th»rp arP some who would uaagine that the cultivation of "y**''™ J« » U nothinn furtter to •"""'f.'^"' ;""JJ^| .Su"n to the f.«. of the e.»e, .nd .re re«)y lor "•'''f Ll^jVot ,7™in" wSh the oyrter culturiet. The •SA^'S^'^^^'^ iT'^oSlSVl'th .av.nt«.. Fiveflngers or Starfish. .... . J . ._ phiinut- "No Derson would have thought, The followmg w quoted |5"" PW^- .^i/^hat^^^ on placing an oyster and a fivefinger «<*^^y^^;Xir first fruitless endeavours to foe to the oyster. Those who <■«" 'J^^ow the Sfish can achieve such a feat, open an oyster may naturally ^"n^l/J^ow ge ^tarfash c^n a .^ .^^ aVI have repeatedly seen it P'f'«'^X ^.I«.h F^m the mouta it pours a rays, it brings its mouth «PP"?'^l.*i^ra nd cau"s the Sto open. It secretion which P^^'^^y^^^J^^'^fr^Xrey and puHt into its stomach, so it cannot, Uke the dog-whelk, ex ract ^^^ P'^ "ind PUt ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ reverses the process, and puts its ''^»™"f "'".•; ^^^^ ov^er with its coats, 19 lo him, for h* prrfrni to atturk oyntcr-lmln rovrred with Hpnt, hnHNi, or hulf- w«r»»; — that In, oynten" .om «»n«' to three yearn of age, whime iihellii iire not hani, and whof«- flenh in more ilelirate and pleaninR to the enrhiniHtermHl Htomarh." HtarfiHb will alwi feed on muNW«lii, whirh themm-lvex iledtroy oyHtem by nmotherinK them, and on whelk tingleM, dead rrahii, ImrnarleN, etr.,' tut that, after all, they may do Name kimmI, ax a certain amount of vermin in a fcamc prenerve i-» anything hut injurious to thi- welfare of the whole population; the vermin keep up the Imlanee of nature iiy deNtroyinx and eating the niek and weakly aniroalM, whirh might otherwiwe die a lingering death. Sm Urchins. The next on the lint of the oynter'x enemier* ix the Kehini, "nea eggn" or wa urchinit, wliotte well known empty cawn are ho commtm on evi'ry Khore. The ImkIv of the wa urchin confintM eiuientially of an exterit»r xhell or nolid corona, covered with opineii, and invented in a delicate membrane, furnixhed with vibratile cilia. Thin corona Im formed or an aHHemblage of contiguous polygonal plates, adhering together by their edgeH. The platen arc ihi arranged Jhat the Khell in divided into vertical zonex. TheNt> zonex are of two kindx, one iH>ing verv much larger than the other. The platen of the larger zones are cove"^-*! with nharp npinen, which are movable, and nerve at once for protection and locomotion. The platen of the nmaller zones ar^ pierced with poren, from which innue filamentn, by which the animal breathen and walkn It can travel either on itn back or xtomach. Whatever their pttxture they have alwnyn a certain number of fwt which carry them, and nuckerx with which they attach themselves. In certain circumxtancex the animal walkn by turning upon itself in a wheeling motion. Nothing in more curious than to sea a sea-urchin walk up4»n nmth sand. One of the most singular organs of this interesting animal is its mouth. It in the most curious. Placed underneath the l>ody, it occupies the ci>ntre of a soft space invested with a tliick resisting membrane; it opens and shutn inces- santly, showing five sharp teeth projecting from the surface, the edges meeting at a point supported and protected by a very complicated framework, which has received the name of Aristotle's lantern. To this formidable mouth is attached an oesophfl<;us^ or gullet, and an intestine which extends aUmg the interior walls of the corona, describing the circumference of its principal contour. That sea-urchins a ■ regarded as vermin in the oyster pares has fie'-n prove*! by the following cvidf • c: — In the month of May of a certain year a sudden inroad of these lea-urchins was discovered in the Paglesham fishery (Essex), and by the month of August of that year they had eaten an enormous quantity of oyster spat, the size of a split pea. Frank Buckland noticed several of these creature.>< on the oyster beds in Kilkerran Bay, near Baliynohinch, (iaiway, and naively remarks, " that they are not there for nothing." Do«-Whelks. The dog-whelk or " whelk-tingle " (Purpura lapillus) is extremely injurious to oysters, and destroys them in vast numbers. Frank Buckland speaks of them as follows: — "These dog-whelks seem to find in a short space of time where the oysters may be found in numbers, for my friend Mr. Browning t<-ll8 me that not very long ago some fishermen found a bed of oysters out in the mid-channel deep sea. These oysters were, at the time they were found, not large enough to be dredged up and taken away to lay down on private Ijcds, so the dredgers determined to leave them till they grew to the proper size. I 20 They had not, however, calculated upon the ^h«"'-t'"8»«'JS' *^!?fi/?!"tfc Xl^Shis slt^ptt'urwhifh cause, the ^^,^n of Arcachon. France, say that there is not enough lime in the water for SroJsi« and'the mu^. and the letter being the fonKe^ the^ JltaUthP lime and the former suffer correspondingly. This is one way oi Sxp^ng IhTgeneil fact that somehow in the complex struggle for existence the mussels get on best. Sawdust. Sawdust when thrown into rivers or bays from saw-mills has always proved fatal^ oysterKds The lumber is generally sawn in a.wet or green state the 2«?!d68Us hLvT and when thrown into the water it is earned away by the tidlind gradSy s^nks to the bottom where it soon begins to decompose and, HSe'^ofes"^^^^^^^^ SB^-s^sSJift^^^^^^ against all the above mentioned enemies of the oyster. Questions about Oysters. T have often been asked the question. Which side should an oyster lie on? It is immateriar as when once the oyster finds its resting place, there it must rei^in rtlTtt caught, dies, or is removed by t^e action of ; he sea or^tide. In hrconnection I quote from "Philpots Oysters and all abou< them^ - ^ fiat :^crvi" si5f ^rrS ts^ -"To^^^ SM Se^tp^l^^rop. riWe but that they must lie quite higgledy-piggledy, so to speak. siuie uui, luo J i„„„„u'b in France which are most exposed to the '°^ %Z% have been several other disputes about points in the natural history wmmmMm The tollowing .rticle i. taken from a supplement to the Charlottetown SrS"ithouVS.r5 .Tete-^itSJe-Sf S. e^ti^tl.n th,e..e.e<. as a vif t^EiSe^SSl^S'StlS'S^^^^ ^^« -^ieet with interpStlorof^Ihe BritlS^NortTr ''^ ^^^'''^^'^ ''^d, according to an divided between thrFSfral aJd Provl^r.T '^'*' *^^" «°'"^''»"'t ^«i"^? solution of the conservation Xblemreerdi^ and a satisfactorj that definite steps were taken when an TJrl ""P°f ''''«• I* was not until 1911 present Dominion and PrSiaTGovernXf-T°\'^\* o^oneluded between the with the sole administration oftheoysCareL^ ^ ''*"" *"' entrusted and K^^aJL^'^LrTylt^rTZ" Sie^hr^f'^ ^V^--^ '^^ ^''P'^ted oyster section in the Provfnce waTsurv^tn °h i^^' J^^ ^^' *^^ wealthiest Of the 30.000 acres in the bay 74 OW were re,^rv h 1 "" "l*.? ""'''"'*^^ «'«*«• remainder offered to lessees at a Hal of one to fiv H '}>"^''" ^'^'""^ ^"'^ ^^e Five thousand acres were taken i m Kv ° ^^^ **°"«''^ a year per acre the work of development was cnmm«n^ companies during the first year and up, .young oysters Kted and aTrS^Vre'r''*" ^?"J?"« ^"' <^'^«n"d onginal wealth of this magnificent Bavwilnn* i "l*"^ indications that the will be greater -.rodurtion than ever O h.^ T^ ^ '^A""''^ ^"* that there New Brunswick Barrels. Prince Edward Island 595,123 Nova Sco ia 897,466 77,332 Total 1,569,921 Domlt^iould n^ttelu^pTd bt^r'^ 'T"'. '''' ^^^1 ^'''-^^-t the e^ily accessible, and the domestic consumnH^n'''''M^^'*i"'*"'^ ""'''k^ts are If the article were produced a"dsuppiredwi?h",r"'^' "'' *^''"^*' ^^ •°«^'-^ased cost. The area of oyster grourd" on thl An^Hi""^" resources, at a lessened and^sjuated in localitie^^dmSl^iJ "^S^t:^^:^^^:^/^^^ -turl;;bl^r thV:;:,taTin^^ the prospect for the , the public beds which is often the^casTorvrceverl' """^ ^ '"'"''^ °" to ando£TotTvS!,n'or^^^ It will be out of place to make Tfew TeTmrkfrnf .•'^'** ^T^^^' ^ ^« °«t think IS curried on in other countries eadic^nf^^^'"^ ^" ^^'^ ^^"^^ work, as it different ways according to t^dfie 3 Kt?'"'^ ""* *'^^''- °-" '^^as in -^IIp^S^^/K fwTirdS ^as^e". ''' "-* — - -<^ -cessf ul !!' 24 Oyster Culture In the United States, Atlantic Coast. On nearly the whole length of the A^^^^^^^^ from Massachusetts round to Texas in ^''^^V"" "'^^.j ^^J importance. There In this country oyster culture is an °f ^iralSitTons of th« oyster, iB such a vast area of water «">V£t *° «roS are Sed into two parts, and the demand bemg «« K-^^f JJ^VSe S^e ^nTthe other consists of areas one being the public, or natural J^ds o the SUte, an^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ or grounds brought into a state of cultivation ^X «w«^ ^ j ^^ese grounds into their time and spend large sums of ™S'i^ SU expense being the heaviest, a high state of cultivation. After t^* »/^^°"«^*^^^^^ at the same time, thelrounds are kept clean ^^ °yjer^i^ e^^^^^^^^^^ SLTby all classes. They TZ t?ported' iKe .t-^LrtbeXopean markets and also to the ^^%'::^y^^e'i:^V^P for the ^t ^.^^ TheTeVioui each year finds larger areas of ground under cultivation^ t^^^^^ ^ one, and there is still V^J^^yji'^^^^^^^^^eui^hy means of railways ^"rtrm'boTt? 'StysterTrad'e'in'ihl: country is>o'w the largest in the ^Id^Tomtof the meffods of cultivating these beds are:- Oyster Planting. Oyster planting is the placing of «- '. o' "-e^ ^dt^veTJrealy "o which are favourable to ^^^^^^j'^^' 'XZ^^' of better^uality when the value of ovsters, as they K™^ more n.piaiy, ana a ,^ ^^^^^ ^^e thus scattered, than they are «PonJ\e,, °*^^^^^^^^^^ statement that $13 worth f 4™^", .^^^^.e ^^ "^ »"'^' ^^^ «bout thirty ^^S^^^^o^^^'S:^^^ -itrrntrl the oysters which he has planted. x i „„ ^omiirp a larire capital as it can be carried The industry does not 'always require a large cap i ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ on with profit on a very small ^^^^^.^^^J'^^l'^g^been employed, it has greatly intelligent attention. In all flff^'^^'J^ies which have engaged in it, and ^tXtr^rS^l:"'^^^^^^^^^^ along which it has been encouraged and Protected. . .,^ ^ow the work is done in the State of Cnn^eS. iTySm l^^pSX .he «».. » » M»-d i„ th. <>.h,r oyster State.i. The Oyster Fishery of Connecticut. The mehods employed in this State are of the greate^^^^^^^^^ cut has been able, by the adoption of a wise pton to t,mia P K ^^^ ^^^. industry in a very short time "^"d *« P'^^^.^ f Upon the most stantial foundation The "^^t^^^^l ^edsoUh^s btatearei m ^w^^.^^ ^ ^^^ liberal estimate, they do not exceed 5,000 acres, »» ^oi ^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ marketable oysters, and are V»^'f >' T^S^^^^^e" S^L^^ planting. . Three years of eUcientP^^^^^^^^^^ to 'purchase oysters, a change in this State, which was so rei y ^^^^ ^ j^ considerable 25 ivrrTtn'^tf V° E"™?*"" planters. One firu. shipped 60 car-loads of seed Z^tI h«H Kin '""""L^k ^^'^ ^ car-loads, or more than 15,000 WO yoS ^ A ^K ^° ?«^H'-««1 by persons employed in planting on the Padfic coa^t The PubHc Beds of Connecticut. at niJhV- "^u^'f ^''*^- "W' °PT *" "" residents of the State at all times excent upon me puonc beds has only recently beon nmhiKitor) c*„ "•™giim much quickness and ease. In a caL „r W.' rtZZ ??"'*'*' ?" "^^^ in the InlK; "■ "' ""'' """ '^"'"""'^ ^'"''' '^^' «" aeti^^^rt The Private Oyster Grounds of Connecticut. Tl ' 'Tnds which arc thus appropriated are taxed like fprI P«f«fo a„^ they ma. ^e attached or executed unon liko rp«I «t . t. 'tv. '^^'*'/*tatc. And J » nnc 01 irom JJUO to tSOO, or liy Imprisonment for one yjar; and the injury I or dertruction of the stake or buoys, or the grounds, or the oysters upon them, is punished by a fine of from MO to 1700, or by imprisonment from one month to ^"x months; and any boats which are used in violation of the law are confij- citS and sold at aurtion. the seising officer receiving one half the proceeds '°'* MrtotL?twi've!: have a somewhat different law; thus the town of Guildfo^ h«J! by special Art of legislature, the right to lease its grounds for ten vears to the highwit bidder at public auction, but it cannot ease more than five acres to one pirson. The grounds which are thus appropriated to p^^;ate nlrties by the to^s are not usid for framing or propagating oysters, except in Jfewca^s, but simply for planting, and the seed Ts either take^n from the public beirorU purchased from the holders of private grounds in the area under the KriXtfon of the State, or from persons outside the State. The system does not thSre, materially increase the number of oysters, but it does greatly fncreaLTheir vXe; and it is therefore a great source of wealth to the people of th^tute and neiriy all lands adapted for the purpose are now appropriated. Deep-Water Oyater Cultivation in Connecticut. ThP business of planting oysters in Connecticut, under the provisions which have uTbeen explained, ^rew so rapidly that all the inshore available J^Anm nPflr New Haven was soon occupied, and these waters looked like a ^"rrge^foS^so tSly^ere they planted with boundary stakes A last Mr H C Rowe ventured out into the deeper water of Long Island hound and inauguSed a new era in American oyster culture by the establishment °' TarSiTpirt^rf haltj; tfthe'd'evelopment of a new form of oyster cultuTe which isTot planting, but farming in its true sense since the 'seed ovier^'aTe seed in reality, bringing forth after t! ir kind a thousand foW, and fibuUdinTup on private grounds what can .<3 best described as artificial ^turalW of "^oyster.. The movement which has led to this result is the natural oeos o» „Ln which has ever been taken in America towards an en- Thtrd'^ethL oTmatU t^^^^^^^^ industry. It has been met at each stte by the mos^^ «"d its history should be of very great interest to all places which control waters in which oysters Ao"""'' ^ R^e Lnnn had manv imitators, and as oyster culture in deep water cannot be managed on a smalTsca^le the traks wh=ch were lea.sed were necessarily outside the hm.t Stwo^cres which was all that was allowed by a stri.t interpretation of the law The rapid development of the industry was watched with angry excitement and as it was seen thaithe exsting statutes had never contemplated anything Sthl orT alterations and amendments rapidly followed one another now in ?he interest of the deep-wrfter cultivators, and now m the interest of the small P'^'^^'Sfe fiS^rn'aLnt iTeindignantly opposed the capitalists, and on the «ound that evT^thing under the water is common property, nbr removed fhpTsters from private grounds As there was no survey or dehneat on of the "'naturaTds^ unlimited stealing from private grounds was perpetrated and looked upon with general favour by the great majonty of fishermen on the r.lo,i ihnt the erounds in question were natural oeds. ■^ The aeeLSrcultivalor,, ircrea.in, in number, and m influence were but so much d^content existed that a resolution was passed by the legislature protecting the deep-water planters. Preparations. be ready to emit their soat Hp thfn o^' i n l- . ^ "'* spawners muHt winter, and distribute them broadcLt over th/:^^^^^^^^^ tracfoM^nVr"'' "P "" to improve that year. These sheiU are Tip« ^n^ f n * Zi , he proposes mother oysters previously depos£d " *"'* ^''" "'^^^ "'°"«-^"^*^ "^ »»>« Expenses of an Oyster Farm. No. 1— Fifty acres :— ^L^J^P^^f '•'' ^pawners, at 30 cents . . , , <5 fion nn 15.000 bushels shells, at 3 cents ^ i'S SS Planting 15,000 bushels shells at 4 cents . . . Joo 00 '^°*'*' rTesfToo No. 2. — Sixty acres: — 2^000 bushels spawners at 56J cents « i i -^n nn 17,000 bushels shells at 4 cenl. . . * ' Z S 4,453 bushels Bridgeport seed at 10 cents '.'.'.'.'..'.] 445 30 '^*'**' $ 2,255 30 t« « third rate Captain O. H. Townw-nd gave me a rtatement of the \f lJlrt^n!r» farm of twenty five ac en off the mouth of Eai.t Haven Sl^er This^ rjHutilte arrangement, but on the other hand, wa. S^compuS ThToGsra variety of favourable conditionn, cheaper than would have been po«»'>'e with the ground o herwine situated. 2,000 bu-.heU small raw cy«ters at 25 cents S 500 00 Spreading- same and '♦ at 5 cents WOW WO bushels dredg-' 40 - ents 240 00 10,000 bushels she . down a« 4 cents *"" "" Total.: » »-24«0° It would not be un'air to average the cc.t of securmg, "urveymg, and nrenarinTthe deep-water beds at aliout f40 an acre, or about W.OOO for 100 E^^ To this must be added about $2 an acre for grbund surveys buoys acres. ^ «/""{?"*;":. "I u^. planter in his undertaking, and if these be kmin, tw., bir,!. «ith on. .tone, ™.chm, the oysters, and cleaning the grounds. Management of the Oyster Farm. Havimr secured a spat of young oysters upon the cultoh which has been 1 A SfJn L them theTare left alone until they attain the age of three, four n't five veai accSng to the thrift and the trade for which thev are designated u ♦iZ/ndAf which time they have reached a large size and degree of fatness, by the end of whicn ""« ^»TJ^ "" ,. • i„rKelv done by those planters who live %XrTo^\ trey aTt" t' sold"^^^^^^^^^ th^ planters at Providence at Oyster f oint, tuey are n. ^ j ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^j^j S'lrioTcSSerS » a'S.T-Me 'I^Zh for th"; »..ori.y o. ,he ..o.k. of guns. A«> concussion o summer are much more suscep- ribTfo"li:'^ from tS cluse than^hose o'btained during the winter. Oysters^re transplanted at any and all seasons, but generally in the spring and autumn. Extract on the Close Season. •X'y S'r„«SerRm be '■«'^z!''^^'j,^^,::-;^ii^r£^\z if 29 fss^ ?h'r;rr.lr,: r.hSir,''x,'rr:T"''' ""-■ "■" '••• ♦ k f'^hl "P"**'?" ^^w*""" «•»« '« inorp extended than in our own w«t,.rw ,.„.i the ' rther 8outh one goes the FonKer it lantH In th^ n«JL,„ L * ^Y^«"'rs and »eam,n extends from May till SeptemK whiV i^tff rT.V f m '^- " '^^^ preparation and extenwon of their beds. Thev are «nrep,l ,.11 Ti, •**'! at the right time, when the oyster i« ready to emit the Jpat'' '^' "'^' J"«* tem m transportation. The shells are piled up to dry Thev are exru^^iff^ the sun and rain, frost and snow, which have the Xs red effe.t on C tK mud^bemg removed and they are thoroughly oleaL^lTf'llf ^^X I'rTtt.er Sometimes the surp'us shells are dredged from off the Uo,l< *h^ ., + OYSTER CULTURE IN EUROPE. The Whitstable Oyster Company, England. .„, ^i7 '"*'™t*<' connection with the Whitstable Oyster C'ompanv of which I tK 7^' J ," '** """ ^" ^""l^ ^" y"""" not'i'*^' a ft'W facts connected with the mception, developm, nt and present standing of the above named cTpoLlon Fr»„ p- K ' ""a^* f Parliament was obtained, incorporating the comoanv of W th«r *""* J^'""'*'^"' "^ Whitstable, and granting them the ComraoTseai Smee that year, the company has regularly held, each July, its Wat"r Court,' presided over be a Bteir»rd. On thst dmy all lU oAeere are eleeted for the follow- mc year. Only freemen of the oompanv were allowed to attend meetinp, or flen on tbeee grounds, a rule rigidly enforced. The memDersbip of this company was origioally obtained by birthright, only the sons of freemen were admitted on the annual Water Court following their twenty-first birthdav, but owing to the members becoming so numerous, it was decided to take only the eldest son from rach family; finding this cour.-H^ did not improve matters in the company, in 1896 they formed themselves into a joint stock company, valuing each member's share at no much per head; now a person can sell his whole share, ur a portion of it, the company workn^; strictly on a commercial basis. The oyster hed» are about one and a half square miles in sise, but the com- pany hold' freehold land to a great extent. From two to three hundred men find employment in the oyster firthery nearly the whole year round. The total number of members at the present time belong- ing to the company is 550, the annual turnover being about £70,000 and the total value of the whole concern is estimated at about £200,000 sterling. Their grounds are alwayn kept well supplied with stock, consisting of market- able and yoiT-g oysters, which are either bred on their own grounds or purchased from the adjoining oyster grounds. A great deal of the labourer's time is taken up on the grounds at Whitstable m keeping the area clean and in order. This is done with more than one motive in v'iew. I must here explain that several classes or qualities of oysters are planted on these grounds, and each area is divided, by stakes, beacons and buoys into square patches, keeping each grade of oyster on its own particular bed. The men are instructed how long to work, the area they are to work upon, and the quantity of marketable oysters they are to bring on shore. They then leave for the grounds which are from three to four miles offshore. The rowboats leave the shore with from four to seven men as a crew for each boat. These boats have from a quarter to three quarters o a mile to row to the sailing (or dredging) boats. They use from three to five dredges (five being the limit), and their time on the ground is occupied in culling out from th3 contents of the dredge all marketable oysters that are required for the clay's catch. The spat, young oysters, or half-ware are not overlooked, but are carefully picke . out, and if attached to weed, stones or shells, are removed, if it can be done without injury to the young oyster; these are placed on an area especially reserved for them, the shells are then carefully gone through and if any marine enemies to the oyster are found, such as starfish, dog-whelk, mussels or seaweed, they are placed on one side to he destroyed. The shells are then returned to the water, the dredge is again hauled to the surface and the above performance is repeated. Sometimes a few boats are to Ije seen working on an area where the young ones are planted. These crews are generally selected from careful men. They go to examine the state of the ground, pick out all marketable oysters, and see there are no enemies to the young ones. Through the continual working of these grounds, the shells are kept very clean. They lie thick upon the iieds, and this is the only method that is used to try and catch the spat, as the area is so exposed to the open sea, and all the fiercest gales that blow, viz., from the north-west round north to about east-south-east, it is very surprising to an interested observer what is annually found on these shells. Not nearly enough are saved to supply the demands of the trade, and young native oysters are bought from the fishermen who dredge on the natural grounds; also from oyster culturista in Essex, who are more successful in saving their spat, owing o the sheltered localities in which their grounds are situated. These grounds at Whitstable are considered the finest on the coa.st for fattening purposes, and their name comes first among oyster dealers. 11 l».t. »re tU helped foithe r Sn« ^L S^h^ni^"*'."!!" *.?'''• '^» *»» the oysten are pUc«d in th«^«« Kj ?I '<««•>»•>» th^m th.- wih •» furled. with ail Powible^ he ia-Sr'ofch .S*^ t""^' *" *^• """"P-ny'- «tS the numWr of oyK caught SL,th^m.^^'T'*""' *'.! *''•' ««"" »» '^»»nje The oyrtPn, are received R a -tS «fl«^^r 1 ">«•" ^^o worked with hii. which hold about two bu.L/a« i^lC each"'*"' '^' ''''''" '" ^'^^ "«»•' •ide^j-'ind^rn^t!;!! wuh'\rr br.'r*" p'^- ''«»'?:'•"•«"'»- »>••"«'"> "-j This pit can be kept 7il of fr^h Xtat";T>r7T' "'^^l^ '^"'^. "» *"»" t'*!" net^ of oysters are attachini ., r ..T 1 ' '"*^ ■""" '^^ " desired. The •re req '-^ for Lrker the Ume vTrvZ^"^'^'"''"*,'" *^' P**" •"•»" the^ eight lloirs, when the ntock ii a,«T^, «1 from immediate u^ to about forty- public are supplied Thr.^t.T a" th'IvTr^"*;^ '^I'V" **•'". ^'^ ^^at the from the pitrrrculled ooS or mea/u,^ "LnJ"^ t'L '"?'''**• "^ '"'-^^ very important item in the EnXh^nrrW^'^ u 7"*"^ *^'''''?' **»''•»' '- » securely sewn up in rtronnam ThJv •- Vk'^u''"' !JP 'n,"*""*"*! »>«»'f«». or where the faci.i^es are i^T the^r^Lu V'p:"rist bl^^/ril'" ™''""^ '''^'' kinds u7ovsrej;'lirvVTherhS nri .*"'" Vt *" .""^'"•* «» "ommission. All the season **••"' '""'^ P"''^' "'"^ »»'"•' " very ittle variation .luring Them, bods lie in about 6 feet of water at low tiH- tu fall of alwut 12 or 13 feet, ordinary -priT" K ^''"^ '" " ""^ """^ comSe^^'X^h^ worfSntlv aZl fi""* f'"'*':'! *«.'*»' y«"' '-"""« two estate's committee. whierittendTlK^ • P""«'? •'«"-'^ *»'- ^^^^^ or J^ned the working comrii«.^"'SstLLl^ **•".* **•- "*''" '- i8 properly worked and car^d for to lav .^«rl^ "Y' ^" "^ '•'*1 '*>«' «'""''•« and catching of oysters and ,thl; «,;„ off areas and supenntend the laying charge of the for^r wh1"e a^tm^raml dr.itvl ''*'"'™'?" " "P"^""*-^' '» latter, with treasurer'. ^ecreta^^^Jhrmtr oVc^r''" " ''***^*'^' ^" '''•' oyste'^'JiLtr ' Bufo" ing ^""th^""''' ^r^J "^ "^«^*''" ^^ •-'* «" Kn«li«h a^out that time, o:"LZn? ^f Huooe^lv".? M "P''* '""'i!'' '" f^"««''»' '^^tew decrease of oysters round the Br^Uh * °''^ '*'*'**'"^' ^^^^ '^"""'"K « «tead. Thb givw emplovmMtt to • ■umbvr of thf compMiy. with » pn>fluble n»riln. An no «rtlfi«n*l me«M »r« iwmI for thf prowmntlon »*f the oyrtir. bevond ■heiUnf Mid kwpin* thr giounita rlran, larw iunw of money »n nqu\n(l to ■•cure thii rtock. T«« pnte of native browl and half-ware ha« uradually l»een on the incnaae. Here U an illustration:— In IJWO my fathera veiMtel and a few trther* (called market boauta) at thev art' larner than the ordinary d. ednin* boat*, and are enRaced in conveying o\nWn from the differtrnt finberie* to market, were enitaget. m obtaining oyrtera for pUntlnn for the company. One of the cargoeM connwtiKl of 112 tubi. of ovrtem (24 aallonii to the tub). The price then paid wan »ix »hiUingi» per tub. or a total value of £33 12n. On hl» return from CatmdR, after an Inspection of the oynter beedH. Other companies are just as particular in their care and preservation of **''^"The*^mpany's "store" before referred to, is a spacious building at the head of the lieach, and besides containing the pits, the lower part of the building is divided into packing rooms, store-rooms for boxes, barrels, bags, twine, and other necessary material and implements that are used, offices and committee rooms, -ind above this flat there is a large hall covering the who e building and capable of a^-co ntr > 'Ming ov-r (MX) persons. It is in this hall that all their meetings are held, bv.ng either annual, quarterly <.r special, so that all the work of the Tompany is carried on under one roof. From these offices one has a splendid view of the sea including the oyster beds m the distance. While this company carries on its business on a large scale, it will be seen that its methotls are simple and direct. Great care is taken of the grounds and brood The storage t)f ovsters in small net bags suspended in the pits is only temporary, as the stock is replenished every day or every other day, as the case ma^ £ ' Hgi, ^nd French oysters are not so hardy as the Canadian oyster. This work could be carried on in just the same way in this country, even on a small scale with profitable results. , , • u The price of the shares is continually increasing, which speaks for itself. As previously stated the work is now being carried on under a commercial basis, the lalx)urer being paid for his hire, with a staff of expenenced men acting as managers and directors of the concern. ■ ^ i- u vpry iittle if an poaching i« carried on by the outside fishermen in English water? At one time some of the ordinary fishermen were Wrongly opposed to the scheme where companies applied for concession^, but after these com- nanies became established, in many cases it was foun i to be of great t>enetit to them, as it opene«l up a ready market for their catch of oysters whether large or small ones, and often they would find employment by hinng tnemselves !I£j«i!l!!' *T*" 1^ *•!? "y*^' «'"*••'*' *»>..» tlM>ir tini« would Jh. uki>n up in S?M bik ir?&K*''' '«"»•»'«*-.»'-«»/•»'•»•'« "y.t.M for market X; SSv J5^««^Jo7hi»* tt ■PP"'""/'"'^ »' «/""»» »'-« "' nr.'un.J which wm tfuy UM4«Hw to them, but whei* thry would ikcs* onnlly trv to Mi umjn wentually lHM-«m. « jourr- of regukr rmployment to nmn/ of thJm '^ ' •Uh .."♦K "k"^ P'>'«'h«r» Ih. MURht in th.. art they are u;uttlly .everely dealt with at th* hand« of Ju«ticp. To prevent raid.1 Ix-inR ma.le hv i),)u.her- on n^ """^T'''" ''"'"?.'^'' • "*?" !•' watchmen are alway. on hundlnlth .lu\ and nklht. l)ogH are often tniine'^l'" »' Kr«Pn.'lH are al-i, u«kI ; they are attache.! to ohainii ard npread over the area, which would catt^i n dredge if it were hauled over thi^m. Prevention in often Mter than cure qu..teMhe'^!llow!nl,^''' '" " "'^'^ "" *'" '''""•"*■'*" '"-'•"'^" "' ">'""" '»""'' th«t 1? WM*Jl"l!i""' '" Knaland nenerally varies but little in ineth.MlH from «^n A^v*'^"''l'' «ther "ocalitie., therefore. nee.l \^ but little commented ffi: ^.J'^Ta l" the wertwanl, and H.-rne Bay to the eastward of Whit- of «;n.r«lT K T"" *"r** »nvamon« of mud, an.i at the latter place. HhiftinRH of «and alm>, have lieen of conwderable unn.iyance. The nmedv ha. U'en SIT' 'J'■t^?^•;' '^' «~"».^*"- ^»«*'*^""'- *'*»' J"'"*- «•"- -he'linx or nan., damizmg of the bottom it certain area«. Wee""«h «n'l f "Ine (below Colche.Ter) b> a regular process of harrowing the bottom during the beginning of the spring, on and nS°J^^*' « t '°9f« ,^«l'"""'jt accumuUting during the winter is broken irL i*t f2 ^Ku^'' ^■'^''i ^P' .*h" operation a harrow is prepared, with n^,i^» • °f°n **''■''•' '"''^^■' '" '•'"Kth. bent slightly at the tips. When cr„rwKi"'K'"'"''"'^' "TP** T ^^^ *he teeth may n..t break tli .ugh the ZZJa'k *:«? I?™*^ ^y *h^ "helling process of former vears; this is fn^ fw K u^ »dj"»t'ng the length of the harrow rope from the dredging vessel. ?h^^ee^in^ShTrot/•'' ' '"'"' ''"' "' " '*"^'^''' " '■**""'^' ^^'*' '"""'' ''^ Eases Oyster Grounds and Areas. On the northern side of the entrance to the River Thames the count f Jwaex 18 situated, with oyster breeding area.^ in the rivers Blackwafer. Mer^v «^olne and Crouch. These nvers contain very valuable ovster brcding »r.>as iney are owned by companies and individuals who cultivate their NmI. with extreme care, and protect them from molestation. The mode of dr«HlKing is somewhat similar to tho.se of the Whitstable Companv. with the excepti.M. that some of th«*e grounds are worked by small steamboats, built pxnresslv ik>r that purpose, borne of the rivers are winding and inland, with a .omiwrafivolv strong current. There they cannot depend on wind to assist them, an.l «> these beds are worked neariy every day, it is considered more economical to use steam These boats are built with a very wide beam, and the deck is carri.Hl out from the «tern of the boat to the outside cd^e of the paddte-box, giving ;i x-ery large deck area on a small boat. ^ »• j «>ik». The owners of these grounds are very particular alwut th.> shelling of their beds, as this is the mode of catching their spat. The shells are exp.;sed to the sun, wind and rain. They are dried in this way. Ail animal and vegetable >%%. 34 matter dies and becomes separated from them, and on moving these shells they are very clean in appearance, rough to the touch, and are most suitable as spat collectors. Cockle shells are also used as spat collectors in these rivers. The shells are small and light, not sufficiently large to alter the shape of the oyster in its growth. They are easily detached or broken off from the young oyster. Large quantities of cockles are caught at Sc^hend and boiled on the shore, the fish being extracted from the shells by means of a sieve just in the same way as cinders are separated from ashes. The flesh of the cockle is sent to market already shelled, or in bulk, a« we term it, and is considered a delicacy by some. The shells, after being subjected to boiling water, are very clean, and serve the above purpose admirably. With some companies, the cost of shelling the grounds just previr as to the spatting season amounts to quite a considerable sum. The shell of lif cockle, being verj- light, is laid as a finishing touch to their work. They then iet them rest during the summer, anticipating a spat of brood as a reward for the' labours. Cockle shells are also secured for shelling oyster beds from the shores of the Isle of Sheppy. Oyster pits have been dug out along these rivers abreast of the oyster grounds, for the purpose of storing oysters for immediate shipment in large quantities, especially to the French and Bi^lgium markets. The oysters are caught daily and deposited in the pits until a vessel arrives for the purpose of taking them across the North Sea. These pits are extensive, and are connected with the river by a sluice, and can be drained dry in one tide if desired, as the bottoms of the pits are above low-water mark. Large quantities of oysters, in fact, neariy all the stock of small oysters, are wintered there, to se- e them from being exposed to the freshets in the early spring. This process has a. detrimental effect on the growth of the oyster, but saves its life. The English native oyster is of slow growth, and when frequently moved from the beds to the pita the effect is to materially stunt its growth. The shtll of this oyster is hard and clean, with a clear pearly inside. At Brightlingsea, in the waters of Colne creek, French, Spanish, North Sea, Portugese and American oysters are laid down for fattening purposes along the ebb-dry. Here extensive flats are left dry at each tide, and these are excellent fattening grounds. During the spring of the year these areas are planted at, or just below low-water mark. The owners watch the oysters and occasion- ally move them about to prevent them from being silted over; also to pick out any enemies or dead oysters. When ready for market, these oysters are easily obtained. They are disptosed of, as a rule, before the frost sets in, as it is very destructive to the oyster when it is lying between wind and water, or they are removed to the beds in the channel of the river. At the mouth of the River Colne there is a large tract of water nanaed "Pont' . This portion has a very firm bottom, something similar to the Kentish flatfi, and on it public oyster dredging is carried on. The oysters caught from such areas as these are generally sold to companies, who relay them on their own grounds. No size limit is in forrp in England, as the young oyster is valuable, and if caught is not destroyed, ! iit is placed on private grounds, the fishermen being paid according to size and quantity. Oyster Culture in France. French oyster culture differs entirely in its methods from those of other countries, as the work is chiefly artificial. I do not think such method could be carried on as successfully here as there. This is owing to the long sever* i 35 before anything can be doZ. "'"'^""''* "°*'' *he 8pnng is advanced, it is late foral'*£triodttthi''sLT "- -- '-ed arranged allTround and over these nlo^'' te"""'^ coated with a solution of sand R^li™» > -^ ^"'' " *° "«^<1' '^hich were for oyster spat to adhere t^ These ™ re T^« '' rough covering of cement laid crossways. These tUes are notflJ^,/^" «"an»fed in layets or in piles might adhere to both sides Af^^r Vh!' li""*^ *"'' rounded, so that the spat fully inspectecl, and if the spathad adhry'?f ""*' °^"' ^^^ *''«^« *«^« ^'»^- deeper Water until th" folfowC snrinJ^ «nH ' !''*'>' *"«' «9metimes placed into The mode was to remove hr;oun/ov8tershvn,"^*'''''/*"PP"'i*- '*^'' '" ^^' f«"- ..^chisel, removing the ce'^LTXT^- triltT:^^ "^ SJtl^ removed "STre'^Ia^'edT.f Sj-JaTel^^^^ '""'^'i™"'^?' "-«- ^^t-be-* that can be removed withouTkilHnft he .vff^^^^^ V^""^ ''"''■ ^" ^^e cement returned to the trays To protect them from mJn *"''"" ^'"^y- • '^^•'^ "« ^^en starfish, dog-whelk! dogfish etc un??I Z^- ?,!«*'•*'";:"' ^•''— «anf«. mud, enough to deposit them on the I'av.wi S ^ are sufficiently grown to be large trays are slii/htlv rS f«.m fi^ ^ *^ ^™T '"**' marketable oysters. The as dirt of aTdescSn at thi ^'-^"^ '°.^^?* "° ^^'^ ""^y ^e"'*- on (hem There trays L%TaS"n 1 fc^'Se'r "Cr../-*''M" '''' y°""« °y«*" growih is rapid. "ai.ow water, where, during the warm weather the shorelt^g^n^^affy'l'SetU^t'^^"^ *" ''°'"*" «^ ^^--^ '"-"ties. The large area, S^allfngteorrk t^^^ '"«^'^' ^^'« «-- P~ ^ in delioted'to !Srgllir^t"i,Tstimt"H%'K" f™"^"^ '^ *'''' ''^''°- -^ich employment in this IXS; around ^0^0/ r'"" ^OO-OOO . people find revenue to the State in the w'ay™' onlCslf^/roundT ' '' '^"^^ « '^^'^^ thesJed^aXuS^relm^TroJuc'U^^^^^^^ '"™^ «^ >^- -"-^ furnish will engage themselves in"X^nrfhp^!i!^'*''?"l"'"P*J°"- »«me Producers dispose of it to other growers Selrn.?^^ '"''^ "^^^^ "^ ". '''^"^'^^ ^i^^.will they will fatten or green thToyTter as mavt"/' *"' T^l''^ ""*? "^'^P*^'' ^^at in this wav, where the waterTar/«f„^- -^ uT'T^''- Transplanting oysters oysters will 'often put on fgrowtj^f shell K"' •'*' ^ ^"^^^''*' ^ff^^t- The of the fish. ^ ^'^ ^"'^"' ''*^'"^*'» mcrease the .size and flavour thatT;Vn1'7elTth'e"totaroiw*'*" '"^P"'"* ''.^''- ^^^^^ ^'^he'- He says oysters, whichTroviSed labLr f?r abouTsr;^^ ^°"^T '^""'^'^^ ™""«n 000 in money to France ThJriK 1, ^^:^^ persons, and was worth $2,650, miles of the sLSoitorwhichwoulfc:^^^ T ''^P'^^T '*^«"t ^ '^^^^^ tive. ' "^^ ***"'" otherwise have remained entirely unproduc- raised in this way upon a fa?m of lol « ^''''"^-^..^t eight million dollars was acres, sixteen million oysters were uLl'^'' '''% "Pon another farm of 500 oysters to be found therrwhenTK™«. '" '^iW-dr-. ^'t''""*?'^ there were no A result nf tKi I ^^^^^^^^ '^^^ ^'-^s established five years before. in good oX wet She^d Imi'^'H'' ff" " \^''} '^' "«*»■•«' ^eds are kept more fertile, and the fished „„fhf^^1l'H*''-''K^'i.'''''^' ^"'' «« ^^^"^^ «>«'•« and ^^' Thi t^ur''^ -SrrScTm^irrat^^^^^^^^^^ ^"""^ ^'-p- ims industry goes on increasing in volume from year to year. ' Oyster Culture in Holland. Oyster cultivation in Holland is und, although they are not very productive. The soil too, is more of a shifting nature, so that artificial culture has never been successful along the German coast. The following is an extract from Dr. Bashford Dean's " European Methods of Oyster Culture;—" " Among the European systems of rental of State lands, the careful methods of Holland are worthy of consideration, especially as the matter of rental with us will become of greater importance as demand for cultural property increases. State policy in Holland has not hesitated to give short leases at competitive prices; on the ground that v^aluable land should not be continued in the hands of one who does not pay for it a just rental, and that the balance established by competition is apt to be the fairest in the end at all interested parties. State, cultur'sts and public at large." The prices of leases vary according to location and past results, showing how the value of one locality above another for this and other purposes of oyster culture appears to be gradually established by experience and is indeed recognized by^tho.se interested in the industry. The following are a few comparative numbers of the sums for which the same plots were leased in 1870, and the prices realized in 1885: — Allotment No. 176, 12 acres, was leased in 1870 for £2!^ lOs. a year; in 1885, £508 a year was charged. Allotment No. 138, 12 acres, was leased in 1870 for £18 10s. a year; in 1885, £762 10s. a year was charged. Others have gradually come down in the market as, for examph ''80, 24 acres, brought, in 1877, £45 16s.; in 1879, £1 10s. No. 415, 18 acrt- ht, inI1877, £2 Is.; in 1882, 10s. The fluctuation it will be seen considerable, and only rivalled by that mysterious fluctuation- of spat which, in the breeding season, is carxied to and fro at each turning tide, all through the basin of the ea -^ern Schelde. It should also be specially mentioned, that aft< • the beds at Yerseke had been withdrawn fom public fishing, no obligatory close season for oyster fishing was ever prescribed. The lessees could dredge for their oysters at whatever time of the year they liked. That they did not generally do so in summer wa.^, ' in the first place, for fear of disturbing the growth, the delicate edges of the shell being at this period more particularly liable to break; and secondly, because the oysters are found to be less palatable at this time of the year. It will be noticed by the above that one of the rea.sons of success aiost be attributed to the leaseholders refraining from selling their oysters during the summer months. Although there is no close season, their own judgm-^ct is sufficient to regulate the commencement of the season, which does not begin with them until the weather has become comparatively cool. I have been unable to obtain any later data of the above rentals, but the same system is carried on successfully and sales of oysters are increasing annually. Many persons in Holland who are unable to go into the cultivation of oysters. 37 mInv*m!.ilT'**'' ''"r"'^'' * «"'^*'^^ •« cultivating the odible musso! and Oyster Culture in Italy. are soon observed to pass into distant perspective in regular line" and to mark he can cu^^ll Th ^ ««»*« a/«'^ and each culturist secures as many as •nd th, energy ot nval oullurist, add. much to the .ueees, rftheir inSS ' .hejd^'„" ^Apd"s;: LtSofSuTs x.tr.t ^X'S marke? ^ '* ^^^ ^°""« "^'*''"^' «™^' f""^'-^ ""^ prepare them for eonv^^tSfirs^^ ^hter^EoS:;.*^^^^^^^^^^^^^ tyftrS growth tS&sSe" b^lr"" °^^^"^' ^"^ P'^^^*^ ^"■- «*°-«« -d fi-' ri^npin f« ?^*^"I *•"•* *^^ spawning season in the warm waters of the Mcditer- October ThrirP„7'/"f' k*"*"'* ^^ *^^ proprietors to extend from April to Uctober. The greatest set, however, occurs about the end of June which were exkmXTin' AT/fvf'f ' that had been put down in January, and wSe7Tnd ft T«^ /n P"'' ^^** spawning had taken place during the cold SSmTtCt thSoutTh^year '^ '"'""' ^''^^ ^^^ spawning 'continues mof J5® ^^^''u^ suspended from poles arc an essential part of the Italian SlrSinWe'iS laken^*^^^^^ oysters collected from^hc boUm, I weU dvfrrheiS?Jtnt?>. Tk**'\™'^''1'^"""«*^ P™^^''^ «f overhauling, are given tlieir final growth. These baskets vary considerably in size and shape, 88 the most usual form being loosely woven and shaped like a cheese box. Another device used in giving the oystcre their final growth is a net covered iron ring with a diameter of five feet which, may support fmr or five hundred oysters; while a single rope 14 feet in length interwoven with twigs is said to rear about 2,000 marketable oysters. Oysters two years old will attain a diameter of three and a half inches and are sold for ablout 80 cents per 100. The annual yield is about 20,000,000. It will be seen that this mode of culture is entirely different from either the French or English system. It shows that if holders are pressed for room, oysters can be successfully cultivated between the surface of the water and the bottom. It appears to be the cleanest way, as all sediment is so easily removed by a slight shake of the ropes. The growth also is very rapid, owing no doubt to the sheltered positions, mild weather, and absence of ice. I have given a brief outline of the practical methods in the United States and some European countries, and have endeavoured to set forth a general idea of the work that may be safely carried on in the Maritime Provinces. For ages past oysters have existed in our waters, and although they are decreasing, yet, with care and attention to this branch of the industry, there is no doubt that this valuable bivalve may be increased, both in quantity and quauty. Oyster culture has flourished in other countries, and I see no reason why it should not be successfully carried out in this Dominion of ours.