Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-18
History of The Oyster-Its Habits
and PecuifarIties.

The eggs of the oyster are developed
within the mantle, and are so very numer-
GUS that different observers estimate the
number borne by single individual at
from 100000 to some millions. The eggs
are hatched within the mantle, and when
the Young are sufficiently developed TO
shift for themselves, they are sent forth
in myriads, and form what is called by
fishermen the oyster "spat." Most ami
mails are quiet, and nearly helpless when
young but the oyster quite reverses the
usual order of things, and its activity in
| its early youth is in marked contrast with
the dignifed quiet of its later years. Each
tiny individual is provided with shell,
and each has vibratory cilie TO enable il
so swim. These cilis are hsir-like ap-
pendages, capable of being rapidly moved,
and by means Of this the young oyster
starts upon its first, and also Its last,
Journey. Should the minute oyster escape
the many enemies that are ready TO de-
stroy it, it soon ceases to wander, and
settles upon stone or other solid body,
attaches itself to it, and begins to grow.
When there is favorable set," the
number of young oysters to be found upon
every sohd object beneath the water is
prodlgious Every rock and stone is
covered with them; they cluster upon the
shells of old oysters, and even form attach
ments TO glass bottles, clay pipes, or what
ever may by chance have been dropped
into the water. At the age of six months,
the oyster Is about the size of half dollar,
and at twelve months it is as large as
dollar-silver, not currency. When about
year old, the shell is marked with longi-
tudinal ridges or futing, which, however,
gradually disappear, and when the oyster
is four or FIVE years old, they are generally
lost altogether. Up TO certain point an
experienced oyster-man can tell the age of
the oyster by the appearance of the shell.
Some naturalists have considered TIE
oysters of our northern and southern waters
as distinct species, while others not only
cannot find any permanent difference be-
tween them, but are unable TO distinguish
ours from Ostrea edGtis, the common
oyster of Europe. ..s--.
The condition and favor of the oyster
are influenced in marked manner by the
character of the water it inhabits. Those
from the sea are poor, salt, and lacking
in flavor, while those which grow at points
where fresh water from the rivers ming!es
with that of the sea, are greatly Superior.
Particular localities produce distinctive
havors and other characteristics and If
oysters of poor quality be brought from
their native localities and "planted" in
the more favored ones, they in time ac-
quire the qualities of those native TO such
situations. A large business IS done IN
planting inferior oysters upon beds known
for the excellence of their natural pro
ducts. In some parts of Europe oysters
with a greenish tint are preferred, ard
large quantities are planted in marshy
localities near the sea, until they acquire
a color which with US would condemn
J them at once. The readiness with which
the spat adheres to any hard substance, as
above noted, is the foundation of an i'm
portant branch of industry in France
oyster culture. The cultivation OF the
. oyster is not new, it having been practiceo
on a limited scale by the ancients, but it'
, systematic prosecution Is comparatlyei,
recent. s
, The oyster, even after it reaches matu
!. rity, has enemies other than man. Th'
most troublesome of those in our waters il
: the star-fsh, or fve-fnger, which oftei
causes great destruction among them. L
lis said that the star-fsh kills the oysteI
: oy enveloping 1t so closely that it is pre-
{ vented from opening its shell, and thus j
suffocated and becomes the food OF IT
Hearth and Home.