The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-07-03
THE CULTIVATION OF OYSTERS.


and the oyster trade is to swallow dozen
raw at market stand, interview the whole
sale dealer in regard to the number he
handles and where he gets them, chat for
half an hour, perhaps with the master of
an oyster sloop, then clinch the whole with
such information as may be CLEANED from
the nearest encyclopedia. THIS is the re-
porter's method. Much interesting l:Lowl-
edge is gained thereby; but, as we have
already seen, more is missed. The most
important feature of the business, the cult
walton of oysters, is invariably overlooked.
Having seen that, so far from being
unknown in this country, as commonly
reported, oyster breeding is an industry at
once extensive and very important, let US
visit the oyster farmer at home, and study
the methods of his business, their object,
and the effect they have on the develop
ment of our much priced and most delicious
product of Neptune's kingdom.
First, to the breeding ground.
To the casual visitor, sailing over an
oyster plantation, it is the blankest of all
cultivated areas. He sees but waste of
water with here and there a protruding
pole, and is but vaguely impressed when
assured that as far as his eye can reach the
ground is covered with crops in various
stages of maturity. Strange farming,
under twenty feet of brine. In the middle
of a broad bay, perhaps mile from shore,
our tiny craft is put about, and our skipper
says we are over "patch " of twenty
acres devoted to this years spawn. For
miles around the Sound is staled off for
oyster beds, and hundreds, perhaps thous-
ands. of acres, belonging to other oyster
farmers, are in use as breeding grounds.
AS we drift across our twenty acre field, 4
dredge is thrown over, and a moment after
the quivering ropo tells that the dredge is
at work on the bottom. We drift a boats
length, and the catch is hauled ina bushel
or so of empty shells, half a dozen crabs,
any quantity of amber colored "gingles,
and perhaps two or three oysters.
"Nothing here.' you are tempted to say;
but look closer. Every one Of those empty
shells, every object that has not escaped
through the meshes of the net is covered
ones finger nail. They are oyster spat,
that is, young oysters of this years spawn
ing, now three months old. They first
become visible to the naked eye when
about week old. y gingle the size of a
nickel coin carries half dozen; nodule
Of coral as large as a wulnut bears twenty;
on half an oyster shell you count fifty or
sixty, perhaps a hundred or more, if you
have patience to distinguish the little ones.
Who can number the thousand on a square
yard, the millions on an acre, every inch of
which is sown with promises of future
stcws and fries?
AS we pass to other grounds, the drcdge
is cast on the gravelly shell strewn bottom
of Il swift channel, in quiet cove, in deep
water and in shallow; each time the dredge
is filed with rubbish intersperscd with old
oysters, clans, scallops, and other denzens
of salt water. Here and there a bright
shell, pebble, or a bit of coal will show
an oyster spat; but whole dredge full of
stuff will carry fewer than single oyster
shell from the breeding ground. 1t is the
old story Of Nature cersus cultivation.
At spawning time last Summer, the
waters over the several areas were equally
filled with microscopic oysters, millions of
which were sent adrift by each prolific
parent. They swarm free and independent,
like other young people, for awhile; but
the time soon came when they had to settle
for life. At this critical stage of their
existence, those on the breeding ground
were plentifully provided with enticing
resting places, in the shape of clean shells,
gravel, and the like, and they settled in
myrads Those which had Nature for
the uncultivated grounds the chances were
relatively few, notwithstanding the season
was an uncommonly favorable one for
natural beds. The furnishing of clean
stools for the young spat is thus matter
of prime importance in oyster culture, and
it is of equal importance that the stools
are provided at the right time. The period
of spawning varies with the position of the
bed, the depth of the water, and other
conditions, from June to August. The
| precise time for each bed must be discov.
| cred "with the knife" that is to say, by
dissecting the oysters. By this, which is
purely an American method of breeding,
it matters little how deep the water may be
shells and gravel will sink through hun
bred feet as certainly as through ten. The
shallow breeding places employed by the
French would not answer at all in our eli
mate, no more would their costly anc
clumsy contrivanccs for fixing the spawn
There the securing of few hundred thous
and spat is accounted great achievement
Here it is the least OF the oyster breeder
labors to obtain boat loads of them. The
trouble is to defend them during the 1iv'
years of their development.
Examine one of the spat-ladcn stools
1t is obvious that such a crowd of OYSTER
cannot come to any size in so small space
If left to themselves, few could survive
the struggle for existence, and they woul'
be pinched and meager. The oyster farme
does not permit such waste of seed
1onder sloop, which has been beatin!
back and forth across our breeding ground
is nearly laden with a NOTWITHSTANDING
cargo, in reality a wealth Of seed tina
would be a small fortune to a foreigI
breeder. The business of her crew is
primarily, to keep watch against invasion
by startish and other foes of the youn
oysters Their coarse meshed dredges brin
up quantities of spat-covered shells whic
arc kept for distribution on other grounds
quite as many spats as can thrive on TIL
ground being attached to stools sma
enough to slip through the dredges. Mex
Summer the year-old seed will be similarl
thinned, the clusters broken up, and til
surplus transplanted. The same process
will be repeated the year after; the mex
year the entire crop will be lifted, it haI
nanino that the oysters thrive exceedingl