Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-19
OYSTER PLANTING.
Preparation Of the Bcds---Usc
of Floats, &c.

culture, the subjoined statement of the
results OF an experience throughout q
long period OF close observation and a
series Of experiments covering several
wears NAV be of some interest to those
engaged in this industry and may posi-
| bly, stimulate further experimental re-
search among those with leisure aud In
cination for this fascinating study.
But. apart from the interest IN this mat
ter from n purely abstract point of view,
there IS practical side developed. end
many facts hitherto operating to the de-
triment of the planter may be more
clearly understood and remedial mea-
sures suggested, TINS making success
Of oystcr-plantng where heretofore only
failure has resulted.
For many years the artificial propaga-
| ton and cultivation OF the oyster has en-
gagged the attention OF such eminent
scientists as Professors Ryder ami
Brooks, OF this country, and MN. de
Bon and Coste and others, of France
! and in addition to the natural history and
methods of reproduction much valuable
information has been disseminated
through their publications as TO
its successful cultivation from It's
larval stage to a condition Of perfect de-
yelopmcnt. With the former of these
questions, however interesting to the
| biological student, it is not our present
purpose to deal, but rnther with the
more practical one Of how best to utilize
/ the opportunities and advantages pre-
scented in our very midst, and to
economically and prottablv rear them
after they have passed the critical period
Of their existonce-ylz., the stage of
| fixatlon.
NATURAL COLLECTORS.
In our waters, naturally laden with
spat in It's nataDt stage in the months of
June, July, and August, wherever tho
temperature. density, and purity Of the
water permits the Ova to be fertIlIzed
aud the spat evolved we have no coca
sion TO resort to the IabOrious and ex
pcnsiye methods resorted to by the
| French. Here We have ar abundance
| Of cheap collectors furnished by nature
aud admirably adapted 10 perform the
functions desired The OySteT-shell
serves double purpose IN the
economy Of natural oyster reproduction.
/ 1t not only iurnishes n clean. rough
| surface, TO which the young oyster can
| firmly adhere. but in tue process OF dis
| Indignation restores 10 the waters the
! lime which is being constantly taken mp
| 10y the iunumeraOle crustaceans III tins
wonderful laboratory OF nature. Any
where IN tho middle or lower Chesa-
peake region, near the mouths OF the
| rivers and creeks, it is only necessary to
| expose these shell surfaces 10 a free cir
cuation of the tidal water 10 insure catch
Of spat. The conditions chiefly leading to
failure in securing sufficient "catch
are slugCishly-mOying waters containing
mud, sit, or other impurities held III
suspension which. being gradually de
posited. either cover the shell surface so
the embryo cannot find Judgement or
else smother the young mollusk after at
tachment is Effected.
HOW TO PLACE SHELLS.
In the employment of shells as col
lectors the best results cen be obtained
by placing them upon floats such as are
! used in fatteninR the adult oyster, or
platforms made OF stats placed an inch
apart and supported Ivy strong stakes
driven firmly in the ground may be used
with great success. Upon these floats
or platforms the shells should be piled
TO depth OF two or three feet, the
superficial stratum Of which to be eight
10 ten inches below the surface of
the water at an ordinary high tide,
where they should be allowed to
remain until the 1st OF November,
when they can be transferred T. the
planting-ground. Floats are to be pre-
ferred because Of easier and cheaper
manipulation, rs they can he tOwed to
tho planting ground, where with shovels
| or oyster-forks they can be evenly and
regularly distributed. While under IA
vorable conditions there viii he found a
more or less abundant strike anywhere
from the bottom to the surface of the
water. vet the greatest effect will be OBJ
served in the range of the tidal zone.
THE FRENCH METHODS.
At the great seed-oyster producing
centres in France. notably at Arcachon
and ARRAY, tiles similar in material and
/ dimensions to those used for roofing pur-
poses. and differing from the latter in
having a cOnCave surface, are used as
collectors and placed in convenient ar
rapgement with the concsvity down. II
I is On the under or cOncave surface that
the spat is found attached IN greatest
numbers, and from these, at the proper
time, the young mollusk Is separated IN
order to be placed III tho rearing
"parcs or "claires. The separa-
ton of the oyster from the
collectors is made easy by having
immersed the tiles in a white
wash mixture before placing them IN the
water. Unlike the French, with their
expensive collectors. which 1t Is found
desirable 70 preserve for repeated use,
/ the abundance and cheapness OF shells
+ in Virginia waters renders 1t unneces-
sarv from an economic standpoint TO
separate the young oyster from the nu-
cJeus to which it grew, and these shells
are of further advantage IL sustaining IT'S
/ delicate charge above the ooLe and mud
of the planting ground. In order to OBJ
tain a GOOD "catch" Of spat the col
/ lectors should be clean and placed in po-
sition about the LIST Of June, although.
undoubtedly, there are myrlads OF larvai
I oysters in our waters from the middle oil
( Nav TO the latter part OF September.
THE BEST PRICES.
A question Of not less importance to
/ the practical oystermen is the SUISSE
I ouent management of these seedlings 70
( the end that they may bring to the cul'
tiyator the best possible prices. The
/ bulk Of our Virginia oysters are sold III
the markets as shocking stock. ranging
( in price from 30 TO 20 cents per oushel'
and often during glutted market are
sold al an actual loss to the seller. IN
/ der this arrangement, too, our oyster
men are the victims OF combinations
among the city buyers, whereby they
frequently lose 5 to 10 per cent. OK their
actual commercial value.
COOPERATIVE SYSTEM.
BY system Of pond culture many OF
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