The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-26
OYS,lR BEDS N danger.
Tie Entire Crop threatened with Exter-
minatiOn by Star Fish.
OYSTER COMPANIES MUST ACT.
500 Worth OF Divalyes DESTROYED Every
Day Dredging 60 Begin at Once ne
Seed crop Attacked and Partially
Destroyed WHIT oystermen say.

The oyster crop is in imminent danger
Of extermination.
For year aud half the companies
that operate the oyster beds down the
river have been cpgnizaat of a danger
that threatened to inflict an ire
parable loss upon the seasons crop
aad set back the oyster output for some
years to come. About eighieen months
ago il was discovered that star fish were
beginning 10 appear in considerable num-
bers. This beautiful little animal is most
destructive foe OF the oyster. HIS appe
tito for shell fish is Unsuitable aud his
pursuit OF his prey stern and persistent.
His methods Of capture and assimilation
are teautiluily simple and slriKingly ef-
fectiye.
The star fish is creature OF brains.
H. does not put himself to any phys cal
Inconvenience to get at the object Of his
desires. A short time before tine tide
goes cut "a multitude OF these handsome
Eve pointed fish float quietly down the
bay and drop anchor directly among
their prey. the oysters.
DO Not See Their Danger.
The stupid bivalves do not seem to
comprehend their danger. A soon AS
the tide goes out they begin to open their
shells. The process is slow, and the star
fish posse sses his soul In patience until
the operation Is complete. Then, quick
as q fash, he inserts sis five suckers into
tie opening and pulls away at the
enclosed oyster with might and main.
The imprisoned bivalve is entirely at the
mercy OF his enemy. Slow and clumsy
he cannot close his shell in time to shut
the marauder out. 1t IL all over in "A
minute; the star fish smacks his lips,
releases his grip upon the shell aud
quietly floats away TO take In
new victim.
The capacity Of the star fish is enor-
nous. He can eat his wsight in mol
lusks In an ipcoDceivably short space OF
time. With the enormous sch ools OF
these fish in the bay the prospect for
the seasons trade in oysters is becoming
alarminRly small.
The oyster beds Just Off S,bins Point
and Pleasant Bluff are ar present most
seriously threatened. The damage there
amounts to fully 500 a day. The star
fsh are as hungry as tranps
and as bold as Columbian guards.
The oyster beds In this locality consist
of sixty-five acres, and are loaned frc m
the State of Rhode Island by w right e.
W Ills, wholesale and retail oyster dealers
Of Boston. Each year, early In mid-sum-
mer, the company scatters large
quantity OF seed oysters and 1t is upon
these youthful bivales that the voracious
In the past two weeks fully 500 bushels
OF seeds have gone to satisfy his appe-
tite. The company's only salvation Is to
exterminate the star FISH, and it Is now
ma king preparation to destroy the entire
fraternity. Two methods are adopted TO
accomplish this end. Th, first and most
efficient is by dredging. The dredge is q
wooden instruments towed from
boat. It is covered by
what in the. suggestive parlance
of oyster hunters is called a mop. 1t con-
sists Of several folds OF rough rags. This
appliance is drawn across the school OF
star fish aud SO exasperates them that they
instantly seize upon 1t with their
follicles and hang Oh for dear life. Their
native bull dog tenacity forbids them to
let 20 and they are easily drawn up into
the boat and done to death. BY this
method about 10 bushels OF the fish may be
ptured In FIVE hours, which represents
the time avsilable for star fishing.
Primitive Method.
The second method is more primitive.
and can be utilized by a single
man. It consists simply In
the use of contrivance called
rake. The instrument 10 provi-
ded with teeth much after the fashion OF
a garden rake. The fisherman goes out
over the oyster beds In boat and reach
ing down into the water with his rake
he scoops up the star fish precisely
as the summer young man and bis best
girl scoop up ice cream; When . News
representative, sr",0v visited ,he bed: bed:
rakes was at work, but
DREDGING has not yet begun. The Willis
& Wright company PURPOSE - pWt