The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-03
OYSTER CULTURE.
The life Of the Useful Molimsk From In.
fancy to Maturity.

fancy to Maturity.
Especial Correspondence
PRovIpENcE, Sept. 1s.-Few people know
how the oyster IL born, how he spends his
short childhood or how he progresses tom
infancy to maturity. We who cat the oys.
ter should understand all about his peculiar
development, and this is how it occurs:
He IL cast out from his parent an almost
invisible little mite and swims as close AZ
he can at the top of the water. He swims
on until he meets with something that he
can stick to, usually y stone by the rock
side or y floating piece OF wood or perhaps
some oyster shells. This of course de-
ponds upon his not being devoured by star
fish and other enemies Of tho oyster tribe.
But we must only consider him as u thing
to live, and men who cultivate oysters have
devised curious machines called collect
ors,' made Of wood, shells. stones or tiles,
which they place in the most advantageous
places to catch tho little oyster seed that il
floating around.
1t is in France that the artificial culture
of the oyster is most prominently a mark
ed feature in the development of the sup
ply. Here In America the oyster had so
much time to develop and multiply his
species naturally before the people recog-
niged his worth for food-before the coun-
try was civilized and populated as 1t is now
that millions upon millions Of them ag-
%gregated around our shores. But we found
out, as did they in Europe, what delicious
and wholesome food it was, and we fished
for them in the most greedy manner pos
sible, not sparing the young or ripe.
1t is about the last week in July that the
French oystermen place their collectors
where they believe or know the oyster fry
will swim, and in October this little seed,
which has attached itself to the tile or
wood, or whatever it may be, has grown to
he the size Of a finger nail. They are then
(sometimes thousands Of them to the
square FOOT removed and placed in ponds
or in inclosed places along the coast to
develop.
Now is the time when the young bivalve
needs careful watching. II the water is
too dense, too salt or too fresh, if it is too
cold, if it is too muddy, or if it does not
contain sufficient water vegetation for food,
or if the oyster enemies are not kept away,
the young oysters will perish. If all of
these things are carefully attended to,
both the animal and shell will grow rapidly,
and matured oysters, fit for the table, can
be collected in two years, or three at the
outside.
The food of the oyster and the feeding
process are very interesting studies. The
oyster is a great epicure in his feeding. He
lives almost entirely upon minute, almost
microscopical, plants Of the lowest organ
ism that float around in his neighborhood.
These little plant organisms have the re-
markable power Of freely moving about in
the water. They are incased in glasslike
shells, and under the microscope they are
found to BE- exceedingly beautiful in con- |
When the oyster desires food, he opens
his shell, and the passing plant is drawn in. |
OF course a quantity of water enters with
the little plant organisms, but che moment
a sufficient supply has been received the
oyster closes his shells, and a stream of fl |
tered water passes out, leaving the micro
scopical morsels OF food in the stomach"
Scientists call these plant organisms dia-
toms. ROB F. WALSH.