Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-01-08

in breadth and the
ranged as to be constantly batheu :.
sea water From 300 to 400 larvae are
attached to a single collector"
In August the collectors" are re-
moved from the "beds" and taken on
land to be put through first process
Of cleansing. This operation, which
is performed by women, is destined to
cleanse the young oysters from all
kinds of impurities and also from the
small shells which, becoming affixed
to the young oysters, might hinder
their growth. Once thoroughly
cleansed the tiles are replaced in the
boxes, where they remain until au-
tumn. The collectors" are then once
more removed, and the oysters, which
are already the size Of twenty-five
cent piece, are sufficiently strong to
live alone, without being affixed to
anything.
To remove the young oyster from
the .scollector" a special kind of scis-
sors is used. Fof this purpose the
collectors" are placed in the middle
Of large table, around which the
oyster men and women are gathered.
; The women, who are far more dexter
Gus than the men in this matter, hold
the collector" in one hand while with
the other they carefully remove the
mollusks and throw them into baskets.
This operation requires considerable
skill, for, if performed too hastily, the
thin shell Of the young oyster would
be injured. But, Notwithstanding all
the care that is taken, there is always
O loss of from twenty to twenty live
per cent.
Thus removed from the collectors"
the oysters begin the second period at
their existence-an intermediate period
Of youth, so to speak-for though suf-
iciently developed to exist alone, they
are not yet strong enough to resist
the attacks of their numerous enc
mics. They are, therefore, placed for
q few months in an apparatus called
an ambulance" These "ambulances"
are fat boxes about ten inches high,
the bottoms Of which are of wire
grating. Thus isolated the young oys-
ters are completely protected by box
identical with the one in which they
are inclosed, but reversed, so as to
constitute kind Of cage in which the
water can circulate freely without
allowing fish or crabs to enter. The
boxes, which contain no fewer than
5000 oysters each, are arranged side
by side and firmly affixed to the bottom
Of the spark" by means OF stakes
In this manner the young oysters can
thrive in peace and without fear OF
being attacked by any Of their mum
erous enemies, who appreciate oysters
fully as much as man appreciates
them.
The oysters remain three months II
these boxes, during which time they
are jealously cared for, being watereo
frequently to remove the impurities
and sea weeds which have gathered
among them. At the end of the three
months they have reached diameter
of from two to two and one-hali
inches. They are now Of sufficient
size for sale, but not yet large enough
to bring in much profit. They are
therefore, thrown along the bottom o'
the park" where they continue tt
grow, their shell being Of suficien
strength to Withstand the attacks o1
fishes. The oysters continue to grow
until the age Of two or three years
when they reach the size of fou
inches in diameter. After the ag'
of three they stop growing, and Their
is no advantage in allowing them t
remain any longer in the beds.
The oyster-fsher people of Goes