New-York tribune., 1905-07-16

K Mitsukuri professor OF zoology in the Imperial
University Toxic. Japan. gives interesting facts
concerning the raising of aquatic animals and
plants. To the United States he gives the credit
of being the leader bold scientific efforts to re-
blensn old fishing grounds and to create new ones;
line, its bays and estuaries inlets and straits,
with its rich fauna Of marine organisms every
where with It's dense population suoSistlng largely
upon vegetables and fish is peculiarly adapted to
the culture of life, and it need hardly occasion
surprise 70 learn that the oyster raising OF Hlr0I
shlnla and the algse culture Of Toxic Bay are well
established industries and have been carried on for
The place occupied by the diamond back terrapin
Japan but the Japanese epicure has the advantage
over his brothers in other lands that he has
no fear of the supply Of his favorite aquatic deli
efforts OF Mr. Hattori, whose farms have been
brought to high state of perfection that he is
ape TO turn out tens or thousands qf turtles every
and was originally reclaimed the Aside
from his occupation farmer the father of the
river fish profitable undertaking. and almost
OF cuitivaeng sGppon si9Rough no definite eis action
was taken Tor many years
In 1866 the first large turtle was caught, and from
Inat tune additions We're made until In l8l4 the
the first difficulties presenting itself the
making It necessary to protect the latter from
their parents. Under these conditions the present
system of cultivation gradually evolved
In general appearance turtle farm consists of
ing an area Of from 26oo to $3.50 SQUARE feet and
a depth not to exceed three feet. plank wall be-
escape OF the captives Three four feet of slope
oack to the wall affords the turtles an oppor-
tunlty TO come out OF the water II they desire
mud several inches thick where the "suppon'
retire to pass the winter.
Of the O. ponds is reserved for
hatcbed frsf vear and second year turtles must
also have ponds of their own. The female parent
deposits her eggs in hole which she has aug In
the bank above the water line, the number vary vary
ing from seventeen up 10 twenty-elEht or more
The time required TOR hatchng Is ABOUT Sky aays'
although 1t may vary twenty Gays @ elLleT way way,
The period Of egg deposition extends from late IN
One of the most important problems IN turtle
farming Is that OF FOOD suPpIy me ceI els agpeh t
It has been demonstrated that the turtles thrive
best in ponds where carp ana eels are kept the
reason being. presumably. that these fish keep the
water stirred up, and the turtle, being eXceedngIy
timid. is not disposed 10 venture out In perfectly
clear water search OF food.
The oyster has been under cultivation IN Japan
for longer time Than the turtle recorcS oelIig
Years although it Is probable that the industry
was carried on many years earlier. Ihetee are area, d
foIjnwing: 40 The sea thereabouts is as quiet as
ii ~ =; ;F-re-roe + Ia,GJ bstvaan bigh a nd low
tide marks are comparatively great, beng ten 70
fifteen feet, thus exposing very wide area adapted
for oyster cultivation 90 the bottom Of the sea IS
somewhat hrn t4ere, belng eodap4seo ol l[es 1
ground granite These natural condllIons, n q GQl
nection with the fact that lots were early divided
exertons OF these Iessees and the acquisition of
monopoly of tie oyster trade IN OSAKA nave en-
tain their supremacy. When the tide IS in. the
visitor, looking out the surface Of the bay
would observe nothing unusual but when the
water recedes one sees a great divided up into
small lots by bamboo fences. The oyster spats be-
come attached Ia the bamboo collectors and grow
there the sight being said to resemble, at a dis
tanCe trelses in the Rhine vineyards The spat
that is collected these bamboo fences Is left to
grow them until the winter of the next year.
Then the bamboo collectors are taken down and the
oysters are beaten off and sent TO market. They
are necessarily small, owing TO the fact that there
is no place the bay to allow their further growth
the bottom being so soft that they would become
oysters are produced by means Of more elaborate
system.