The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-21
OYSTER CULTURE.


mere 0dS TeCbI4--t DSSn sSot eu uy
the North Carolina geological AM
economic surrey a bulletin giving tie
results oil experiments that have bean
carried on for the past lou yer
relating To oyster culture in fa7ic5
sound, North CaroliFa. by Hr. =. L.
Coker. It can be 40 exagga raj n ID
state that the most urgent ir i
confronting North Carolina in reia
tion to the development of her fisher
les is that of the building up of the
industry of oyster culture. There are
immense areas of bottom in P0ml.co
sound and the coves and bays tribu
tary 10 it that are covered by va er
IF density suitable for the growth
OF oysters. In this sand there are
large areas OF natural rocks, many O.
which yield oysters o. most exc | en-.
quality.
Other large areas which cave racffV
cailJ the same conditions that charac
Lerize those Of the natUraI roc'< ar.
practically barren Of oysters. Tke e.
)er.ments conducted have been with
he Idea in view in determining def
ritely whetae. these BARN areas
Guld be adapted to the cutivaio 0f
lie oyster. There were many questi
q be taken up and answered sucl
as:
/. Is the character o. the lot m
the various parts OF the sound fav-
orable to the growth of oysters. for it
ray be found that the bottom is SO
soft that it will not support the weigh
II shell; or it may be o. such CT
sistency as to prevent the oyster
from completely 'mudd ng," hut still
VIII allow it. to settle on the tott1n
and thus in it's growth one dimension
will be out of proportion to the other;
them again, the bottom may be qf
sand of such nature that the acton
OF waves and currents will cause
sanding" The sound does present
wide variety Of bottoms many pcr-
tlons Of which are suitable for ne
planting Of oysters, if other con5l-
tions are favorable.
- IL ohCi1o CLIO Oysters are pla1te
on these bottoms, will the tides and
currents bring a suitable amount Of
cultch to be deposited on tie s. ellis?
3. VIII the water be OF the right
density and contain sufficient amo II;
OF food for the growth of Oys 50
For the portions OF Pami CO s~un-
that have been tested these q es IS
can be answered satisfactorily, but OF
course do not answer far the whole O.
Pamlico sound
Experimental plants have been mae
IN five Or six distipct portions OF the
sound, as at the ha~bor Island region
including experimental plants on Har-
Dor Island and at Chain Shot Shoai;
those Of Wysocking Bay on tie west
efn shore Of Pamlioo sound; those of
Pains Bay on the north shore. all
| these being in the bays and coves but
not Otf-shore in Pamlico sound. A num-
be of plants, however, were made eff
shore in Pamlico sound, as those at
Cunning Harbor, Long Shoal and
Blight of Royal Shoal These plants
gave variety of bottoms as wei as
great variety of conditions reIar1g to
tides and currents. food, cultch eLc
! These plants have been examined and
tested for nearly four years and the
Information and data obtained nayo
been published in tho bulletin raf1rr
| ed to. The experimental plants have
| been successful during the four y ar
that these have been made and {,
some extent cultivated and ind ate
that there are large areas in Pamllco
sound that are suitable for The cult
yatlon OF the oyster and that il can
be cultivated proftably. The me h
ods employed in making the plant
| ibgs have been described in the great
| est detail in order that the results Oh
| tanned may be protitably used by those
who wished 10 take up tie cultivation
OF the oyster.
| 1t is hoped and expected that this
| report will be the means of awakening
=, new interest i'll the oyster cul ,ura IN
North Carolina and result in lacge
areas Of the bottoms OF Pamlico
! sound being entered for this purpose
II IS, however, necessary that tle cll-
lVator of the oyster be given an in
contestable bottom unon which ..e
| wishes to cultivate the oys, ,er C-r-
tain legislation is nee sary to secu e
such a title and it is to be hoped that
at the legis'atur CT 1909 sea laws
| viii be enacted as will give t4.oze
who desire TO cultivate the oys er an
ircontestable title % any grant %,
| oyster bottoms that he may wish to
| take up. Suggest ons for such. 4eg 5
| lation have been made after ca ul
| consideration Of the conditions exist
ing in North Carolina. anG it is be-
Ieved that Il a bill IS framed embody-
ing these conditions and passed b.