Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-04

WORLDS such as tho one on which we live.
Under natural conditions only one egg in
iOooO0o0 10 likely TO develop into a mature
oyster. Under methods OF artificial propa-
CATION, which have been proved in the
laboratory, II not in the field, the ratio
might be brought down hundred fold,
thus permitting each female oyster to
mother thousands OF little ones in a single
season
The oyster is not the only deniSen OF the
deep that ia prolific. Holding in solution
unoounted billions OF tons Of Inorganic
matter carried down to the sea during the
millions OF years that have passed, plant
life literally bRthes itself in riches OF nutrl-
tion. While the potato may bring forth a
hundredfold, its nourishment must come
up through a few roots, and drouth and
other retardlng agencies may retard its
growth. But the myrlads OF microscopio Z
plants OF the sea produce a milliontold. In. =
deed. so prolific are they that II one tiny
plant were permitted TO multiply uhYA-
stricted and without the loss OF progsnS
through single week. the whole ocean
would become a mass Of unnavigable slime.
To hold this marvellous growth in check
Is the mission OF the animal life OF the sea.
A single whale may strain hundreds Of
gallons Of water at every gup and even
a day. In this way a sort OF gigantic bal
anoe is struck, the plant life making avail
able for the animal life the food stores Of
inorganic life, and in turn being held from
the danger Of a glutted market, so TO
speak, by the enormous demands of the
animal life. The oyster Is regarded as
mans friend par excellence for deep water
cultivation Fish may swim hundreds OF
miles away and give little reward for their
propagation. But the oyster, after the
first short period of free existence spent
mainly In looking around for place on
which to build its permanent residence,
settles down and spends the rest of its
natural life at that one place ready for the
oysterman's call at all times
oysters usually like to get where the
tide runs strong, and to them the phrase,
"As happy as a clam at high tide" is no
meaningless expression, for the tide brings
them abundant supplies Of food. The oyster,
like man, is a wonderfully and fearfully
made creature. 1t has all the organs com
mon to animal life and nearly all OF them
are centered in its glls. which are the
most complete structures imaginable. In
them are the pumps which maintain a
proper circulation of the water supply; thel-
food collectors that strain the oysters
bread and meat from the water; the hands
that carry the food TO the mouth and the
organs Of reproduction; together with the
nursing chamber where the eggs are
brought to that maturity which enables
them to live for time in the open sea,
When the baby oyster Is Matched It looks
around for while, visiting one place and
then another until it finds a home site,
and then settles down and begins to build.
1t collects the lime from the water that
naSSas throuRh tg Strainera nd
out through a secretion in tiny layers each
hardening apace until the completed
house is constructed. When parasite or a
grain of sand gets into place where it
hurts the oyster. Immediately process OF
enveloping It with a limy formation is
begun, the result of which is the oyster
pearl.
There are many enemies which prey upon
the oyster. The drum fish is very fond OF
young oysters, as is also the starfish. The
former delights to find planted bed, for
there the oysters are smoother and it 10
easier to crush the shells Often they will
invade bed and practically destroy it
before their presence is discovered, The
starflsh travels in great schools, at a
speed Of about 800 feet day. 1t begins its
work OF destruction when 1t Is no larger
than a pin head and keeps It up all through
life. 1t attaches itself to the oyster and by
persistence finally succeeds in tiring II out
and forcing an entrance for It's stomach.
through which It absorbs the juice of the
oyster A dredge consisting OF dozen
mops arranged like the teeth OF harrow
is dragged over the oyter beds when the
starfish are discovered and they are
caught in it, brought to the surface and
scalded to death.
Some success has attended the artificial
propagation Of the oyster and also the
fattenlng Of them by the use OF corn meal
and other substances But in the main the
best results have been obtained by the
planting Of seed oysters and the return of
the empty shells. 1t is calculated that in the
work Of gathering and selling oysters more
than 100000 people find livelihood. Eng
land and France and the United States
produce perhaps eight-tenths Of all the oy-
sters used in the world. The American
people spend annually something like $4O,-
900 900 for oysters, the wholesale value Of
the output being upwards OF t1eOOo0OO.
Bx PRED1HIC j. HAsKIN.
TomorroW+'IsOsa by Fire"