Ain AAS TAN foe emoy ere ener ntn eee a Stee epopnaite terns A LIBRARY 0 feena iy U. §. FISH AND We rpm SERVICE tA BOMATORY BCF BIOLAG: vA OXFORD, MD. LIBRARY OF U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BCF BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY OXFORD, MD Re HR HK MK HK HRM HHH KERR HHH HHH HH HH % HHH KKK HHH HHH KK KH KHER K HHH HH * BS * % % * * + * * * NATIONAL SHELLFISH®RIFS ASSOCIATION * * i % * e ee * Papers and Discussions * i * * % 4 * * * Annual Convention, June 2-3, 1943 * * + * + * Hotel Benjamin Franklin * % % * * * Philadelphia, Pa. * * % % * 3 + * x * * * % * * Officers % % * (1942- 43) oS sis * * % % * * * President : Joseph B. Glancy, West Sayville, Long Is- * * * land, New York * * * * + %* Vice-President: Dr. Leslie A. Stauber, Bivalve, New Jersey* % * * % %* Secretary : Richard Messer, Richmond, Virginia * % ava oi ND Scie * Treasurer : J. Richard Nelson, Warren, Rhode Island * % * % a % * * * * * * * RI RHR KKH HHH HHH HHH HHH KH BH % % * # RRR HHH KH KKK HKRKKHHRHKRR HH HHH HKG t pers) ee ee ae y i ¥ oF my OVI. CAWOILAM || { cMOL .€~-S enul ,qgolftmevaod Lapa0d uiiinagl olonined Legok 2% .nhinleisiint = * iad + « * * = onl grodiialilvves dae® ,yountd .@ quest : Mtco¥ wot ,brol $e ete ee eeze *youtet well ,eviewld ,todwsde .A olfoml pad ténabigost-o ¥ “Ad Stalyrty ,bromiols ,t988 btistel .obati neinat _atroatot banda ke . J os ee ee * we Pith oe Mh ae ee 2 + Fete t+ ee et et tt HS SO EES National Shellfisheries Association, Philadelphia Meeting, June 1943 ANNUAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT By Joseph B. Glancy, President National Shellfisheries Association convenes again in Philadelphia during our second war year. There was some doubt as to the advisability of meeting this year due to travel restriction and the curtailment of all but necessary war activities. The program committee decided, however, that National Shellfisheries Association, representing as it does an essential industry, had full justification to proceed with the regular annual meetings, particularly since our agenda mostly deals with subjects pertinent to effective war effort. 1. Restriction of Scientific Research It is regrettable, but at the same time inevitable, that much of the scientific research activity of the members of National Shellfisheries Association will be placed in abeyance until the end of the war, unless, of course, the research concerns itself with problems, the solution of which contributes directly to more quickly winning the war. Note, for example, that many of the able, experienced research investigators of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been forced recently to relinquish scientific studies to assume the administrative details of the Office of Coordinator of Fisheries. Likewise, another scientific casualty this year was the cancellation of the Symposium on the Food and Feeding of Oysters, which we planned at last year's sessions, worked on during the year, and had in form to present this year. Great credit goes to Drs. Nelson, Loosanoff, and Gaistoff in offering to contribute. The subject is of importance and hope is expressed that postponement will not be unduly prolonged. When one considers that no biologist can describe and explain adequately the exact conditions necessary for good growth and fattening in oysters it becomes apparent that lamentable gaps exist in our knowledge of oyster culture. 2. Publication of Convention Papers It may be recalled that in my address last year, I called attention to the desirability of obtaining wider distribution of cur convention addresses. Dr. Galstoff acting for the committee, recommended use of the so-called planographic method, since regular printing was out of the question. The cstimated cost was $500 for 500 copies, which would have just about denuded our treasury. I sounded this proposition among the officers and some of the members, and the consensus of opinion was not to use this planographic method, chiefly on account of cost. Consequently, the 1942 National Shellfisheries Association papers were mimeographed as usual and sent to all members. Extra copies were made and distributed to interested parties and institutions. Our secretary, Major Messer, deserves credit for faithfully accomplishing this. Also, we are grateful to Dr. Galstoff's committee for the investigation of the methods of reproduction of the National Shellfisheries Asscciation convention papers. Asa general policy, however, it behooves the Associatien to secure the widest distribution of its anual proceedings. Pan Cen MOM te a eee Ciel oe spetireo al) Te a iS) ‘Lealiad: 5 AR robinewl mal? «A vignwol We \ De). | Si rik tah shdakabeize q ad er or BOnaV IO ante aioee oh cefondes ucts oa alst gritioar Io yi kiidewbehs weit. gdveb sion aa etedtt 18 4 Moti Soa: thw wieseoben Ww Lie “lov Reger es ‘oad Dew motdobisges fe otic looweh wel fet ti feds Cono bial todd avowed ,babkoob eersinned hassong ay fot bane EVES er 4 Sacks Jatigqoase os aoob a A A nviw axinesd . [Pace LENGRD hig” Gotee effet Mie rgnlioor Lavann a Val Siatto ‘Tait ywiton To ot Soon bhifsmmtow edi Yo “owe, ; bald iufivons ois ocmna oOt Su Sud eidedse ae a an Liiw teitelooeu/ bindeP ified’ Lunizet % etodmunt wit? Bo wives picwoonee dorccavs odd ,oxtwon % ,aaelatr ytow offs Io. Sag std Lite sont ged MiNahoD oro of Ysoowth wetediiinoy dolits “ myhiuhoe odd one a ¢ Th gaol boodubrodxe, ,eida ed? Io yu > , vigerx Pied i a of, Utaveess DeeRO agod oval edivtoc bore ‘hr bas dai’ 2.0 of? Ie fia Ye ooh rho ome to elivtok gvetatiginkaks od? cages oF natura OnLy . eeoktodel® MW en i = ¥ yy a +4 * : sire att ng lrg di! ful, Rito no Oe Be | THY, eM i? ne Lal me 7 hitinat OF pri p i ue ty ie ass Wi teek deel fo Heme ay we dolda yates alba bain boot vhs ig Hy) Boog dF kbote toon toot Bit Seenetg oF meto't _~ “ee precy ‘aid ie “2 heh wt fo oo bday ort «he ch Ses telat ‘of pets: on x oes ta FE, £s0 "Bis gl torts rant QP Oe aeotie oa ‘(lebes odd aa ‘Lhiw Jiaaade sha, it Daum of wpa. has i _ teste orld ‘ghost at eoby ‘eh lege hot adivooot aco faigelodd on toa? avethenal ona » aaah S382 0 dot etoveqe as wet ed3c% ba: dtwotg beoy tel Yteqaeonm somtise sofeyw “to spbefunml to a Jato See 6 ‘ } “ tun as } Eth ae eA Li dh..& wr j frie ara Ud of: mais iee, tha bedteo 1 .tos\% teal anutbbe ya ak Jmit DoLossos Matatod at ,nedgowbin iettnmwnoo “wo ta molludistel® tabi kai aide @ettke boris ow. odsigorig xt: vq bellnie-pa cay To ea Se hnomione’s evagga, Pyaenaod GOR ah & SAG wew face bodreatdia wil .notiundy Gi te sau enw prom told Pogo abit bobeasos 7 Ribs seort? wes’ b peraindadl Sula daw ev. ead od somieow moiniqa To ucamermus ¢ hits ,2recinag galt. te ere | bean an i eno beat CoOL oat ,Ylianrpoensd . edypo To sasyards 10 yitonde ehotld om) OAT Pumeadmen LfP os Yoou ore, Loam 20 step Mtone i gta Smead “potde song gab odued bate th bres eit Row Bo, wwiouok ghuaaol! satam a ees. fe Ow caddies e' todas © sa od into ae vad aub tie Mhiwils Lance tall eae Bo wats bapa, “ioe t ai wR reas mk Ges goityoy ye) Guten ae: 2 oheta sehtt prikdshigacsoy yiiw diet WB ER Nae Te Bed on Ne do oo btegtsnowas ee ky ORO: A eae: Ao dt fe i Bigudiede tn Pow sie, it foil euooe RE eae wed pa tes) he Pie fi } Glancy's Address—-Page 2 3. Howard W. Beach It is with sorrow that I announce the great loss to the National Shellfisheries Association in the death last winter of Howard W. Beach, our treasurer for the last twelve years. It was during Mr. Beach's presidency that the National Shellfisheries Association was reorganized from the National Association of Shellfish Commissioners. A great believer in scientific research, Mr. Peuch's generous and intelligent promo- tion of its application to the shellfish industry remains unsurpassed by any indi- vidual interested in the advancement of oyster culture. Fortunately for National Shellfisheries Association, Mr. J. Richards Nelson accepted the responsibilities of filling the unexpired term of Mr. Beach as Treasurer. 4. Greater Utilization of Marine Resources My report for this year would not be complete if I did not comment on the acute development since our last meetings of an exceedingly important trend towards greater utilization of the lesser known marine species inhabiting our oyster beds and their vicinity. There is opportunity here to not only contribute to the wartime food effort but to popularize and establish permanently the production and distribution of valuable marine resources. To mention a few, we have among the shellfish species mussels, conchs, and a variety of clams; and of the finny fish swellfish, sea robins, and whiting, so called trash fish, which in the past have practically been ignored, yet when properly handled offer perfectly nutritious and highly palatable sea food. These are particularly of value because they are protein foods, and dietary economists are stressing continually the necessity of supplementing with these the country's supply, which tends toward a preponderance of the carbohydrate constituents. Some of the scientists and engineers among our membership are and have been contributing essential data for the exploitation of these virtually unknown sea foods, but all will be of but little avail, unless first, methods of preparation for market are entirely adequate, and secondly, the wholesaler and retailer are given every encouragement to distribute them. Consequently, I would suggest that the convention consider the ad- visability of recommending to the Office of Price Administration that no ceilings be placed on or no ration points necessary for the sale of these little known fishery products, because there is but little experience available upon which to base costs of the properly packed article, and price ceilings will discourage the all-important wholesaler from venturing to handle the new products. In closing, I wish to urge all the scientists and engineers engaged in shellfish research and development to maintain, if at all possible, and if they do not inter- fere with the immediate war effort, the long range projects started before the war. When victory comes, these studies will be of inestimable value in enabling the shell- fish industry to obtain the knowledge whereby it can progress and grow. i ae es atieg BN ence heat Sade ay ie tersgras gedbeedettChede 1 ata lL: a atoneies bene’ de itis Peery, Aaghiledak { % 4 oats bho aus Yd) betaw Beh ‘ Doamevt > att tn aioe ak te nokibindtanoqnes it fi, be eae tod 2o'N abrueme's Mone us thed: xnsar aantidor foe daltitow Vgbeteras need yiLa: 1 eh@ot- anh ettaca ig ie gstamno edt so i MG gaddudindn re] DP @letizay era totam + 1? 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Yo ug? bored peemay 4 cry" TOY. adit a4 fo: TO Gur fam ve ral THO “etom omomt teegest od to | eden i wtod "inet iogad Bb: pia MELT Ts lelidatde bade eas aLioped “OF ) oof .@esodet Ingestion a dait vont? ot Ye boa cerelo to weiter & bos ins <2 "BIO poicticgudns yi hy bit bis Ayodtiisun “oe tied te ut o belbaed( “a : shoo} afsiots | win vais 260 Gitley Yo dere loode ,. 99 mid ‘lic neta otarbededssa sit do ov abr pres p bRpwot nha ne iohicteqesg Yo sbositon ,j2tht epalay Linge. olds z mvky etn teliates bi ploceLioit at? ,¢lbaoege Bt dogvaeg odd dad? teoyges &{u0 :. eelsinen pei) cokiomehitabs wokT do volt ads do getiaomeotyt Bol i! gaadi? -%o sive efz 0 PTHO8e aye aittoy eolten wit" iatixe bokoay Yt es Department of the Interior United Stat Fish and Wildlife Service Fishery Leaflet ce >< | Chicago, Ill. 3 INCREASING THE PRODUCTION OF OYSTERS AND OTHER SHELLFISH IN THe UNITED STATES — By Paul S. Galtsoff, In Charze, Shellfishery Investigations, Division of Fishery Biology (Revision of an address presented at the annual meeting of the National hellfisheries Association, June 2-3, 19)3, Philadelphia. ) Contents Page : Page eelame of oyster fishery. ... i % Management of public grounds. .. 8 LeSIsS Leeive WOEISWRASSI CG {a Mosc nan lo) oll 8 SSlStel onyshelerisicn wa au io lovech of ovectua 6 y ILL Natural oyster beds and conser- 9 Coratnetoll, Out (evaremleaiyo) Go ac oo 12 Sea toe Gl ks a. a Sey) Oo POM MMO: Pata) 6), ex ele an ee emma ot shells and iseed. ».« 6s Conclusion. « a 2 4 9 sos sees) a a4 Productivity of oyster bottoms . 7 : PMiimnetrom Of Oysters « 2. + . . &¢ A hundred years of practical experience has demonstrated that the yield of the shellfishery can be materially increased by farming or cultivation. Nevertheless, production of oysters in this country during the past years has been declining. Taking as an illustration the figures for the last few years for which complete statistical data are available, we find that the total yield declined fron 95.6 million pounds of oyster-meat in 1937 to 93.1 in 1939 and 89.) in 190. Even the substantial growth of Pacific Coast oyster production from 7.8 to 10.8 million pounds during these years was not enough to counterbalance the general trend. Statistics for 1940 show that more than fifty percent of oyster meats, namely, 8.7 million pounds, were produced on privately-owned or -leased bottoms as compared with )0.68 million pounds obtained from public reefs. ———S - . . - a ——E————E haa Te? ay wh a pel dia ; ee Se a , i - ated ae 3 ‘ ‘ , Were te! me hy roe tra!) D ‘ * 4 . wes Aine. het 1 Memmnepent sshasingity ahh tl erly? The present yield is much smaller than that gathered years ago. ‘Thus, in 1890-92 the total production of oysters was probably not less than 182.8 million pounds of meat (table) and Maryland alone contributed at least 70.8 million pounds, or about 79 percent of the total amount pro- duced in 19/0. A steady decline in oyster production to approximately half of that of 50 years ago is due primarily to the system of free fishing under which the full utilization of our oyster grounds is impossible. Pollution of inshore waters by industrial wastes and domestic sewage is another factor in the decrease, resulting in the closing of productive grounds by Public Health authorities, or, in certain instmces, the destruc-— tion of the shellfish themselves by accumulation of toxic or decomposing matters. The total acreage of oyster bottoms in our coastal waters can be estimated only approximately. According to present computations, there are in the territorial waters of the United States about 1,428,500 acres officially designated as oyster-producing bottoms. A small proportion of this area, not exceeding 185,000 acres of privately-leased or -owned bot- toms, produces 5.5 percent of the total oyster crop. There is, thus, a very great difference in the productivity of cultivated and natural oyster beds. One must remember, however, that there are considerable areas of privately-leased grounds which, for various reasous, are not cultivated and that many of the natural oyster reefs or rocxs at present include areas that are totally devoid of oysters and, therefore, do not contribute to the fishery. In many States, their utilization for oyster farming is inm- possible, however, because of legislation which prohibits the leasing of natural beds. The state of depletion of the public oyster grounds can be illustrated by several examples. The best one is found in Georgia. According to Drake, Coast and Geodetic Survey Bulletin No. 19 (1890), there were within the Waters of that State 30,000 acres suitable for oyster cultivation. In 1908 these produced 1,))5,100 bushels of these shellfish. In 1923, the production had dropped to 25,762 bushels and, in 1937, was only 28,672 bushels increasing, however, in 1939, to 78,133 bushels. In 1937, Georgia oysters Were the poorest in the country, yielding only 2.75 pounds of meat per bushel. Thus, the oyster fishery in Georgia almost ceased to exist and the canneries which still operate in the State are dependent on supplies from South Carolina. No outside causes, as floods, dredging of navigable waters, filling-in of bays and estuaries with dredged material, can be blamed for the destruction of the industry which once brought more than $300,000 annually to the Georgia oystermen. The principal cause of this decline was the system of management, or rather, mismanagement of the natural resource, under which destructive methods of harvesting were not only toler- ated but encouraged. The responsibility rests equally with the cannsrs who were buying cluster-oysters and who never bothered to return small, under- Sized individuals to the grounds, and with the State government which made no effort to protect the natural supply of oysters by establishing spawning reserves, enforcing cull laws, planting cultch, or employing similar conser- vation measures. *Computations were made by using the factors of yields for 1939 given in "Fisheries Industries of the United States, 191", Administrative Report No. 1, published by the Bureau of Fisheries, now a part of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ca = : = 7 - os rr rece w Tae Bi ra : Pounds of meat ; Total pounds of meat States 3 per Stave=bushel ; + —= : 939 1890-92 a) 639 Massachusetts 6.57 Sica silOoum 269, 800 Rhode Island : 7.00 U210,615 3/ 2,323,500 Connecticut : Moos) 1)r3803,528 :| 5,222,200 New York : 7.50 19,352,965 :\ 6,272,700 New Jersey 6505 25922308 \ a 5 hO09e.s00 Delaware 500 de POV AG EM fs 285,100 Maryland 6.09 TO, 83,320 —“s 20, 3K25300 Virginia 5.92 355429, 0N5 2 16, 50h, 300 South Carolina 5.98 SMe osi: 1,719, 00 North Carolina 5250 1,488,365 1,055,600 Georgia : 6.83 15532) 35 23h, 1,00 Florida : he7u 2220903 | 3) MOSS. 5Oe Alabama : 5.01 : PMO. el, 6° Us 55700 Mississippi : 5230 lee Tlie 333) as a OORMOO Louisiana : 4.63 8), 89O R530 I 134580) 1CO Texas 11,38 1,930, 70), 987, 300 Total : : 180,532,663 +: 84,018,700 Washington : 7200 : 999,110 =: 8,526,900 Oregon : 7.00 : OO 215,300 California : 7.00 : M250, SUS 0 Ne 25,600 Grand Total : : 182,799,788 : 93,006,500 3 Production of Oysters in the United States in 1890-1892 and in 1939 in pounds of oyster meat ve Mea rcs ame aston Te, ose a We be P } , i Re! 4 ; a aeey 4 1. ft ' FI 2 v } J Limes) i Aen phim lb ctaght Es om ged hee taal el glam ee sd in ll vere! uiarpamealtaye nai * . 1 iM - 4 4 7 ' ’ vi : grt Si. e's 4 1 LPR? wits sas , OF ae x | a Oe ae pare i, » We Ha ARNE OI os phen eatin Une orotic Media hl ieee RANE rem yy he EURO mete hoe i * 4 . th T Depletion of oyster bars in the upper part of Chesapeake Bay is another example of the gradual exhaustion of natural resources under a system of "free" fishing. According to the estimate made by Edwin G. Baetjer of the Maryland Board of Natural Resources, the average production of oysters on the 130,000 acres of the so-called dredger's area in Chesapeake Bay has been reduced from 5) bushels to ) bushels per een onplesst) Lhe inadequacy of restrictive measures enforced in this State, but not ac- companied by a program of cultivation, is further demonstrated by condi- tions in the Potomac River. According to the survey made in 1928 by the former U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, now part of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the populétion of oysters in the river averaged 0.9 bushels per acre. A lh-year period of restricted fishing during which dredging on these bars was prohibited by the State of Maryland, but Cae ay by Virginia, re- sulted in only partial recovery of the resource. he present oyster popu- lation, as estimated last winter by the fish and ‘lavite service, averages 8.9 bushels of marketable oysters per acre. This is only a very small fraction of the population that could be maintained under cultivation on an oyster bottom capable of supporting from 500 to 1,500 bushels of oysters /per acre. LEGISLATIVE MEASURES The fact that continuous fishing on natural oyster beds leads to their rapid exhaustion was recognized long ago. The earliest, and probably the first, regulation concerning the oyster fishery in this country was passed on June }}, 1661, when the Court held at Plymouth, Massachusetts, enacted "that five shillings shalbee payed to the Coun a vpon every har rell of Oysters that is carryed out of the Gov'ment . . ' (Quoted from Ingersol, The Oyster Industry, 18381, p. 20), and eoeeen years later on the 7th of July 1680, the 2nd Session of the General Court at Plymouth ordered "that such as are not of our collonie be heerby prohibited of fetching oysters from Taunton River with Boates or any other vessells -..! Seigure of such "boates and vessels for the collonie's vse" was a punishment for the Ne eansercosons of this regulation. While the New Englanders already realized the value of their shell- fisheries and took steps to protect them, the people of Maryland thought so little of the value of oysters as food that in depositions made by the "Kent Islanders" in the famous Claiborne suit of about 1680 they cited among their grievances and hardships "that their supply of provisions be- coming exhausted it was necessary for them, in order to keep from starva- tion, to eat the oysters taken from along the shores" (quoted from C. H. Stevenson, 189), The Oyster Industry of Maryland, p. 208). Conditions were different in 1820. By that time the oyster industry of the State reached such a development that the General Assembly of Mary- land passed an act which prohibited, under penalty of a fine of $20 or sixty days! imprisonment, the use of any implements in catching oysters within the State other than the ordinary tongs, and also, the transporta- tion of oysters out of the State in vessels thas had not been owned wholly by 2 citizen of the State for the preceding twelve months. The reasons for this enactment are clearly stated in the following quotation from its pre~ amble: "Whereas . .. a great number of large vessels from the Northern SARE RR QUO Gay MERE SE RSET: # cy oe oes he : Ne : iv 6 AD 4; oe, * By and Middle States frequent our waters for the purpose of transporting oys- ters to those States; and whereas well-grounded apprehensions are enter= tained of the utter extinction of oysters in the State, as well in conse- quence of the immense quantity thercof exported as the destructive imple- MeMibsS Used an cavehing them: Therefore, . . «1! As the one hundred and twenty-two years of history of the Maryland oyster industry show, apprehensions of "utter extinction of oysters," was well-founded. Moreover, numerous attempts to conserve the fishery by purely restrictive measures, produced no good results. Oyster bars, subject to intensive dredging, became depleted, and the natural propagation of oysters could not keep pace with the nate of fishing. A general de- elaine in production followed, and the yield of the largest oyster-—produc-— ing area in the world diminished to only a fraction of what it was fifty years ago. The decline of the oyster industry in Maryland attracts special atten- tion, because in no other state of the Union has the legislative body devoted so much of its time to the consideration of oyster laws and regu- Hagens. It is said that since 1920, the-Sreater part of the time of the Maryland General Assembly has been devoted to the ciscussion and enactment of oyster laws, and that the number of general and County measures adopted by this legislative body surpasses the total dealing with all other subjects. Certainly, there has beén no lack of legislative attention to the oyster problems of the State. The record indicates the vital importance of the oyster industry to the people of Maryland, but at the same time shows the futility of attempts to solve the problem of oyster conservation solely through laws and regulations. No serious efforts have been made to rehabilitate the depleted bottoms by antroducinge a system of cultivation of oysters. The same is true of @uher States; the policy of free fishing on public reefs has been main— tained, and oyster farming by private enterprise was discouraged, and Sometimes made virtually impossible through lack of adequate legal and administrative protection. Oyster-farming cannot be expected to progress if the bottom leased to a private planter can be taken away from him on the testimony of two or three citizens, testifying under oath that the ground in question was formerly a natural oyster bed and produced oysters in Quantities sufficient to provide profitable fishing. Disregard of property rights, poaching and stealing of oysters from private grounds, and leniency of courts in dealing with trespasses present in many Statss almost insurmountable difficulties to the establishment of oyster culti- vation. NATURAL OYSTER BEDS AND CONSERVATION Legal definitions of a natural oyster bed vary from state to state, are usually ambiguous and are, therefore, subject to different interpreta-— tions. Although some of the states recognize that natural beds may cease to produce oysters in commercial quantities and, therefore, should be leased to private oyster growers, the period of time required for the ground to remain nonproductive before it can be leased is too long. When such a bed becomes available to private growers, it may be so nearly destroyed that it is no longer desirable. Lae a a4 Haat pt The oyster laws of virtually every coastal state contain provisions of conservation intent, such as restrictions on gear or rate of fishing, closed periods, and requirements for culling, and return of a certain portion of the shells to the natural beds. While sound and justified by the circwastances, these measures are shown to have been ineffective by the present condition of the natural grounds. Failure of the-laws is probably a result of our faulty concept that the adoption of a new regulation is by itself sufficient to solve a problem of conservation. The facts, however, show that the enactment of numerous conservation laws had little effect in conserving the oyster beds, and that honest enforcement of the restrictive measures failed to stop depletion. The reason for this unfortunate result is that, at the present time, under the most favorable conditions, the rate of natural propagation and growth of the oyster population is too low to replace the stock taken by commercial fishermen. However, the productivity of oyster beds can be materially and rapidly increased by adopting a system of cultivation and by applying proper methods of oyster farming. PLANTING CF SHELLS AND SEE In the absence of a definite system of management, incidental measures such as planting of shells and seed or enforcement of cull laws, etc., are incapable of protecting our resources from further deterioration for they deal with only a few phases of oyster cultivation while neglecting others that are equally important. Obviously, there is no reason for planting shells in a location where setting cannot be expected because of the lack of spawners, fouling of shells, or for some other cause, Yet millions of dollars and thousands of tons of shell have been wasted in the past to comply with the law demanding that shells be returned to oyster bottoms. Huge rehabilitation projects carried out only a few years ago by some of the states, as part of the national relief program, involved the transplanting of millions of bushels of shells and seed oysters. So far as the restoration of the oyster beds was concerned, the results were b entirely out of proportion to the money spent, and in many instances were negative. In several well-known cases, failure was due to the ignorance or inefficiency of the supervisors of the projects who piled oyster shells on the bottom of the sea in heaps several feet high with the expectation that tides and currents would distribute them; planted them in polluted ‘ areas where fishing is prohibited; or mistook a small noncommercial variety pr of oyster (0. equestris) for a year-old eastern oyster and transplanted ly” thousands of bushels of this "seed" which of course never increased in Size and only damaged the beds. Even when large scale planting oper:tions on public beds were carried out intelligently and skillfully, they resulted only in a temporary inprovement, for the supply of marketable oysters was removed within a few weeks after the grounds were opened to fishing. Planting of seed or shells by the government is considered by many as an indirect subsidy to the dredgers and tongers. lHven as a subsidy, the system is not effective because the benefit obtained from it is of SS Oe / T gM fy! fi fs oe 4 very short duration. t does not result in permanent improvement of grounds and under present conditions has very little value as a conservation mea- sure. Yet it is a well-established fact that planting of shells and seed is the principal operation employed by every oyster grower in the cultiva- tion of oysters. The state governments fail to obtain even a small degree of success in rehabilitating public grounds because, not having a comprehen- Sive or continuous system of management, they are not in a position to de- termine what should be undertaken under existing circumstances. In deciding when, where, and how many shells or seed to plant, or when and under what conditions the marketable oysters should be harvested, they often act in ignorance or are influenced by political considerations. PRODUCTIVITY OF OYSTER BOTTOMS Maintenance of oyster bottoms on a sustained yield basis and full util- ization of the potential productivity of oyster grounds are possible but can be achieved only as a result of a well-planned and carefully executed system of cultivation. Thus, if public oyster groimmds are to returm to productivity, their manazement must take into ccnsideration the suitability Of bovtoms for catching seed or for srowing markevable stock; the rate of growth of oysters; the natural productivity of bovtoms; establishment of Spamming grounds; and planting of cultch. Plans must be worked out after the adaptability of the existing bottoms for definite phases of oyster farm- ing has been ascertained, and the extent of various areas and their poten-— tial productivity determined. An estimate of the present assets of the oyster fishery indicates that the potential yield of our public oyster szrounds is far greater than their present crop. There are at present about one and a quarter million acres of oyster grounds which yield only about 5.2 million pounds of oyster acre. Many of these grounds are so depleted that they no longer attract the oystermen who, naturally, seek more prolific areas. The average ‘figure of productivity is, therefore, too low because it includes areas, which, at present, do not contribute to the fishery. I1f through the application of methods of cultivation 500,0CO or less’ than half of the total number of acres could be made to produce annually about 30 bushels per acre, a total yield from public grounds of between 75 and 90 million pounds of meat, or about twice the present amount might be expected. Of course, such an improvement cannot be made in a short time. Usually much more time is required for the restoration of a natural resource than y meat--or on the average from 5 to 6 bushels of oysters in the shell per gi — for its destruction. The sooner, however, we adopt a policy of better manage- ment, the sooner we can expect results. From the example of the cultiva- tion of the Pacific oyster in the State of Washington, we know that within a few years the vield of this industry grew from virtually nothing to about 10.7 million pounds annually with the expectation that production can be increased materially in 1943 and 19h. This is an outstanding example of the success of oyster farming conducted by private enterprise and with very little encouragement by the government. Despite this achievement, there exists in many states almost unconquerable opposition to the idea of private oyster culture so that attempts to obtain legislation liberalizing the con- ye ditions for the leasing of natural beds are doomed to failure. This situa- tion leaves the state governments no other alternative but themselves to * : . RPARYV T engage in the cultivation of oysters. il ve ‘i = ~ NSIT ITT AT 'S WISH AyD ¥ 3 a TAG Hy he Ww ial Br aati i del ah, Ae tho. ie CULTIVATION OF OYSTERS There arc various degrees of cultivation. The most elaborate system practiced by the large commerciul concerns in northern waters comprises several distinct operations such as, prep:ration of bottoms, planting cultch to catch spat, eee it to growing grounds, planting of young oys- ters grown from spat to maturing and fattening ground, und harvesting and preparation of the oysters for the market. An alinost complete lack of cultivation is found, for instance in Georgia, where the supply of oysters for canneries and shucking houses is obtained from badly neglected and de- pleted public grounds or is imported. Oyster culture in Delaware and New Jersey is in an intermediate condition for the growers are partly dependent on the existence of public reefs from which to obtain seed for planting on privately-owned beds. Since the limits of this leaflet do not permit a detailed discussion of the legal and technical problems of individual States, certain basic principles are outlined which, with necessary modification, can be applied to a variety of local conditions. One must bear in mind that natural oys- ter. beds cannot produce as manj cysters as can cultivated bottoms. The ehief reason.for this is that the wild population of the natural bed is composed of various age groups which, to a certain extent, interfere with each other. Spat and seed attach themselves to the aes oysters and com- pete with them for water, oxygen, and food. Some of the small oysters can- not be culled off, and are destroyed when the catch is delivered to the shucking house, while others are injured in culling and perish. Shells of young are easily broken by the teeth of heavy dredges adjusted to take large oysters and harvesting sometimes results in the destruction of large numbers of undersized specimens. On the other hand, a unit of the planted bottom of a well-conducted farm contains a population of oysters of a uniform age which are placed in a desired concentration and are not disturbed by dredging. There is less competition for food and the oysters have better conditions for rapid growth and fattening. Harvesting from a cultivated bottom does not require culling and is, therefore, more efficient and economical. In planting operations as usually conducted by State governments, no attention is paid to the segregation of oysters of various ages. Thus, in Spite of the efforts and money expended, the planted bed still retains all the undesirable conditions of a wild "natural" one, under which production in pounds of meat per acre cannot be high. MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC GROUNDS Considerable improvement in the management of public-oyster grounds ean be expected if state planting operations are conducted by a plan similar to that used by private oyster growers. Simple computation shows that it is more advantageous to plant spat than seed oysters two or three years old. A bushel of shells containing about 2,000 spat may be expected to produce, by the end of the third year, between ) and 5 bushels of market- able oysters (assuming 300 oysters to a bushel and cumulative mortality hye Sfp "Ne! eta Gtr re se ; de Herp er ; aie Ga i OBIS He ) Coe 2 ate okt ik sepa iene Tn i. Wisk inant vignzoni aha alate aa enn Pe See oy Eb isd eigen Lome. (pet ay) peta. rte P potinn Sa A: t pasate of 20 percent). With the higher concentration of spat that sometimes pre- vails, an ever higher yield of 5 to 7 bushels from 1 bushel of spat may be attainec. However, a return of 1:1 is the average that can be expected from planting 2- and 3=-year-old seed. Since the cost of planting one bushel of shells with spat or one bushel of seed oysters is about the same, the advantages of planting the former are obvious. To ensure a sufficient supply of seed, existing setting areas should be utilized to establish spawning grounds closed to fishing, and by provid- ing cultch. State grounds from which planters are permitted to take seed for planting should be protected by prohibiting the removal of adult oysters and shells. The taking of these is probably one of the chief reasons for the exhaustion of seed grounds in Delaware Bay. The situation can be easily remedied by the enforcement of existing laws and by the establishment of Sanctuaries. Planted areas should be closed to fishing and opened only when the oysters reach marketable size. Then the bed can be opened to fishing and the oystermen encouraged to remove and market all of the oysters in order to have the ground ready for the next planting. Since natural growth of an oyster population is not great enough to keep pace with the rate of commercial fishing, no good purpose is served by leaving marketable oysters on planted ground. They should be removed and replaced by seed. Harvesting of oysters should be regulated because the opening of state- cultivated grounds to free fishing may result in such a rush and competition among the dredgers and tougers that the market may be glutted, prices fall, and the harvest largely wasted. These undesirable features, which in the past have caused great confusion and disorganization in the fishing industry, can be avoided by establishing a daily catch limit per boat, and by restrict- ing the number of boats, or both. This can be accomplished by various means, as by issuing special permits good for a limited period and by checking the boats and their loads when they leave the grounds. For the successful operation of a program of state management, the control of the harvesting is as important as the production of the crop. In carrying out this general scheme it is suggested that, at first, the badly depleted bottoms be. set aside for state planting. Since fishing on them is unprofitable, their closing will not interfere with the existing fishery. The areas selected for planting should be closed, posted, and cleaned. From the very beginning, distinction should be made between the setting and groWing..grounds and no shells should be planted on the latter except for reinforcing soft bottoms. Depending upon local conditions and the time required for the oysters to reach marketable size, grounds should be used in rotation to be ready for harvesting in 2, 3, or years. Two questions naturally arise: (1) How should these oyster-farming opera- tions by the state be financed, and (2) why should all the work be carried out for the benefit of the oystermen who appear only as reapers of a crop i 2 aaa bn * they do not plant? An indirect subsidy to the oystermen from the general taxpayer's money can be avoided if, for the privilege of harvesting from planted areas, a special assessment is made on each bushel or gallon of oys- ters taken, and the money so collected is in turn spent on the improvement program. Funds for shell planting which several states have at their dis— posal could be used to defray initial expenses. At present, this money is spent in more or less indiscriminate planting and is usually dissipated without producing permanent improvement. Suppose that under a new system of management, the state plants several thousand acres of prepared, good grounds at the rather high cost of 75 cents a bushel of shells, each con-= taining about 2,000 spat. By the end of the third year when the oysters are ready for market, they can be expected to yield about 1/2 bushels to one of the original seed. he grounds would then be open to the oystermen who would pay, however, a special assessment for the privilege of taking cultivated oysters, and whose catch should be regulated. Harvesting oysters from cultivated grounds requires less effort than working on depleted natural beds where oysters are scarce, and it is rea- sonable to expect that the oysterman would be able to make a good profit even if assessed at the rate of 20 cents a bushel. Because the yield of cultivated oysters in pints per bushel averages higher than that of wild ones, the assessment covering the cost of cultivation cannot be considered too burdensome, especially if the market price of oysters remains at the present level. Even at a selling price of $1.00 a bushel the oystermen would be able to make a subst2ntial profit because of the better yield and conse- quent higher efficiency of harvesting on planted areas. At the rate of 20 cents a bushel, the State would collect 90 cents ( 1/2 x 20) for each 75 cents invested in the planting and could apply the money to a revolving fund from which further oyster farming operations would be administered and financed. The figures suggested are here given only in illustration and should not be considered as definite recommendations. The proper rate of assessment would vary in different states and in different years depending on the success of planting operations, market conditions, and other factors. The assess- ment is restricted to the crop harvested from state-planted grounds and does not apply to other beds under the jurisdiction of the state that are not cultivated. For collecting the assessment, 2 system of checking can be adopted similar to that now in operation in Louisiana. Oysters gathered in Louisiana for the canneries at Biloxi, Mississippi, must be cleared through a port of entry where a certificate is given showing the number of bushels and the point of origin of oysters taken outside of state waters. Payment of the assessment is made through the operator of the plant receiving the oysters. I believe a similar system for the collection of a special assess-— ment on cultivated oysters taken from state-planted grounds can be worked out in every state. The proposed system of management can be put into operation gradually, by a state, beginning with a limited area, carefully selected, in a section where it can easily be patrolled. In states where strong antagonism exists between the tongers and the dredgers, a certain degree of reconciliation may be attained by offering to both groups an opportunity to participate with the state in oyster-farm- ing operations. Dredgers who agree to prepare the bottoms and plant specified 10 : ‘uty py My SM) ce oe FS ere i PI fhe 30 ey ls ood Cs VaR 4 af eam if ve we ai {aie eBay w baw aeHPre pe, aia eA recess ie! an enaren ae oh ae how ood cs SORA | eecighaentl, CoN amounts of shells or seed may receive in return preferred rights in harvest-— ing the crop. Similarly tongers may be encouraged to engage in the produc- tion of seed by planting shells and other cultch in the inshore waters and Selling their surplus to the state. It is believed that in this way produc- tion of seed oysters can be increased. Tongers who ovm small farms along the shores can obtain additional income from this source and utilize with profit the time they are not engaged in fishing. Other methods of coopera- tion between the state and the oystermen can be devised. For instance, the right to harvest planted oysters may be offered at public auction and granted to the highest bidders. It is not the present. purpose to discuss details of organization which obviously must differ in the various states, in accordance with natural, economic, and social conditions. It should be reemphasized, however, thab the productivity of oyster bottoms can be maintuined only through cultivation. If the development of private oyster-farming is impossible, then the cultiva- tion of bottoms must be carried out by the state governments. In the majority Of the States, the management of the oyster fisheries is in the hands of the legislative bodies and often becomes a political issue in which the interests of conservation are submerged or lost. #ven in states wnere the adminis-— trative officer enjoys discretionary power, his tenure of office is indirectly dependent on the voters. Many difficulties in the past can be attributed to the failure of state-acministrators to acquaint the fishermen with the reasons for adopting certain restrictive measures. The success of a new system of managenent of oyster bottoms, as outlined above, depends on the Support it may receive from the people who earn their Livelihood by oyster- ing. it is, therefore, essential to popularize new ideas among the oyster- men through meetings, publications, and demonstrations and to gain their confidence by organizing local councils to formulate their specific needs and discuss ways of overcoming difficulties. The animosity between the fishermen who naturally want to use the most effective methods of fishing and the administrator who restricts their activity can be minimized or eliminated if attempts are made to explain the principles of management and make the fishermen @ party to the conservation effort. The task may be difficult especially at the beginning but it is certain to produce good results in the long run. The execution of a new program of management must be based on a thorough knowledge of local grounds and on an understanding of the behavior of oysters im ecaeh Vocality.' It will be necessary, therefore, to have a staff of compe— tent oyster biologists or oyster culturists to study local conditions and to direct oyster farming operations. Extensive experimental research may be needed in many localities in order to determine the best method of re- habilitation of oyster bottoms and their protection against enemies, para- Sites, and pollution. These are services which, perhaps, may best be ren- dered by a Federal or interstate organization. SEED OYSTERS tudents of oyster problems in the United States realize that the pro= duction of spat and of an adequate supply of seed.is essential to success of the industry. Future progress is dependent on our ability to produce ail a LESSALA A Se “hs y WAS aed, e Be Roa Age ary seed oysters in the localities, and at the times when they are needed. In past years, considerable progress has been made in acquiring knowledge of the factors that control the spavming and setting of oysters, but still more specific information is needed in order to understand how the oyster larvae react to the outside environment and why they set successfully in one place and fail to do so in another. It is well-known that good setting grounds may be very poor for the growing of cysters and that good maturing grounds may be useless for catching spat. In ee the best seed grounds are close to the mouths of rivers in waters of low salinity. Seed grounds close to industrial and densely populated areas suffer more from industrial and domestic pollution than do those located farther offshore in deeper waters. A great many formerly productive seed-oyster grounds have been destroyed by industrial wastes. Furthermore, seed areas cannot be fully utilized because they are under the jurisdiction of municipal or county governments which have a tendency to issue regulations intended to protect the rights of local residents rather than those of the entire State or country. Under these conditions full utilization of the seed= oyster possibilities becomes impossible. Observation of the practices employed by viivate growers and by some of the state governments shows that transplantation of seed is often carried On Without proper safeguards. For instance, no effort, as a rule, is made to remove the oyster-drills and their egg-capsules and no attention is paid to the condition of young oysters. Recent studics disclose that on many of the natural seed grounds, especially in southern waters, the oysters are badly intected with a Sree parasite (Nematopsis). Yet rather large quantities of the infected seed have been gathered and planted among healthy oysters. Apparently, Nematopsis infection does not destroy the oysters under normal conditions and it is firmly established that the parasite is not injurious to human health, yet there is no coubt that its presence is undesirable for it may affect the quality of the oysters and even render them unmarketable. As in the case of the oyster-drills, which are being spread primarily by the oystermen, the Nematopsis parasites also are dis- tributed over a wide range through carelessness of the planters. The problem of adequate Dr ote of he althy secd oysters is a serious one that should be ,iven careful attention by the state governments. Ks- tablishment of spawning and seed reserves appears to be one of the methods of meeting the situation, and of making good use of many of the depleted and abandoned public grounds. CONTROL OF ENEMIES Depredation by starfishes continues to be a major concern of oyster- growers in the North. That starfish infestation can be controlled and that thousands of pounds of oyster meat devoured by these pests can be saved for human consumption have been demonstrated by the work of biologists of the Fish and Wildlife Service and others. It has been shown also that, to be a success, the control of starfishes requires organized effort on the part of ee oyster-growers and the state governments. i > = ———— ee —— + --—_-__— Surveys conducted by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Long Island Sound give ample evidence that abandoned private beds neglected by the owners, and unattended natural beds neglected by the state, are the principal breeding places of starfishes. It is an obvious responsibility of the state government to prevent puolicly owned grounds from becoming a menace to the nearby private oyster--farms. On the other hand private planters, in tairness to their neighbors, should be required to free their uncultivated plots from dangerous pests. POLLUTION The increase in domestic pollution of inshore waters is a serious obstacle to the progress of the shellfish industry. Evidence indicates that not only is there a considerable increase in the spread of domestic pollution, resulting from increased war production activities, and the construction of new military and naval establishments and housing projects for war workers, but that there is a tendency on the part of the health officers to relax their vigilance. The interests of the oyster industry demand that public health be fully safeguarded snd that no compromise be accepted where there is danger of an infected product reaching the market. For the sake of self-preservation the industry should insist on strict enforcement of public health reguletions. In doing so, it will prevent repetition of the disaster of 1925. Industrial pollution also interferes with the oyster industry. Various chemicals, oils, and pulp-mill wastes onter our co2stel waters in ever- increasing quantities. Extensive research is necessary in order to devise methods of purification, or recovery of various wastes so that they will not be discharged into our bays and estuaries and accumulate on the shell- fish bottoms. The toxic cffect of many of the pollutants has been denon- strated by numerous studies conducted by the U. S. Fish and wildlife Service and by various state and university laboratories in this country and abroad. Many progressive manufacturers show their willingness to cooperate with those engaged in the conservation of our food resources, while others protest the results of scientific findings and try to prove that the wastes that are discharged into the waters are not only harmless to marine life but are even stimulating to its propagation and growth. The solving of pollution problems should be sought through coopera- tion in research conducted jointly by fishery biologists and the technolo- gists working for manufacturing concerns. Scientific and technical studies of the method of recovery and purification of industrial wastes may lead to economies and funds expended for this purpose, in the long run, will bring higher dividends than money spent in unconstructive litigation. CONCLUSION It has been shown that the potential productivity of shellfish bottoms is much greater then their present yield and that the decline in the pro- duction of oysters is due to lack of cultivation on public grounds. The rehabilitation of depleted bottoms can be attained by adopting a system of management which will result in their development and permit long-con- tinued utilization. Certain principles of such a system have been sug- gested to stimulate interest and focus attention on the urgent need for 13 ——————————————— se: uk sadn ay. « ee 7 i oa, porn seetatatdtoe somnnge: Dare te ine modifying obsolete and inefficient methods of administration of the oyster fishery. The management of shellfishery resources is a state problem that should be solved separately by the citizens of the various states through their legislative bodies. Action should be prompt as our present system, or lack of one, is leading to the gradual depletion of our valuable shellfish resources. However, it is certain that production can be ma- terially increased by following certain basic principles of cultivation and management. 2807 1h ee eeerrreeeavavVanV570uSSe_ Lee an 4 ata tet tenho: bia aN 2 eR Menai rn Seton Fe Drplag 3 Er de National Shellfisheries Association, Philadelphia Meeting, June 1943 HOW NEW JERSEY PLANS FOR MORE OYSTERS * Dr./ Thurlow C. Nelson, New Jersey Oyster Research Laboratory, Rutgers University, Outlines Program Successful production of oysters requires three things: (1) a dependable sup- ply of seed; (2) a reliable source of oyster food for growth and fattening; (3) adequate donteol of oyster enemies. New Jersey is unique among our states in that better than 90 percent of the seed oysters planted upon privately leased grounds come from State controlled natural oyster beds. These beds furthermore are used solely for seed production and not for raising marketable oysters. The industry is concentrated in three areas: Great Bay and the Mullica River; Great Egg Har- bor, Great Egg Harbor River and Tuckahoe River on the Atlantic seaboard; Maurice River Cove and Delaware Bay where most of the industry is located. The map of Maurice River Cove and Delaware Bay shows a wide cove which nar- rows down to the bay and the river. Maps of Great Bay and of Great Egg Harbor would show an essentially similar situation. The oyster planting growmds lie well down in the broad expanse of the lower bay while the natural oyster beds lie in the much narrower area where the bay funnels down into the river. In Maurice River Cove lie approximately 30,000 acres of planting grounds with some 20,000 acres of natural oyster beds in the upper narrow portion of the bay. Dr. Julius Nelson showed in 1917 that oyster larvae rise during flood tide and thus are carried toward headwaters. Our own studies in Little Egg Harbor pub- lished in the same year and later work in Barnegat Bay and in Delaware Bay have abundantly confirmed this reaction of the larvae to the tides. As a result of this distribution of the larvae there are in Delaware Bay as a whole three primary setting areas; above the Southwest Line on the New Jersey side, the corresponding area on the Delaware side and the Cape May shore of the lower bay. Among the fac- tors responsible for this distribution of the oyster larvae, the most important appears to be the set of the currents resulting from the rotation of the earth. The contribution of science to the problem of seed production in New Jersey has been to demonstrate where the larvae are most abundant and the period over which setting may be expected to occur. The survival of the natural beds in Delaware Bay has been due solely to the enforcement of the Rough Cull Law of 1899 which provides that not more than one- seventh of the catch shall consist of shells to which no oysters are attached. All other shells must be returned at once to the bottom. Supplementing the natural supply of shells has been the shell planting program carried out jointly by the State of New Jersey and the oyster growers. A portion of the tax on gross tonnage of the boats and of the license fees of tongers is used to match on equal terms the state appropriation for shell planting. The shells are purchased from the local shucking houses and planted where the prospects of a favorable set are good and where they are most needed in maintaining the beds. In 1928 more than a mil- lion bushels of shells were planted under this cooperative agreement. Furthermore, they were planted according to¢ advice received from the Oyster Research Laboratory. That this method of handling the beds is economically and biologically sound is proved by the steady rise of the industry to its peak of over five million dollars worth of oysters in 1928. * Published in Atlantic Fisherman, Inc., Goffstown, N. H., August 1943. Eee I: ait sont i satis ie ia i ge SS GN sah ee arene tO ADT EMAL aR at ae ‘a worn’ wall. 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BE olf abet ‘reveyo Lowden oft efide Tate BA \navks seo rit National Shellfisheries Association, Philadelphia Meeting, June 1943 Problems of Oyster Production in Texas . Gordon Gunter, Marine Biologist Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission (Read by Title) The bay area of the Texas coast covers 3,460 square miles of water, about 700 square miles larger than the area of Chesapeake Bay. However, Texas oyster produc- tion is very small compared to that of the Chesapeake area. Oysters grow only along a little more than two-thirds of the length of the Texas coast, that is from Galveston Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Along the whole area of the Laguna Madre, a distance of 130 miles, extending from Corpus Christi to Mexico, no oysters live ex- cept for a small patch at the very lower end, near Port Isabel. Here only a few hundred gallons are produced annually, and, although this small patch of oysters is very interesting biologically, being separated by many miles from other reefs, the significance of it is entirely negligible from the standpoint of production. Evi- dently these oysters grow under conditions thst are far from optimum and there is a special law permitting small oysters to be taken. For practical purposes, oys- ter production may be said to end south of Corpus Christi Bay. At the end of the last ice age, when sea level returned to its approximate present position, an offshore bar was formed along the Texas coast, so that today it has a double coastline. The area between the offshore bar and the mainland is the coastal lagoon. It averages about four miles in width. In addition, the mouths of rivers have been embayed by wind and wave action, practically all of them at right angles to the coastal lagoon, so that the bay area of the Texas coast may be said to be composed of two parts, the coastal lagoon and the more recently embayed back bays. Today the back bays are silting up rather rapidly as geological proces- ses go, but the depths of the coastal lagoon have been static since the coming of the white man, except for the Laguna Madre, which is a special case, and except in areas where channels have been dug. In these areas silting has taken place. Grow- th of oysters takes place both in the back bays and the coastal lagoon. Oysters growing in the back bays have to continually fight against silting and periodically they are killed out by freshets every ten years or so. The Texas oyster grows al- most at the extreme southerly part of its range and conditions in Texas undergo large changes every few years. This holds true especially along the drier portion of the Texas coast. From East Texas to South Texas along the coast, the climate changes and four separate climatic divisions which range from humid to arid have been designated by Thornthwaite. The arid part covers the Laguna Madre where salini- ties of the bay sometimes reach a point three times as high as sea water. Today Matagorda Bay is the center of oyster production in Texas and the quality of the Karankawa Bay oyster, under the best conditions, is probably not excelled by those from any area of the Gulf Coast. Galveston Bay is the other main producing area, but this part of the Texas coast is also the most heavily industrialized and the most polluted. Aside from the main question, it seems to be true that the fla- vor of the Gulf Coast oyster is different from that of the Chesapeake oyster and a person who is accustomed to one wiil prefer it to the other. This difference pro- bably derives from differences in the species of diatoms eaten by oysters in the two localities. : sf bee a eae tet soit sei ry nontioet, Py a } * ym falgelow aigixoll tedaud nobbaod mo. ian mito te bow elt ened sent dad « ay vii band) va ‘ H “oot Prods Ma dager “a DOF take 008 Ods,t rayon ggg ort 2 sarge y moahorag , a 96 seo? tovewal UoH edes oD Yo sou8 ot? mast? ha prad bey ha a Kigio Weta, atadayd OLD j Cae ode 20 toedsint be gentry L tiie ptt Bi Fad? ..das00 eaxe? adit to eae { ont To shwhitd-owd apdh oma othe ee, «Slant gamed eff to sete edad edd geol, yh boetrdd amyaot oF ve ) oe WEL atoduyo. om ,ookeOM oF bees ) auto) mot paibaotre ,oalte Od wet Gxing wml, «tedenlk dooF ahem bow +t wok vow ocd to Aosta pee Mh, arrester. ‘Ye gp Shore, ebuld ngeongie ,tne -yLiesame Hox it a Te PAs Wheat tenho woTd aolin enum yt beds iH ‘gated wieotgolols + oatta at ip bee stages ouborey, te sntogbas & ott mort oldigiigen yleakime ef “ok ted Ts @aedy bas wanitgo mov ct arte deat evr" hase » tebeat Po7y eto sah : Lae eterna Se Eaokesaen » ot. peeled at ot esetcyo Llenn gal seionog fe ee £¢abni)- awed te czeoe be of bige ‘od ‘rte Low, ayes dy: iienbatedue sit o¢ bermdes Level #ou nu'w oye 19k aet wid %o bre “yfbes PRs oa yIn209 saxeT ‘ex + ymts Daorvo’ eam wid giotalio — Wane i i tnalatee eit tas v2 wont e Gd neowsed cote oT pentLdvans eiduch Gas odd ~Rokdihbe ni cMahite ok pefia wo srodp segetova’ SE .acoged. 4 te aN $e weds to ite vyllaokgon Wo eV Gy Bisecs fertw yd beyvadas . need “ret ad van ficon aaxeT ed? to sets yad eg fei'd of (woged, fetaac: > Oe O24 “eres vianooe atom ed} boo moagal iotes : wid (dam, ond 20 bondgsion waht Savtgolaey. ae Wbiqet snigen oe 9s b ome ayed aed erg yoko? | De, ekwoc oft ovata okbade goed @wed fooge! IsJnans ade %6 edtgeb edd ond ‘aqhoue bra (puso Latoegs aA ak pekew oho ortjad cet sot JQ00%e AM veoal:, toca aerh) ynckdbe pnots aeeds el. yeh mowd hte od oppo uN ated? S eecenpat Endasced oft ba Weed sioad ocd mh Ado domly ooglat 9 ong y baa gntelie dankage Fath 't Lewes doen of oval mya Hood wee ae abe wworty ‘tedave aite? oT -,08 Go ataey ned vite atedaett we duo bo thhe ae hyo Cgtehae aaxeT nib £9 Tbe hee want ati to dung yiterdtuos sneaks, “NA “aOR tony math ald gaoie yiLaloeqse opm abi sid? .eteee wel iets Be ‘wdiomkio ocle vtene: ect ‘gools gate? tives of vaxuT seal wert. . Fined i weed, Dhic oF bins! ac “i egnex dathy, mente tui bhai mtie edartatea- "aver beth La erect orto ae od oft avewen Paig ita act otlieatseront yf beds todew wow ee agit am houmber eons Inia; » AeseF aaron vad 4 ilauy DER — doors? ak notdnabor, wade Yo tedmon. ocd ak vo akewgotah vad Piepsqeren oot vidadowy ai, wei bethaed aed ods Tehmd, n0se%o yen pad Ho Mane eeiicring nibasar “ntl: if. Wh Yee WAR) a SoD tio odd lo oes YA8 MORE Hohe healioiatavhal » ade onde ah Seace age? ont to Hine. eine. dud Dngth OhF Hodt wart nd git sf covh ebisa babel boy, Ree adoro moka se ity NY Bd Sbue, wey: toot Line eld HY ihe ri es OF Ga ¥, eo Ov HER A ty a a ; : , ‘ ‘ee got ie cok a a ea ate 1g Ea EUR RRA hunerun: Ais ore ov Gunter's Address--Page 2 Texas is one of the few remaining states in the union whose oyster produc- tion comes almost completely from natural reefs. In 1904 the Texas coast produced approximately 200,000 barrels of oysters. That was the peak year. Since that time production has steadily declined until today it only amounts to 50,000 bar- rels annually. It may be said that production is at a very low stage. The im- provement and increase in Texas oyster prcduction lies in short in two things; first. better control of the natural reefs, and, second, introduction of oyster cultiva- tion. Oystermen should be required by law to use a culling hatchet when culling oysters for the market. Today any tool is used, from a leaf of an automobile spring to a ball pein hammer. Therefore, many of the culls are destroyed before being re- turned to the water. . Many reefs in shallow water are not fished and are overcrowded, so that the oysters are poor, misshapen, small and of ne utility whatsoever. This is because dredging is not permitted in water less than six feet in depth. This law was passed many years ago to protect the tongers from the competition of the dredgers. Since that time the tonger has become a thing of the past on the Texas Coast, as a class, and probably not mare than a dozen full time cyster tongers remain in Tenses Nevertheless, the old law has been changed and today many reefs in shallow water are under—worked while many others in deeper water are overworked. As an answer to this situation it has been suggested that the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission be aie to nae eae any or all oyster reefs, regardless of depth of the wa- 9 when inspection and examinati ef's j i a ence at ion of the reefs show that such action is neces- Texas oyster laws were designed to prevent a monoply in oyster cultivation and promoters took advantage of the law preventing any one company or individual from leasing more than 100 acres, by contracting to work bottoms for leaseholders who paid for the work. The promotional phase has run its course in Texas and finally died out due to intrinsic handicaps of the total situation. Dr. Paul S. Galtsoff has recommended laws which will prevent revival of the promotional phase. The only reefs now leasable for cultivation are those with no history or only long past history of oyster »roduction. Obviously, such bottoms are not productive and some relaxation of the rigid laws governing leasing are advisable to permit utilization of bottoms with better prospects of production. There are many problems of oyster cultivation in Texas that are unsolved and many which, doubtless, are unrecognized and unknown. This program will result in better care of the natural cyster reefs. Encouragement of oyster cultivation should ‘be carried cut by the enactment of certain less restrictive laws and by an experi- mental study of oyster culture conditions in Texas. These two combined activities comprise the only action that can be taken to replenish the depleted oyster resour- ces of the State. Rae eon sae tes it > Sact't { DOU.OF a saoesome Whe aE ore ‘yattion peste Wecind inbhdae B want aegis ‘Gizdpmaden ne T: “Yel Pee peyote sed Sui aaa Sodas ta. 4 es “eh ‘Saas Ou , dobve ant AS. 16 wt fe gldT ta : gav wal ect ie te weed Seacrest ) ot te By ‘eee: ap hoane ‘gave? ody ao tasq ot 0, i lexet ed: rebne't wsaynot rodaye aald In ynbod his ”) es mage volleds ui aleot Ynet od: ECRRLS. £1 ai: yboihttowist wre ed “oboe dente re] “tote @ bass papi ait pie’ w idgoh % Gt obbyin PL ream | CY noksou fous ‘das. 2. works wteet oils 1 Yasar Toa. yomed ait tacd tReet Tole" gebtavgiive tofayo c2 vinoios @ Pecven of i | bonbheithe | Wo: eatie 1 Om) Ce galiaove Paty hy epebicivaned wet Rmosfod kuow. of Qalitoass Mant bah Baxot oi eatuod ct ¥ aaa eed vas vant % Touslwd «2 Anil -T oK Piotttea Lagos. ocd ce oor Lonoktometg ad? Lo. Lire to vactade on dd iv amx! d one tol devs rbeubor: bon or sacttod dove ¢yiseoiv ne ie A alae a ‘OF od: denivh ems yoieaot pri ite ‘hh ; his ettout oot bo ido eikinais {ys maaan, firs pen eae Bees, pl ti ee evs ore! ww ois tals aaxcT ai : at ivewt | {iw ng edn eiATt Bftroce perremry yo’ setane te ane Hy a Reeeried (06 uct ih ait ak awd de drainer ae) ebeiy Sd y23 "betidnes owt oxen: ponet tedayg Sodefgoh ee hon | fern ae) He CRLAeOD Ge a ) Rin Ai Wh wadbe htninewd we wae Abiaet Loti ad aosk Mier ee ernderd “Ww ated 000 008 yi assiake: Fone Hy three Saat Low’ githaets wit, fh cea, eee wgods Wok Ytar, % ae subenate ahah Euluom eet anes ot yt) gagiidr ows wt Sroceg awed 5 bark, pedetyo Baie Mf aud ween eel fees, ‘a wibby Lf Lore TARO Re ‘pottombowtar ,! uu hoe ot ‘Laprtertn ache hal dc AI % "2 ott goad vag be Oya weOeYy i r etree on be fe as ao oted | Sadect i. - gai’ [fq eviageoxto to eomiao4 Sinaly 2° Web gaivertcy olf of Wea? fo. dot id hi own 5 atotoullon Inomibor Labs sage Sane st tala ‘ta pony Otad wiexyo ane 3 Lis t6d¢ o@oclbal ated of eqn ibak? off .ebon saw; nokta ay. dadggwlo ont wtote i adoke on a2 Botliter: dol? ban sewbbedectio vat obied fH inmokiiiloy to pesiues afd mot) tol sensan todkew ods Relies sad nbd wai, \enotert Bin saomad! ' on? ~Llatpugee ,dnetxo aledios 6 ob nob felts, 89 pees. betelfcg oiny t- erm tm of 625 .4evewoll BORESIEI Ha. i grtvad-s ai «tie 80 ed od aatone noltowhowges .roseet tecido eae Ye eetaned to 23 ina: are} a a, at iad ons. saonx't ake io etn afnwon ayid somhferds bas Lewin dadhe ie P50gs ic @ertoa » view Ried ts aotunodee ne wamrgunnt esw ofet optdae aiid. reve? eedqeiag 4 SOeVe MA LeFade:: Peay menos eA PE it itul flog -te vee, : ne eg ss gittenaqe ti oda Wide nok tebotioy eae ode sg be moose doom PRE alt ee TS obeon ad? ons ‘aise Ofow gouxyiace otis “mega idoage wed a yf Lavivreg, 4 ato, SLAF: to? aesc absain # z° he seildoure ahadde od eidiunogml gb otea toto ane eh ‘oban bs acam, oldgqera toss ho sobsooks nox os Si abpeeieashs tid rig, >. soayl wy Pag caps ae v Beaven's Address--Page 3 oyster samples taken at widely scattered points showed the presence as trace ele- ‘ments of iron, nickel, silicon, aluminum, manganese, magnesium, titanium and phos- phorus. These were all uniformly distributed. Silver and zinc were present in greater quantity in samples from the two bars nearest Baltimore. Vanadium was also found in the upper Bay samples. Copper was generally in greater abundance in the bay samples than in those taken from the tributaries. The elements named were the ones whose lines were measured with a densitometer. When further examination of the plates can be made, others may be determined. The spectrographic plates and ash samples are being stored in the hope that this study may be renewed and extended when future conditions permit. Since the sex ratios among oysters according to their size have been found to be somewhat dependent on environmental conditions, a study of such ratios in local oyster populations was begun last fall. Insufficient data have been gathered from which to draw any conclusions at present. Plans have been made to carry out this investigation more extensively in the future. It is hoped that the findings may be of value in selecting for brood stock oysters having the most effective sexual com- position for efficient reproduction. During the past two winters abnormal oyster mortalities have been reported from a number of bars in different parts of the State. Investigations indicate that a number of local factors may have been involved. However, it was observed that in- fections by Nematopsis were present on all of the bars examined and in certain cases may have contributed largely to the losses. A more extensive survey of the distri- bution of this parasite and degree of infection in various parts of the State is planned for this year. Naval operations have resulted in some destruction of natural oyster rocks. The Laboratory has conducted surveys of the extent of such damage and aided in the estimation of the value of the oysters and rocks destroyed. In line with the demand for greater food production, an oyster program is being formulated in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service. This involves a gene- ral survey of all oyster producing regions of the State. Oyster populations, seed production, physical condition of the bars, and methods of obtaining maximum yields are to be studied. The Laboratory also plans to investigate the possibility of more effective utilization of the soft shell clam or manninose. As a result of the appropriation of badly needed funds by the 1943 Legislature it will be possible to carry on our oyster program and other research much more ef- fectively in this and future years. Four new biologists will be added to the staff together with needed maintenance workers and helpers. One of these biologists will devote his entire time to oyster work and will have the cooperative assistance of others as needed. Aside from the handicap of war limitations and manpower shortages, Maryland seems on the threshold of a far more comprehensive and coordinated program of study and management of our natural resources than at any time in the past. fl eA iit in pa pea ap women aed betade: adnitog Sorted att; a anes vient bas clmests ympidoryam cenetmas avalowle pookise Natio deen sires. wien oule hos wuihe .heted fatath yliotkay Loe mre rimitiod Inotaon exod ows. old ott aeciuee ah baie rcs dat G cenineaen pend aia Mi yilovenes, Aor “Hoge? .aeaeiee wR vege add ie enew hone ediomole ed? seotmadadis? off mot? doled ond? al aed? we mid ‘to nokd satnans ‘toda moat nto tumio ht cana 2 dtke bomneen ate conkl ian fas wotelg oidg way cre raga alt chentareeseh od yon oedso , whan ads pe cine hon Becentvot ed ae vate otis hort eqod edt al begote pated ote 4 A AAAS . vbboreo anotttboos, ‘a ete noad owed este thee of pene ‘ae Setevo ynonis nother: oer odd danal wh wottert dowe %o whande Lithooo Latwomerrntows: we srobmeqeb TOE bormising wo0d ewsrl aah Fh ba 1 «fie? desk mugad sine omold eyed deo grins OF ahem nyved evad enelt. ,teonery de aod rie | pedi ~e as ried roi of} af yloviem etom ¢ > Moode boon a3 cuidsaten 3 Holtosbouet dmekerrie ret, ldleaaion ree ae ovat oottt spunea iii go ed atedmiw one deag ovis | Vid @MN8 ofsoth:t sootteyl seoval - sehad® old Io ydaaq dnesethhh at 2 te mae hewn | ame #2) .sovqwel .bovlovat-nved owed yam epoben? . anaes or eal: ; A Geet a) ives odd to [Le ae dneaetq open | . 4 se Be ot erie ov vy vormpeb hae oviaataq akg’ : a at oot iseguyo souden Y colurmdeach ence at dehtenend wead sentient Sans bebts Bas oy corny oe we rosa 6 id Yo syerte Bobewbron wed yt bh bayorineh tine ban nindsyo shF Yo enter edt 04 ee. MEY OT todero om woh doubeta bool vedsety wot hammed rr dw les weviovns. uit? .votvred ommend bun dell ote ae wuhtorioqoon mh ¢ eae ttel ago pen oh ,o0088 aff to aaolaet satasibg totey iis Te oo teixes galaisids Yo abodsew fre ,ated of? 2o agkPibaoo Leoligdg rR petihite aog ext pPrno dowent of emaiq oalo ented ns en? bothae he ononingml tw msio Lleda Thee: oat * to ce lsoathe ledlhctatyed EAC! orld ys ehawt bedeer ylbed te robo baqemye on? Ye Bre Oe. oom Kowm dowsenet toto bee Mego rodayo Wo Mm PEI oF Ba Prey ft Yiade add of bebbs od Litw adadsy oboe war Ropes artnet wraarcbas't ew ade ak os ELiW afatgolotd oxctt Yo ond sie Mo eonadaties oviveteqoss etd over tte diss How aedarg: ot ontd ouses SOpsPrOre owognan bas caokdadials wm to qoolonodt add weFt abiah . bebeos gM ay bodiatiinon bas eviemedesgnen eto int 5 To hiodeewds at wo paigea 1, gta odd al outt yo de ced? sebtvotot Lewetes, aio to J ireuroyiaentian National Shellfisheries Association, Philadelphia Meeting, June 1943 SHELLFISH RESEARCH PROGRAM OF THE VIRGINIA FISHERIES LABORATORY of the Commission of Fisheries and the College of William and Mary CURTIS L. NEWCOMBE, Director Virginia Fisheries Laboratory The urgent need for increasing food production throughout the nation gives reason for examining existing seafood resources from three points of view; One in- volves a consideration of how the existing supply may be increased, i.e., what me- thods can be employed to substantially increase the present supply; a second problem is the old question of adequate protection of the existing supply while production proceeds at varying levels of intensity. An evaluation of current industrial prac-— tices sometimes proves to be a necessary consideration. A third consideration in- volves the quantity of seafood present and the quantity that can be removed imme- diately without endangering the future supply. These three considerations are of basic importance to the Commission's research program, particularly that planned for the current season. I shall refer briefly to the oyster studies being conducted by R. Winston Menzel, work on the crab by M. San- doz and S. H. Hopkins and the experiments on the culture of the ribbed mussel by George M. Moore. Referring first to the oyster, I may point out that since 1912 oyster production in Virginia has dropped about 60 percent---from about 43 million pounds to 17.7 mil- lions in 1940. The large acreage of unproductive oyster bottom in our state is well known to most of you. To restore many of these barren or partially barren bottoms is an established policy of the Commission of Fisheries. Small scale experiments were conducted in 1941 and 1942 to determine the best time to plant shells. Time and amount of "strike" were observed and also the percent survival during the growing season. Winter survival in the case of young oysters was also determined. The ex- periments seemed to indicate that in the locale of the experiments (at Seaford, Vir- ginia), while there was a relatively large strike throughout the summer and fall, the late summer and early fall plantings yielded by far the best results. The results of these preliminary experiments stress the importance of fouling organisms in limiting survival of "spat" during the period when "strike" was greatest, and suggest that August and September may be the best times for planting. The program for the coming season includes a continuation of these experiments but on a small commercial scale in the York and Rappahannock Rivers, and designed to show the best time, number of shells and type of bottom for planting purposes. I may add here that the planting of seed oysters is done on a rather large scale as a part of our repletion program. Ex- periments to signify the number of bushels per acre that need to be planted to assure best results in terms of meat weight are projected for the present season. Virginia's worst enemy of the oyster is the screwborer. Last season's work de- monstrated the efficacy of drill traps for controlling its infestations on submerged bars in Hampton Roads. The cooperative assistance of local planters in that area made it possible to estimate the means and cost of drill control through the trapping methods so successfully worked out in New Jersey. This summer experiments will be continued on ways of reducing the spread of screwborers from infected to uninfected bars during transplantation. From a standpoint of food production the blue crab is a major fishery of the Chesapeake, amounting in 1939 to over 50 million pounds and fairly equally distri- buted between Maryland and Virginia. During the past two decades there have been ae ae % ‘| nee abd fy critoot mnie hepa ae “Ye mae eacman arncomty SAPO: ‘iocnae ‘poem 1 caruaai ; pe ae Aeaoh bne mahLZiW So ) wgeitod ong bas gakyadal? Le. aoLentiambs, apton nit. me comme A BttRO ' puomareodiad aakwonl Saath ” nr 4 CONER solian ost juodgiowid cotdushow too } gotenetois tol boon doogte aah we gwpry te acho.t iv gomlt aoe geoyoset Boolaga. patie tie greeter | ; nth ROE «hod heeaenoe! anes eae “age patdadne. otf wed To notte noitore tedowe & gylqquie vomenng A ib gamegod (feitnedadwe 08 kewolemne Hi ‘ottoaberg eLishr clegee -gahteine eit to iret PQenhoag adoxpobs te eiseae mn Loiedhn: @awicor Io mbtawl are oh opbhenetat “to atevel galcears ih nolrembiagea hair motharabl anos yRseasose a: ved of gern ig aomrd hi nenk hevamet of mes nad gees atin anit, hee dnwee ty hoo tees te tinny © ne a rye i be a aN eeliqgam wut olf. aerate ero’ dytaoavt e'wotealmmoed @as oF gourd yoqml oivid Ie ets anoLiewsbiniens ota | 4 ee abet tse fLarle : nouaae derTr yd soi bonanlg dace ylsa woe De My dan sid ap diwe , leceell megease A el bogoubade gated actin Bo ‘Kebaem beddix ott te ‘wedluo: odd mo. dneutreqne ‘ed boa sami weg} Cah . Le aici wednve S12L ewomke @nid jwo fatoq tan T spades oie oe 20 “tt t.-tnepteq 08 duots hogy orth ual Pivieia CyTh ot ehnvog motiiie €) suote m i Uta wh wdete 09 2. notied tefayo evitoubouqer te egeesse ‘eytes here aN Bh eanddod aera Yilelineg Ye Hevtes, Ser’ ro arent onodeesg OT ty To Om retaabaned ef: To" ‘eoklea oat tk, A dia ening.’ heey tient .aekwodins®, 3 >) haa onkt .obleda dung of me nbd foad odd entereteb OFF SiOL bas Leek e ht, ankwoty ecld ycibcemb a a init oaie baw berpeedo eter payer a Rocky » oer teronted cela now exoveve gavoy, Io 98 oo eff al Javiirws ‘w0dne ‘ Aly i , bree Hee wa) ty Rees te i i ee feook eth i sedd ‘edeotivd ut. Eva he iio baie aeamm off duodgaowt) elise antel view ‘yates @ cow -wrtécte wh it eet vi. bebloiy agatenaig tes vee Seem te" adivger oft etivect saad alt aa? ye. be yk Hakt nk auoloay i, get fais ho, ADEARONIA OCl? O ay eh) adiotet red cr isn A Sade teonnee bas . fae toot, ane Maotiho" henw dob oy oid qottcuh oseqn™ fi > don ot? x03 momo 1 GAT SQL OO 5 | COR, teed ais ed you toceed ‘ glace Lptotengon tieam 2 tad adanaimeaxe ooeid io mogtainisnoo meen bess 97 covih doonasdsugat poe fe \ Ve ieaimn ,wntd- dard edd woile oF Dory A a fo rat tenes Ly wct- dod onod bbe you f. ,aeeogry aS tonaiq wl to Jdod tc . aoe suo to. deay 2 ae efeos ae sees a me wri ‘er pat, tee aLocian secon its Areata od sx marage"ta rie S024, sical of bedusiqow? oF hoot eis ee (OBOE es ung ate Mek: beteoetotg on nis bok goon to anrsed nk @ heh wow etaoesne tant .tetodwetog ost? ai totavo ont to ijnac setow a'aka ara toerttine #10, ALO eodeotak eff getilotiiog 102. og sad Ehkab to aos The etd” ent Pathe wed, heirs Sie oF ned: Rem petite uae may Ehoteqoos | oat NE Viadinaoss oft cpayidd Lowsno 1) Lib to.deor Bao anaes. Om etanldve | ae MCR lbp iroqno eanatee BEAT gtiveaat yo wi tuo Bawiow. Gs hos waiacen od bebo tnt moet eich ov De. barn ond ving te wh yc HO ky PTs cuties re its PRA hh odie: ykkawpe baka bes elapon « pa ILL ONE Owe oe, aH ferme: nro io sehavek, ont oan il * | ae % £¥. bn bral en Sey han fe k ey) RU He ay ‘ RAGNRES: - ody danpay eG ny SiR Rca RR) GN cued eck? ‘mohirnntbors oe yo Newcombe's Address-—~Page 2 pronounced fluctuations in the catches generally attributed to weather conditions and industrial practices. From 1939 to 1940 the crab catch declined nearly 40% in Maryland and 16% in Virginia, according to available Federal statistics. Recently, There has been a significant increase in volwne produced. At the request of the Hampton Crab Packers Association the State Commission established in 1941 and main- tained thereafter, a rather large crab sanctuary at the mouth of the Bay to protect the brood stock. The extent and importance of this sanctuary is, seemingly, one de- serving attention. To determine the value of this body of water for the hatching and larval development of the crab, studies have been carried out since 1941 aiming to define the environmental conditions most suitable for embryonic and larval deve- lopment. It was first necessary to establish beyond question the identity of the blue crab larvae and then to devise a means of hatching them out in large quantities for purposes of studying their preferences and toleration points with respect to the salinity and temperature factors. Thus far it has been found that, as far as stages up to and including the third zoeal stage, are concerned, the range of optimum tem- perature and salinity corresponds with environmental conditions prevailing in the sanctuary during summer. As larval development advances the optimum range of salini- ty for the more advanced stages seems to narrow down considerably. This summer an effort will be made to identify and rear the remaining zoeal stages and define their optimum ranges with respect to salinity and temperature. In light of these experi- mental findings, it appears that Virginia is now making a major contribution to the maintenance of a high level of crab production for the future without seriously cur- tailing the overall output at the present time. At this point, I may mention the loss to the soft crab fishery of Virginia aris- ing from holding crabs on shedding floats. Our preliminary observations made in 1941 indicated that an important. factor, in addition to the condition of the crab when placed on the float, may be responsible for the mortality rates. Available evidence strongly suggests that crabs during the moulting process have a much higher oxygen demand than at other times. Yet, we have found during August that in some commercial floats the oxygen content of the water is far below that of the water outside but nearby the float. Talks with crabbers and preliminary data on the subject lead me to believe that the supply of oxygen available to crabs kept on commercial floats ia a factor worthy attention in any attempt to reduce current losses in shedding crabs. This summer, therefore, further observations will be made on floats in the Rappahan- nock River and at Cape Charles. It would seem that attention should be given to placing floats where there is adequate water movement and olso to making a change in the construction of float so as te give better aeration for the shedding crab. It is particularly important at this time to prevent the loss through improper methods of handling of crabs already produced. I shall turn now to make a brief mention of the Laboratory's program of study on the Biology of the Ribbed Mussel that Dr. Moore is conducting. Two years ago it was my privilege to tell you of our work on this highly interesting and important bivalve that occurs in Virginia and the Carolinas. In my opinion, no single one of our fisheries is playing or is destined to play a greater role in the war effort. Be- ing the major natural animal source of available provitamin D, we are confronted with the need for a basis on which first, to regulate the use of the existing supply and second, to supplement the natural supply by cultural practices. The present program calls for testing out on a small commercial scale varying types of "cultch" found thus far to be the best. Also, transplantation experiments are in progress designed to test out the possibilities for utilizing for seed purposes the fairly large numbers ef small mussels that will otherwise never be gathcred. In my opening remarks I referred to three basic economic considerations: one in- volving how the existing supply may be increased and I had in mind the cyster industry of Virginia; a second consideraticn, dealing with giving adequate protection to the existing supply while production is permitted to continue, applies to the Virginia erab fishery. The third and last consideration involves an analysis of the quantity of available product and the amount that it is possible to remove without endangering the future supply. In this category belongs the ribbed mussel. The Laboratory's ‘program is aimed toward the fulfillment of these considerations. 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Ast sgt ts yd ote tnvvesq of only ‘ghdd da rund topal. er he re boretbormy. -yheetss alan, Lal nk ——-S ‘sgt Se | tito ferod tal oe nigel bo “aoddevpnt tobm! a gen at wor, east aw ie wnoot owt. vgattoubaos «1 dxoulli: yl tad iduag Peddle wt Yo , otiec icin? baa, vu di may gigi, aided oo meow whe Qo boy Liat Of aa Dy. et Jedgnin on .wodiiqo ya ak.’ +e pehdaea ool iene: wietyse) of ane | cet ireatio reat ote wt ales wodse be Naud yolg of honttieh ak to ynivade af | he dye hadvatineo win ow ~C diowtivors aidaitows Qo’ eon Lamon Lapetadt wis Hn hans wigqny gaddatnc add ‘hen ces Geil sitalayor od, “deh? Hoddiw oo adeed a @ayaon: trecemy aff .conidoonm ts vent fas o vd hogs Aeeepen etd denntee Lee panel eh Mtaddlane” Do. waged enitov eloos cakowemioy bein & 409 ay, pelt 1! coat aneriy Ra gue yy it ote atadntrogne chen. ane eo Lagan ee Wea wader sa citin bh vuine ih walt wasoqmnt Gewe so") ais Lc abe to) amtisistanod Wea Wht 3 “4 . Pic eet Wh yn) ei ‘towed ‘ag dwrorso Liaw beau ates . vai ‘ait ein gamed Lot sine oLapage # ota | ewe ot barre hee. q: wabcoms, naporl iaitaino sacl Rauikon® ak. Gina it bewie Rance nt ett yim bie ee wh Wi id Od notdoodeey, odnapabae iyrutwly, ildbitwe ‘sqaed Lanny" ets ) phaborit odd od apldgae: (auntdnon ot boddbareg, pa praroeni 4 Mee ofS Locakerinee cup anwkews .nodiermhtation tebe hai . _pareanstas. suoiie works of ehitoqoy Be ak Hoek Pevensey eben take ol oink nel. ada. Pode be sald enon eed National Shellfisheries Association, Philadelphia Meeting, June 1943 V. L. Loosanof? In Charge, Milford Biological Laboratory U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service A year ago I had the opportunity to bring before the members of this convention the subject of cultivation of the sea mussel, M. edulis. In my address I tried to emphasize the fact that because of the war demands any new source of food that could be developed would be of significant importance. The opinion was expressed that seeking and developing such sources should be considered a major task by the persons engaged in food research of any kind. Attention was called to the fact that in the case of shellfisheries we may do our share by advocating the use of our sea mussels or, as they are more often called, black misscis. At that time, as will be remem- bered, the mussel fishery was virtually non-existent. Prior to developing the fisheries on a broad scale it was considered necessary to ascertain the quantity of mussels of a marketable size available on the natural beds along the North Atlantic coast. To accomplish this, a series of surveys was undertaken. The chief purpose of these surveys was to determine the location of large mussel beds, and to estimate their pepulation. The informaticn obtained was to be made available to the men who intended to engage in mussel fishery. Further- more, the data secured during the surveys could serve in the future, as a basis for formulating regulations for the mussel fishery. During the past year surveys of mussel resources have been conducted in the States of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine. Because of the lack of personnel these surveys are not completed. Nevertheless, the infor- mation thus far obtained is sufficient to form general conclusions in regard to the mussel resources, In almost all instances the conducting of the surveys was made possible because of the cooperation of the fisheries and conservation authorities of the states named. Surveys in Massachusetts and Maine were carried on under the direction of Mr. Herringten of the North Atlantic Fishery Investigaticn. It.is perhaps more convenient to begin a description of the survey by starting with Long Island Sound and proceeding north. Our survey of that body of water, although still incomplete, shows, nevertheless, that the Sound is not very rich in mussels. However, in the course of cur work several large beds were encountered, each being of such dimensions that limited fishing could be considered profitable from a commercial viewpoint. One such bed was found outside the New Haven break- water; another at Point No Point near the natural oyster bed, and the third near Penfield Reef. Unfortunately, these three beds were severely damaged by winter storms and one of them almost completely disappeared. There were several other considerably smaller beds located in other parts of the Sound along the Connecticut shore, as well as numerous scattered mussel colonies in all bays and harbors. How- ever, taken as a whole, the Connecticut mussel resources are not large enough to support mussel cameries. They may, nevertheless, materially contribute to the fresh supply of shellfish sold at local markets. Our estimates of the mussel resources of Connecticut, as well as those of the other states, do not include mussels which are found living in so-called polluted areas. In Connecticut large numbers of such mussels are found in the harbors of large Cities, such as New Haven and Bridgeport, and in the Housatonic and Westport Rivers. a out aredad. teokyaiote oo ULeld a sd © u pores oAnEBLLW tas Hak eo ys band ids Yo, aredtem ald asotod gnind ot Vhotune: wad burl J, pay a ‘af Sette X aeoubho on al cahlsho Mh efouiow 20a odd ‘Xo apdtevdtiso ‘ty, in btuse dad? Bost to cores teh Yoo shosmeb tam odd. to ouraned, Pha toad ont : (Catt bedewsgxs sey potakge of? dots sy taeotLiegte 20 etl bismw & ( MOD Hay ould va Aor “Rep f, Set & bee te poten ad hives atria: sown gotqoloveh ; nie BE gadis tox% odt of bellao van avitandsA vebiakal 10s 2 We. Mirs208 9% rhs ith, J jetoatom ook ie lo oa aid gaktrcovhs “d otade a ob ape ow setiode tM is \ empmes od Ilbw ao, pemid Jadd a4. .oicccum Acid ,bollao mapie enor sae 4 ae : ptttevet«o-aon Eli wraty eeu Crodel? ‘toampant ‘UiaBooen boteblasce one ti plooe buotd 0 fo woktedad? oat gaiqalerab i. evan ols mp ofdalleve s drdoiton 6 Yo eloguum: do yhtaup oad 4 wo) OW eyetrik “lo. goties 2 , etd? eh il ove of _deaon Bw aap Stok odd § ay | oo Hottenel odd onglasoteh oF Gew ayorura oped? To 2 ORY Wado aT. | OAs bontogda motscriotni oAT stobdaluqog todd Premery eo? bas ,abod | weoatdrurl gtiedal? Lengua ct epeyiie oc bebwotat ow nem add of eld wt. dlesd 6 us yotwiwt end of erieg bivoo eyowme oft gated byprron) a oXxe fof Looneee. ond a aii a a Re OG) wh bedisbooo need evel seomvotey foasmm Ie avey tie poy ie odd ate i vendeoe®, sented bie etdeeuriveeanh baal] sbdonl pdwoksognind .ttol : ) pond ott senoLledisavot «batelgmon Jon ots wert owols Lommereg to Doaed of marae hk aoolealogod Lereneg wiot ot tmpdostive ad beniesds tol ’ ) y 1800 eanuned aldiusog ebun sew svevws off Yo. puke ogshaing oid, Suenezeai Lis vboatoes getote oft to evoltitodius agkiovs peitoe baw, aotnedeld edd Yo noksy fer tg AO » aobiowrib ale “ohm th. beltiro over, oniell Bas ‘nd doumdoahed oa abinytins oval ytoitt ofvanlsA “iio edt ; ; athena we yewure off to wobigizeseb « aiged. of jrokeevns. si08 & eat o Hei eatow lo yhod gad? Io Yorun wo door piifeesotg bas dre bak i) MR okt iow Jom ok baw ait tant ,apoledtioven .ewaie, yoteliquoons uf Pe eRoretmmvers oxew shed op tal fetuses Aiow wo as ae tEyo od nk * iis |) @AdatPiow betoblense od Blawg yoiiait bettul Jedd G@udenonth doug ae wihheed Gove! well ate ebia duo Liat aw bed dove on@. sdadoqwoiv Tad ra ie fnen Salads oilt boxe bed toteye Tevssa ond neon feiet oh 2aiot ta wentha Sent a gagatw yd bo\ouch Dat steves otow abd sou? ont? a ihod siusd ec LaU, 9; oA 4 wr Wolds Inteven etm otodt obec aint 3 sib ylatolgats duomlo weit be ono. Be Fay "us tgoonae) ont grote “bao pit Lo Biting torlte nk be dcpol ebed Loam. 4 te Bult Sete | seiodtia bias ayed Lis at bata tee Jogecn. If batatd oom, Garo"ongatt as rap vo Of douonme eytel fon ox “ pen'njos ox Leama dyvoitovanadredd ,aLocdy i nm eve) > Ot ot etadintiao, yl lubed at eeolaitiory i , Ya Ye? ,enhtaane Loum, Hey Hi sah sadodan Leool. te piaa Hakittude be- NON SMe S59 oaudd ba Llow Gh ytavdtoentnd do eeottor wrt vasa, eid ko daa betallog belLigeuo at adv ks bears tanta. ao dicer ‘ihoageee ebatend, Oat eee Warton! of} wt Sod och aioemem Moun do arte . pa prrenin roi aut eto an ae Deer ae | bats, ogeanlad bru t Loosanoff's Address--Page 2 Although the mussels from such areas cannot be shipped directly to the markets they may, nevertheless, be utilized in case of necessity by first being transplanted to clean water areas for a sufficiently long period of time, and later sold as food. Several medium-sized mussel beds are known to exist in the area confined between Throg's Neck and Flushing. However, almost all these areas are closed to fishing because of polution, and therefore they cannot be regarded as important. Large beds of good sized and good flavored mussels exist in the Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor districts. Perhaps this district is at present the most important mussel producing center of Long Island. Mussel beds are found in several. localities along the northern shore of Long Island. In Northrup and Huntington Bays, mussels set along the shore but, as a rule, very few of them reach a large size. Beds of marketable sized mussels are also encountered in Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay but again these beds are not extensive enough to promise a large supply of mussels either for canneries or markets. In Great South Bay proper a good set of mussels occurred in the Summer of 1941. They grew very rapidly reaching the marketable size of 2 1/2 inches one year later. However, almost all of them died during the funmer and Fall of 1942. According to Mr. Gibbs, Fish and Game Administrator for the State of Rhode Island, who conducted a survey of Narragansett Bay, the mussel resources of that body of water are perhaps even less abundant than those of Long Island Sound. The results of the survey cf Narragansett Bay showed that very extensive mussel beds, which were known to exist there two or three years ago, were recently destroyed by starfish, or disappeared because of some cther causes. The only exceptions were found in the case of a large area located south of Heg Island, and in inshore areas extending from Bristol Ferry to Common Fence Point. Mussels collected there were of an unusually large size and of excellent quality. It is believed that E..B. Blount and Sons will use the mussels from these beds for canning. Results of the survey of New York and the seuthern New England states showed that, in general, this area cannot be regarded as a chief source of mussel supply on our North Atlantic coast. It is true, nevertheless, that the mussel resources of these three states, even if limited, should be considered as capable of furnishing a steady supply for retail trade. For instance, according to cur Market News Service the quantity of mussels sold during 1941 in New York City markets amounted to approximately 41,000 bushels. It is estimated that the quantity of marketable mussels now available along the coast of Massachusetts may be between 250,000 and 350,000 bushels. The mussel re- sources of Maine are considerably richer than those of the sections already discussed. A survey of the mussel beds in Maine was begun last fall and continued until January. The area covered by that survey extended from Penobscot Bay to Jonesport. Judging by the character of the coast line this area is probably the richest mussel growing section of the coast of Maine. According to Mr. Scattergood, who conducted the survey, this entire section contained appreximately 315,000 bushels of marketable mussels. It is quite possible that future surveys will locate good mussel beds in other sections of the coast of Maine, such as Casco Bay and Booth Bay Harbor. I doubt, however, that the quantity of mussels of those districts will be equal to that of the area confined between Penobscot Bay and Jonesport. Even if we assume thet the supply of mussels in the areas to be surveyed will approach that of the sections already covered then the total quantity of mussels of a marketable size that we can count on from Maine will be approximately 650,000 bushels. Of this quantity about 60,000 bushels of mussels cannot be used because they contain too many pearls. aad niariae fash a Utowsth My » baci pee puniaet ages Hone ale Td parhabtonmit punked Pare gd yt yihenmoon, We ound wl Deakittn os « Ginbegh ao biow tobak baw yomkh Bp, bomted saat yliaotot toe a nol Neen nee a Aasog age one pele wk take oe erauiek ofa abed fodaum, horta-amebteon ‘a onhdiek) ot beagle oxy aac deat’ fle toomto . novowoll “hoc bev libed Oy tenga we beltege od Jonge yodd ovo iotedd- bate pekeqe blv0 bar yok wotgyd ont ak Pri slope betoralt boog bas Kepnam: visiimtiny tea woud teoeor; a tobatath » sale eu atons aa ea Yo. viods musiiiod alt gapis aoltkinool Lenoven at lidow'. ats abe hi id m Be. ag wo ons poets hes ads Hp 28k Hoye td oll teas queuing a |e aan. WE ipeaae benny atianattene thu, erie opnad a somar ones Re y)) OWhetedmia Serer "he abed: ound ‘nkige tui we arankbred be yd ‘ahoooel, ak Vo?) Eh sGtettas wo eolvonnsp tol tedite aleugem Yo yigque eptsl « ocala OO OME ( LPOL Yo rome oAT mk dorms, a fe aan Io tee boug a Seqoig -yoR) Pie) gteded tnoy one gedenk SALOS. to ovis oldededeam edd anirones ‘hod a tae Saat, a ernean Li it parr uy bokh soaks Yo Lhe ‘bod to asaae ould tol totowelatnbds encd bad dot gedd&O. cl of: TOA Wo Bvotwot01 Loans off pepil tion Trt 90. Yoav 2 ii OAT. beast biatat yer onl 4 dead NAT Soba muda ancl aeve papain oak, pebod Laveen ovlunedxe wren auld betearta You Mvonnregeriell 3y yerans oda m Me baostaeb ysnooei ot) .ogo atovy votdt wm ow otodd Balbo of avon wor. Wow agotiggekes vino odT .wommee sorts ove to eagaood heresgqeedsh Beote wictaal af hee ouantal gol ‘ba fgyou btoool gose egal «to yj (te) oes hate sc0 QLonewm »talul cone? gored of Crm Lovesil p “trot eG (68 Sods f od ting a2 JT hoon a taol Leoxe to bras exits ogtal ‘patonco qt eodd moth ahora off ong ‘ an a ‘beworin a 70 bee al tot rt iidproe uli? bas daoY woll ‘te Cow ras ude ty at Vitagee fosnum to oem. nde Sem bobicgoy od sonmey cote altht 4 ue ‘somone Loum wit sade ,ditabailsre PO obra at ID ‘vdagoo abeuaia im - eatsle teres ae oidegse ax barehions 34. bluwila ¢bodsoubl. "te aw, eodere ea ? np tore hil tig .ok pakbaooos apinedans tt ebm Lhates tot - | vsemueuan er owtem WES AtoY wall of LAL gotiwh bios efgagsmn do whey ) wahodeand Oe he Ly od a idiiieove woe alogawa eldadudtin 2 vite oneep edd Jos bod pabdqn! no ue hemmme off alerted 000,088 bno 000,085 meowted ad: Yorks er Pousutte 4 PRAGRMOBLD show's ried hag ols Yo aot weit torches yidagebianys ots ooubat: ie sere Siva bomntia baw Let soak axged soo onkull AE abed Leena yo phys Seay bert ay onus Q ilk val soondedel most Lobnodae yorum told yb rr) yi Qekwy Loagiu faertnts ods Yidedosy @2 sox etdt enh Jupoe edt Yo mon ih Ot? bodtowbass ow bougtett.o7) aM ot sathroseA soaked te Saeed ont Ee Nats "Scr a Leute cect O00, .2LE yintorthurtaqe bomkenee Rakdoon enti : MR ebod- Lomdum boug otmaok DLE ayers, odd sony, add heetnsey otina o ‘ ¥ ee hose ect cl yatl ht ca kd. hws: Y4 HM megan Sa tom gunn: Bt "hey satan Ate g Ro OW deaiipo ao Lite atoltdeky- onodd te. dloyarm ‘to ebkdaetrp: ocd Smid 9 ANIA Oe ew Th povd .ttoges nah Dew ott Jooudont soowted bush hetae bene. SUA Salis Soman iets Bg Nowonqan Libr bowie Ged Om kaneis on nt alemeam eo elgg ei } Hite CLidnhuiee 6 Yo aLotinm lo ohidnop Lodud et sodd hee % ‘at 30) sw Ledend 000,020 yioduminotgha od Lith oma mee’ ap trun00- ad ra Akedaoo. ve nuuopad Dea ed domena i oan! al Loetund Loosanoff's Address--Page 3 Thus, according to information now available, we may assume that the supply of marketable mussels on the beds of New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island is between 250,000 and 350,000 bushels. About the same quantity may be obtained from the mussel beds of Massachusetts. The waters of Maine may yield another 500,000 or, in the best case, 750,000 bushels. Therefore, we may conclude that the total supply of market- able able mussels obtainable from the North Atlantic waters is approximately 1 1/2 millicn bushels. This figure does not include the mussels of polluted areas, nor - those of numerous small beds, utilization of which would be difficult and costly. When starting our work on mussels about 3 years ago we were under the impres- sion that the supply of mussels available from our coastal waters was somewhere between 10 and 15 million bushels. The fact that the present supply of mussels is actually much smaller than anticipated may necessitate the revision of some of the plans for the utilization of these animals. As was mentioned above, during the past year mussels began to be used on a comparatively large scale. In addition to those scld in the markets of large cities, a considerable quantity of them are now being processed. There are several establish- ments in the State of Maine which are already canning these animals. I understand that the largest portion of the product so prepared will be turned over to Lend- Lease authorities. Several other concerns are preparing pickled mussels. Since there is only a limited supply of mussels, and because most of the mussel beds are so located that they can be easily worked on, these beds may be rapidly depleted. It is true that after the easily obtainable supply is exhausted, additional deep water beds may be discovered and their mussel population utilized. However, such beds, no.doubt, will also be quickly depleted. As a result, at the end of a com- paratively short period, the newly created mussel industry will be faced with lack of these animals and may experience a crisis. Therefore, since the utilization of mussels is increasing, and because the value of this source of food begins to acquire more importance, it becomes necessary to begin planning for a rational utilization and conservation of these mollusks. Studies on the biclogy of mussels, carried on by our Service during the last several years, resulted in the accumulation of data which at this time permit us to speak intelligently about many phases related to the utilization and conservation of these animals. One of the first questions which had to be answered was when during the year mussels are at their best. Naturally, it is of advantage to utilize the mus- sels for canning or sell them in a fresh condition during the period when the animals are in their prime. It was found that, as in the case of many mollusks of the same group, seasonal variations in the condition of the mussel meats are very pronounced. Of course, changes of this type depend to some extent upon the location of the mussel beds. As a rule, mussels of warmer waters behave somewhat differently than the animals of colder, deep water beds. However, in all cases the cycle is very well defined, and in each locality there is a definite period when mussels are fatter than at other Seasons of the year. Contrary to conditions existing in oysters, which attain their prime in about 2 or 3 months after spawning, the mussels reach such conditions prior to their spawn—-— ing activities.’ According to studies carried on by Mr. Engle and me at our laboratory during the last 2 years, it has been established that mussels of Long Island Sound begin'to approach their best condition during the early winter. From then on, during late winter and spring, conditions of the mussel meats continuously improve and they reach their maximum nutritive value just before the beginning of their spawning season. Following this maximum development of gonad tissue there is a dis- charge of spawn, and the body of the animals begins to decrease in volume and weight. to ‘a gute reer Sagi & thie. TRS hud es: reer as cameo eS LoawkanT, eltawell fate. diay Leese le qin dpnawe ed rst bomlatho wl. yp, yh bd nee ames - aa Suodh, - | yiciape att of 9 ite. GOD, 008 sasioes - biasy waar enholt Tee ore aM ca Nad temabanal atowion: to elgg Lated ode tadd: oluloaed. Yat: ee. coo hened? .: wt lociaan! 00008 4 thd o plesmahxongqas ws wtotan otinelgi diwt odd wath aidapioddg a Longe: pales terw eau berswons oc oF bist dobife ao ‘seed ars ent to ont } yee, ane wat Lasky ee oystie wis ° SS fs Cee IT On” ,gaed shond ga ets ase ‘einnkas ed? aerie boi ant gatas ahs Lbao cott o at med? Lise to Saker FO a % axe Feat ho, “ents eage off ak ae , od? Searo nae 3l | .Oney , mee OCR EHS YIeVv ote = joe. ,eweia ent? bed TO BS LOAD utd mz Ot c27 s rust Leo fvatea ott Qo mols seo weg Sethe. oaon of inp & aa: meet ay connate ebantns add neti? yitaotedLSe + acinar ‘ovnddext eqotoe tert Be wleccin yotgrt tak gbenkieh Iiew ytov at loys edd eogao Lin of _tevowall fer Soden @ ‘Gatto da tuxtd. Mettct eto nloname fete bokpoq ebteeebs 8h atone ites . net ear f oe) 8 grtkteded eno bee otuse- at $n meee edt ot qolag enoids sae aid Mabry: weak he : is ianaal ie oft “tie © pt peel - YP eh Seo basins wen bane od yaibeoop ks 7 gro8 bale f gaint % sfonan Sand | Podinal ideted node Qn do cocoon S fame pty yey’ ans eat ‘aaa viteo ott, gabmb mobi tives segd abots tonomae & @uorged vine wwe times am Lowaka ont %o saodvkbade .pakage baw tofaeee | hosts m nkankyas | ett exoted feat wel av owieh sou ene BK shal, ie eta © Ue, OTe a pinta kd waa: Ro FrangeLawveb cin kes abst gebeol let seats aditg bow: Saye amurhow sh ‘geared at nated. & Lamas ay Ie: sitet ct bani ‘ee tek comping Rkepels Loosanoff's Address--Page 4 There is a difference of opinion as to temperature and time of the year at which mussels begin to discharge their spawn. Some observers express the opinion that the mussels of our waters spawn as early as February, when the water temperature is only several degrees above freezing. It is also believed that mussels may spawn twice a year, one in winter and once in summer. However, our examination of he gonads of mussels collected at bi-weekly intervals throughout a period of two years, showed very definitely that spawning of the mussels of North Atlantic waters occurs when the temperature of the surrounding water is approaching 60.0°F. This usually takes place in late April, in May or early June, depending on localities. There was no evidence whatsoever that so-called winter spawning of mussels exists. On the basis of our observations it can be recommended that the mussels should be utilized during the period of 6 or 8 months which precede the beginning of mussel spawning. In some cases the condition of the mussels may remain excellent during the first part of the spawning period, when the gonads are cnly partially discharged. Perhaps the animals can also be used during this time. As a rule, however, throughout the late summer and early fall the mussels of Long Island Scund are usually in a poor condition and it would be disadvantageous to use them as food. Another disadvantage of gathering and sclling mussels in the summer time is that it will be necessary to expose the animals to a comparatively high air tempera- ture for considerable periods of time. This is usually followed by a significant loss in weight and high mortality of the mussels. To obtain more accurate information regarding this matter a series of experiments was carried on by Mr. Engle and me durin; the past winter. The chief purpose of these studies was to determine the loss in weight and mortality of sea mussels kept in storage at different temperatures. Common edible mussels, Mytilus edulis, approximately 2 1/2 years old and measuring from 2 3/4 to 3 inches in length, were used in the experiments. Each sample of mussels consisted of 100 individuals. The samples were exposed to temperatures of 30.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0 and 70.0°F, In addition to the above mentioned samples, one more group of mussels was kept outside during a severe cold spell then the air temperature was at times as low as 0.0°F. The results of the experiment indicated that within the range of 30.0 to 70.0°F, the loss in weight and mortality of mussels increased with the increase in temperature. The experiments may be summarized as follows: Rapidly frozen mussels lost little weight while in a frozen condition. Upon thawing all animals were found dead. Rapid loss in weight followed thawing. When exposed to air temperatures of 30.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0 and 70.0°F. the mussels suffered the greatest loss in weight during the first 24-hour period. This loss was due tc the escape of shell fluid. At the end of the experiments in which the mussels were exposed to air tempera- tures ranging from 30.0 to 70.0°F,, the loss in weight of the samples reached from 43 to 47 percent of the initial total weight. Mortality of mussels began later and proceeded more slowly at lower tempera- tures. The first cases of mortality at temperatures of 30.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0, and 70.0°F, were recorded on the 14th, 8th, 7th, 5th and 4th day respectively. ty carat eb bps ty a Rigor ad ho Pan averet |: & doocypond aLew andak at Ts. eT staan sme “RO Peigtl ontanien ‘snes Niaitetion cow bind ee #0.08 PLO ahe as totew galiauirte off to: ‘Wat etogie or | enaldt isco iO writ ninpeped eont | gi TRS “oo + shi sr gi SA. ‘odal at wd alg hay Res Diana Siew mim lo gakemtogu totniw’ bai. lao~oe doit} ah sienem agilive bas vatsrods a Je opesnovbost r naegues tia BLA Bred Mogae oo Siomaince 649 eaouku of Peaaseoor af LES hoes, wmootiiogin « yd bewalle) ylinger al gic? .emté le ahobtag aidaiml ange snl aokdericiat Or: rh 8 atom mletde wee...) Conant at A?) te qdlsiton thy tit bate: ; aad en bas. olgad .20 yd mo Suiwta yew adoum qxe ty gubwe: * Sodson ate TO MR wal elt ettleoteb of. eow antheta suadt % ssoq tn odie ut woe eee Trt wiogms Y2th ts oyatogs ai Jood giognam Bee Wo U ‘isha & BabA ce ban bio £m 4 ihe AERO: pide sathewi! shou 4" oid Spero eds ui boa oxew ¢atgnes-Ri gotiont © of) to alquza dood ow Somvsirtogue? oF besoqxs oto @olgmee off .aloebseibal OOF % t noteds x gQodqaun burr titan; mi ovedse eit of mobs bids: nl .#O.0F ba 0,08 sind Aony 4 lL Loge bios wroevyon s gebarrh rbiia dyn Sqou ase alogasuen pies 3 ,T°0,.0 gc Wal be aottd ta coe ee ¢ i Wier 2 ; on Hip) QR Q2OE to stor’ eh? alivkw Sad? Gojoolhnt teomitegme odd to ad «ae ‘Wnemwtenl ads rijlw boesetoml ademame to yilsdiom bos Sdigtow as aacnk.'§ eralio? @essaltcuue ed Yap Brom TeqKy + req MOLTbasc aesorh « as ad dade ‘ditgiow oLittt gaol alooust conte WQeiwad? betoello. sigtew mt. Bee. Fite Bat «Sseb wma’ OTe yw eas it TO, 08 1% bets ; 0. Ge 4 a” ol . at On Bian Bos aa win toques eh ae hed teg ‘end-p) tartt eft pabnid écaiow a enol Faadsorwy ont herewtl scot iLoda% eqaoee edt of ia rng “kk 69 baucyxo gvew aLogedat othd ay Lene ah atowekpogxe ects Ww dane Deshi baato tjuloan et arts " yrs ow Ai enol. olf A ot of Oa we % otiniew Laboe eral ent to we 3 marinas cy tegol go Yleola vio Lebeon wry, ine sates ‘aed aLeinais $e: Ww. ged ese Oud Golk to woud ctoqned.ds yt iLadiom a gaase dost spovidoornes Yok oth bow J aaa HS deal ont mo: | bdlonee ea \ ‘ x Vn AR) ih Loosanoff's Address-~Page 5 y ny Fifty percent of the mussels exposed for 30 days to a temperature of 30.0°F. were still alive at the end of that period. At temperatures of 40.0, 50.0, 60.0 and '70.0°F. the last animals of the samples died during the 22nd, 15th, 11th and 8th day respectively. The experiments showed very clearly that it is most advantageous to handle and ship mussels at air temperatures ranging from 30.0 to 40.0. One of the outstanding characteristics of mussel beds is that they are very unstable. It is a well known fact that very often the population of large mussel beds may disappear within a brief period of time. We have observed a number of such pheonomena taking place in various parts of Long Island Sound. This is especially true of the beds that are exposed at low water stages. Such beds are very often destroyed by heavy ice, or the mussels are winter—killed. Deep water beds also suffer a similar fate by being destroyed during heavy storms when the wave action is strong enough tc tear the mussels from the bed and carry them ashore where they perish. As is the case with all commercial shellfish, mussels have their enemies too. In Connecticut and New York waters starfish detec; an exceedingly large number cf mussels, whereas in Maine sea urchins also contri- bute to the mortality of these mollusks. In general, however, mussels are hardy animals. Our experiments conducted during the past year indicated thet if mussels are protected frem their enemies and the elements, the mortality rate among them is relatively low. In one series of experiments, which was recently completed, we learned that the mortality among a large number of mussels kept suspended at mean low water mark was only 5 percent for the entire year. The sample located at the bottom in 6 feet of water showed, during the same period of time, a higher mortality amounting to about 12 percent. However, in the case of a sample which was kept at +5 tidal elevation, and which was exposed to freezing temperature, the mortality was 100 percent. If the mussel fishery is to be maintained on a comparatively large scale and if the depletion of commercial beds should be avoided, protective steps should be taken at the earliest possible time. Several such measures which can be applicable to all mussel-producing districts may be suggested. It is thought that setting aside certain areas to serve as spawning beds should be practiced. In places where some of the beds have a considerable number of mussels possessing pearls such beds should be set aside for spawning purposes. It should also be advocated that, whenever practicable, culling cf mussels should be conducted on the beds, and all undersized animals should be thrown back to propagate and grow. Developing various devices for the collection of mussel set, on which I reported at the last convention, may alsc be profitably practiced in many localities. It is thought that for the protection of mussel beds a closed season should be established in each area where mussels are obtained for commercial purposes. We think that such closed seascens should begin soon after the mussels commence to dis- charge their spawn and continue until the end of the setting season. The establish-— ment of the closed scascns is desirabls because, if mussel beds are left undisturbed during the setting period, the young mussels will have a better opportunity to sur- Vive and to grow to marketable size. Work on the beds, expecially on those exposed at low water stages, will undoubtedly result in the destructicn of a very large number of tender young mussels. Our knowledge cn the setting time of mussels is not very extensive. It is quite certain, however, that the spawning and setting of mussels begin and end at different times in different localities. Thus far, we have only one summer of observations on “new per ae $ ad, abed deveue te pro aye da ihnintute Wand, te a )tadheqag ony notte yxew tedt dood maoad Leow » a2 Jt a ‘we wen &-beirsoado. oval of saute Yo bokveq tetw« abtitie xasqy ' ge md ah. hewo® bealel ymd lo acerq agodiey ah: coals gabied a | ied be ere? ort abod do aepeds todaw wol fo hoeomie as suld shod @mme ae be Hy obo Litaiesede. tw ee atone add te g09L yvecod w be seed. pei boys oh gahod. ws a te: sf baube & sa thane pats ebed. Janet « _ ‘ie bed. etl? ort niecwm edd toad o $ dyuvne yootts ef adites crow oft sam Hnewtiods Lntoremmon (is debe oaee od) of Gh .debtieg (eds otaciny orarian a ‘ eonsac’ debterte wtotow SroY woh bes tuchdocannd. af aed we henars shea ae i Thi) phages opie waldow nen ottal mh ave - »eloeoum’ to. godmm cptal Yan eats {Lovet oepald to Qetiatsom | Sos: egewbacs sinorireqxe «aw - shame yorad’ ons sommes OE tote i) Rie Sebect ehoty art bojootony ote afovam Th gndt bedsokbak ise we i ae woke ono AE .wWol yYLovetolot ef madd Beppu ator Wilsdnans oad 2 8 yiomo Wilodrom acid tris bomenes ow boJotgnoe yidmenes mow doth ae Di Set gaogteq ¢ yloo wow ween cotiw wol acon ree pee weet: dqul slocaun Top weibenb, .bawada teson to testi é at médtod of’ to batopes eiqais eit teem iNusomol ‘sémeeted SL diode ot yabtymrocs \iLodiom tedghd # gonbe, lobe oe aan doh | bas _oo haber fe Labke e v2 dqodl sew Mogde oly + Te Gh stnerteq COL oir Abas ‘tt ita rm he qhebe ogant "iglowkdwenens Db he hentoteatan ed of ak yrodn.t% Somme >» Biguite ageta avivoutorwy ,bebiove Wi iducce obed, Latotomms i mioud | /ebdsatigg» od nao dokdm ootanon due Imiwvet .ontt sldiggoy doobi'ens Fs ha Foe . Jats Sitguadd sf 42 \shomnouaee od yom etokeiath sate | ettode eooold ak .bwolsonny o¢ bigodte abad eben: @8 Bette ehed day ret gaitaso sug tivl@un lo totem oldutehians o ave (g@adt betooovhs ed oale Biuors 2 +8080 rey pacbemrade Sol abies | bre ,abed add av batoybnoo ed bigots elosaumn bo pabiive ,o career ati paigodoved «wom bas etegagery ww dond peticomy od fisore alonina’h mie Loa orks te hodaoe's Tt dotdw ee af wr fenagm tc aoksoelioo ait 15% : vi 7 wwaty £Lo0 od Wiad te book’ Os] Viet 2 Rimeg ad veka yao oh “etiwite | bonolo » -ebod Jeseam To mo :tdeo tom ‘edd: ak .SlF rig ol steanyieg isioveimo tol bemtsido to slorgum wrod pegs doce at bom Oke of etteanod elonagn odd sei%o govoa algod bivode anyasee beaolo vara Viaataates Ont” amore aby ttoe oft Ww bas odd Lidey ouabiecs ine sregeG Petia the Sek wut abod cogent Ze. danbete :idwedieb.e. ancesoe beltoley ae oF Yinudioqgo tetlod « ovad Liiwaloenuan gout ybottoy gabisea sobud nore Ro aon 2ORSS wbdst oaeces Sod way of, i ) agg Shit, wewogKa saute mo YLleios amg og teat ‘tev 6 lo mdtowisend eff neh db Lares { as ae JT oetnagtne gtaw. fom ah 3 ‘id. wine sin hs auekt ne ee wat: ‘ites anbbtesen eee’ Lio fo be fee ukyed ado ‘bs gets iy hye: yihawnge ond Sich i ty ‘ya aaaltad te homme, ane YD Sead ¢ OT eto all snaksttengs, on Loosanoff's Address—Page 6 the setting of mussels in Milford Harbor. Perhaps the data obtained are not typical for other localities. It may be thit the setting of last summer was not typical — even for Milford Harbor. However, since we are continuing the study, we shall even- tually secure enough information to possess sufficient knowledge as to the setting periods of mussels. Our studies of 1942 were designed to determine the beginning and end of the setting season of mussels, and to determine at what particular part of the season the setting was most intense. We were also trying to determine at what tidal levels the mussels set in largest numbers. The collectors were placed in the water on April 27, but no set was recorded until the first week of June. The setting was most intense between June 15 and July 6. The heaviest set took place on the collec- tors placed near the bottom below low water mark. After July 6 it began rapidly to decrease in number, and the last mussel set was recorded on August 31. Thus, the length of the setting period of mussels in 1942 was approximately from June 1 to the end of August, a pericd of only 3 months. Studies of the above mentioned nature, if conducted in all areas where mussels are abundant and are utilized on a commercial scale, would greatly help in formu- lating policies for the conservation of mussels, and would undoubtedly result in a more profitable and rational utilization of our mussel resources. th ‘fs le Ad pete oxi te: bre baw Garhomgped. wiht. ‘ali , ‘eieeom edt to tun ualankiuay deme a2 sdoapehah oF ties efowsan > ta. rvet Lebad Jane 94s ne aul e pare. ie Cs yi ee ‘ Sani: Sauls este met hate Mbt wht ah bene oma hy etoeide oo: Lorton Peopint nk doa x at ‘gh viel es i Bats eae odd Li sems ihestonterthere wert ase! dea or Jed | it Joa Jasiyoud-odt 46 yg ban RE om avented a bear ane ‘2 * yin co09 uA oom codon wos aofed tedtod uit tan seo SE Sestgeh. or bobricont asa dog Leone Hel Ott tas creda ‘onl od East mont wove a) em — Saet at: ‘pkeooue ra odes anidjes® i : : yee 7 ee £ (settee © ae rors aa aboraant otorw ancty Lin di hodorbane a «as tian Death: ritmo erode p oat toa amrot ah glad YLt cot: idan paleee Lciorteape « ao berbiivy ots one | ues ae odahaial Ds seincminaethdisiea bluow fen. ,eteere Io qolkerteenod odd 702 Bak Ne COBH: eo iogaum. "iD ‘To neoktae EEASI Saeed ag: National Shellfisheries Association, Philadelphia Meeting, June 1943 BLACK QUAHAUGS Harold N. Gibbs, Actwinistrator Office of Fish & Game State Department of Agriculture and Conservation Providence, Rhode Island Rhode Island has long been noted for its oyster industry and for the other varieties of shellfish which Narragansett Bay produces in abundance and for which the State is justly proud. Over the years our hard clam fishery has steadily increased in volume. Recently, due to the demands for food and more food, prices of hard clams increased, the fishery attracted more men and boats and at the last session of the Legisla- ture our State laws were amended extending the open season when quahaugs could be taken by dredges and also opening new areas to dredging. We have, however, a closed season on dredging. The trade is supplied by the "free fishermen" who catch quahaugs with rakes and tongs. As many of these free fishermen were working at other trades the problem has been met, in part, by utiliz- ing the Black Quahaug (Cyprina Islandica). All along the Rhode Island coast line is found this species of shellfish which resembles in many ways the common quahaug or hard clam, (Venus Mercenaria). The ocean quahaug is a dark brown in color, the older individuals are almost black, and the meats are slightly yellower. Everyone who has fished in "cutside waters" has known of these clams but to my knowledge, no attempt had ever been made to utilize them commercially, although the possibilities of putting them on the market have heen discussed a good many times. There had never been any good reason to try to commercialize these black quahaugs-- there had always been ample supplies of the regular quahaugs, no one had used them for food, there was too much sales resistance for such an untried product. After my Division had exhausted the possibilities of finding mussels in suffi- cient quantities to interest the producers, (the starfish had nearly wiped out our once well-pcopulated beds) and after we had looked into the dehydration of certain types of "trash fish" that are taken in huge quantities by cur commercial fish traps, we again turned our attention to the black quahaugs. The Narragansett Marine Laboratcry, under the direction of Dr. Charles Fish had already spent a year in scientific research in this field. We suggested tc one of the dealers that here was a product that had possibilities. We must have put on a good sales talk for a dredge boat was sent out; they could be taken with little change in the gear or equipment used for catching hard clams; there were some extensive beds. The clams could be shucked as easily as the quahaugs and above all, it was proved by all the good chowder makers in the town that black quahaugs were good to eat--they were delicious. The boats were sent out, they came back with 125 to 150 bushels each day. They were put on the market and sold. They were used by the Army in their menus. One shop was opening several hundred gallons cach day. The Black Quahaug had arrived. This is still a new preduct and many problems have arisen and will continue to present themselves for a solution. It may be that it is too scun to make statement that may have to be modified later. It is alse possible that we have made a valuable, contribution to the War Effort. 1 wot: gilt orn a eh ahs | oes samt Oa a | Latnigod bt 3 Ti cine tae ae it | Are ‘ed Seed Stycuare, nea pate onacatt Lo ‘ein, i rf 1 aoamed Md diag ak y iho , ‘ tie denne Edwina, % bys, A atta i ete » Cob sunny ng i bea , Yt suite ‘on punitt | an » bee Miha hagaee ait “hc tir wid Maoddta yydic lon cee “nomad ‘gam’ boos 6 Brera watpummdcsic BOLLE eG oct) ‘i works, tahiad hind oe i otronrbe"t0 ae ‘we iare Di, Se ) e.. Deny hod Ear IOS To me ee fh aan “— o- make Lad Z ev: ; sae palin 28 BOLO bske GLowe ate Ate sbnvou bad gtauld deol 4 ae te aes? ae AT «an singh ‘aforou ‘sim 3) iyi) : w ts } eR Oa Wea Bary ut enh ta pi sea: a “ot i eta) Soet pee ‘gmait ial ‘pale | 2 fea tie Hoe tone = os ae ce im ud ‘pein mune a ‘emiaer: Soli i sdb Bp Moa se) he a Pete ae ened amu 2 vavnolde' itp ‘ail eap, Tame , 902 13g hs ty iyi be ey Ure. ded, : pes, CONG a“ th ou Ea ad pedis. cfm aoe reeniae ry hd okaqucahme | ie i jrvte vat “+ aed hayes, aa Peete Fk ‘todtp tien Ughed barand re) ony iy at mows) aan tode-wa MES Ds Maleate * ace | | dotcdad gabe. tome 4 — Lak EAN National Shellfisheries Association, Philadelphia Meeting, June 1943 PROGRESS OF STUDIES IN UTILIZATION OF STARFISH By C. F. Lee and J. M. Lemon Fish & Wildlife Service At the meeting of the Associations last year, a resume of the technological studies of interest to the oyster industry was presented. Included in this paper was a brief report of the progress made in finding commercial use for the natural enemies of the oyster, particularly the starfish. It was also reported that the research work on the oysters was being continued, and that progress had been made toward satisfactory means of evaluating the relative quality of oysters during periods of shipment. Due to the declaration of war, it was found to be advisable to revise the oyster research program and devote a greater portion of the effort to finding shipping containers of non-critical material which can be substituted for tin con- tainers. The studies dealing with that porticn of the oyster research specifically related to the nutritive value of oysters has been continued. Thus far it has been found that oysters contain appreciable quantities of vitamins A, B Complex and D, and that the food value is not adversely affected by freezing and storing over long periods of time. These studies have not been completed. The technologists of the service have also been called upon to furnish the purchasing officers of the Army and Navy with infcrmation as to indices for judging the quality of oysters, as well as other seafoods being purchased for consumption by the armed forces. This has enabled the Fish & Wildlife Service to suggest methods of judging quality which were practical and would guarantee palatable shellfish without being unduly conservative in making purchases. The investigation directed toward utilization of the starfish has continued during the past year, although limited essentially to feeding tests designed to determine its value as a protein supplement. Several factors have served to }imit the extent of the work done during this period. During the season 1941-42, to review briefly, it was found that starfish meal could be prepared experimentally from raw starfish in the ratio of about 1 ton of meal from 3 tons of drained fish. As taken directly from the boats this ratio: would probably be at least 1 to 4, or less. The meal was found to contain on an average of 28 percent protein, 8 percent oil, and 58 to 60 percent mineral matter, largely calcium carbonate. The protein was found by rate feeding tests to be 76 percent digestible and have a biclogical value of 84 percent, which indicates a rather high grade protein suitable for use in farm animal rations. It was also found that fresh starfish oil had less than 1000 International Units vitamin A per gram and that vitamin B“ or thiamin was absent from the fresh fish. Starfish oil, amounting to from 2 to 2.5 percent of the fresh fish, contains about 10 percent of unsaponifiable matter including several unidentified sterols. A quantity of this oil was prepared for Dr. Werner Bergman of Yale University to complete an investigation of the structure and identity of these stercls. No recent report on the progress of this investigation has been received. About a year ago, it appeared that starfish could best be used for the production of a protein focd supplement. Feeding tests using various levels of starfish meal were conducted, using both rats and chicks. The first of these tests had not been Wet inate: a mri ur eanture o KOON aN foal it s% baa ‘eid 1 5b: e rr Seah okwial 9 BIBL # dnd Epokgolotiitios att + aaumet s cf oe % a fuel emssatoouaa eit? “Ac auitous id aan aeqaq else mt behulonl .fotmsaseg con perecbus, setgyo, vit of seomdad Bey ‘solnons Lowden oft a0? gen feloteaneo gaitat' a oben wae'yery oi? to dogee Heinenes oft Suis Hotveges vals #2 - tle Pease one Uneluoitesg tad Sinwe! obi acid bal neoxgon 3 bate: Be mei Bitioad aaw tahoe e ¥@ Bholteg yithush oio%eyo:-‘to wil mu opiteles wdd prea iulows ie Raper: i hes: of atdontvbe od at hemot. aoe th. ad to nolivralgot « ely of) nba tot Iaa'tte- odd to aod +t0q: ps aboot 8 ,etoveb, bru mR HO | MO GONE Te Oe AkE sot badatitadces of soe doldw Leis en Least ktormod kd atongs (hiss noe qitnotuton ye dotaeaoy sétayo 's oid ag: ft: steog, dank atte gadLic ‘ak “ae bc ego% need ba ne s82 weit -hopatsnoo on red sar HIOSEYD’ Yo oulav ov. todd bas (0 bee xelqaad @ .A emtactie. 4g ‘gah? hi AMD ‘eldaisonggc atesaae mH @bokteq gil tevo gainove bac paksoovk yt fieddal is Ylosrevbs ah ts Se -bosoiqnos ‘nied tom ewnd wothvia \ vee ond: de dersss at. UAE bettie i need Gade wer aonvtes ads +e bdadgod De @atsbet tO% aeolhes cd oe moktuarto tad dite (beta ‘gach Ce Yo es0o) Dy re moleqauarion wil tive init Ying galed ehyoless Ddiv 2 ee Liew ee ,evetayo te pboiiian dacagwe n2” eotviee ellibl iy #@- A alt ods beldond) eed aldT ,s9ous) Mabe ee vida! indsvg oadn. visi Bapow bes deotioveg otiw Holdw i Loup! y «2086 dorgeny su tat ink avid ivtoan. 9 vlobaw sake ayy ne “. os bomrot.eow-Loom odT: .add tu. .h oe f tocol tacae ie Viegas «torsos i dee patm daongeq 08 of 82 bas. (Lhe Snerteq 8 . nko t me Paworeg OY ed os aft. e abbeo't ator yd, btaa't aru aiosunq af! .wtes haat thy todos © gedooibal dokiw ytaooxeg as Ay niet ov heotgaiotd p eval ba shoo hdon Lomiar aint 6h vals sol cidai ive @. Yedda Lonotdearetel COOL nrdt gaol bad Sho AulYeoda’ decd $2ad howe? valog eo tet) Meet wey oee® 3 dreads: nov pieoddd to “8 nkootiv god? ban sinty jen * Ob) Weods antesoot ddl? vices? cid. 'to dnseteq &.8..at. 5 aaatteod gablamons pita MLS awe WR. .elotode bol Lsnoblew Livsvon aattaloak aaggan ‘Midget hinogemenp! i he ads (qaon JF yhlevordat? oleY tc -Acapzed sacl oe go betaqerq eee tks’ 4 Le wroyot Ineooy OW sedovosa uecls bo Ytisnebs bow oud dutse at Fo gokd POs ee . gbewdoo dt ied ‘apal Feith aie wate oadd fons . ca a Bi Ag ae ent cena me vy ty Wek yy “aid, Pon Dal adres onodd Ay ters i Lee and Lemon's Address-—-Page 2 concluded when the earlier paper on this subject was presented in the 1942 Conven- tion, and the last of them is still under way. All control groups of chicks were fed a 23 percent protein mash containing pilchard meal as the source of animal protein. Four dicts containing starfish were fed; two contained 32 percent, a third 16 percent and the fourth 8 percent of starfish meal. The diets were balanced to 23 percent protein content by variation in the pilchard meal and corn meal content. The 32 percent level of starfish was selected to determine any adverse effect that would possibly be due to the high quality of mineral matter and oil in the meal. The conclusion from this test was that starfish meal was a good source of protein when used in relatively small amounts of mash. Larger quantities produced poor growth and high mortality, but the addition of thiamine improved the growth rate so it was concluded that part of the difficulty was due to vitamin deficiency. In rat feeding tests starfish meal was fed to levels of 12, 24, and 48 percent, with the protein content of the diets balanced in the same manner as used with the chick growing mashes. Growth of 211 rats was was retarded to an extent roughly proportional to the starfish meal content of the diet. The rats fed the highest level were extremely stunted and emaciated, but otherwise normal. The addition of thiamin to the diet did not result in any improvement either in condition or rate of growth, in contrast to the result with chicks. The digestibility of the meal was very nearly the same at all three levels fed, averaging 80 percent, so that this could not account for their failure te grow normally. The chicks remaining from the before menticned growth tests were fed a commer-— cial mash for 54 months until laying age. Ten laying’hens were then divided into twe groups and fed experinental laying mashes containing either starfish meal sufficient to supply 2.5 percent protein as the cnly animal protein scurce, or pilchard meal to an equal protein level plus f-ur percent ground oyster shell to balance the calcium carbonate content of the starfish. Four hundred and thirty-six eggs were produced by the starfish fed group against 413 produced by the pilchard fed hens. On the other hand, the average size of eggs laid by the pilchard fed group was slightly larger, 42.8 grams compared to 51.2 grams for the starfish fed hens. It is doubtful that these differences can be considered significant, and it may be assumed that starfish and pilichard meals are of equal value as an animal protein gource when used in a laying mash ata 2.5 percent protein level. Meanwhile a second feeding test with chicks was under way in which starfish meal was fed at 3.6 and 9 percent levels in a growing mash with a pilchard control fed group as before. In this test however, ground oyster shell was added to all diets, so that each diet contained an equal calcium content as well as having approximately equal quantities of animal protein. After a seven weeks period the average weights of the groups indicated that the starfish meal at both the 3.6 and 9 percent levels was a good protein supplement. The group fed 9 percent star- fish was apparently receiving more than the optimum level, although the growth rate was still satisfactory. All groups gained more rapidly than the previous lot of chicks, and were in good condition. A second laying test was planned tc check the previous observations. This group of hens has cnly recently started to lay, and were first fed the experimental mashes on May 1, so that it is much too early to estimate the relative efficiency of these new mashes. ‘stile Sp ons ab Leeann aoe soon eee my es ip sae + an Lo sew ober Liki ad wd inet Yo dant ofl bam Sahiba daha itary Sradioras.- re & bet otow east . apron Sontaos ‘ e dektyse goinisinoo atoth teed -.ateton fambas to epuoy oft an. Leom te Sooo 8 -désue'l. ot dan davorcg OL bubdt a 4Sneatog ME bartctuoe owt, ‘folie Nd. snetane aioveng jnexteg £8 of beansled stow utolb odT sdtom age ded Tad ."b dowas greeted Sk: ait: wtaptooo Leom wie bac Loom baods —_ ont: ot eur. od oh a blwow tads gout opteviee yao entmxeteb: - . eboom oat mk £bo ne Sela simon Le cit Big Irate! sa ‘old havent ontmakis to notétbbn per an ‘¢tiiaiwon gia bet we Cgpeaoketiat: mimesiy of ont anw ytisokTVeth, odd Yo. Seog todd botuioace al Ngiw <¢eivoweq 8) bas aS St ‘te afewel of bo sow isom dolttote aveot gat Motto edd addin boow 85 Yuoemn omoe gilt mé..bos esa os udedh oF Io dnotaoe | : Fa 09.74 “Ltignot Suede mo of bobtadoyam gow ston Lie Bo. ndmow. .ae th ,etow evel teodg hd, ocd bod adav.oWf ..d0tb oft Yo dastaco Loan iad Nit S mban tds Ww: moltibbs of? -faerton evieredsy dud ,botcloame ban od nia vhiwoey to, ebe%-t0- aoktibnoo at‘ teddte: tacwove van! yoo at digucet dan pth: p Yrev acw Loom, hcg to yELidliaogah odT sh: gs ido dtiw digeot odd lod: taond ‘Candee BL3F THAE. on... stoorte ei ‘08 gatjerove ,bo? slovel sows Lic Jo omas al me . : welder “on wi om ot guslict sions td 4 | soamo® 8 bet oxow siaes dewory benohiaca its hod acto were atiaiones wleide Be ava beblivth- rwidd ots aqad * gale not. one geliyel Leste addon ge 10%, “a Laemn: Malirase. te meee goiniusaoo geracn yabyas Losin tore bol. las : te (eemoe Alotorwy Lemiac‘ylao aft ap alcdomy tneoteg @.& vigqea of 4 i ve dieds tatayo i ety droosey ti4 ben: fovol aletowg Lupo as oF Loam , Bi Dict st ‘iat isi oH? to dnvjavo woot. 9 a toLaa , ' santess sal bet trae, est wd beowhorg, atew B ane xda-ytabds bes bertirated Mo eaks ogeteve ddd .husil odsa ais, se waned bo? tiorioliq edt yd bes Ot heroqams -ematy, BSA groytel yiddgile wow quoty bel buodoliq ait ef. hed meoterte'l Lib anoris dads Grlsdeeb, ws tt. aod bet dakbuota odt m2 8 elsom, bisdoliq- bas dedinate todd bameer ad: yom $f bas wanoi Lingie be ; 4 jee deat aiid sab beri état OOEIOR. atkotord) dsains ao ce ouley eleva! alosom 3 Ba datttode dotdw ai tow sibs ae axokile Aitkv, deed gatbeo? boos 0 ris - dextoon banieliq s div dasn yaiwow os a alovel dnpoweg-® bas 0.0 fa bot Ne dhe oF. bebbs row (lea todeyo beormy «tovowod taot akdt al .ot03ed aa + gadved-pe Slow aa Sabino metelon-laupe ns bemkodnoe gokb dove derid | i “wed bobteq edoow neve 5 toF1A .abetow Loatas to eobttinaup Lagpe ¥ Lov Oe geld diod 30 Lodm daltinte-adt, dod? bodaodbad equsty odd Yo eitely ts scents oneeteg © bet. qioig xT .tmomeiqqua aledgnq boog & saw alowed Jaoom eas ddvory odd dguodt{e’ level muatige edd mods otom galviones ‘esaonnggo ae Vo. Re dal. auotveng odd anid yibiget. ram. sbanicy eqattg LL4 «qietoatabina | OF doetin. ot hepaelg teow, dood weigel: pogo, hk .@obtibaoe boog al stew bis, \ ated of bodease “eddineoon he: O) maa sageadt he. qo. eid? .asoidovteado iat yin “ttt oie, ‘ad tt Peck on yt ool io “godosir Lidnvmtnogxe odd be, ee snedgom Hon geil’ had ‘aie whine Lee and Lemon's Address--Page 3 All evidence to date, however, supports the conclusion that starfish meal can be included in chick growing mashes as an animal protein source at levels up to about 5 percent. In laying mash formulas, 8 to 9 percent starfish meal can be used, supplying not only needed protein but also necessary calcium. One ton of starfish meal therefore replaced 880 pounds of high grade pilchard meal worth $33 and 1120 pounds of oyster shell worth approximately $7, which equals $35 to $40 per ton of meal. This value is low compared to a ceiling price of about $75 a ton for 65% protein pilchard meal. Another important factor in the production of meal is the available supply. On several trips to the starfish infested areca, inquiries have been made of boat captains and plant managers to find out the quantity of starfish taken in the course of normal operations. A large seed oyster company operating out of Milford, Conn. with four boats fishing in what is considered one of the more heavily infested areas, collected a total of 1400 bushels of starfish during the five months period between the past November 1 and April 1. The total trips ‘made were not stated, but if the trips were only made one day in three, the daily catch per boat was only seven bushels. On a previous trip to Milford, contacts were made with two boats during dredging operations to clean grounds, and in each case it was stated by the captain that the usual daily cull of starfish from the dredge material was only five to six bushels. In New Haven three large oyster firms were contacted. In one plant current figures average about one bushel per hour fishing effort. Other estimates were based on the number of drags with the mops. Apparently the catch varied from less than 5 to perhaps 60 bushels, with 25 bushels at a high estimate of the average daily catch per boat. It if is assumed that fifteen bushels or 500 pounds of starfish are caught per boat per day for the whole Connecticut area, the total daily production amounts to about three tons of fresh starfish. This would produce 1200 pounds per day with a market value of about $25. This compares with an operating cost per boat variously stated to be from $35.00 to over $100 per day, or perhaps $600 per day for the 12 boat starfishing fleet. Actual production of meal, of course, would entail transportation to a central point, costly drying and grinding operations, packaging and distribution costs. Commercial fish meal plants in general utilize products having a much higher pro- tein content, and in most cases having an oi] o:~-product that really pays the bill. So far we have not been able to find a very valuable component in starfish. Only one conclusion seems possible. Starfish are a menace tc oyster beds. Continual control efforts are necessary to avoid almcst complete loss of set or young oysters in certain areas. Important as they are in cost of irradication or in potential destruction of oysters they are virtually insignificant in terms of tons of meal, and future efforts may be more profitably devoted to finding better and more economical methods for their elimination. ae adie) ceyet-nucentba | pee Lawn. ‘autiunte ‘goitd ‘wolialenee arts pan criwewad ‘yodab or eonablve *. af oer olowol Jo’ ebtuae atedeny Lodo ae a6 aenean gnkwo'ty woids at beh od oo Seon dakbisde. tecoseq ¢ of 8. hocsrne’? daa gobyos, -tagnteg mash ok + ram aead oats oud, alesotg paaaen baie son - wig is oldaltews odd at Love Ww panama: odd. ne aber sanfmgms t ' deed te aban aood oval soisinpat ,sots bedes'int Heltreda ed? of aghed ; * ait at nedad delitems to yiidmawp odd avo batt of ategencm &. ‘baw “(iLL Yo duo galtavego yaoqaoo seteyo boon ogael A . sosoqo Ln betictnt ylivaed otom ed? to enw buvebtanoe ef et I on rhe i i) bodteq acddmoa awk) off pubiih defteste Yo alecosd YW Lofnk? « b Od botota gon wren cba egies fedod off .f Liagé bas £ tedmevo' og, ashdt | gibt iso aan stood teq deéso Ulinb od? ,cotid mi Yeb ons oben ylao otew Oghee Bs getwh etacd ow dviw chase otow edeetnoo ,moTUM of aie’ qrolverg s a 4 oo hedyen odd W bedote saw 22 onso dose at bas ,shiwoty acolo of eack eke oF vk? ylno caw fettedna ogberth odd monk. ‘tattoo Yo Lier rideanean a diwrnn dnalq eno mE ea ie ates: ‘ea gig 101 Pecqgat abe. k ngovbong Me ee on oe ani oubora gute te. gol tad.tos 2") wid ofal velupet ih . oe . So -evte todd: gethotoak ii Mayes : : eM Skity wei atimi des: ttiogg ta, aba : Aare spent rite og tet tte re : bad Bi ftd f ads 90 posadq. aa orots tol 099) esr fart “gh Cae tee fe B40 ‘we prigme fates “yt ay! + ; ya RB al ia i it , uoORE Pio otern’ orth ts | 0 Tie ey oid R id nemaieryh adhd 30. Hd: SAL 30 Os F : saan ihe ers Be. Bites od 4 Abe? «hae Sods oe Rye: wok. Bh Oy t ih ehias fy pc oe aes remen, Meee AS gate Sovnqas ae ites bes pene toe ie Bait : res, i Oa ss bon serge pipnisce! woe F707, ype . disnk ‘gay Pie Lahey Voodruff's Address--Page e physical inspection of the establishment for which request was made is carried out. The Army Medical Dept. has not set up detailed requirements of its own with refe- rence to oyster plant sanitation. We use as a guide the revision in force of "The U. S. P. H. S. Minimum Requirements for Endorsement of State Shellfish Control Mea sures and Certifications for Shippers in Interstate Commerce." These are the re- quirements endorsed by State Health Officers of the various states and are exactly the same as govern the shipment to normal market outlets. In general our experience has been that we have found the various plants com- plying with these requirements, especially after the first few weeks of the oyster season. At the beginning of the season as a result of conversion of the plants from packing cther seafoods to cyster packing some exceptions have been noted. Perhaps at this point it would be well to point cut some of the most common sanitary defects which we have noted with a view to correcting them prior to inspec- tion. (a) Lack of adequate toilet facilities. (b) Lack of sanitary towels, soap dispensers and hot and cold water facilities for hand-washing. (c) Packing rooms not effectively protected ogainst access by flies. (ad) Shipping containers not kept in dust~proof covering and filled without proper washing. (e) Employees whose hands come in direct contact with cysters in packing, with hands less than "scrupulously clean" as required. . (f) Empleyees in washing and packing rocms not in possession of up-to-date health cards. (g) Stored shipping containers dusty and dirty and unprotected from insect, rat, and bird contamination. (h) Domestic animals permitted in packing room and in storage rooms. (i) Evidence of rat and mouse contamination. These exceptions are not general, neither are all fcund in any oe plant. The fact that they have been recorded is offered sclely for your information in order that their existence if noted may be corrected. Following a satisfactory sanitary inspection or reinspection, the name of the firm is listed as approved and purchasing agencies for the armed forces notified of such approval. The vendor then becomes eligible to furnish the subject commodity. On the placing of an order with an approved firm a request for inspection with @ copy of the purchase instrument is made by the purchasing agency in our office. An inspector is then assigned who supervises the shucking, washing and packing of the product at the contractor's plant. Simultaneously he carries out the last two phases of inspection, - supervision of preparation znd compliance with purchase conditions. The item packed, sealed and stored properly for shipment is stamped with the offi- cial stamp of the U. S. Army Veterinary Corps, indicated that all type, class and grade requirements have been met. At destination a further inspection for soundness fig Me bui 0) ind pele apy pet) ok mei pays ‘oe beve Wake wo NB A a "0 advromonl pers bettadsh qu Hee FON | w GOT, { ed?® to sows af noketver ond ebbus o:na ond of .nokdodiows tutq 10s0r od | ‘gol Lotincl te ttiled® etat®. to themoetbaR 1) ednomoetinpall mimtntM .B mae okt ons cool "yoo eandetotal nt ayoqging ty? amt taoliigtad a nahin oud bas sotnta auoliny oid to qrolFTh) déLaot efnde yd, beatobae | : ates iapahevaautl lepton canst hae a ie ade mietog es “iO tenis auoktee edd bewe't end ‘aw sols vied ‘ead. simvkrsaxe sino Late Me "adayo at Io aloow wel. text) add. sodie yilofoogte ,edwenoutuper cools 4 Ve ndaaic ed? To molatovnos I Houset. 2 en goanen oft Yo. grinniged ot sbedon read oval, anol tgs: 2309 oe moa Bn Bio a tose w og ShooLowe otto gr a onmoe Seon ett Yo smoe pail dntog of Ilow od bhuow $i .ghtog ehas oa Me (rhequad oe s pe eBay ang abds sot os of gal at ybnet resito ait mo esting *t Elo: } “udto Saom ta ntgie fades. ont eo £79 secant orld oki. pIevo tos ‘ et ‘5 ; ae ~he tiakteb. Bk | oer ple Lioria. at hawt ad mein ‘Satis. aA to eredman ovenesorl pak trie pepenlo sa” .0°0S obseaxd aba! Loudon shudd qo¥vo. sadam oid Lo orders ers ‘Qk egatote al bled olidw siedige fait at yigidiun ouda yen aiaedood ao petiomte of eltanety ao omile ‘ene th vhobtion yan. ved? v% "08 ovods ak er i ‘mdhaere to Kolsob o of weadoag edt Week ‘a dogent ninth etpdaye beaut obs HE We. » dmanglaps paolo yfteqotg od. emili«? Iesgeing yt yor Leteds. aynm enedinusey ovigueosl ‘ wal soy myeZtloo aid % eat edt ae ccetenerh ‘wddaye and osonegh to og oils » mpeg tS | mrotilos ald ame 248585 5 his oe tha . 4 f 1 oe Vs. pas genCaBa coltolal aL boale Leno toni oe - sabascens Liansio datok. $a ery f ira ine. ill bi ineiphear anbtons Kies’ eae nomad ‘wrodaeod & atoqod tore ih 4 Perry's Address--Page 2 therefore, been continued in the new procedure as an indication of possible extra— fecal contamination or leck of proper handling of the product. The same purpose 1s” served, and possibly better, by a colony count. The colony count method has also been included in the new procedure as a means to determine whether or not shellfish have been properly handled. There are various other changes in the new procedure, such as the use of "most probable numbers" (M.P.N.) to express the numv.cr of bacteria belonging to the coli- form group. This replaces the old "score" method which represents the number of bacteria of the coliform group in 5 cc. of water or an equivalent amount of the shell- fish. The M.P.N. expresses the number per 100 cc. and is more accurate. There are other changes in the new procedure such as the use of the whole shellfish rather than the shell liguor. One of the important technical changes is the use of a simple con- firmation method (gas in brilliant green lactose bile medium) for bacteria of the coliform group. This is the method prescribed in the current edition of Standard Methods of Water Analysis of the American Public Health Association. There are cer- tain other technical changes or changes in records which would not be particularly interesting to this group. It should be borne in mind that all standard procedures are constantly being im- proved and revised. The new procedure for the bacteriological examination of shell- fish represents a great step forward particulerly in providing for the use of E. coli. The methods for determining E. coli, however, are more involved than the simple con- firmatory test (gas in brilliant green lactose bile medium) for bacteria of the coli- form group. An effort has already been made to find such a comparatively simple me- dium for BE. coli. A new medium, for instance, has been proposed which promises to make the isolation of E. coli just as simple at a temperature of 45.5°C. The evalua- tion of such a new method requires time. Even though the method is an excellent one, it requires time for laboratory workers to learn how to use it skillfully. The chief difficulty in evaluating the present procedure has been the very limited number of laboratories which have had the facilities or the interest to critically test proposed methods. We should not consider the present methods as in any final stage of perfec- tion. It is immensely important that at least a few laboratories which retain highly qualified bacteriologists, use their workers to help develop and evaluate newer methods None-the-less, the new procedure represents an important step forward and should make the bacteriological examination of shellfish of real value to both the sanitary officer and the oyster grower. For the first it will provide a reasonably accurate means of detecting significant fecal contamination and faults in handling. For the oyster grower, it should prevent condemnation sf stock which might be judged to be dangerously polluted on the basis of coliform bacteria, particularly of the A. cloacae type, but which on the basis of the absence of E. coli would be shown not to be pol- luted. Both considerations are, of course, immensely important to all concerned. There have been sincere differences of opinion among scientific workers as to the sanitary significance of different coliform organisms. In eight years, however, we have all had a chance to evaluate these differences of shellfish by both the Sanitary Engineers and the Laboratory Section of the American Public Health Association and acceptance by the Committee on Research and Standards, indicates that a large majority are satisfied with the objectives of this new procedure. iy aiken: eet sang Tu ‘ldo tnd ie: Me Salat won: ane ont pees tbee ft t wot, @ntee PAT, Soudowy, wit 3 g, yend beri” “pasha te woat te node cee yh Goddamn Fran ‘eeta.loo ot eS ESO NGLNS ue AE, rotted het ger) n don wo tonkdontin wo kareadeh of cimnaseomn 8. 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