ely, as far back as the early 1900’s marine biologists realized that if new measures were not taken, oysters would become extinct or at best a luxury food. so they set up well-equipped hatcheries and went to work. but they did not have the proper equipment or the skill to handle the eggs. they did not know when, what, and how to feed the larvae. and they knew little about the predators that attack and eat baby oysters by the millions. they failed, but they doggedly kept at it. finally, in the 1940’s a significant breakthrough was made.
the marine biologists discovered that by raising the temperature of the water, they could induce oysters to spawn not only in the summer but also in the fall, winter, and spring. later they developed a technique for feeding the larvae and rearing them to spat. going still further, they succeeded in breeding new strains that were resistant to diseases, grew faster and larger, and flourished in water of different salinities and temperatures. in addition, the cultivated oysters tasted better!