Back in my school days, February was an important month â not just because it included the eagerly-anticipated Valentineâs Day, but because even though it was the shortest month of the year, it encompassed two holidays for which public schools were closed: Lincolnâs Birthday (February 12) and Washingtonâs Birthday (February 22).
Oysters of tropical and semitropical seas are mature and ready to hand on life at the age of three years. Osyters of cool winter waters, as a rule, are mature at the age of four years. Edible oysters are pampered and tended by fishermen. The settled youngsters are called oyster spats until they become two inches long.
The eggs are stored within follicles in the ovary. Within a woman's lifespan, large numbers of follicles and oocytes will be recruited to begin the growth and maturation process. The large majority, however, will not reach full maturity. Most will die off in a process called atresia. Thus, only about 300-500 of these eggs will mature over a women's life span. The maturation of eggs typically takes about 14 days and can be divided into 2 distinct periods. During the initial period, many eggs, as many as 1000, begin to develop and mature. The second phase of development requires gonadal hormone stimulation to stimulate further development.