OYSTER CULTURE IN NORWAY. 7 1 1 



violence of the storms, which sometimes displace a volume 

 of water more than 7 feet in depth. On the arrival of 

 winter in Norway, that is to say, toward the beginning of 

 September, the young oysters are still too young to resist 

 the shocks and sudden changes of temperature. It was, 

 therefore, of the greatest importance that they should not 

 come into contact with the outer air. These difficulties 

 were surmounted in the following manner : In the upper 

 part of the establishment a supply reservoir, fed by a pump, 

 worked by wind, was dug. Immediately beneath, within a 

 house which protected it from the rigour of the cold, was 

 placed a basin for holding the eggs, measuring 8 meters 

 (26 feet) in length by 6 meters (19 feet) in width. A 



f 



leaden conduit, furnished at its upper part with a grating 

 fine enough to stop the passage of harmful fish, and in its 

 lower part with faucets to regulate the supply of water at 

 wi-11, brought the two reservoirs into connection with one 

 another. This tube took several windings, and passed 

 through an inclosure filled with water, which could be 

 heated when necessary, so as to maintain the water sup- 

 plied to the hatching basin of a nearly uniform temperature. 

 The level of the water in this latter basin was regulated by 

 means of a tube, the opening of which was covered with a 

 filter, to prevent the escape of the young oysters. In this 

 basin 2200 female oysters were placed at the commence- 

 ment of the season, and, although they had undergone the 

 fatigue of a long journey, they emitted such a quantity of 

 spawn that it was found upon the collectors by which they 

 were surrounded. 



The first experiment, as will be seen from the above, 

 succeeded well, and the system invented by General Wer- 

 geland, for obtaining larval oysters in inclosed places, could 

 be developed to any desired extent. The General intends 



