7QO OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



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Before commencing the extracts, which, extending 

 over a wide field of ostreocultural knowledge, must neces- 

 sarily be brief and fragmentary, it were as well, perhaps, 

 that I preface them with the " Instructions " acted upon, 

 and the " Methods of conducting the Investigation," pur- 

 sued by Lieut. Winslow in its object, so that the reader 

 may the more readily grasp their instructive purpose, and 

 comprehend more fully their practical outcome. 



Instructions. 



" The instructions of the Superintendent, dated August 

 2, 1878, directed that the investigation of the oyster beds 

 should include the following : 



1. The determination of the positions and areas of 

 the oyster beds of the Chesapeake and the adjacent waters, 

 and the depth of water over them at high and low water. 



2. The determination of the character of the beds ; 

 whether natural or artificial ; whether the oysters were 

 spread all over a given area, or grew in clusters of large or 

 small size, or were scattered singly or in small groups. 



3. The determination of the temperatures of the sur- 

 face and bottom water at each locality, and the velocities 

 of the currents. 



4. The preservation of specimens of oysters of different 

 ages, from each locality, and specimens of the bottom and 

 bottom water. 



5. The determination of the existence of any deposit 

 of mud or other earthy or vegetable material, and the 

 determination of the character of the bottom beneath the 

 oyster beds. 



6. The determination of the source of the sediment, if 

 any was deposited, and the means of directing it, if injuri- 

 ous, away from the beds. Also to determine whether ice 

 ever rested on the beds, and so destroyed them. 



