BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 217 



therefore came from portions of the sea having a higher temperature 

 and a greater saltness than the Little Belt, near Aaro. If we wish to 

 continue our experiments, we should select the most northerly variety 

 of the American oyster, and take them from beds where the water has 

 the least degree of saltness which they can stand. Unfortunately, 

 Ingersoll's work on the American-oyster industry contains no data rel- 

 ative to this subject. Here is an opportunity for the German Fishery 

 Association to make some practical use of its connection with North 

 America, by causing more exhaustive investigations to be made in that 

 country. 

 With this view, the following questions would have to be answered : 



1. Are there any oyster-beds on the coasts of New Brunswick, where 

 the water is much less salty than in the open sea, and near what towns 

 are these oyster-beds located ? 



2. What is the maximum and what the minimum degree of saltness 

 in the water near these oyster-beds f 



3. Are these oyster-beds covered with ice every winter, and how long ? 



4. Could healthy oysters, capable of propagating, well packed, be 

 quickly sent from New Brunswick to Germany in spring, when frosts 

 have ceased? 



In the above-mentioned work of Mr. Ingersoll a Mr. Yenning* is 

 mentioned as inspector of fisheries in New Brunswick. Ingersoll has 

 also received information relative to the New Brunswick oyster-beds 

 from Professor Whiteaves.t Both these gentlemen, whose residence 

 Ingersoll unfortunately does not give, might possibly aid us in answer- 

 ing the above questions. 



For answering the second question, What is the maximum and min- 

 imum degree of saltness of the water near these oyster-beds ? Obser- 

 vations would have to be made. For these the following instruments 

 would be needed : An aerometer, a thermometer, and a glass cylinder 

 in a solid box which can be easily handled, accompanied by plain and 

 intelligible directions. A set of the instruments, manufactured under 

 the supervision of the commission of scientific investigation of the Ger- 

 man seas, can be obtained from Mr. Steeger, of Kiel, for about 25 marks 

 ($5.95). 



If these investigations should lead to favorable results, I would recom- 

 mend to get oysters from New Brunswick in the spring of 1884 and set 

 them out in suitable places on the east coast of Schleswig-Holstein j 

 but a layer of oyster-shells should first be placed on the bottom, as 

 experience has shown that these form the most favorable habitat for 

 young oysters. 



*Tke reference is doubtless to Mr. W. H. Venning, inspector of fisheries, Saint 

 John, New Brunswick. — C. W. S. 



t Probably Professor J. F. Whiteaves, Assistant Director of the Geological Survey 

 of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. — C. W. S. 



