BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 357 



through the kind assistance of the Canadian Government it was proved 

 by actual observations made near Prince Edward Island, not far from 

 the mouth of the Saint Lawrence, relative to the saltness of those coast 

 waters and to other circumstances, that the oysters in those regions, 

 which are ver^' plentiful, are for four months out of the year exposed to 

 the most severe cold (often causing these waters to be covered with ice), 

 and that the natural conditions greatly resembled those of the Baltic. 

 These observations have made me feel confident that an attempt to 

 transplant oysters from Prince Edward Island to the Baltic would 

 prove successful ; and I have therefore taken all the necessary steps 

 to have the experiment made this spring. 



I took up this matter with a great degree of interest, as a ten years' 

 sojourn in the United States had given me the opportunity to learn the 

 great importance of oyster-culture, not merely to supply the tables of 

 the rich, but also to produce a popular article of food for the masses, 

 which the oyster has become in a constantly growing degree. As far 

 as my statistical information goes, the United States during last year 

 consumed at least 30,000,000 bushels of oysters (200 oysters to the 

 bushel). Kew York alone consumed about 20,000 bushels per day, 

 making the enormous quantity of 4,000,000 oysters per day. This does 

 not include the clams, the annual consumption of which in the United 

 States I estimate to be at least 8,000,000 bushels. 



The clams are bivalves, having very thick shells and resembling the 

 oyster. They bury themselves in the sand of tlie coast, and can, when 

 the tide is down, be dug out with very little trouble, as the places where 

 clams are hid under the sand can easily be recognized by the narrow 

 channel left in the track of the clam, so as to keep its connection with 

 the sea water. Many people prefer clams to oysters, and next spring I 

 intend to oiier a chance for making an experiment on a large scale to 

 acclimatize (hem with us ; that is, I shall place a quantity of clams at 

 the disposal of the fishery association for distribution along the coast of 

 North Sea. The coast of the Baltic is not suitable for the purpose, be- 

 cause the less degree of saltness would be unfavorable to propagation. 



Oysters, as well as clams, have in the United States actually be- 

 come articles of food for the masses, including even the poorer classes. 

 Three causes have principally contributed towards this result : 



1. Oysters and clams are cheap articles of food in America. 



2. The way they are prepared, even among the poorer classes, is ex- 

 ceedingly simple. 



3. The poor classes in America entirely agree with our epicures that 

 oysters and clams are a great delicacy. 



Of the cheapuesy of the oysters in America I shall immediately con- 

 vince you, wht-n I state that for the larger number of consumers, espe- 

 cially the laboring classes, the oysters are taken from the shell as soon 

 as caught, and are, as in Xew York, taken in barrels to the markets 

 during the night, and are there sold by the liter [quart]. Such a liter 



