Figure l.-Two typical specimens of C odium fragile subsp. t.menlosoid.s cllected in Bootl.l..i>- Ilarl.or, Maine. 



^- 



Figure 2.— Utricles and attached gametanRia from a 

 specimen of Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides. 



160 



plant arrived on oysters {Crassostrra vhgimca) 

 shipped from Long Island to Bootlibay Harbor to 

 delay their spawning by holding them in the coUlcr 

 Maine waters. These oysters were customarily in- 

 spected, however, both upon arrival and again l)efore 

 return, to prevent the possible introduction of unde- 

 sirable species. Codium in very early stages of 

 development may have been overlooked when the 

 oysters arrived from Long Island, because at the 

 time Codium was not one of the undesirable species 

 being checked; nevertheless, the reexamination 

 before returning the oysters should have brought to 

 light the plants at a larger stage of development. 



Codium could possibly have been introduced on 

 the hulls of some of the yachts visiting the area. 

 Such an e.xplanation was not favored by Roscnvinge 

 (1920) who l)elieved the spread in Europe to be due 

 to the breaking loose and drifting of plants or to their 

 being transported along with oysters or other shell- 

 fish. 



U.S. FISH .\NI3 WILDLIFE SERVICE 



