ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 393 



leing spoiled, but it did nol leave the eggs in as -j. I condition as the \\ 



glass or the lime and Ball solutions, since the acid weakened the Bhells. 



Eggs were also coated with salicylic acid and cotton-seed oil with and without 

 alcohol, with paraffin, collodium, and gum arabic, and then packed in cotton-seed 

 hulls. Conclusions could nol be draw n as to the value of these preservatives since 

 the eggs were accidentally destroyed. However, the author is convinced thai these 

 preservatives and others of a similar character "are nol as satisfaetorj as the liquid 

 preparations, l>ecause of the extra labor in putting up and the evaporation thai takes 

 place, leaving the eggs shrunken in appearance when broken." 



The report contains brief directions for testing egj 



Experiments in the artificial rearing of oyster fry, .1. Nelson Net / 

 Stas. /!/>/. 1904, pp. /'/■"' $46, pis. 9). A progress reporl is made of the investigations 

 on the breeding of oysters. The conditions were unfavorable and general deductions 

 were nol drawn. 



The construction of artificial inclosures called "claires," in which the oysters were 

 kept and the character of the water controlled with reference to sediment, etc . 

 described. In one of these the water- was filtered through several thicknesses ot 

 absorbenl cotton quilted between sheets of galvanized wire netting of a quarter-inch 

 mesh. Generally speaking, the oyster spawn during the pasl season was of poor 

 quality. It was noted thai sets of oyster spal were found in place- where the water 

 was very sail and in others where it was diluted with fresh water. 



"So we can not conclude that a certain amount of fresh water is absolutely needed 

 to induce a 'set.' It seems more likely that in those seasons characterized bj a 

 poor Bet, the result i- due to a poor character of the -pawn, owing t" some pre- 

 viously acting influences on the mother oysters. This point needs careful investiga- 

 tion. . . . The experience- of previous r-t a-' >n- had led us to believe that the very 



climax of the spawning season occurs late in June, ami that . . . southern seed 

 would furnish an ample supply of spawn up to at least the latter part of August. 

 Indeed, spawn is sometimes present in such oysters, and also in 'native' plants until 

 quite late in the autumn. 



"Oystermen are certain that there is a set of spat at the close of the -pawning 

 Beason of exceptional amount, known as the 'September set." which may be due to 

 a special increase in the spawning process early in September." It was found that 

 late in June the oysters had already spawned to a greater or less extent. 



'•The eggs that remained in the half-tilled oysters presented a i r appearance 



under the microscope. Many of them possessed ruptured shells, sw olleii nuclei, 



coarsely granular yolk, spherical shape, etc Such an appearance leads me to believe 

 that this spawn never is ejected, hut is absorbed. Such absorption, or. at least, the 

 disappearance of this spawn, was very slow, lasting at leasl to the middle of Septem- 

 ber, for a majority of the oysters. 



"A certain proportion of the eggs in -pawn of this character will he fertilized, and 

 will undergo development, at first apparently quite normally, but finally they break 

 down and disintegrate. 



••It appears extremely probable thai the character of the spawn, and therefore of 

 the "set' of seed, is determined by influences acting on the spawning oysters during 

 the spring and early summer. It becomes, therefore, important to study how oysters 

 are affected by surrounding conditions." 



The histology of oysters was studied in detail, this phase of the work being illus- 

 trated by plates. (For earlier work see E. S. lh. !»'.. p. 501. 



