226 



REPOKT OF THE C0MMI8SI0NEE OF FISHERIES. 



Table XIV. — Anahjsis of oysters from Warren Hirer. 



aXo growth. 



The intestines of 5 of the 8 oysters examined contained S. coli^ 

 which was also found in the juice of these 5 specimens. The stomachs 

 of 3 were tested for colon forms, and two tests gave negative reactions; 

 the tube inoculated from the third o^^ster remained sterile. 



The next lot of o}' sters examined was obtained from the beds situated 

 under the lee of Pine Hill Point, Prudence Island. These beds are 12 

 miles from Fields Point, out of the direct course of the river, which 

 is continuous with the eastern passage of the bay, and are farther 

 removed from any source of sewage pollution than are an\' other oj^ster 

 beds in the river or ba^". The intestines of 10 specimens from this 

 bed did not contain colon forms. The juice and stomachs of 5 were 

 found to be free from an}^ sewage bacteria. 



A more extended stud}'" was made of the oysters from Wickford 

 Harbor, which, as has alread}'^ been stated, is well down the western 

 pas.sage of the baj" and far removed from sewage pollution. The water 

 over these o^^ster beds has been analyzed a number of times, and B. coll 

 has never been found. About 30 03\sters were obtained from this 

 locality in March and April, 1902, and examined by the fermentation- 

 tube methods already described. No bacteria resembling organisms 

 of the colon group were found in the intestines, though organisms fer- 

 menting dextrose broth were occasionally observed. No growth devel- 

 oped in 70 per cent of the tubes inoculated with the stomach content, 

 and when growth occurred it was not due to the colon bacillus. The 

 juice of 8 of these 03'sters did not contain B. coli. 



In addition to the above series of fermentation tests for B. coli on 

 Wickford 03^sters, a second series, with a gelatin medium containing 

 0.05 per cent carbolic acid, was carried out on another lot from this 

 same locality. The intestinal content only of the oysters was subjected 

 to anal3^sis; no tests were made for the juice or stomach content. 



