the state has run the gamut from declaring it an absolute failure to promising our 

 citizens an abundance of this delicious bivalve grown in Oregon within a year or 

 two. The wiser course to pursue, regarding the effort as purely an experiment, is to 

 avoid the Scylla of pessimism and the Chary bdis of extravagant hopes. The out- 

 come of the experiment can not be even partiallv decided for two years from now. 

 No eastern spat from the spawning of a year ago, was found this summer. It is too 

 soon to observe results of this year's spawning. I am so con6dent that we shall 

 eventuallv discover spat of the eastern oyster that I have this fall offered a prize to 

 the individual who first sends me living spat of Ostrea Virginica found in Yaquina 

 Bay. The .spawning of the oysters on the float when taken from the government 

 plant has already been alluded to as an encouraging sign. I was more particularly 

 impressed by the following. In the laboratory experiments in artificial fertiliza- 

 tion one set of eggs was started in water from the bay which registered 1.022, 

 almost ocean saltness. Two days later microscopic investigation revealed numer- 

 ous swimming embryos. The water was exposed during that time to the varying 

 temperature of the laboratory, from 59*^ F. to 70^ F. This speaks well for the hardi- 

 iness of til e yoinig spawn and for possibilities on the planted beds at Oyster City. 



The oysters were in far better condition this season than during their first sum- 

 mer here, showing that thej' are becoming acclimated. It may not be generallv 

 known that two varieties of the eastern oyster were sent us in 1896, — a somewhat 

 elongated variety from East River, ^ew York, and a round variet)- from Long 

 Island Sound, called Princess Bay. The latter coming from a locality nearer the 

 sea has done better than the East Rivers. Unfortunately only a small proportion 

 of the twentj'-two barrels was represented by this varietj'. We have grounds for 

 hope that the Fish Commis.sion will send us more Princess Bay oysters this season. 



If money were available to make salt ponds where the proper conditions as re- 

 gards temperature and saltness could be maintained, eastern spat could be raised 

 artificially in very large numbers. Assuming that this is not feasible, the experi- 

 ment resolves itself into a question of Natural Selection. That is, some spawn, as 

 time goes on will undoubtedly, inheriting the acquired hardiness of their parents, 

 pass successfully through the tender and critical period and become attached as 

 spat to rocks, shells, etc., in Yaquina Bay. Their progeny, parent and offspring 

 having become acclimated, as it were, will be more likely to develop in large num- 

 bers than their ancestors, so that, eventually the bay will be more or less stocked 

 with the bivalves. To what extent and how long it will take is, of course, a matter 

 of conjecture. Judging from the conditions prevailing in San Francisco Baj', where 

 oysters have been planted for years, it would be the safest plan not to expect too 

 much from our experiment. As a cause of encouragement, however, we have the 

 fact that at San Francisco they have made no such efforts toward this end as we 

 have here. The experiment is well worth the very small sum it has cost the gov- 

 ernment; it has cost the state nothing. 



The upper row of oyster shells, in the photograph which heads this report, 

 have lost, in transportation and in handling, about '/,-inch or more of delicate 

 growth not yet hardened, marking their increase during the latter part of this 

 season. 



These oyster, like all the fish interests of the state are under protection of the 

 State Fish Commissioner who will see that a special bill for their protection is pre- 

 sented at the coming session of the legislature. It is the intention of the U. S. Fish 

 Commissioner that the present plant be always preserved as a spawning plant, and 



