CANADIAN BIOLOGY ' 9 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 38a 



for later report. There is an outflow over the oyster areas of fresh water in spring, 

 but it is inconsiderable during the summer. Mr. Robertson calls attention to the 

 abundance of enemies of the oyster, such as starfish, the drill (JJrosalpinx), limpet: . 

 boring sponges (Cliona), while frost and ice are very detrimental. Poaching is 

 frequent, and a very serious menace. The areas were formerly productive, as is seen 

 from the extensive beds of dead shells remaining. Spat collectors were erected n 

 August, consisting of shells held in place by upright wire cylinders, but the deposit 

 of spat was light, though it occurred in all parts of Richmond bay. Spatting was late 

 in 1914, and oyster fry were observed from August 1 to the 29th, but not later. The 

 " set " was best in the shallows warmed by the sun, and free from eel grass. 



The general conclusion reached is that the oyster beds are in bad shape, owing 

 less to unfavourable physical conditions than to over-fishing. 



It is necfessary — 



(1) To enforce proper laws, 



(2) To carry out a three years' close season. 



(3) Lease spatting grounds to fishermen out from shore to a depth of 4 feet. 



VI. — SUPPOSED DISEASE OF QUAHAUGS IN N.B. (PROF P. COX). 



Professor Cox, of Fredericton, N.B., contributes three papers embodying researches 

 carried on as a member of the staff of the station. His first report, No. VI, on " A 

 Supposed Disease of the Quahaug (Venus mercenaria) ," aimed to determine the cause 

 of a deterioration in this valuable shellfish, observed by the shippers when transporting 

 them to Chicago and other markets from Buctouche, N.B. Dr. Cox gives a full 

 account of the conditions on the beds and the methods of fishing, and describes tlie 

 storing of the shellfish in floating trays 14 by 18 feet and 18 inches deep, which trays 

 are filled to a depth of 6 inches to 18 inches with quahaugs, and often stored for a 

 period of several months. They are then packed in sacks of IJ bushels capacity, and 

 shipped in box cars, which are iced at each end. The temperature is probably 68° to 

 70° F. in the winter (and lowered to 45° to 50° F. in the cars), and then on reaching 

 Chicago they are probably exposed to a temperature of 80° or upwards. These changes 

 of temperature, and the lack of ventilation during shipment, must be detrimental, and 

 many do not survive these extreme conditions. 



To test the effect of these sudden changes, eight clams were put in the ice-house 

 at the station for three days, the temperature being 45° to 48° F., and then exposed t 1 

 the open air at 60°, or in one instance 70° F. At the end of three days, all were dead, 

 excepting one. In another lot of ten, taken from the trays and exposed to the open 

 air for foTirteen days, it was found that all survived. A number of other interesting 

 experiments are detailed in the report, and Dr. Cox suggests that possibly a percentage 

 of adult clams normally die each year after the breeding season. He suggests avoid- 

 ance of rough handling, securing of proper ventilation, and uniformity of tempei-ii- 

 ture. The deterioration and death of clams are in his opinion not due to disease, but 

 to unfavourable conditions; and the paper closes with some practical suggestions for 

 shippers, and with the statement of four biological problems which still await investi- 

 gation respecting the quahaug industry. 



VII. — HERRING DISEASE (PROP. P. COX). 



A very important investigation carried on by Professor Cox forms the subject 

 of report No. VII, namely, the " Disease of the Herring in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 in 1914." There was an epidemic amongst the herring, which resulted in great mor- 

 tality from the middle of June to about the middle of July. 



