fJ7] ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF OYSTERS. 747 



tp, and the sediment at tLe bottom throicn away. There is uo other 

 l-ay of satisfactorily getting rid of the fragments of the various organs, 

 have strained the fluids through fine muslin, have squeezed them out 

 : the generative organs with the hand instead of cutting them up, 

 'kve even ground up the visceral mass in a coflee-mill; but I found 

 p method so productive of good results as obtained by chopping 

 'le reproductive organs into a few pieces and washing them once or 

 'kice in a glass of salt water, allowing the glass to stand a few minutes 

 lid then pouring off the water containing the eggs and excess of male 

 ifaid. 



\ After getting rid of the debris, the contents of the glass should be 

 't^irred frequently for ten or fifteen minutes and then allowed to stand 

 jliiet that the heavy, fertilized eggs may sink to the bottom. Only one 

 tecaution is here necessary; too many eggs must not be collected in 

 ^!ie glass. The layer on the bottom should not exceed one-eighth of 

 a inch in thickness, and a smaller number of eggs is preferable. 1 

 'kcceeded better when I used a large number of small glasses (tumblers) 

 ijian when I used one or two large jars (trout hatching jars) for this 

 l&rt of the process, and not only were the results better but there was 

 'ii appreciable saving in time, with the tumblers. The evils of the large 

 Bceptacle are the same as those noticed when too many eggs were put 

 I one tumbler. So much time was taken up by the eggs in sinking to 

 ifte bottom after each renewal of the water, that spermatozoa were car- 

 ed along with them, and the eggs after reaching the bottom were 

 ftcked so closely together, and on top of each other, that they resem- 

 ^ ed a slimy mass of mucous, and could not be readily detached from 

 le glass or from one another. Such conditions obviously hinder de- 

 3lopment and should be guarded against. 



1 The removal of the excess of male cells and unripe or floating eggs 

 a simple matter of easy accomplishment. As soon as the eggs are 

 the bottom of the glass, siphon off the water and refill the, tumbler. 

 ■ iter the first two or three operations the eggs can be seen as a white 

 lOud sinking through the water; ten minutes rest between the oper- 

 ions is quite sufficient time for the eggs to sink. If they do not 

 ascend in a solid mass, but " straggle" to the bottom, it is an indicai- 

 on that there are many but partially ripe or unimpregnated eggs in the 

 it and that the prospect of a successful issue to the experiment is 

 light. The water should be changed until, after the eggs have sunk 

 > the bottom, it is perfectly clear. The investigator can then pro- 

 ved to the next operation. 



i 3. Care of the eggs during segmentation. — After the water in the glasses 

 as been cleared, and all deleterious matter disposed of, it is of greatest 

 nportance that the eggs should have rooin for development; that is 

 latthey should not press upon or in other ways incommode each other, 

 here are a number of other points of importance to be observed but 

 defer their consideration, for the present confining myself to features 

 f the manipulation that must be common to all experiments. 



