378 
: 
Average sample of the excrements of 21 oysters, collected on plants of Mr. Cock, in shallow 
water, Hampton Creek, Va. ; 
REPORT 
OF 
COMMISSIONER OF 
FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Preparation No. 1. Preparation No. 2. 
auelt Dead. Dead. 
8 Lia, <= —— | Living.|— SETS 
Col. I. Col: IL: Col. I. | Col. ET. 
| | | 
| 
| 0 Th ooh ie heel 0 12 Meee 
2 2 13 6d 0 20S said. 
3 1 2 ie See 0 16 2d 
4 0 ebiel Sa ane strc 0 20° ee aes es 
5 1 8d 1d 1 17 ld 
6 0 1 eee 0 2Ow aheeeatee 
7 0 ig Weaese ae 0 22 3d 
8 0 13 3d 0 28 4d 
9 0 4 lle 29 3d 
10 0 U2 Seer eee 0 27 4d 
‘11 0 14 4d 1 20 2d 
12 0 16 4d 0 8 1d 
13 0 14 | ld 0 22 2d 
J4 0 1D | Biel 0 18 3d 
15 0 LS Pl eyes eo: 0 10 ld 
16 0 13 ld | 0 15 2d 
17 0 16 ld 0 12 4d 
18 0 15 3d 2 13 3d 
19 1 35 2d OST SS 3d 
20 0 20 ld Ors Te Td 
21 0 11 2d 0 23 3d 
22 0 17 2d 0 24 4d 
23 0 14 2d 0 12 2d 
24 0 Ge GISaeseec 0 11 2d 
25 0 TORS ae Soro 1 23 3d 
2214) 322 — 2844-38 5 475 — 4124 63 
Living,1.5 | Entirely di- 
per cent. gested,87 per 
cent. 
Nearly di- 
gested,12 per 
cent. 
*These few living diatoms might have been derived from the sea water used for breaking up the 
excrements. All five belonged to the same species, and as diatoms have a motion of their own itis 
Results. 
Results of Preparation No. 1: 
UD ALB ER em Ame sistas oC. 
Nearly digested 
Entirely digested 
ay digested. ----=.--..< 
Nearly digested 
Wiivin a> eee eer ee eer e peer 
| tions: 
possible that the same individual figured in each case. 
+The smaller species were all entirely digested, so that they seem to offer the best food for the oyster. 
Average sample of the excrements of 17 oysters, collected by Mr. R. Armstrong 10 miles up the 
James River from Newport News, Va.; deep water. 
Preparation No. 1. 
Preparation No. 2. 
Living. 
| Dead Dead. 
——— Living. |__| 
Col. I. |Col. II. Col. I. |Col. II. 
Bie eee ae 0 eee ae 
Nai | ana a 0 8 ld 
5 ld 0 2 38d 
Wee emia 0 Set SE ee 
Sy ahh reeka ee 0 3 ld 
Dy Neto 0 Dy tot Al tater ata ae 
6 38d 0 1 Ee) |S os 222 
2 Meweneree 0 BT Seictetsrmagere 
PARR AT) ese 4 0 2 2d 
Sys ai hele etree 0 HE oe 
sree 0 Dy Weta st 
4 2d 0 Dy Mate ware mare 
iD 2d 0 3 ld 
So ulosseeree 0 Bn. Weeeerragae 
2 ld 0 2° ouheg. iss 
be tl eas eee 0 nie Bees ao 
Cae eee 0 MOA ee 
3 ld 0 eee ee eZ 
QP ei ee ae 0 2 1d 
i Dy a a Sree 0 POE SeSeaon 
et. eee oes 0 erates cree 
6 ld 0 Diet gal Srsire co cyahe 
3 1d 0 iets | einteieistave'e 
Aye St, See 0 Bith Weseeisia ts 
iby | Been 0 Paar | Crane ai 
82—70+12 | 0 63—54+ 9* 
*Enormous quantity of sand and many big species of diatoms. 
Results. 
Results from Preparation No. 1: 
| Per ct 
I] Entirely digested..........-- 85 
Nearly digested -...--....... I4 
yi gneVee ee rae succecnott ns 1 
Mataliecien. rrece ed eee “100 
Results from Preparation No. 2: 
Entirely digested 
Nearly digested 
Living 
Average from the two prepara- 
tions: 
