190 Oyster Culture ; Crow-Oyster and Pectens. 



marized, among others by Bashford Dean,* and Alison and 

 Willettf have supplied much information thereon. A neat 

 abstract is also to be found by Dr. Bnlstrode in the Local 

 Government Report for 1894-95. We may incidentally allude 

 en passant to the great hopes that were raised on the introduc- 

 tion of French methods into England. J They, however, did not 

 revolutionize the trade, and to-day are extant nowhere. Our 

 colleague, Mr. George Baxter, we understand, has been experi- 

 menting at Pyefleet and at Colemouth Creek, and Captain 

 Prettyman, we believe, has pond culture at work on the Orwell, 

 besides others at Felixstowe. We are not aware of these having 

 resulted in what might be deemed a profitable issue. 



Crow-oyster Family (Anomiidci). Closely allied to the 

 preceding are small, flat, oyster-looking mollusks, sometimes 

 known as " crow-oysters " or " silver- shells." The naturalists' 

 name is Anomia ephippium. They fasten themselves by a fleshy 

 foot or plug to stones, shells, seaweeds, &c., or at chance 

 times are even found adhering to an oyster. In their early 

 stage they are sometimes taken for oyster spat. At Herne Bay 

 some 486 young crow-oysters were counted, fixed to a cork 

 slab 8| inches square part of a fisherman's buoy (Hunt). In 

 Buckland's museum there is quite an illustrative series of these 

 " crows," ranging in size from pin-heads to 2 inches or 2| inches 

 in diameter. They are widely distributed in our District, 

 being found in shallow and deeper water at Deal, off Margate, 

 Thames estuary, Blackwater, Harwich neighbourhood, &c. 

 Their fisheries interest only lies in being confounded with 

 young oysters. 



Scallops or Pecten Family (Pectinidce). There are at least 

 four species (with varieties to boot) of Scallops or Escallops or 

 Fan-shells found in our District's waters. In a general way they 

 may be regarded in the light of the big and small scallops. 



* Report on the European Methods of Oyster Culture. Bull, U.S. Fish Commis., 

 Vol. XI. for 1891 (1893). t Prize Essay, Fisheries Exhibition, Vol. XI., 1884. 

 t Lobb, Pamphlet on " Successful Oyster Culture," Lond., 1867. 



