ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 79 
which are found in deeper and more active water, where their 
food has less chance to multiply. If the French mode applies 
successfully to an inferior species, ours, which grows so much 
more rapidly, ought to derive a proportionately greater benefit 
from being treated in the same manner. 
As to the influence of brackish water in improving the con- 
dition of oysters let me observe here that those who hold to that 
opinion appear to forget to bear in mind that brackish water 
beds are often in the case just described ; that being in shallow, 
relatively quiet water, an abundance of food is generated which 
is rapidly consumed by the animals, which quickly brings the 
latter into condition, the brackish state of the water getting the 
credit of the result. 
In my report to Major Ferguson, I stated my belief in the prac- 
ticability of establishing permanent oyster banks or ridges. Dur- 
ing the last summer in the Cherrystone River, Virginia, I saw 
my idea practically realized. A heap of shells had been scat- 
tered so as to form a low, solid elevation, which was submerged 
twice a day by the tide; upon this spat had caught and grown 
until the whole in two years was as completely and solidly cov- 
ered by living natural-growth oysters as any good natural bank. 
The desirability of using the poorly grown stock from natural 
and artificial banks as “seed” for planting appears reasonable, 
and could no doubt be made profitable where banks of a suffi- 
cient extent could be established, from which a supply of seed 
could be obtained. 
Mr. Puituirs.—This most interesting paper by Prof. Ryder 
will be read with much interest. The changes of color in the 
oyster has long attracted the attention of oystermen, but no valid 
causes have heretofore been given for them. Here in this vial 
is an oyster opened by Mr. Carley, in Fulton Market, and it ts 
black. In the South they have a dark oyster which they call the 
mulatto oyster. Prof. Ryder has thoroughly investigated the 
subject of color, and has exploded the idea that the green color 
is caused by copper. There is no metal more easily found than 
copper, where it exists, and a dozen different tests are in the 
hands of every housekeeper, which would show its presence in 
