OYSTER RESOURCES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 361 
doubted the success of such an experiment, With the present more rapid transporta- 
tion and a better knowledge of their treatment en route, L think it very advisable 
to try and introduce them to the Pacific coast. 
The introduction of oysters from Japan would probably not be diffi- 
cult, as a great many species of shellfish from that region are identical 
with California species. 
Attempts have been made by oyster-growers in San I*rancisco Bay 
to introduce the large oysters of the Yaqui River lagoons and other parts 
of western Mexico, which strikingly resemble QO, virginica, but a large 
percentage of the oysters died on the voyage. The change from the 
warm waters of that latitude to the bay of San Francisco was supposed 
to be too great, even if they survived the voyage. I can testify to the 
large size, good flavor, and great abundance of the Yaqui River oysters 
from personal experience. They are so abundant that we frequently 
loaded the dingey of the Albatross by merely gathering them from the—-=~ 
—— 
borders of the shell heaps exposed everywhere at low tide. The tem-.--- 
perature of the water while we were there (March 31 and April 1, 1889) 
ranged from 69° to 732.1. Now that there is railroad connection 
between Guaymas, Mexico, and San Francisco, the introduction of 
these oysters by rail might give better results. ssn 
Table showing the temperature of the water in the vicinity of the natural oyster beds near 
the mouth of the Yaqui River, Mexico, March 31 and April 1, 1889. 
1 
| | 
Locality and time. Air. | Water. || Locality and time. | Air. | Water. 
Of! Algodones Lagoon: | OF Algodones Lagoon—cont'd. 
Wy ep ES PAL) vc ee ea a 73 69 CALNE lip iv Ao te tow Sete ew mae 65 67 
Mar. 31,1 p. 71 72 AT alps Cells cd emia cle.ss 65 69 
Mar. 31,2 p. 7 Ts CAUDIL Ny ON Ee ALL nim ialm m wlala ere dn ete 64 69 
Mar. 31,3 p. 72 73 SAT iyi ts de LO ore miata tuto’ aves 65 69 
Mar. 31,4 p. 71 72 POVE Ly 8..Aj Men amiss conor, 58 66 69 
Mar. 31,5 p. 3 72 Apr. 1,9 a.m.-..- seit @ 72 
Mar. 31,6 p. 72 | AON Ly LO Be A sean 'ete as so 73 73 
Mar. 31,7 p. 71 70 Apr Wor a; We sse ce oe +e He 3 74 
Mar. 31,8 p. 70 70 =| Off Yaqui River: 
Mar, S160) D510 02 de sn - a teioie 69 70 || SArryane ele NM 51a acieg. aes oes 71 73 - 
BULA E Ly LD sats aa ae ale, «a 69 69 || Do a oy Nh 80 is sete 72 73 
MAT Oly Lis De Is oops ease) 5 68 68 || EDT Sg AMIE sm» aipial alsin iain eth Bn 72 73 
MLN lye i Mls .a'c 0 <:2'o0'«0<.6 70 70 SEU DAMM xm a lpre aim 2 10> 73 Ts 
BABU. GMs pedearedeco se 69 68 DSU Ee We ip Pn ep dee ae 74 73 
CANIN At oh Bs INL ~ winininvalaviein'eis+ 65 68 OT aX Leig gis Fpl nineiys ose a 74 73 
By) Par ns leer mers i> jan| rate 68 
C20 1 
It should be stated that the hourly temperatures taken by the Alba- 
tross were not in Algodones Lagoon or in the mouth of Yaqui River, but 
at the ship’s anchorage, a mile or two outside, in the Gulf of California. 
In December, 1890, a large shipment of oysters was made from Aca- 
puleo to San Francisco, but most of them died on the way. The few 
that reached market were considered good, ‘This species was doubtless 
the Ostrea iridescens, a large oyster common in the vicinity of Acapulco. 
The oyster of the Gulf of California has been referred by some con- 
chologists to Ostrea virginica. In Carpenter’s Shells of Mazatlan it is 
referred to that species, and in the collection of the U.S, National 
