806 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Table 38. — Comparative percentage composition of oysters before and after 11 float- 
ing v — Continued. 
James River oysters trans- 
planted to New Haven. 
Potomac River oysters trans- 
planted to New Haven. 
Constituents of oysters. 
As taken 
from beds. 
As taken 
from floats. 
As taken 
from beds. 
As taken 
from floats. 
No. 82. 
No. 83. 
No. 85. 
No. 84. 
In liquids : 
P. ct. 
P. ct. 
P. ct. 
P.ct. 
Water 
94. 71 
95. 22 
94. 99 
95. 69 
Water-free substance 
5. 26 
4. 78 
5. 01 
4.31 
Total liquids 
100. 00 
100. 00 
100. 00 
100. 00 
In water-free substance : 
Nitrogen 
0. 31 
0. 34 
0.29 
0.33 
Protein (nitrogen X 6.25) 
1. 95 
2. 09 
1.81 
2. 05 
Fat (ether extract) 
0. 04 
0. 13 
0. 02 
0.01 
Ash 
2. 54 
1.42 
2. 47 
1-19 
Carbohydrates, etc. (by difference) . . 
0. 73 
1.14 
0. 71 
1.06 
Total water-free substance 
5. 26 
4.78 
5.01 
4.31 
In total shell contents, flesh and liquids : 
Water 
84.15 
86.95 
86. 14 
87. 36 
Water- free substance 
15. 85 
13.05 
13.86 
12. 64 
Total shell contents 
100.00 
100. 00 
100. 00 
100. 00 
In water-free substance : 
Nitrogen 
1. 19 
1.05 
0. 99 
1.02 
Protein (nitrogen X 6.25) 
7.44 
6. 54 
6. 20 
6. 37 
Fat (ether extract) 
1. 66 
1. 31 
1.21 
1. 18 
Ash 
2. 32 
1.50 
2. 32 
1.43 
Carbohydrates, etc. (by difference) .. 
4. 43 
3.70 
4. 13 
3. 66 
Total water-free substance 
15. 85 
13. 05 
13. 86 
12. 64 
In whole specimen : 
Shell contents : 
Water 
12. 62 
14. 93 
13. 89 
14.55 
Water-free substance 
2. 38 
2. 24 
2. 24 
2.11 
Total shell contents 
15. 00 
17. 17 
16.13 
16. 60 
Refuse 
85. 00 
82. 83 
83. 87 
83.34 
Total shell contents and refuse 
100. 00 
100. 00 
100. 00 
100. 00 
Shell contents : 
Nitrogen 
0. 18 
0. 18 
0. 16 
0.17 
Protein (nitrogen X 6.25) 
1. 12 
1.12 
1.00 
1.06 
Fat (ether extract) 
0-25 
0. 22 
0.20 
0. 20 
Ash 
0. 35 
0. 26 
C. 37 
0. 24 
Carbohydrates, etc. (by difference) . . . 
0. 66 
0. 64 
0.67 
0. 61 
Total water-free substance — 
2. 38 
2. 24 
2. 24 
2.11 
Water. 
12.62 
14. 93 
13. 89 
14. 55 
Total shell contents 
15. 00 
17. 17 
16.13 
16. 66 
Regarding the results of these analyses it should he said that — 
1. Of course the figures can not claim absolute accuracy ; but for the 
reasons to be set forth in the discussion of the methods of analysis just 
referred to, I am persuaded that the errors due to imperfections of 
method or manipulation can not be very large. 
2. The protein is estimated by multiplying the percentage of nitrogen 
by 6.25. The correctness of this factor for the oyster has not been veri- 
fied. We know very little about the nitrogenous constituents of the 
oyster at best, and the uncertainties are here greater than in analyses of 
