812 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Table 41. — Increase and decrease of weights of flesh and its ingredients in floating. 
[Weights after floating estimated on assumption that the weight of the protein remained unchanged.] 
Ingredients of flesh. 
Weights of 
ingredients in 
100 grammes of 
flesh before 
floating. 
Estimated 
weights of 
same flesh and 
of its ingre- 
dients after 
floating. 
Gain ( + ) or loss ( — ) of weight 
during floating. 
Absolute. 
In percentages 
of weights be- 
fore floating. 
In James River specimen : 
Or ms. 
Or ms. 
Grms. 
P. ct. 
Water 
77.99 
100. 09 
+22. 10 
+28. 34 
Water- free substance 
22. 01 
20. 84 
— 1.17 
— 5.32 
Total flesh 
100. 00 
120. 93 
+20. 93 
+20. 93 
In water-free substance : 
10. 63 
10. 63’ 
Fat 
2.61 
2.31 
-0.30 
All 49 
Carbohydrates, etc 
6. 56 
6. 03 
— 0. 53 
— 8.08 
Mineral salts 
2. 21 
1.87 
— 0. 34 
—13. 57 
Total water-free substance. 
22. 01 
20. 84 
— 1. 17 
- 5.32 
In Potomac River specimen : 
Water 
77. 90 
93.07 
+15. 17 
+19. 47 
Water-free substance 
22.10 
20.35 
— 1. 75 
— 7.92 
Total flesh 
100. 00 
113. 42 
+13. 42 
-{-13. 42 
In water-free substance : 
Protein 
10.31 
10. 31 
Fat . 
2.33 
2. 19 
—0.14 
— 6. 01 
Carbohydrates, etc 
7. 29 
6.06 
—1.23 
—16. 87 
Mineral salts 
2.17 
1.79 
— 0. 38 
—17. 52 
Total water-free substance. 
22.10 
20. 35 
—1.75 
- 7.92 
In average of two specimens : 
Water 
77.95 
96. 58 
+18.63 
+23. 90 
Water- free substance . „ 
22. 05 
20. 59 
— 1.46 
— 6. 62 
Total flesh 
100. 00 
117.17 
+ 17.17 
+^7. 28 
In water-free substance : 
Protein 
10. 47 
10.47 
Fat 
2. 47 
2. 25 
— 0. 22 
— 8.75 
Carbohydrates, etc 
6. 92 
6.04 ' 
— 0. 88 
—12. 48 
Mineral salts 
2.19 
1.83 
—0. 36 
—15. 54 
Total water -free substance. 
22. 05 
20.59 
—1.46 
— 6.62 
This computation, like that of the previous table, indicates an abso- 
lute gain of water and loss of water-free substance, fats, extractives, 
and mineral salts. Here, as before, the loss of fats and extractives is 
particularly large. The fats lose but little less, and the carbohydrates, 
etc., considerably more than the mineral salts. 
The flesh of the James River specimen increased by dialysis from 100 
to 121, i. e ., gained 21 per cent, in weight. The Potomac specimen gained 
13.4 per cent. How these computations would compare with practical 
experience I have no means of learning exactly, since the oystermeifs 
estimates include both flesh and liquids, while these apply only to the 
flesh. But, as stated beyond, the increase in weight does not appear to 
be much larger than is usual in practice. 
As the assumption upon which these computations are made, namely, 
that the amount of protein (nitrogen) in the flesh remains constant 
during dialysis, is not absolutely correct, it will be worth while to note 
how the error must affect the calculations. 
