W. B. D WIGHT. 59 



The oyster has been yearly demanded by consumers in 

 a rapidly increasing ratio — while its beds are becoming 

 as rapidly denuded. No practical means for its rapid 

 propagation could be discovered, and it was in great dan- 

 ger of becoming extinct. 



The chief difficulties in artificial breeding of oysters 

 lay in certain peculiar physiological conditions, made 

 known by the studies of European experts, on European 

 oysters. The most patient investigations made by Brooks, 

 Rider and others into the embryology of the American 

 oyster have, however, recently revealed a most remarka- 

 ble and unexpected difference in physiological constitu- 

 tion between this and the European mollusk. The na- 

 ture of this difference is such that, by taking advantage 

 of it, our oysters can be propagated with ease, and the 

 great work of developing the best methods is even now 

 being perfected by the United States Fish Commission at 

 Wood's Holl, Mass. Let no one hereafter laugh at the 

 most trivial labors of the scientific specialist. 



Another grea t advantage of the specialization of sci- 

 entific studies is that it gives weight and dignity to every 

 field of honest, original, faithful work, however narrow 

 or however situated. Each observer may give the bene- 

 fit of his labor to science, by studying the special field 

 which his gifts and inclinations suggest to him, and to 

 which circumstances invite him. 



Still another advantage is one kindred to that gained 



in industrial employments by extensive division of labor. 



As in every great factory, so in science, the maximum of 



expertness is reached by assigning to one worker a special 



and narrow field. Yet there is a difference in the two 



cases, which it would be unfortunate to forget, and 



which is greatly to the advantage of scientific work. 



The great evil of division of labor in industries, is the 



mental and moral depression which it brings upon the 



workman. He takes hold of his specialty, it may be the 



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