964 American Work on Recent Mollusc a in 188 1. [December, 



The consumption of oysters in New York, as appears from the 

 second article referred to, between September 1st and January 1st, 

 is about fifty thousand baskets a day (sic), containing about two 

 hundred oysters each. From January to May the consumption 

 is about twenty-five per cent. less. This appears to be at the rate 

 of ten millions oysters a day, or eight oysters per capita for the 

 entire population of the city, an estimate which seems grossly ex- 

 cessive on the face of it, unless it be understood that the New 

 York dealers sell oysters to private parties or small dealers in the 

 surrounding country, which are included in the above figures, as 

 well as the actual local consumption. 



A large natural bed of oysters, covering over one hundred 

 acres was discovered in Smithtown bay, on the north shore of 

 Long Island, N. Y., in September, 1881. It is in deep water and 

 very rough bottom. The discovery created an immense excite- 

 ment among the fishermen, who flocked from every quarter to 

 avail themselves of the unclaimed treasures. 



Lippincotfs Magazine (May, 18.81, pp. 479-492) has a well- 

 illustrated article on oysters and oyster culture, here and abroad, 

 under the title of " Oyster culture," by W. F. G. Shanks. 



" Deterioration of American Oyster beds " is the subject of two 

 articles, by Lieut. Francis Winslow, U. S. N., in the Popular 

 Science Monthly (Vol. xx, No. I, pp. 29-42, Nov., 1881 ; No. 2. 

 pp. 145-155, Dec, 1 881), in which the danger to the Chesapeake 

 beds, now imminent, is pointed out, and remedies are discussed and 

 illustrated by instances of experience of European communities. 

 So long as the community most directly interested remains, from 

 ignorance, obstinately incredulous and unwilling to take any pre- 

 cautions whatever, or even enforce the existing laws, nothing can 

 be done, and it is probable they will awake to the danger only 

 when it is too late. 



The Sea World, Fishing Gazette and Packers Journal, a quarto 

 weekly periodical, devoted in large part to the annals and 

 interests of the edible shell-fish trade, has completed its third 

 volume. It is published by W. B. Hopson at New Haven, Conn., 

 and apparently printed and issued in New York. Those inter- 

 ested in the economical shell-fish will find it worth while to refer 

 to its files. In the number for Dec. 7th, 1881, an interesting 

 account is given of oyster culture, near Groton, Conn., in 

 Poquonock river. White birch bushes, of proper size, are cut 



