50 Bulletm of Natural History Society. 
used for manure, though I cannot find that they are ever 
taken specially for this purpose. In England, however, the 
case is different. In Vol. II. of Sect. V., p. 622, of Fishery 
Industries of the United States (a splendid publication of 
the United States Government) is a quotation which states' 
“ Mussels and star-fish (five-fingers) have long been an estab- 
lished manure in the neighborhood of Faversham, Kent, 
They are procured by dredging. The mussels sell at 16s. ster- 
ling per wagon, and the five-fingers at 21s.” Forbes (History 
of British Starfishes, p. 89,) writes: “A gardener told me 
that he would desire no richer manure than starfishes for his 
garden.” They are said to be esteemed in France as a manure 
for grape-vines. If they are as valuable as this in Europe, 
our farmers should given them a trial. We know of places 
in Charlotte County where a wagon could be filled at a single 
low tide. 
On the other hand, it is said by Mr. Ingersoll (Oyster In- 
dustry, U. S. 10th Census, p. 230) that the several attempts 
at oyster-culture in the region of Passamaquody Bay have 
failed on account of the rapacity of the hordes of great star- 
fishes in the vicinity. We doubt very much whether oyster 
culture could be successful there, even if no starfishes were 
present, the conditions of temperature in summer being un- 
favorable to it. On our north shore, the starfishes are thought 
to do very little damage to the oyster-beds, (Bulletin IS'o. 
VIIL, p. 61). 
It is not unlikely that the individuals of this species are 
poisonous, not indeed when taken into the hand, as many 
persons believe, but when taken internally or into the blood 
through a break in the skin. Indeed the latter appears to be 
proven, as is shown by a short article in the Bulletin U. S. 
Fish Commission, VII., 1887, p. 34. It is entitled, Fatal 
injury inflicted by a starfish;” and describes the case of a fish- 
erman whose hand, pierced between two fingers by a spine of 
a starfish he was removing from his hook, festered and 
swelled; blood poisoning ensued and the man died. It has 
been asserted also that starfishes from stagnant water are 
poisonous. (Zoological Record, XXIII., Mollusca, p. 45.) 
