EFFECT OF CRUDE OIL POLLUTION ON OYSTERS 165 
Table 5. — Analyses of brines from oil wells at Lake Barre and Lake Pelto, and sea water from oyster 
beds and Gulf of Mexico 
Constituents 
Barre brine 
Pelto brine 
Oyster bed, 
Lake Barre 
Oyster bed, 
Sea Breeze 
Gulf of 
Mexico 
7.0 
7.5 
8. 1 
7.9 
8.7 
Specific gravity 60° F./60 0 F. 1 
1. 109 
1. 0735 
1.016 
1.009 
1. 016 
Suspended matter l __ 
Parts per 
100,000 
5.6 
Parts per 
100,000 
3. 70 
Parts per 
100,000 
1.0 
Parts per 
100,000 
1.2 
Parts per 
100,000 
1.3 
Ash of suspended matter 1 
1.5 
.40 
.4 
.7 
Iodine adsorption as hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S ) 1 
.29 
5. 34 
.046 
.039 
. 12 
Alkalinity as calcium carbonate (CaCOa) 1 
33.5 
31.2 
10.8 
11.2 
9.9 
Silica (Sib 2 ) 2 ' 1 
14.0 
6.4 
5. 0 
2.5 
1. 5 
Iron and aluminum oxides (R 2 O 3) 2 
20.9 
68.0 
8.3 
4.9 
1.7 
Manganese oxide (MnsOO 2 
1. 1 
.7 
.6 
.3 
Calcium oxide (CaO) 2 „ _ 
474.0 
395. 0 
34.0 
24.0 
38.0 
Magnesium oxide (MgO) 2 
225.0 
320.0 
123.8 
86.4 
125.3 
Alkalies calculated as sodium oxide (Na20) a „ 
7, 190. 0 
24.8 
4, 460. 0 
27.0 
735.5 
570.6 
873.4 
Sulphur trioxide (SO 3) 2 
130.0 
88.2 
131.5 
Chlorides as chlorine (Cl) 2 
9, 831. 5 
9, 526. 0 
1,151.3 
786.6 
1,150.9 
Silica (SiOa) 3 
14.0 
6.4 
5.0 
2.5 
1.5 
Iron and aluminum oxides (R 2 O 3) 3 
20.9 
68.0 
8.3 
4.9 
1.7 
Manganese oxide (MmOi) 3 
1. 1 
.7 
.6 
.3 
Calcium chloride (CaCh) 3 . 
938.2 
744.6 
67.3 
47.5 
75.2 
Calcium sulphate (CaCO-i) 3 --- 
44.9 
Magnesium chloride (MgCh) 3 
532.0 
756.0 
292.4 
204.1 
296.0 
Sodium chloride (NaCl) 3 '. 
13, 523. 7 
36.3 
9, 526. 0 
1, 197. 2 
947.3 
1, 455. 0 
233.1 
Sodium sulphate (Na 2 S 04) 3 
230.6 
156.4 
632.4 
164.4 
29.5 
Total of calculated solids 
15, 698. 6 
11, 145.9 
1, 965. 9 
1, 392. 8 
2, 062. 8 
Residue on evaporation (160° C.) 
16, 370. 0 
15, 804. 0 
19, 484. 0 
11, 124.0 
2, 120. 0 
1, 908. 0 
2, 427. 0 
1,419.0 
2, 050. 5 
Residue after gentle ignition 
10, 238. 0 
12, 380. 0 
1,281.5 
1,914.5 
Mineral matter as sulphates 
1, 672. 5 
2, 471. 5 
' On sample as received. 
2 On sample after boiling, filtering, and making to original volume with distilled water. 
3 Probably combined as indicated. 
The purpose of the present experiments was to determine the effect of high con- 
centrations of brine on the shell movements and survival of oysters. Nine large adult 
oysters were used, each of which was cemented to a brick by the lower valve and 
connected with a graphic recording apparatus as shown in figure 2, in order that an 
accurate record of their reactions might be obtained. Each oyster was placed in a 
shallow glass jar and covered with 4,000 cc of either sea water or a brine-sea water 
mixture, which was renewed daily. The experiments were conducted for a period 
of over 3 months — from January 12 to April 16, 1934. 
In the experimental jars the oysters were subjected to different mixtures of brine 
and sea water which contained 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 parts per thousand of Barre 
brine and 25 and 50 parts of Pelto brine. The former mixtures contained, 1.53, 3.07, 
6.15, and 12.30 grams of brine salt per liter and the latter 2.45 and 4.90 grams. 
During the course of the experiments the average salinity of these solutions was 
respectively as follows: 33.30, 34.44, 36.71, and 41.25 for those containing Barre 
brine, and 33.81 and 35.46 for those containing Pelto brine. In the control jars the 
oysters were kept in normal sea water having an average salinity of 32.17. The 
temperature of the water in the experimental and control jars was the same and 
ranged from 4.2° to 23.6° C., while these studies were in progress. Temperature 
fluctuations of as much as 5 to 13 degrees occurred daily as each new supply of cold 
harbor water became warmed to room temperature. 
The results of the experiments are shown in table 6. None of the oysters died 
while exposed to brine or during a subsequent period of 1 month when they were kept 
in running sea water. An examination of the data presented in table 6 shows that 
oysters remain open for longer periods of time in sea water to which brine has been 
143S70 — 35 1 
