Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-01-12
FISH AND OYSTER NOTES

flSll AND UEStEk NUIEy
A West Point, Va, correspondent
writes very glowing account of the
oyster trade there before Christmas,
which hardly obtains today any where.
He says: 'Orders for oysters are pour
ing in from all over the country. There
is fear that there will not be oysters
enough to supply them. The seal-shift
patent-carrier system, used in the ship
ping, has given great impetus. The
oysters are shucked directly into white
enameled case, which is sealed and i'm
bedded in ice in an outer case The
case is sealed here and opened in Mex
leo or California or elsewhere. This
insures absolute protection to the oyster
from contamination from air, water or
ice. 1t also insures the oysters reach
ing their destination firm, whole, of a
natural color and with a genuine half
shell flavor. 1t matters not what the
weather may be no preservatives are
used-none are ever necessary. Oysters
shipped in this way are equal in flavor
and freshness to oysters just opened
on the coast.
The systematic culture of fresh
water pearls may become an impor-
taut industry in the United States
as the mollusks from which they are
taken are very abundant in our lakes
and rivers. The Mississippi basin,
especially, teens with them, present
ing many forms which differ from
those of the Atlantic water. shed and
other parts of the world. The
methods Of culture are exceedingly
simple, as it is necessary only to
open slightly the shall and insert a
very small, transparent glass bead,
putting it between the mantle and
the shell. Great care must be taken
to avoid injury to the little animal;
and in opening the shell thin, fat,
iron tool with wooden handle and
bent point should be used; knife
might answer for the purpose. After
treatment, it must he returned to
the water for year or two, while
the process of incrustation goes on.
World Magazine.
PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE OYSTER.
The personal history of the oyster
is worthy glance. 1t is a near
cousin Of the cocale, the mussel, the
clam, the scallop, and all other COM
mon bivalves, says an exchange.
Higher up in the molluscan scale are
the whe!ks and snails; for their she'll
is univalve, or one e-pieced, and they
have, besides, developed a head,
which last is sure sign of biologi-
cal advance. Higher still than the
snails are the cuttlefish, of which
the octopus is a familiar example.
There the process of head develop
ment attains it's highest phase in
the molluscan class; while the shell
in modern cuttles at least-has passed
away into the background. The
shells of oysters are unequally devel-
owed. The top valve is the lesser of
the two, and in the best class of
of oyster fits into the lower and
deeper valve like lid. The manner
of opening and shutting the she'll is
curious. The shell is shut by the
contraction of the big ladductor)
muscle (erroneously called the
"heart,'' which the oyster man has
to sever with his knife before he-can
get at the "meat." 1t is theend cut
of this muscle you see adhering to
the shell as a bundle Of tough fibers
while you note its dark mark on the
shell.
/ The shell is opened for the oyster
by the action of what is called th,
elastic ligament. You find tbi,
structure at the hinge of the shell
where the valves are jointed. Wher
the oyster lies undisturbed in its bet
the shell is kept open. This is ,
necessary feature, in view of the fac
| that constant currents of wate
are being swept in by the motion o
the ella of the gills, to bring food an,
oxygen to the animal. To keep tn
shell open, therefore, involves n
trouble on the part of the oyster
The elastic ligament, all pressure ol
it being removed, forces and keep
the valves apart. When it is neces
sary to close the shell--a movemen
not required at all frequently-th
adductor muscle comes into play
This is in itself vital action and /
is one which involves expenditure o
energy. Our bivalve is therefor
saved good deal of trouble in tha
the constant and open condition o
the shell is main tanned mechanical
by the ligament. The action re
sembles our own breathing arrange
: ments in respect of natures economy
, 1t costs us muscular expenditure I
breathe In: it costs rs nothing, so /