Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

lion Inhabitants Of this country should
realize their good fortune In
Oyster living near the waters in
cu1+,,-. which oysters grow better
than anywhere else in the
| world. the federal government Is doing
all that 1t can to increase the consump-
ton OF this cheapest of animal foods.
For a generation the bureau Of fisheries
a study Of the oyster, and has revealed
details Of its life history that have made
possible its propagation with increasing
success. and to such an extent that its
price has remained practically the same
for twenty-five years. More recently the
bureau Of chemistry Of the Department
Of Agriculture and the public health serv-
ice Of the Treasury Department have been
cooperating in a sanitary survey Of the
oyster beds of the Atlantic coast. which
has resulted in the closing of those found
to be in any way polluted. The work OF
its various agencies has been 80 thorough
that the government Is announcing with
the beginning Of the present oyster season
that oysters are more sanitary and better
than ever before.
In the enforcement Of sanitary regula-
tons concerning oyster beds the federal
government has. of course been restricted
to oysters entering interstate commerce.
but by cooperation with various states
the good effects Of the federal work have
been extended practically all over the
country In New York, for instance, all
permits to oystermen last season were
issued with data gathered by the federal
survey as a guide, all polluted beds being
closed. 1t Is probable that the plan will
be adopted as a permanent arrangement.
A similar co cooperation between the federal
and state authorities exists in Virginia
and other states. including Rhode Island.
Maryland and New Jersey, have had sani-
tary surveys made by the state officials.
and are receiving the assistance Of the
federal government whenever it is desired.
In making the sanitary surveys that
are proving SO valuable to states,
oystermen and consumers. the federal
authorities use the laboratory boats OF
the public health service. Oysters are
taken from the various beds, and are
given careful meteorological examina-
tions, while samples of water are also
are analysed chemically. Charts are
then made showing such beds as are
contaminated, and these records are
placed in the hands of officials having
jurisdiction over the beds. An en-
couraging feature of the work to OFF,
Gals of the bureau of chemistry is
that the oystermen themselves are &C
tive in preventing oysters from beds
pronounced to be contaminated from
entering the markets.
Temperature plays an important part
in the ability of the oyster to exist,
and it is largely because of the favor
able temperature Of the waters. accord
ing to the bureau Of fisheries. that the
Atlantic coast is so we'll suited for the
conduct of the oyster industry. Be
cause the waters Of the Pacific. on the
other hand, are relatively cold, the
large Atlantic oyster cannot thrive
there, and only limited beds Of oysters
Of a much smaller species are found.
Atlantic oysters are now shipped across
the continent, however, and are sold In
considerable quantities.
The oyster experts Of the bureau OF
fisheries have worked out the details
of oyster propagation on the Atlantic
coast SO satisfactorily that they feel
that tbs industry may be expanded EXPAND a. in \.
oyster Industry is worth about $15,-
100000 annually to the prod luce ot and
American fishery and than the oyster
Industry of all the rest Of the world
combined.