The Washington times., 1919-04-27

w Oysssrf
=" That foolish question, of course,
is a joke. And the customary 'humoristS
answer is this:
A noisy neise annoys an oyster.
But somebody recently asked the ques-
ton, vast does an oyster EAT7" and at
once started a very serious discussion. It
was very soon demonstrated that nobody
knows Ehat an oyster eats.
The oyster growers argued the question
among themselves and then asked the
scientists. But they we're surprised to find
- science could not even tell whether
oyster is q vegetarian or gets his food
fr6m animal matter in the water. Prac-
tlly no exact knowledge exists about
oyster and his food habits.
ut science Is going to find out all about
O. oyster. Professor Thurlow c. Nelson,
slant professor Of zoology Of the State
dlVersify OF New Jersey, has opened q
lsborat0fy q the midst Of the oyster beds
at TueE n. T. to study oysters.
Here pf. Nelson has fitted out q house
boot in Little Egg Harbor with q number
otsingenious eontriyances TO aid him in
ACQUIRING exact information as to the oys,
ter's routine, with particular emphasis on
what be normally eats and the effects Of
certain foods that win De fed to the
bivalves IN hope Of finding way to breed
bigger, better ana faster growing oysters.
An interesting device has been Assem-,
bled and already has proven Of the great
est value as an adjunct to these obseFva-
tions. THIS consists chiefly Of q drum
fitted out with an indicator and connected
. by wires to the oyster. When the oyster
opens his mouth the movement Of the shell
closes an electric circuit The indicator
then functions, and the observer can read
On the drum the time that it takes to open
Its mouth, how long the mouth remains
. open and when the shell closes again.
A. With the closing of the circuit q bell
I rings, notifying the observer that the oys-
ter is displaying some activity. This APP
4 paratus viii serve to determine the time
,iof day or night that the oyster feeds, the
frequency Of these periods and duration.
The amount Of food that is consumed over
ANY period and just what kinds may read
fya be learned on removing the oyster,
which has been weighed before the expert
J,ment, and reweighing. followed by micro
.scopic examination Of the stomach content
before assimilation.
g The rate Of growth will also be studied
|. in connection with the effects OF artificial
> feeding. As q rule it requires three sea-
Z sons before an oyster reaches market ma
? tuTity. II iS obvious that any considerable
reduction in this period will result IN
many advantages to the oyster grower,
and, it is TO be hoped, cheaper oysters for
= the consumer, with less chance Of getting
{ typhoid fever.
3 United States Government bulletins rec
, rommend the oyster as a valuable food but
: condemn the tricks Of oystermen which rob
e the oyster Of much OF its nutrition value.
ldBut worst Of all is the danger OF disease
TN waters which are saturated with filth
sfrom city sewers. II Professor Nelson's re-
! searches should result in finding something
better and cheaper to feed oysters than
1sewage the time and trouble will have
lbeen well spent.
=: II these experiments result in the ac-
q oysters dietary requisites and these prove
easily and cheaply pFocurable the nourish-
ling, natural-havored variety Of a decade
1go may be restored through the abandon
= ment Of the drinking process now in
vogue among planters and dealers.
With the discovery Of an inexpensive
artificial feeding system such superior
oysters may be raised that the present
highly dangerous practise Of bloating
would bid fair to fall by the Wayside in
the infeFiority Of that product
}, r r. This drinking" or "plumpipg" fraud
: practised on consumers hoaxes the unin-
formed into the belief that the resulting
bloated whiteness Of the bivalVes is a
mark Of excellence. As q matter Of fact,
the oyster so treated loses the greater
part Of its favor, and, due to conditions
; under which the trick is carried on, there
! Is likelihood Of its being laden with germs
!. liable to cause serious illness and in many
cases death.
- Thousands Of cases Of typhoid fever and
various other stomach and intestinal dis
orders result from the consumption of