Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-27

w oyster:
That foolish question. OF course,
is joke. And the customary humorist's
answer is this:
noisy noise annoys an oyster.
But somebody recently asked the Ques.
ton. What does an oyster EAT?" and at
once started a very serious discussion. IL
was very soon demonstrated that nobody
knows what an oyster eats.
The oyster growers argued the question
among themselves and then asked the
scientists But they were surprised to find
that science could not even tell whether
the oyster is a vegetarian or gets his food
from animal matter in the water. Prac-
tically no exact knowledge exists about
the oyster and his food habits.
But science Is going to find out all about
the oyster. Professor Thurlow c. Nelson.
assistant professor Of zoology of the State
University OF New Jersey, has opened a
laboratory in the midst Of the oyster beds
at Tuckerton. y. j., to study oysters.
Here DR.. Nelson has fitted out house.
boat in Little Egg Iarbor with a number
OF ingenious contrvances to aid him In
acquiring exact information as TO the oys-
ter's routine, with particular emphasis on
what he normally eats and the effects OF
certain foods that will be fed to the
bivalves in hope OF finding a way 10 breed
bigger, better and faster growing oysters.
An interesting device has been assem-
bed and already has proven OF the great
est value an adjunct to these observa-
tons This consists chiefly OF a drum
fitted out with an indicator and connected
by wires 10 the oyster. When the oyster
opens his mouth the movement OF the she'll
closes an electric circuit. The Indicator
then functions, and the observer can read
on the drum the time that it takes 10 open
It's mouth. how long the mouth remains
open and when the shell closes again.
With the closing OF the circuit bell
rings, notifying the observer that the oys
ter is displaying some activity This APP.
paratus will serve TO determine the time
OF 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
lily be learned on removing the oyster,
which has been weighed before the expert
ment, and reweighing. followed by micro
scopic examination of the stomach content
before assimilation. -
The rate Of growth will also he studied
in connection with the effects OF artificial
feeding. AS a rule it requires three sea
sons before an oyster reaches market ma
turity. IL is obvious that any consid cradle
reduction in this period will result In
many advantages 10 the oyster grower.
and it is to be hoped, cheaper oysters for
the consumer, with less chance of getting
typhoid fever.
United States Government bulletins rec
ommend the oyster as a valuable food hut
condemn the tricks OF Oystermen which rob
the oyster OF much OF It's nutrition value
But worst Of all is the danger Of disease
IN waters which arc saturated with filth
from city sewers. If Professor Nelson's re-
searches should result in finding something
better and cheaper to feed oysters than
sewage the time and trouble will have
been well spent
II these experiments result in the &C.
emulation OF definite knowledge Of the
oysters dietary requisites and these prove
easily and cheaply prOCurable the nourish.
ing. naturai-favored variety of a decad.
ago may be restored through the abandon
ment or the drinking" process now in
vogue among planters and dealers.
With the discovery OF an INEXPENSIVE
artlhcial feeding system such superior
oysters may be raised that the present
mghly dangerous practise OF boating
would bid fair TO fall by the wavsjdc i1
the inferiori;y OF that product.
This drinking or "plumping" fraud
practised on consumers hoaxes tho min.
formed into the belief that the resulting
bloated whiteness OF the bivalves Is %
mark OF excellence. AS a matter OF fact
the oyster so treated loses the greater
part of its favor, and. due 10 conG,,tnna
under which the trick is carried on. thern
is likelihood OF its being laden with germs
liable to cause serious Illness and in manv
cases death.
thousands OF cases Of typhoid fever and
various other stomach and intestinal dis.
ordeTs result from the consumption of
/. z