M. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 [3.0 ^^^B Mi. ^ 14.0 1^ 2.2 1125 i 1.4 2.0 1.6 150mm

im r OF FiSHtt CONTENTS Page. Introduction 1 Description of the Oyster 2 Depletion and Its causes 2 Notes of New Brunswick, from Annual Reports 2 Notes of Prince Edward Island, from Annual Reports 5 Notes of Nova Scotia, from Annual Reports 27 Notes of British Coiurabin, from Annual Reports 28 Report on the Oyster Fisheries of Canada 29 Additional remarks on the Oyster Klsherles of Canada 32 The Oyster Fishery, Its condition and restoration considered, from Deputy Minister's reports 35 Oyster Culture in England— The Wliltstable Oyster Company 60 Extract of Professor Bashford Dean's report on European methods 53 Essex Oyster Grounds 54 Oyster Culture In France 55 Oyster Culture In Holland 58 Os'ster Cult\ire in Italy 59 Oyster Culture In United .States 64 Methods used In Connecticut 66 Oyster Industry in New York 69 Oyster laws of Xow York 70 Kxl rat-t on Close Season 71 Unnecessary Destruction of Young Oysters 72 Oyster Planting 73 Private Culture 73 Results of Leasing Areas 74 The Fishery and Its effects 74 Information given by Oystermen . . . , 75 Canadian Oyster Industry 75 Application for Oyster Fishing Privileges 78 Oyster Dredges gl The Soil 82 Temperature of the water 84 Close season 84 Peculiarities In the Breeding of Oysters 85 Oyster Food gg Enemies of the Oyster gg Fiveflngers or Star-fishes 89 Sea Urchins 39 Dogwhelks 90 Seaweed 90 Sea worms 90 Sand 90 Mussels 91 Mud Digging 91 Effect of Mussel Mud 92 Quantities and Value of Oysters caught In the Dominion since 1876 95 Oyster Culture Operations for year 1898— Richmond Bay, P.E.I 96 Tracadle, N.S 9g Closing Public Areas 98 Private Areas 9g Oyster Areas of the Provinces 99 Oyster Fishing — Its methods 100 Mud-dlgglng Areas 101 Size Limit lOi Th( reports annual of this Inj? a s dustry to the 1 of oysti and otl The officer t what n: cultivaf subject, the lenj that oys where I Natural Brunsw of the S the rlvei or what Another time vei that I p growing tion, anc panies, a O. ri<:k)rt ON CANADIAN OYSTKK I'ISHHRIMS AM) OVSTHR CULTUKK HY ERNEST KEMP, Oyster E.,p,rt, Department of Mnrlm and fls/u-n^-s. annual roporL. or re o S on fl^e b„t whnti 'u' '"'" ''''''' '''''' P''"»«''l '" '^' of this Dominion Is a " pn oZrLu'lcle" .n n , f T ''. '"''''''"^ ^'^ '^*^ «y^'*^^' ^■"'t"i'i«t9 InK a supply of oysters on tl ei ow L li;?' '""" " ^'^""" ""^^^''takluKs in nnUutain- dustry ana attention, o Jnc'easeTo suZt ^-uTfT \T 'T'''''''''' """ "■^' ^•"•■*'- '"' to the marlcets superior to those oalnefnn h "Z'^'''^* '" '''^'^ "'^ «*-"'"""« "asters Of oysters is successful ycarrley every one L, „ny bc.|n« earrlo.l f„r Inland. .l.U t wo ". . 'rSjrr'^ " "^ ""'^ "'« »"-"'v,. ,« Tw doe. not know wimt an oyster Is I, t i ,nl ? T"*''' *° ""^ ""^ ""e who really niolluHk or «hell.,lHh. its sh Jl M ;,„",,! '""^ ^^. ^'""^ ^''^orll.e.l as a succulent edible or Closed l.y nu-ans of the Jddu t r . Me Tn tTe "oo T h'^" "'"^'^ '""' "« "^-^ «re two ad.luetors. l.ut In the oyster Zv one ^n ?L *; !" ""* "'""^ ""'^ »'"««•''• '""o nm.'res to the surface on which I, r. nt " Thi- h.. ^ . "' "« "'"'" '"" "y^^'' '« «-'t"'I "ml tlmn the left, and In a corres.mn II ; Ln er h rl", 7 n""'; """ '" ""'"""'• """ '"'""0 more .levelo,.,.d than the left, and so fnr f,/ . ** "''"^ *" "'« "y"*'"-'" fle«»'V Lody Is class to Which the oyster belmiK In our U^'V, " "■"'" "'" '"'"*""' symmetry of the »>HnK pro,l„ce,| ,„ .,.,taln In Sals and snZl /" T'\ "'" ''"•"' "•'^ «•''>«••«♦•'. -Z oyHter. CKKH and sper.ns are pro Iced h, M,n I f.'""'" '»'1'^'""«1«- m the Kuropean an.l the developed larval oyster con j"r«r,rJ'1''''!""^ """ »'« '"« "^ »"o em >ryo European oyster). ^ considerably differs In the two kinds (th.. Atlantic and DKPLETION AND IT.s CAl'SES. -•'' '"u. to contend. O^^^ ;: V , :;'S'"a''v:;? "'";'. ""^'^ "'^^'•'^^ -•' "- n.Kl of all sizes. l.„rlnff the tlshln^ sea on ovlrs w? "" ""*'• "" '^' ^'"^ r°»«d. ns these could not all be sent Into the n,nH;.t h " ''"'""'''* "•'•espectlve of size, but •n Piles to rot. This method wa a c"se of whoZ 'T ".'f °"^- """ ^"--» "P destroyed than were actually sent IntoX nlke " !> '''■ "°'"" ''''''' "''"'^ le result was heavy losses to the 1 eds Vhlch of ; ' ''''''' "°* "^"'"'J' '"" K^own the obtaining of any consl.lerable c^ntl tv of suit a^^' h °V"'''^ '^'•'""^'y «''««-J Biclerably on account of DeinK flshe.l durln/tlu. w "o n"^' ""'''* "''^« «""'«'«'<1 eon- ones beluK culled out. the small onV S "n Z 7oe\onZT" uT"*^" '"*' "'^- ^"'^ '"rge Another evil to which the Canadian ovsterb'l? "^ "f' "^'"^ "'^ ''™«t ««'» fold, know. It does not exist elsewhere la ti?»?vut . "'"^ "*'^° ^""•'•'<^t' "nd. so far as I this, and other depredations so Inlurorfnt? °' "'""-'Iprglng. To show the extent o extracts from the annual reports a "eZn ^1^^:''''^! "^ "'''''' *"^ ^°'>°- «« dustry has received at the hands ,,f.T„' J ^Z""' •'''P'"'° ^''^ "''use ,he oyster In- valuable hints and advcrwhcfenr edoT,t"' •^"'.•'r"'"^ "°'^ "♦"^'•«= "J^". «ome very the depleted beds and r-nworled areas 'il- '„""''' '^'""""-^ "^^'^^ In revlvin,, „,„uy „? Minister's report, showing w 'u ailon from tln[' T'!',' '•''''"'*" '"'^^" ''°"' ^''^^ I^^mUy hy ,he department. The reports are n'mL^ ^ *,° ^""^' ""' ^"'•'n t-^^en In the mat er and even previous to that 2e u:;:^^:^";:^^ ^° f''^''"^^''- ^« -^'-V as S ent persons Interested In oyster o^dture^' tl^Sr^fhrrerrtrrC^Zre'r NEW BRUNSWICK. That four thonannrl )>n....»i„ ... . . as follows . annualirtoXberrd-Ur?. VeC^r^dstr t"""^ ''' ^«e ^e.s and. with a view to their preservation are not allow J / K°*/f P'-^f'-'^'t'^e as formerly. 1st September. My Impression Is hat the groSi^r-hn, ,.V"?*° between 1st June and alternately, and a fine Imposed on persons seC IT ^i""' *"' '° '«*« «°d fished unervt.i«« „* „ „- ...! "°f ^^"'°» "nderslzed oysters. Th!« ~,.,i., u. isr September. Mv Imnresslnn la thof ♦!, " ™'^®° "etwe alternately, and a ' fln^.Zt^d on J rsonsTC td"'' I'' J""' «" '^ - --^^ effected by the supervision of a wavd^n"n°horlii *, "nderslzed oysters. This could be season in «en.»„,... „„. ._..., ,^ when v sse 'at LIJ" ^^ '^--^^ ''"ringthe oyster --^ — ...^-.j, Kuu „ ixue imposei effected by the supervision of a wa-d-n nn*hoH-;"rf ""■"""'" season In September and October, wten v^sLt'atroalJ^g^^ found wldenprt'ad In were well known In oil exIstH. nud attain ow Krown to such an •>y every ono j-i any It the blvnlve Ih now nny one who really iH ft siifciilent edible which can l»e opened rn and mussel, ihore P oyster Is fixed imd Rnmller and thinner •ster's fleshy body la rnl Hymmetry of the 8 are separate, ck^s «• In the Kuropenn ' life of the embryo 8 (thi) Atlantic and on referrlnj? to the I oysters r.nd areoB all the year round, pectlve of size, but )ut, and thrown up nore oysters belngr uearly full grown. ' serlouHly aflfected also suflfered con- li the Ice, the large frost and cold, t, and, 80 far as I )how the e.xtent of 9ter, the following >"so the oyster In- '' also, some very reviving ninuy of I from the Deputy ken In the matter As early as 1808, ts tried by dlffer- om that time on- ff liathurat, states Caraquette beds tlve as formerly, een 1st June and n lots and flshed . This coulrt be flurlng the oyster InBpfctor \mnlng, in hU report r,f mi. pngr ISI. polnt« out the nocCHKlty of some action being carried Into effect to protect the beds and develop the Industry, mh follows : On the subject of the restoration of the oyster beds In New Urtinswl.k, nud the adoption of some means by which the produ.tlon of this mollusk may bo InccaHcd. both Lh.7 '^"'"fY'^'" ""'J ''•■°^« »™*'"- "y I"""""« "ew beds in localitlcH favourable to U oh grow h. I have In forn.er reports said so much that I know not what further to say. The close time provhle.l by law has been rigidly enforced, but excessive and ludls.rim. mate raking of the Hnine be.ls .luring the whole open season, year after year, not only prevents any Increase, but must necessarily, steadily and surely, exiuust them, and If some more effectual means are not a.loptod. every known bed In the province will soon be destroyed. 1 he simplest, wisest and n.ost etTectlve means of increasing the produe- oti of oysters In New Brunswick and Nova .Scotia Is to lease all localities favourable to their growth (whether old be.ls exist there or not) on such terms as will Indu... pra.tical men to Invest capital in their cdtlvatlon. This Is the n.cans adopted in ..ther .■ountries. an.l no other will, In my opinion, ever Micceed to any extent, because, <„ long as natural beds are common propert.v. they will be raked Just ns often and as l„„g as any ovsters can IH. found to rake. The protection provided by th.. l.'Isherlcs Act has now' be..n applied for four years, and the result Is nll-ln fact, the be.ls are worse bv Just so many barn.|s as have been taken from them, until they are now uoi worth r.iking In most places where they were formerly nl.i.n.lant. These renuirks apply n.ore particularly to Shedlac. Cocagne, Ructouche and Hlchibncto, but, in other lo,,,lltles. the same causes are fast producing the same results, for It Is plain that no lo.allty can stand this cmumt and unremitting drain, by primitive and clumsy implements, the use of whicii destrovs as many oysters as are raised by them. To have any lalr chance to increase, the l.e.'ls should be raked but once every three or four yars. and, in the interv.is, thev should not be disturbed ; but. of course, those who have no particular Interest in them care only for the present, utterly regardh-ss of the future. Next to leasing, the most elTectual mo.le of securing an Increase In existing beds, will be setting them apart for a number of years-say twelve or llfteen-and prolilbltlug all disturbance of them during that time If • none of these metho.ls are adopted, a few years will see the last of the verv b.-st oysters u the world. In this connection, I may state that the operations of lion. A. MacfaVlanc. In Malagash Ba.v. Colchester County, bid fair to be entlrciv successful. He has already planted new beds, and the young oysters are growing rapidly, proving bevond a doubt that oysters can be cultivated on our coasts with as much .ertalntv as a crop of grain can be sown and gathered. Considering the growing demand for this delicious luxury, and the large markets that will be open for It when the Intercolonial It.'illn.a.l is com- pleted. It Is n subject of great regret that our unrivalled facilities Cor ..vsier production to any desired extent should not at once be utlllml, by the adoption' ..f any and all means which will secure the result. At present th,> ."xistlng beds are a sour.^e of profit to no one, and there Is no reasonable prospect, under the present system, of their ever becoming such ; on the contrar.y. there Is an absolute certainty that their total extinction Is not far distant. I respectfully urge the reconsideration of this matter an.l the adop- tion of some means by which this valuable resource may be preserved and developed " From annual report, IH78, paiie 2.W ;• " Oyster Ftshcr,i.-\\ith respect to this once valuable fishery. I can only repeat the oft-told tale of Its rapidly approaching extinction. The beds that now rem.nin yield but small returns for excessive and laborious raking. This yield is every venr becoming l.-ss. and the size smaller. The close time affords no adequate protection, because the con- stant raking of the beds prevents the growth of the young. There Is no svitem care or thought for the future. Nothing but blind and Ignorant labour, year 'r •■ e-^ ' year * In raking the nearly exhausted beds. As no effort at artificial culture has yet been made, and as none of the beds are allowed the rest necessary for their recuperation, the total extinction of all Is Inevitable, and not far distant. The only protective measure I can now suggest Is n compulsory rest for several years, and after that, stringent re.^ulations for the proper Tvnrklng of the •By Inspector Venning. O. C— ii^ former,, obtarecl^C „'e err/ '^ '^^^^^oL'nl ZrXTl'''' '^"^^ «^ -'' -' increased yield, which cTea' v «. "°*^ """^ ''"P^ved prSs b„. J'^t'* '"PP"«« ^'ere Over-flshlng and IndLorTm^ni^t '"''" ^'^"^ ^^^^se once proUfl^ h/, ^""""^ *° P^^^^^e an 7 ture by private en e X ^t.^''^ '"^^'« '^""^ their .""^^ ver^ "^^ °°^^ exhausted Obtained." '^'''"«« '« the only n:eans by which anTucreS, ''V'""^- ^^'^^er Piy for rakinff. those in Ant u """^ "early exhausted a1 *^°^^ ""^ ^ent and residents for J^cal use B L?""'' ''"^'^ ^'^'•e 'eft conSmttelv^ 1' '''''' ""'^^ ^v-ould parts Of the provinc n,. , ''°'^' ^'^en all other be ^nri 7 "°f'i«turbed. except by lations Which will Int . ^'°^^ ^f the season i nnZ'A ^® ^''eni without cessa- very desirable tLrionfTn^'''^"'*^"''" '^^ -^ oystTb ds If/T"^'^ ""''' ^"•"e x^gt oyster culture now nZ '"'^"'^ement shovld be hel 1 n„w ." '" *'"^ Province, it is to private enl^^Wsftr^e^^r ^'f ''"-'"^ «S • °t ;Jt;1r%"" ^^^^^^ «' demand ever be sut,.Mi!,i ^ ^^*^^ Planting successful til , ^^ ^'^ould be given tbe department /f it se ^r^T^ «PP»eations ha^'heen ^a^" L'? ""^ '"'' ^''» *^e For these I would respectfuHv n ° ''"^""^ '™'ts within wWch ''"", "°^ °" «'« in ^^ *' 'T.l'e only oyster eSf in «r"l'T'''^'°"^'^^'«-nsiderX^^ ''^ ^""'^"^^^ o^^ters.. those In Miraniichi Bay anVrf. '^ ^"''^ *'^'^t will now repav ti^: , , O'lpldlty and se.flsh gJeed c.n n'"' '''''"- ^'^ being destroyed TT "' "'^'''^' "« tlons to prevent this bei2 T" '^^^"'Pl'sb .his end. The'e arr'^^ /"'' •**' ^^norant see the work of extermn h ' ''"^ consequently flsherv nm ^^^^olufely no regula- from destruction. anlTftr? ''r'"^^' " - ^e^ry des m," eThn.T °"'^ '°°'^ °» ""d be leased to responsible "'h" '^°"*' '" °" other way r L ,T ^''^"^ ^'^''^ "e saved tive. Any nuSe « „' w i 't^' T'" "'" '"''"^e thexi S'cioS an'Tr"^^"^ ^^^^t they tigThe,r ;;« V'^ "''^^ ^^^^^ -e and leave exhausted and J^m?,,?' "^ "'^°«e fees, contribute no^J"^' "'^'^ «»PP"es. and wasteful method of JL*^ ,'''"'' behind them. It Is saffM ^'°^ ^° ^^^ revenue better to lease he beds to thf f ''''''''^ «^^ ".any oysteJs „ "th^ ''f *' '^ *^«"- ^ude than to have them this eckie '.'' ,° ''°"''' '"''' ^^em fairiy JL k? "T' " ^°"'1 be -ept What they ean^r rgV^SeV^^^ --«-o Ser-Cm; *By Inepootor Venning. youug to attain iiilated production than ever. Like of some of tliem ; hope of any im- 'St supplies were led to produce an ' now exhausted eetually. Oyster PPly can now be '■e so stimulated ty raked. This Itherto not been 'se of Kent and lese beds would I'bed, e.xcept by ■essels from all without cessa- rge some regu- ?rovince. it is the system of lould be given way will the now on aie in Ivate oysters., of raking, are t as Ignorant ly no regula- look on and eds be saved 'nd that they them produc- 'le people of tlie present ind strongly raking. He 'Dly oysters ^riminately, U they are Id supplies, le revenue, their rude t would be productive, It In them, From annual report, J887, page 1^3 .- • catch'^fyUf.!,'"'? Of Curaquet and Bay du Vin have furnished almost the whole noJwlu'^'n.kit thitTt^' '•'^ -I-"d excessively during the whole open season, and hasten the desmctilno7?h.t! \? '. ''" commenced on a largo scale, wlilch will practical?; ex-hllted '' *'' "'"' """""'"« "^''^ '" ">^ P^^^^^^ ^•^"t are not Prom ainiiial report, 1S8S, paijr !I7 ; * whoie''c'.Rrn? u--rIiT 't '"'' *""" ""•' "'' '"^* y^"'- '^y "'S^^ barrels. Nearly the ma ly extinct. Kent County produced this year from nil her beds in St I n,\^%inM PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. ti,.'l°'''''T'.,^''"'^ flourislicd In every tidal river and bay in Prince Edward Island At the present time, productive oyster beds are found in R chmond, Cascu nnec a rililfs borough bays, and In the rivers flowing Into these Inland waters. , Z lU ■ s " ,n vMtl 1 / • ""'^ ^'''''' ""''"' ^'"'^- ^t '« ^■•"'■<'*^'>- P'-netlcabi; to fish ovs eri ^^ith touts at a greater depth than tifteei. feet." ".vskis •' During the past ten or twelve years, miUions of tons of oyster shells and mud have een taken up by our farmers, from oyster beds, by n.eans of dredging nJaclS es o icIJ by horses on the Ice. In many Instances the beds have been cut thmuJ^^ramli so ne s m^bn,'!; TT" "' ''f ' '''''' '''''' ^'"""'^ '" '"' ""^-"^-^^ °^ twenty feet 1 tick Ls t s probable that many of the oyster beds ceased to be productive of ovstcrs a 4s before he settlement of the country by Europeans. Extensive deposits of ovsV^r he »; are now 2 h^t V"T''' °^ reproduction and decay would cause the oyster beds formed on the A^ eight of heavy masses of Ice upon the beds would Injure the ovsters and the mov ng of he ice when forced by tide or wind across the bed. would «; n ies ,^v them have observed the more elevated portions of an oyster l,ed. over which ice had been bus forced. Several Inches of the surface of the bed. Including ail the liv ng ovs ers had been ar ven before the Ice, and the shells and oysters so removed, had beet deposi "ed In a mina ure vwralne on .he slope of the bed. where the water wa. «„fflHcnn deep o tl " nvISr 'f ^"'' °7J ,"• ^'''' '™''""" ""'^ '^'■'"'""'^ P™<^««« ^«"W d^'Stro; many of tho^sters ; some would be crushed and broken, others smothered In the moraine. The *By Inspector Venning. 6 mud), twenty feet in depth are fSunrt in ,.S . ^T^^^^ "^ "y^ter shells (covered with not now fourteen feet of wkter!" ' " '^' '^''^''^ ^^'^^ «' ^^^^^ there are oys;;?rdThl\Trnrst?oyeTSrn.Sr Jl'^^ ""'Hr "^^ '' '"^'^''^^ ^- -«<^ = -ny not carried to e.cesoCovesli n e^^proces^ oTSSnf t^" °%^^'^*^'^ ^^'^«' '' Is broken up, the shells and oysters lifted ontnfth . ^' ^''^ ^"'"'^^^^ *»* the bed (cultc,) «,.,ea such as the oys^r ^ ur. l^^.S; Xj HS Serr.^^'^' oyster?t?rhrruprrLrr;b:;r' 'vi? ^^'"^^ ^^ -rrhrrLwn them once In every twenty fouihoL«,' ""^^^thstandlng that the Ice rested upon grew adherent to a sS^flat r^olf Zu Zf fn" '"' V^'''' ^"""^ °' '^'^^ "y^ter! top of the rock were killed when they attain VSt^"^^^^^ '^^« «'^«*«'-« "'^ the pressure as those on Its edges were n^v^Mn^ed bi icT^rlofd "^^ """*'' ' *''"'^' ^^ bablyriSurd\;°r?heV.';rr^^^^^^^^^^ '^ l-^e .quantities would pro- beds, and the roughness of thei^- sm ace "would dl, '"''"'''' ^' *^" ^'""«°t «^«'- the tween the shells and oysters wo ddprobTbly become fl!ir°!f."' ''■ '^"'^ '"terstlces be- aUoge?h:r"irad:;ur rs;;prr r^l'L"^^^^^^^ is iaratlvely limited, and Which is increasing every year Unless tTe^, J' X7V^^ '' °^^' •^'^"^""b. and new beds formed, the d'a y will soon com^ wten ?he oJsteVSdTI T l^'^''''''' '''^^ cense to produce. Our neighbours of the United sfnte- /.n 1 ^ "'^ I^omlnion will Besses more than one-and-a half milUons of aorLf ,"' ^^""^ ^''^'""^ "'«°« P°«- the fact that oysters increase much Ze rapidly mth/f '''' ''°^'' 'notwithstanding Ihpy do in this latitude, the authoritSs of tb-, st!t. J ^'^ ''''^^'' °^ ^'''S'^'a than oyster beds of Virginia if left open o the vo,i f*"^^f^« expressed their fears that the will become extinct. • ^ *" ''°''''" ""^ '''•^'^^^•i at all seasons of the year! oyst'ir rr::XZlT^^^^^^^^^^^ T^'^^ ^or tl. cultivation of late in autumn they will keep good for m^^tL I se! n'"'' '"'' '° ^^^°"^' "'^'^ '' ««^«<1 sands of acres of oyster beds should not ho f ^, ? "'''*'°° ""'^^ hundreds of thou- vast quantities of oystei'ln tSv muc'h tZfun'tTT '"'^; "'^'^^ ^'''"''^ P''"''"- material for the formation of such bedsTsat hZfi^ hi , ""^"'^'^ °^ ^'"■S"^'"- '^^^ Which to sow them could be had at im?e cost durh.Lt.P ,""''"''' T' '' ''""^ '^''''' '^^'^ " We have a ' close season • from tI? *n i^ ^ ''''™ *'''''" ''ajs of summer." IHK during this season openly "isolated "Sv ter« r'""' 'T '''' "^" P^"'^"''""^ A^^^- every month In the year and snlinon .ro"^„?f ^ ^ *"'"«''* ""'' ^^P"^^'' for sale in utmost impunity. I sh" Je Mnm to ZlTlT^^'^"'' '^''^' ^Pa^'^'n^ beds with the to enforce the iaws ft^ h^p ro e^^tiin ^f ly ^e -f ' T"""'"'"" Government have resolved of the r>o,„|„ion, as you Lom and inv" ! r .'1^ '"? TV'''' ""'^ "°^' '^'"^^ P"« bettor ndministrntlon^f law •• ^^ ^' '°°'' ^°'' ^^''^^r logi.shition and a t..o;^^:::;.^;^!:S^7::^-;^;'f 7;^---'- '^-P- water thnn that m which an.v inland water, if placed ^p^s^dlble gl^Ld f.'' ^■"'' ""■'^' '" ^'^^ '^''^P-* P^^^'t "^ ^^o^^^v;:^T::rZ^:^tz^-^^;i^^^^ «- Pishenes wm thmk and';?/e":ytr n^;r;ron tfe^^^^^^^^^^^^ "^ ^'-, «"'^- »- ^'^Id almost nothing ; oyster flsherles of the eas e?n parTof the nom.n.'"''"n '"""'^ "'"^"''•'^ "« "''"Pted. thj The raking of the beds !Z C* p.l nhlvTxc; t7 '^^ '''™"^ '^ ^'^'"'^ "'" ^"^ P^«t. cleansing the ground and scaUerlng thl ^a^ SnVtt T'''"' ^ °° '''"'' "''"^ «« practised ; the pollution of the groun^ds by re^uU^or^^ilirbytSLruTan^ra ^a^Jet^'yTf he ice, and the oyster beds oyster shells (covered with t parts of which there are Imbedded In mud ; many ness. The oysters on the ear's growth, I think, by J., •ge .quantities would pro- 1 by the current over the )f It. The Interstices be- saM'-dust and mud. Mud d." mparatlvely limited, and 1 is now enormous, and eeted and Improved, and ds of the Dominion will that Virginia alone pos- Is, and, notwithstanding waters of Virginia than ssed their fears that the : all seasons of the year. ither causes, had led to the pres? state of ruin and decay which we now see. Neglect aste. and excessive cupidity have almost destroyed these oyster beJs, and will ultl- ately entirely do so unless remedial measures are adopted." From annual report, 1879, page 268 : * .•^■^^^^^^ lu luua ; many | *" From some reason of demand and supply, the oyster fishery has scarcely been pro- nshlng. of oyster beds, If ferated this year with the usual vigour, consequently the returns are not In excess ig, the surface of the bed f i-iws have ruled low, thus discouraging the industry. There is no special feature to and a supply of material ; "eport. A good deal of poaching took place in the east and west of Queen's County Which It must perish." j Richmond Bay, In Prince County, and elsewhere where there are no wardens Such t'y frost I have known i ^neasures of repression were taken as the circumstances permitted. Some thlevmg also that the Ice rested upon • '°°^ ^^^^^ ^''"" Private oyster beds, which depredations were promptly checked." . Some of these oysters i " '^^^ abundance of eels In the vicinity of some of the spawning beds is believed to 36 very detrimental to the Increase. Storms last fall and this spring did some damage )y silting over the beds, but not to an extent to affect the fishery." "The digging of 'mussel mud' for manure-mussel mud being the shells of old yster beds-Is very harmful to the live beds, but it Is scarcely to be doubted that the benefit to the county Is of more absolute value than the preservation of the oysters, Deep holes are excavated In the bed of the oyster grounds and the spawn washed into these holes is silted over and perishes. The local law expressly protects diggers of such manure from damages If live oysters are taken. Custom has established that Inlets, even on the frontage of farms, are free to all, although an eminent authority, the late Judge Pope, of this province, freely expressed a different opinion. Were a test case established In the courts that the oyster beds, old and new, on the frontage of farms belong to the owners of the shore, better regulations would be adopted, yet outsiders be still permitted to procure manure on payment of a small royalty. Such a regulation once established would materially assist In preserving the live beds." " In connection with shell-fish It may be referred to as odd that none of our enter- prising employers of fishermen have yet established a mussel-farm for bait, such as those of the Bay of Alguillan, France, neither has any oyster-grower adopted the plan of the oyster pUitu of the lie de R6. nor any person fitted up an Ice-house for the pre- servation of bait." ed for the cultivation of n fiavour, and If fished why hundreds of thou- s, which would produce iters of Virginia. The ones ; and oysters with Im daj s of summer." he law prohibiting fish- nd exposed for sale In pawning beds wMh the i-ernment have resolved lit. We now form part vlser legislation and a ter th.Tn that In M-hleh In the deepest part of d Fisheries will think oyster fisheries of the jectlon to give his ser- .vield almost nothing ; isures rre adopted, the me a thing of the past. ul ; no such thing as season has ever been ig up, and a variety of From annual report, 1880, paye 239 : • " Illegal oyster fishing causes considerable trouble. Any person (excepting the fish- ery ofBcers) can procure oysters In Charlottetown and sonu; other places at any time throughout the close season. The general public appear Incapable of believing that during close time shell-fish are unfit for food. Wherever there is demand there will be supply, and as the restaurants are besought for oysters even during tlie hot days In sunnner, they manage to minister to the depraved taste of their customers. I was In hopes that the appointment of a special warden for Charlottetown would prevent supplies iieing smuggled to the receivers In town, but as It somehow has not answered tlie pur- pose, other arrangements will be required for next year. "Although it is to be hoped, even for hygenic reasons, that tlie vicious propensity of eating unclean shell-fish may be educated out, there Is a more destructive agency to the oyster fishery In ' mussel nuidding,' or the taking of oyster shells for lime. As mat- ters at present stand, the almost complete extinction of oysters In Prince Edward Island Is only a question of time, and, unless circumstances altogether hostile can be recon- ciled, that time will be a short one. At present It is a tussle between the farmer and fishmonger, and the weaker will go to tlie wall. Let me take some pains to make this clearly understood by the department. " The soil of almost the whole province of Prince Kdward Island is a light loam from disintegrated new red sandstone, so deficient In lime as not to effervesce with adds. There Is no limestone to speak of. Crude stone for the few lime kilns at present burn- ing has to be Imported from Nova Scotia. New Brunswick and Antlcostl, Agricultural lime Is, however, an absolute necessity. Hence the Immense value to the farmer of •Inspector J. Hunter Duvar. 8 What Is known -.s' muss, It ,viii „e seen that «-(,i . ''^^P '^«^""ns In tlie «Pa-n fixes itself ,„ „ nj^ 1,1^ '''''for, at n:ost. fo^ Vl^^^'^/"™ '" «" -'er onlar?- °^ '>u-ing live ; rt:' r"'"" "-^ ^'^o-Ji^M ":-arn '^' '''■"' ^'^^''«'""- i" .-.rd ^ere made for leasing, by an h ' ""'" °^ «"« «"d fo rf^ nT T' ^^"'^'^t resident persons owning creek I^nrt^ T "' *^*"'""" localities aid ««■ ^" ^^«5' reKulations «^es for oystei cuitu e go f "' *'"'^°"'-«Sed to amty tt fj" '"""^ P'-^««"-es. and cnuL , V Of expression and dL^rLrl' ^"* "-' «esl° ^^A t"V'"'^' ""^^'- '^^ yiung s„n„ p,ej,„,i^^ therS ^f ''•'''"*" '-'^^^t^. ^as passed con/T'?"'"''''^ ''"^ 'ts tlie bounds of any ovstor fll ^ ""-^ Person to take f,nn '"'^^"'nlng this c'ause • «n.v mud, mussels, onufd'Z T'''"'^ ^''"" '^^^e been o r^l:'?-^ ''^'^'•' ^''^'''"e^- w i" - sts-~ -sru~^ "^"^ °^ ^'^-^^^^ ayman that some nice J stiolfo? l"?' "* P''''^*"^* stands X f sn.?''""''""'^'^ -^«"«e in how far can Dominion enaetmen "'■^^^'•"^^"^e arise ou of the ,o h' '"'" "'' " '"^'"'-^ of legislating on a different snen^ . '^^'"'^ ^° t^^e fisheries n If ''■ *'"^'' "re- on the other hand, wlm ri J.f , V"'''^'^*' ""n^ely- the promoH ,"'^^ '^^ ^o^"' Power by authorizing the dlsh.rhil '"' '"'"' '"Rislation o set ItT !' "' «srlculture ? And Is m when the General Pf«.,/'°"^ P'^"'"*^'" the Prinof Al if ""'^^'" "^^ Act V ouster beds from nZlrnV^Vu^Z^r''.' '^"^ -'I'-s , TarS?^^^''^ «^'^-•- sfs Of Old oyster beds. ing too imich to assert y tlie use Of tlils mud ^-euty, not exceeding Ik extrmlod from the '" calculation, and ns '•''••'«'"«. During the •«<'-l>ower. and each ''fl I'licanipnient 'llecl river niouths- n" alluvial niud, not ■0 couditions. From 'lie coral norm the oyster reefs have no ''<•• f?ulf being a'liout 'fe in the sheltered 'lots Were formerly 'ters grew in theni, ' it dli.d forming a 'ed with drift con- e. when, of course, '•'yster fishery ' protect tlio d. under the 9 Such, however. Is precisely the case under the con- local law, by the farmers in winter tllctlng Jurisdictions. tin.: t^s tir^^;'jr?r ^1;::;,^'^ ta *^' °' ^°"^«^' -^ -- -^ »>- --« the valuable privilege of the agrult^n s p ", ^« ''""^'•tere as llttleas possible with repealing the obnoxrous section If I'f'. 1'' "'''/'""' °''-''^*''« '''^>'^' ^^' "Stained by tutlug therefor a regSt o^settl asir' t .' °'' '''"""'"^ '' ^uperaeded. and substl- offered on lease, ancf fu«her hv encm. '""'"' "' «»vernn,ent reserves to be oyster culture. Even Ce this dortof'"'' ""'^^T "P'>"^'if'"'^s for grarUs of shore for grants wholly exen'p^erfromiLf ln^."l T'T''' "•"''"'• ""' ''''' ''"'■" '«"«'« ""^ on dead bed.s for the e, u^m r/nts of n"^ diggers there would still be room enough might annuallv lav ^Ze Too.llfil r T''' ^"««'-'''»'''«''y. tl.o flsl.ery wanlens employment reauiHngsonScrtl," """* °' '"" *^'^'«"^- ""^ P'-a-tleally an of the present staff ' ^'"'"^ ""'' ''"^P*'"'^^ °'' tfavelllng is be.vond the reach a ni^;:^.'^;;;!S"^;r::;r ^::r;;;:;;:;;r:^ "'"-'^' --'^ -"^^ •"^•-- --t ... m slender proportion to ils res 11^^ f "'"''' "^ " '^"'^ "' '"■"""•« "^"'"•s but a Bold, lifted ou ti.M ;: ei^i^ :„tV ,. ;;!:; '1 •^:;'", """^ r ^'"^■"' '""""'•• ^^-' '^^ to one thousand farmers iho use t o h 1 i, e i ,'" '"^^*^«^""""'- '"^'"^ "".st be equal 20O.CKJ0 loads of mud at 8 cen s S](! (H.o T ?"' "'"'" ''"'" """""'• ^'»«" v"J"e of Quantity of oysters legii^;;;;;^ ^ C^ ,;;~;u/:;;'!;;'2?''""f '^ r- ^"^ '^"'■'^'• barrels were exported at $i peV barrel cost nri. e ^-^o I rw. m . ''^^^ "^ "■"'^■'' -"•'****^ known as an oys er-produdng co mtr n ' V ' V'? "''^''"""Se of having i,s name '"»^^ t^^^t a poWerv Zl\ ''""^'^^"^ °° Potsherds ^ould be alike lntepes"rt'"? °' '^"'^^^ ^'"^ won M cos "but Z.?'"''^^^ "* «'>«'•- are quiet nelirl.J.nn " '" ^^'**°ce and practice u ,? f * "^ ^'■'^®' "°d the result •' inipTtrts r;;rsr n "^ '^t. '^'^ '"^^-* - -pt^^""--';''.''* ^^^^ ^°<^ "- the nnaf +„,„ '" "*''^n possible fnp tim ^ , ^'"'""iea in the fisherv laws of the .rm ' " '"' September, has since bee,^?';; "f "' "^ l»-«^'lo"Bly Those lows pern t the ^T" r'' '"''^"'"t^ «'e oyster flsherv if pT' 'V'' '"^^ •«^''» brood «bou,d beXnXS^f,"^'*''^"^^- ' ^^«" «'tl.iugh somi oft,?.'' ""f™'"^ ^''"''^•^• of tbe Act is that al S "'"'f"'^'y ^'^'^^"- removed or distuX t^ "'■'*""' °^" "y^*^'- tbe nuider ,i,u s If vfn7 T^ ^'^ "^"^ °^'^'-- o^^en if al? the owl , ^ ^^P"''*^^' '•"'^"''S -- a f hi -t the enumerators too. no aecou'„?or^.r "rZ^^^ ^e^^ S"oh bed. n,Vr tiv /n "l^'^^^^rrate into pure lime by ti L "h ^ ^ ' '''°"^"' ^^^"^ covered wit a In vm oMr^' "" ^"^^^^ "''« "^'ow the rea'h of f ° '^" ^''°^«'-« f™st. a inyoi of live oysters, while if the centre o? a ho^ f ''""*^' *"^ ^"'''"ce Is •rnspeetor j. Hunter Duvar "•'" '"''"^ ^" ^^^ ^^Vel of the new beds In a JDg brood develop ^ dimensions. The fiey And their way Is unnecessary to 1 of cultivating on Tous where other I If tried. A piece I Rood oysters of cted on potsherds abllshed at Char- e, and the result that the Indians fishery. jpervlslon during 8 of mussel mud. nt, charts of all es In which the along the estu- ts hitherto been rship. Trior to —to the owner- to regulate the iluable flelds of •ted. with the y of Hon. J. c. 1 remains now. light of a com- of oyster beds ament, but the t seem to have orth America, liUions should ns previously fact, the local Iwnrd Island. ters or oyster pular reading 'jed. During uttiug up the t peculiar to liich to show list, however, vhfcli can be )lougli, when Inter's frost. e surface Is the level of il . 11 lee, the sides of the mound, within a surrounding radius, are thickly coated with live bivalves. It will thus be seen that shell digging docs, of necessity, presently Injure, and must ultimately destroy, the oyster fishery, unless remedial measures be adopted. " In proposing n remedy, the question Is how, If possible, to protect the Jive shell-flsh without preventing the farmers from digging shell manure, a privilege of which they are Justly tenacious. " The possibility of restoring the fishery in any given locality depends on the area of beds and the present and prospective numbers of diggers. Few farmers set their machines for two consecutive seasons in the same place, but wander about over the area looking for a better location. The consequence Is, that all the beds are more or less cut up, scarred and seamed with trenches in all directions. Where the area Is of some ex- tent, as In bays and larger estuaries, spaces selected with reference to existing beds, currents, depth of water and the locality where dead beds would give the farmers a clear space for digging, might be staked off as Government reserves, which It would be Illegal to disturb for a period of, say. three years, which Is the term in which the oyster comes to maturity. This is practicable, and In view of the relatively small area that would be reserved, could offer to the farmers no reasonable ground of objection. In creeks and small stretches of water the plan would be less applicable. A three years' reservation of a limited number of sites would allow the fishery officers time to acquire experience in the management of the reserves, and would also feel the pulse of the farmers who, no doubt, would at first be somewhat suspicious of what they may deem an Infringement of their rights. " But the project that would the most speedily place the fishery on a permanent basis would be the throwing open of sites to private lease. Localities leased would be pro- tected by the lessees, under general supervision of the department. " The local statutes above referred to are 28 ^•|ctorla, chapter 13, with an amendment of date ITth April, 1871, wherein It is provided that the Executive has power (individual rights reserved) to grant the exclusive right to fish for oysters or oyster brood and to form uew oyster beds or feeding beds In certain rivers specified. (Note.— In Prince Ed- ward Island parlance " river " means an estuary.) The leases to be sold at auction for not less than twenty years, renewable at expiry for a further term of forty years, under engagement that within five years new beds shall be made or old beds cultivated so as to Increase the annual yield. In addition to this, the owner of any land fronting on suitable water might obtain a grant of his frontage. " This offer, proper in all respects excepting tlie forty years' renewal, Avhich would constitute a monopoly, was but sparingly taken advantage of, and some of the best sites are yet open. The localities first opened to offer were the following, which are still available :— Shemod.y, Richmond Bay, Dunk River, Prince County ; Charlottetown Har- bour and certain parts of Hillsborough River, Queen's County. In King's County. Cardi- gan Bay. In the event of its being decided to plant new beds, any one or all "of these localities are suitable for a first experiment. "While it would be illegal to disturb such beds by digging or otherwise, an additional proviso might be made that no digging I)e permitted within a distance of a specified number of yards from any planted or leased beds, so that the ooze raised by digging, and held lu suspension by the tide, might settle before reaching the live beds. Further, the quantity of seed oysters to be laid down within a given time, say not fewer than one to each square of two to th.'ee feet, or about twenty-four to fifty-four barrels per acre should be a feature in the lease. There should also be, as in France, legal dimensions under which no oysters may be aken from the water. It is for Your Honour to consider whether, with a view fo revive tlie perishing oyster supply, it would be adtlsable (In like manner as section 12, subsection 3 of the Fisheries Act permits to be done In the case of fl.-hways) to assist persons who will undertake, under due bonds, to plant new beds In suitable locations and protect them from being fished for the first three years, and afterwards only In such quantity ns the hpd= will bear. This would give the Government a proprittory Interest that would justify reversion at the expiry of the terra of grant. If the beds were Judiciously cultivated they would be a property yearlv be- coming more valuable. 12 ^"I e of tho n.Uovy .lo..Z"„l^'Z""' ""' '" """"•« "ot At „, !"'^'« ••^''«°« ♦« believe On hotton. less snltt-c fo . n / ''"" '"^ •'"°*' f"'' If ''"^'' "'^ P''"«Pecflve fnteivsts. (Ji,. n,nii,.p\, n ' "" question nrisos • li .? '"*' '"^ ""' "vstor fishing would liavetbeentei-Set/«« '"■"''*''' *° fe sold „t au^ ■"^™°'' ^^«'-««s. Ce Of maps Showing ex, CovstoM::.' ""t" ^"« '^^P^rtm em a ' " T, " ^'''" ^'^' ^^^y or set aside as Governnfen? ll '' "''° 'o^'iHtles In wh,c n '« P°««es«ion a series nstanee. m Richmond BaT Wetr' f".'" "■'""™' l^^-omlnZfZn"^' .'"'^^* '^« P>'^"te<3 tJons to be offered nt n. 1. ^* ""f' Hillsboron^i, n.!^ '^ "^ Period of veara-fn^ • Inspector J. Hunter Duvar. nnd In this provln^-e, tlie owner of sliore ^'e renson to believe 'Hts, the prospecflve l") u'ltflit be jrrowD ish water of creeks •flng used for food l^y the diffging of I pJentifnl ,,s this floers were able to emedy of grnutlug Pervlslon, as thtis- vliiee is siil)8erved % luasinuch as its Hil the product of 's taken since the "If oyster lishing i-'oncile these two ueed not be lost' noi'e tlian a few 'Mtion of oyster 'f the west coast '6 tlie seats of a muting portions ndustry did the tt-'ution is being Pinent Is ready auy party or 'lets, harbours, nnd the holder lueed or found in restocking er 6erfs_whlch ter (to which iame ground, e-quoted sub- hereas, were D day, many sion a series It be planted 'f years— for 'ed into sta- ges to begin T. Cardigan 13 "in short there are many localities in the waters of Prince Edward Island that nilKht be rendered valuable, not only without cost, but with a revenue to the Govern! " It Is a thousand pities that Immediate measures are not adopted to lully orRanl^e this most valuable Industry, it Is ca,«ble of vast development The deuLu n st always exceed the supply. Oysters are very fecund. The Island 1. as fa un iv adapted or shell-Ash culture as the fan.ed Kn^llsh coast of Kent. Three tbousn live United States to England. There Is no reason that with increased product Prince Edward Island should not ship likewise, and thus tap a large source of wealth." ^"^vard From annual report, 1883, page m : * " This province is peculiarly well adapted for thf. growinR of oysters. The waters of half the Island were once stocked with natural beds. So lately as 18.12 live ovsters were so plentiful that legislation had to forbid their being burned for lime. In manv places the dead shells of once productive beds remain many feet In thicknes'. The flsli- ery Is but a mere scrap and vestige of what It once was, and might again be made Oyster lishing In the province is free to all, consequently everyon^^ nuikes the 'most of It for his owu Individual benelll, without care for the future. Wherever oysters happen to be a little more numerous than usual, they are immediately fished out Thus the ground Is shifted every year, to the ultimate destruction of the whole area There Is no regulation as to size, hence there Is annually destroyed a quantity that I vaguely reckon at not less than 10,000 pecks, equal to 1.000,000 of shell-fish that, under due restrictions would come to maturity. It Is not too much to say that as many oysters as one-fourth of the whole consumption and export are destroyed every year by the digging of shell manure. Although even under the present careless system a sufficiency can bo got to export annually 30,000 to 40,ono barrels, the best beds are being slowly but surely ex- terminated. ' " This Is an evil that is quite remediable, and by simple means. The present Fisheries Act provl(tos the machinery. The history of oyster culture and oyster fishing In the Netherlands affords valual)le hints as to details. " The object to be aimed at Is two-fold, namely, to nuike the most, permanently of the present supply, and to Increase that supply. To do this, requires oyster culture to be carried on along with oyster fishing. " Natural oyster beds owe their location to accident. They are scattered patclies larger or smaller, that owe their change of locality to tides, winds or other not con- trollable causes. Accordingly, we find stretches of bottom quite suitable for the growth of oysters, but on which none have grown. Every spring the fishermen take soundings for the scattered beds, and when such are found, they are worked till completely cleared. It is evident that under this pernicious system, total extinction Is merely a question of time. " There are two distinct oyster fisheries requiring to be differently dealt with in this province, namely, in creeks and tidal rivers, such as :MII1. West, Tryon, Enmore. Hills- borough, .Tohnston's Rivers, the Narrows, &c.. and considerable bodies of water, such as Richmond Bay. In addition to these are localities where the fishing has been quite ex- tinguished, but where It might be revived, as Bedeque. Winter River, and elsewhere. And finally, there is unlimited room nnd suitable ground for planting of new beds In many parts of Queen's and almost all the creeks and bays of King's County, where oyster beds have not yet been grown. " To the question of how Is this to be accomplished, the answer Is brief ; By Govern- ment regulation of private culture under section 15, subsection 4 of the Fisheries Act. and by Government aid In establishing experimental culture under section 15, subsection 5 of the same Act. " Several applications for license to cultivate oysters have already been forwarded to the department. I have recommended that all these be granted, subject to the conditlor=; 'Inspector J. Hunter Duvar. 14 which Boeni neppflnnrv f 1««ne.. pro; on 't;r::' T"' "" ^"'""tlo'n "That ^ th n" ' "."' '"^"•^'^""'^ '-a "c'conlluK to each onL „ H. ' '"""'^' ^'t" "rood oysTe « nt m""" '""« " <^"^«'n date of Kmnt „„ iTss tl „„ ! ^"'' «""«'•« : that after the Ja^e of t? ""'" °' ^'° '""°-^' bo(l-ln whlph „, n„.. ^" "Peolfled nuantlty) nor so ^„ *•"*** ^^a" 'rom the "nnunl.,. ,is od : and ^ mr;t*";; S"''^'^^^-^^^^ woS ret^u^ "v'/T"" '"'**''-'°™»« ^'^« "> f-i-Poks and o8tuarlol ! '"""'^'ons. it ia believed that n.nnl ! «"I'"''vl«lori of the •oaHe. A riKht of nrw,. ''''^. n<»vertl8ement made that tlT/ "' "^"'"l '«> ^"ken np would ha^et,^ „ :r •"«•","'>' °'' ^I'-flnlnR sUn ; ucl ' ^f" l?'^',' ^'-'^"'"'^ "«'« are "«ll..n.l. which In ir" ^'^'^'^-en'Tes have been fou i fn. .? "' '" *'"' ''">'• <1>»' "rea "".1 tlf.; nc c il t i: ," '"■•"'• ''"''' «»™^ resell, ance to M ""' "'^' '" ""^ >^<'y.l.Tzee dnnvn fron, p„, e fl hirv '"'^f ^ P'"^*' >° Zuyder.ee. sl.'ce the , .■?■?"'""'• "^ '••■'""1 «"ouId not folio V nnd , r T "'""' "^^"'^ "» reason Sv It. n '"' ""'' '^■'''•^' ^^''th- fl«'«InK need not he i w 1 ? "'^'^ '^"" "P^'ed for and Vho n ""-^ '« J">-Ke. ahont al'Io to he^ln Uvotto I '""' "° ^^"^ ""^'"'^ed portions '\'S'T]' P'""''™ "^ free tl.e presen! s.^ on" e . ,H' ^ "''°^ "« ^^^'-oated to acecm LTT^ f *"^ "•^- r<'Port. fron, »Vov/rV r "'7" "I ^r'"' """ "i satlsfaX • j*^"^"/ ""« '-^ <-«»-t,,ln-. have been .MwiKed tl,l« t ' "^ ^"''^''" ^"i'*'-. an Inlet of" fi,„, ' '""""•'t-tlon. a nl'outinoboatsa,,.,! n. "."I' '•^«"'«rly oyster flshmr on i . ■'•'■' '"•'■•"= ' Tl'ore «lx barrels per Z t1» '"' "'"'^'"^ *^^« '"^n to each boa? 1 "?"" ""*' »^"lP"«l"e. «I.onId be JmZll\nit\"'7'''' "" "''*'^°"t any doubt a'^ren? ^''''' ^'■^'■'^^^'^ about tl^ey tell n,e I. .e ! I'^^^i , ' '^"^« "^^n BPeak^gto evS flr"'"'" °' ^^"'"'' ""<^ 'x^r- They also j fv £ //" '""^'^ ^"'^ P"' '""^ «incrist intembo '^ ^i-'°'"*' '^'^'^ ^^^n for the past hJo I °'''''*^'''« •'"'^ as plentiful „; .'"''P^^ "l"^'' to 17th Xovem- ;e"«n. that siS rbe"L.T •";'" ^ ^^^^ '-n'l'skCt.::;n'*"r;o'^^:, "'T '-- three Inches, should not L , '"^^ ""^ "'at ovsters less tl,n, * "^ ''''"' "^d away. Whereas iff? ''!,^""ff'i^- "ecause when re-nlc ei th '" """^ °°^ ''«'f or "on betwee ,«?. J'" "^''"' '^«'« ^'H bo the nie„ns of " " < "** '"■ '""''''"'• ^ »>e to «lIo:";j'« ;T,rr?n / ^"""^ '^ -^^"o'd w„V 'trotJct'r* ''"' °^ ""^"■ '•^r tlie FlHhorlcs Act ; ')iit renewable for a Kivea time n certain 'e rate of (go manv. three years from the •ould deteriorate the alonary Interest-be s Hiipervlslon of fhe w'ould be taken np ere thrown open to 'e Riven to persons ed under section 7, I to riparian claims ight require to be workable bods are 1 the bay, the area ' In the Zuyderzee, t'ly. One hundred ■rnment. a rapid I heds were wlth- itlsfactory residts ny la larse. abont t practice of .free t nilffht be advls- ccess of the new fhlnff Is certain— Is eonnectlon, a '■• •''•^.vs : ' Tliere and Malpc(,ue, : averaged al)oiit ' of wealth, and n (French), and to 17th \oveni- as they have ^o the size and ind one half or nea are thrown for market. I deal of litiga- oysters would season till the the fishermen uring the first quite a lot of under section be on a large structloi: and ary of Winter the bottom Is '■ of Cardigan e being dug. County, the U greatly to IS benefit the count.v. I estimate that an experimental bed, planted with 160 barrels of brood oysters, could be made at either of the above localities, on buoye.l ground, pro- perly levelled and harrowed, for the sum of IIMX), or less, exclusive of railway transport A small grant of $(KJO wo.dd thus establish self-paying models In two different parts of the province, where oysters are not now found, and front the product of which other plantings could be made. For the first three years, tmtll the beds become remunerative no staflf would be needed beyond the present fishery wardens. So much of the foreshore 8 suitable for shell-fish culture that the trouble and cost of laying off need be compara- tively small. Survey of private areas would be at the expense of the applicants The great drawback on the oyster-flnhery of this province Is the digging of oyster shells for manure, under the name of ' mussel mud.' This Is a subject that will have to be faced soo-"- or later, and the sooner the easier. The digging of shells for calcareous nianure Is an Important part of the industry of farmers residing not only on the shores of oi-eeks. but within several miles of tlie water. It is impossible to state accurately the number of power digging machines In use every winter, but there must be manv hun- dreds. No restriction whatever being placed on digging, the live beds are cut" up at random In all directions. Oysters are protected by the fishery officers In summer, that the.v may be destroyed by the farmers In winter. "The marking off a certain number of spaces la the principal ovster w iters as Oov ernment reserves or leases would be the first step towards a better state of things In this I pei-celve neither dlfiieulty nor Injustice. The farmers would be Jeprlved only of the very limited spaces required for artificial culture, and might, as heretofore, continue to have free access to areas amply large enough to supply them with manure. These requlmr '^ "'"'^'^ ^^^ possibilities. Details shall he laid before the department when "The oyster fishery of Prince Edward Island Is of Importance, greater than that of any of the other Canadian provinces. It brings, In casii. say $80,000 to !i!l(K».0(X) per annum, by way of export, over and above supplying local consumption. In the com-se ?em"alnTntacT'' '^ ""^''^ ^'^ "'"■"""•''' '""°^ '°'^ """^ ^^^ the privileges of the farmers ^ " Prince Edward Island oysters have long maintained a good fame. The name of Bedque Oyster • Is still used as a term of excellence, although oysters are not now fished at Bec^cque. Shipments are made to the markets of St. John. Halifax. Quebec Montreal Toronto, Ottawa, and other cities. Two forms are found indiscriminately oil the beds' namely, circular and long. It may be curious to ascertain scientifically whether these are two distinct species, the Ostnn canadensis and the O. horeaUs, or merely difference of form. At all events, the variation is established in their earliest growth, for the same stone or old shell, has frequently adhering to It. young oysters of less than an Incli In length with the two forms definitely developed. Both varieties are equally valued as food. Private culture would speedily prove whether the different forms could be grown separately, and which kind would be most in demand. " It has been difficult In past years to distinguish accurately the quantities actually taken m the respective localities, inasmuch as they passed through various hands before reaching the point of shipment, and hence were apt to appear twice in the returns In view of possible reorganization of the oyster fishery, the greatest care has been exercised in checking the exact product this year, namely, as nearly as possible. 35.000 barrels which, at the official rate of $3 per barrel, represents an article of traffic close on $100 000 value. From annual report, 1884, page 2}S ; * " The knowledge gained by certain observations elsewhere referred to shoidd be of great value In laying down oyster beds, for artificial culture, In localities' o* tb- Island waters wherein natural beds are not found Our whole shore Is fringed with creeks and estuailes, wherein oyster farming might be successfully and profitably carried on The requirements of shelter, absence of excessive tide, suitable bottom, and the proper decree or salinity are everywhere. 'Inspector J. Hunter Duvar. 'tiNi*, Id 1^. ■■ ■-■t' tile a fci filCtll with .. t •«"•« •■« ronn.l for ,„p ,''^„'; ';"^'' »'"••♦». with M,t llftu vll . T. '"""" "' ""'l<'rly:„,, '»«•»"' "WJMlsIte fof jroo.1 i w,m """'• ^''''li la iiIm,. 1. . *' •'«'P'»Nlt« of s|„.iih be ^ < of "'onnd comes to consis ' f « ^"" *'"'''' «'"""«• P^.w' f, ' " ' ^ "*^' ^'•""' "'" «"per- "- top. Where tl.r,^ J „/ ,::'"" "^ '"""1 «"c>ll8. w- h „ " :"r"'""""- «" •"••'t tho •"v.'n that thin covermrof nt- ' """""" "'^''•'•««e. Jrrows so 1 ""*" '"■ "^'^^ "-Vstors on ™"<'^'t oo.e, nntsse i,n r , M " ""•'"• '^^"'•^"ve,- these St "',"* '■'"^^" »•" '-«-'""e or later It pe.-lshes t L , "' ^''"'''"^ «f"l ftirther to , ' f ""''' '" *'"' ^-''annels '»f oysters Into ne,v ^.ter \T' '"''^'^"t'-'R too thlek a -row . ' ? f"'""'^ '" remov. 0!-.»p M. from b.,,,5 ,.' f ,'""r'°7- "" '""■MfU If ,J' ,"'""" °'"'» 'on-lry «« tlw «rea „f „„jj|„, ^ , ' ;»>ef t;« b„|m „, sbeu-aisg," '""''''''''I Protect pMvnte ' Would meet '•nt nr,. to l„. t„ken "' 'mrd • ,n,i,i • ,^^, 'ngu of iiiKloriy',,,, No iM.ttor hotfoii, •l<'P<)Mlt« of „,„.„^_ •"or plaiDliiff, 'r,,p y '''tndinipnf. nml Hp8 in/iy flow j„to •'" "Iu/Ih «,„| „r„. " "-iiyH and ,„„,io "• NPnwH, oiiiKtpd "it liiiH Hulllcieut tf, intRli iiioro 80 >f '» oil (lio edge Krow iu clllHttTB, ffr (lie Kiowth is 't Is a iiotleonblo ^•'"i thu Inferior iJI l«'8S('r auKloH, "Kli icf,.n.ncL> »n thlH clrciiri. i'3ter8. carriage free, at prices varying from 18s. per 100 for Whltstables to OS. ,d. per 100 for Anglo- Portugo. Supplies f-om Prince Edward Island would probably rank with Portuguese, or a little higher, but even at such price would leave a margin for Sic ^""''^ ''** '^^" *" '■'"8"'"*® ^^^ <="**^»^ °«^ '° ^iew of a probable English " As was not unnatural, extension of the close season did not meet with the approval of fishermen whose Interest It was to have as long a season as possible In which to dlts and sell to the shippers. They looked e* It merely In the light of fourteen days knocked off their earnings. A newspaper even spoke of It as 'an encroachmeat on fishermen's rights. Such a view may at once be set aside. The ' rights ' of fishermen are the right to make legitimate use of fishing facilities without undue Interference with the rights of others, whether those others be of the present time or coming afterwards. What limita- tion the exercise of such right may call for to render any fishery permanent for the benefit of the future, as well as of the present. Is within the duty and discretion of the Government. Canadians of the future, as well as of the present, have the ' right ' that the tisheries rshould be preservod from the avarice of the moment. I gather that the Intelligent public In general regard the shortening of the fishing season favourably, and many believe that a still longer extension of close time would be Judicious. " There are not wanting persons In the trade who maintain that the Industry requires no regulation, and that any Interference with it would be tyrannical. Communications have been sent to the press that the beds, merely by being stirred In fishing, are bene- fited and extends their area, by Its n swerlng the same purpose as the 'raking' of arti- ficial culture. This statement, on which the advocates of the present state of things lay so much stress— that the beds prosper all the better for raking (I.e., fishing)— Is one of those half-truths that deceive more readily than absolute falsehood. The raking the beds receive in indiscriminate fishing Is not of the right kind. Every one who has watch- ed ovBtertnnsrinBr mu"'' hnvo nhoPMrofl that tha nmnc>c>o i.. „ „,„_- -li ,_ . ., ■"• " t- -" -r- n lurrFc auirlug up 01 the mUd, and^t raking at all In the true sense of separiiting the clustering oysters and giving * Inspector J. Hunter Duvar. O.C— 2 18 tl'ein room to breafho a . oyster spat may clln:. h ' ''"^ assisting to Drov.d» ""fl "ther localities wheTe orJ; ''''"' Cascumpec, Pownoil r '^"^ ""'^^ to south ;;Wcla oysters are'lUeg„, t'T"'''' '''''' '« '^o orde^deflnfn ".':"^'^* *'" '«« « 4ht 19 cean Shells to which ' the full-grown shell Bicroscople spawn to Of considerable skill 1 comers. 'Inallon of oyster In- and the newspapers appointment of such 'eyond question that 's extremely doubt- . would be eflfectlve f a dozen Inspectors r catch at different Id extends over an •om north to south, rwell. West River lar officers. Such ■eneral Inspector of a contact with the an the proportlon- ould be elsewhere "table men, whose t till late at night 'ze of shell under I am inclined to irisdletlon of the ^'hlch size posses- f Richmond Bay, ot exceediag ?37 the present state ts along the bay ictlcable to visit ild soon educate ' urgently point in sight of their 01- near Oyster •achers Issue to les the expanse ee, and follow, ^naway. Such ore not fished "pment on the Wednesday 600 would express 5d solely with 'Off. be found elsewhere fre- e season, and ^b shipments. cess of being ately landed he following 'ster hpds of came from Ich were all 'ng. leaving only those of Prince Edward Island from which to draw the local supply If some kind of protection Is not applied soon these, too, will share the fate of Shediac. Buctouche and thf Jatr*"" localities, and oyster fishing In the maritime provinces will be a thing of .u rf!"*^",*"**^"?!"^ ^^^ *'"*^ ""^ ^^^ ^^'"-'^^ observations, it Is not meant to be Implied that the Prince Edward Island beds are already fished out, for two to four barrels of oysters per man still reward the fishers on Richmond Bay. and the total catch (for home and shipments) of perhaps 40,000 barrels is a contribution of some magnitude to the resources of this small province. But the very fact that good wages can yet be made, and the active speculation that has set in, and will certainly yet further set in, renders the rapid impoverishment of the beds the more certain. For no uninterested person con- versant with the market, will deny that while the fishery is only kept up to the mark by extra force, the demand Is Increasing instead of falling off. The result must necessarilv be overstimulation. New adventurers are, and will be, attracted into the Held regard- less of the future of the fishery so that present ends be served. The question 'for con- sideration is therefore two-fold ; firstly, how to husband the existing supply, and sec- ondly, how to provide a future supply. 1 1' j-, «uu »ei. •• With reference to the first of these, things can be done in Europe that could not be attempted in free Canada. Nor Is it desirable they should. The French coast-prefects are said to assign the tale of oysters that may be taken by each boat, and the same is done by some of the English oyster guilds. This being here impracticable, there only remains to husband the supply by shortening the fishing sdhson " Although oysters may legally be fished in Canada for eight monihs and a half of the year, nature practically limits the fishing time to three months and a half This embraces two distinct periods, namely, spring, up to 1st June, four to six weeks or thirty-six working days, and fall, after ir.th September, about eleven weeks, or sixty-six working days, the latter being the main working season. An expert has given an esti- mate, that In the fall fishery Richmond Bay alone produces a thousand barrels each clear working day, but this I regard as considerably over the mark. Were It decided to shorten the time of fishing, it must come ofC one or other of these two periods, the spring or fall fishery. " Against wholly prohibiting spring fishing, It Is urged that customers look with avidity for the first supplies, that oysters cannot be kept over winter to meet the spring demand, and that it would deprive farmers along the bay of a source of income that is now available, before they settle down to farm work. Por contra it is stated that abolish- ing spring fishing would affect fewer persons Injuriously than shortening the time in fall would. According to the limited amount of information at present known, the question of spawning does not enter into consideration. It is merely a question of supply The matter is remitted for consideration of the department. It is safe to prophesy that what- ever course may be adopted, any change In present arrangements (or rather absence of arrangement), will meet with opposition from fishers engaged in the actual work of catch- ing, and most likely from some of the speculative shippers. The very quantity taken this year, in fourteen days shorter time, is certainly not an argument in favour of a length- ened fishing time. On the contrary, it indicates that in a shortened season enough can be taken for the good of the beds. " Summerside being by far the largest port of shipment, It may be taken as a criterion of the trade. From the following table of shipments .hence. It will be seeu that the export in the first month and last month of the season was comparatively trifilng so much so that both these months might be struck off the legal fishing without any marked effect on the general business. Families, however, lay In their supplies as late as possible for winter, so that the latter half of November could not conveniently be dispensed with. " Spring fishing— Oysters shipped from Summerside from opening ^f °*"®'"' navisatinn to l.^t .Tune 704 " Fall fishing— 1st to 30th September '...'. 544S 1st to 31st October '.'.'.'..'.'.'. 6008 Ist to 30th November ", " * 4's(^ 1st December and later 104 O.C— 21/^ 20 .epa. ;- - t.e sa.e. Severa, a^l^r.^rLi^r T'^^^^^^^^ "■e Act say tZ' ^" *^« ^^"'"ates a n.o. """ °" A'e witHe - £S-'-« -»S;=?."7--;=;- • ■■—■ . » years move of L ° *^^ "t^^^^ hand thel , '^^ ^^"« t^^ey would b^/.^'^'^ '''' *»>« ««d evi,:ffeets be Sr"* ""regulated Sh L'^^r^/PPearauc? tilt n "Lf""^ "'^'^ flshprfoo r, '^^'t even over +h„ ^ ""'ng, the estuaries toim L tnree or four "Stringent rem,i„H "what is wanted. , :-....« „„., .«, „„ „, . . was estlmated'aJ^m"."?,'!^'" "^ ''"ats engaged in n . ffect the aggregate artificial culture. I snerles reports for 'omts therein Indl- 'f defined areas of « term of years, ect to regulation, ■etalnlng a rever- ^ on file with the subsection 5, of )r more Govern- "ce from which Is not of imme- be needed, 'r to prove, the ^d oysters, now tJllzed In plant- placed on the full grown and three or four ■^ swept bare, all the oyster 1. Here every the areas are '8 surely not power of the ^Distances of 'n tidal salt- d such tidal be power of alms, hence y dig on all unavoidably e beds may by promls- Bay alone try to this ■ least for ) or three th nearly The first 'al. some B market and Mll- 21 IT^^' *'\"\°Pf' °S up a market that Is new. As elsewhere stated, the catch of this year exceeds that of last by nearly 5,000 barrels. " It Is common to hear the assertion that the beds are not falling off but that thev lnTrJ° fiJ","'""" '^' "^''^ '""'^ "« ^^^'^^ '^''^ •« °« doul^t thrflshery Is car ed ^nlL\7T """""'•■■ ^^P^^^'^Wy ^y t^e destruction of small oysters, It Is true that in the past year more of the bivalves have been taken, but It must be remembered hat ZZ^r ^^'T " ""''' ^'''' *^^°'- ^^« preservation of young oys ^rs not yet oW enough to spawn forms an Important subject of attention in the oyster culture of bo'h 5nr whT ';. ''V'"''^""" ""' '''''' ^^"^■°^<^ «^«"« '« ^ heedlessnes -callit a crime- for which there is no necessity, and from which no benefit of any kind is derived S.ev are no marketable In any way. The remedy, too. is simple. Cause he oylters to be culled in he boats, and make possession of small oysters on land-say two and a ha^? inches or less in greatest length-punishable by fine, whether in the hand! of Sshermen or on he premises of dealers. An Order in Council would effect this, and h is peThTps TZTl r^ ''^"'^"°° ^* P'"''''*^"* '""''"^ ''' «« ''^^'-''^ ^he Prince Edward Ilind pubSc oyster flshery, excepting that it is a matter worthy of consideration whether every boa? engaged in the oyster fishing should not be required to take out an annual license for tlm purpose, individual offenders against the law are not easily Identifi^^d amrit wouM much strengthen the hands of the flshery officers could the LatTic^ense be ca lie for The license need not be oppressive-say, one dollar-and. to save trouble to the depar': ° '^^ f / '''"'^ ""' ''" '"'P*^^'"'-- '' '« « "'"«er of registration, not of reveuur tnin th , ■'°'' ? '""^ protection of the beds during the summer months, it"s cer- tain that so long as the public persist in eating oysters in the close season, so long will bou,^^ f,"r T"°" n*" '"PP'-^' "'^"^- '^''^^ ^°"<^ ^^S'-^^ «f ^'»"""° supplies ^ay be ceS IZZlZTV' '"'"'"'■• ""V '^''''' '^ '''''''' '^"'"P'^^ after nightfall into them mZ,7^u T'T"" " '■'^"''" '"formation and a search warrant to extract ISe Jut the°'.™r ' 7 '"''' '"' °"^ '•^^° ^^'"""^ ^°«"^^ ^« «™PP'« -'th this abuse, but the recent appointment of wardens at West Hiver and Pownal Bay in Queen s County, aijd lilchmond Bay, in Prince, should go far to check the ilSl smtl-c s nJ^T Z '?^\ '■•'" 'P'""' ^'''^ "' '^' °«- -'^'•d«° -) on sotith side of Klchmond Bay is to be afloat during the close season with sufllclent witness to identify ofTenders One more warden with like duties afloat on tUe north side of the bav, and wuh residence at 'the old store,' is required to complete the water patrol, and I would urge that such warden be appointed on the same terms as Warden Ramsay I'rom the deposits of shells on dead oyster ledges In many parts of the province it is evident that extensive stores of oysters were found in localities where none are now. These could easily be revived at little expense. The main flshery is in Prince Count v : Queen-s County still has valuable be.ls ; King's County has none yet King's seems eV titled to share in so valuable a resource. I would, therefore, venture respectfullv to recommend hat a sum of. say. .?1.000 be placed in the estimates for the planting of oyster beds in King's County, and in such other localities as the amount of appropria- tion might cover, under section 13. subsection 5. of the Fisheries Act. Such planted beds would be Government property for the supply of stock for private artificial r, excepting a close season from 1st June to loth September, to prevent the ultimate ruin of the beds, as they are open to be fished by everybody, and private culture has not been encouraged. Reckless fishing and continued shell digging threaten a ruin to the oyster fishery similar to that which, from overfishing, has befallen the lobster Industry. With the present demand, new adventurers from distant parts of the province and even from the mainland, are crowding to the beds and carrying off large quantities, not included in ofllclal returns. For instance, fifteen schooners from Nova ocotla. bringing their own men made descents on Orwell Bay this year and last, leaving the beds nearly exhausted. Finding it pay, others will flock In, regardless of the future of the fishery. It is time such profligate misuse of public resources should be checked. " Scientists bel'eve that, quite apart from overfishing the oyster beds In the Gulf of St. Lawrence are perishing from natural causes, chiefly geological, and that, as these causes continue, the moliusca in the Gulf will become extinct. In this view I agree. It accounts for the vast deposits of oyster shells, sometimes many feet in depth, found to- day where no live oysters are. The pi-ocess of dying out is very slow, but none the less sure. No more forcible argument could be found In favour of artificial planting and culture. Every natural oyster bed perishes, after a lapse of time, from the necessides of Its own growth. Its increases in height and diameter, the oysters In the interior of the mass are deprived of air, and are smothered, When the bed reaches the ice level, the top perishes from cold, so that, practically, a natural bed of even moderate size. Is merely a core of dead shells with a thin layer of live oysters outside. The reproduction of an oyster bed is by throwing off glutlnoup spat In an ever Increasing radius, bu* it Is apparent that unless the ground around such bed Is clean and of sufficient consistency, the spat perishes and the bed becomes extinct. Such conditions of oyster life cannot exist where the ground Is cut up by trenches and filled with the slime of mud digging. " Nevertheless, the machinery for a complete organization of this most important fishery is ready to the hand of the department. All that Is wanted Is : 1. To reserve certain natural beds for fishing by the public ; 2. To offer liberal encouragement for full development of the fishery under private culture ; 3. It might not be necessary, but power Is provided for Government to plant new beds and replant old ones ; all which machinery to be operated, of course, under competent supervision. Several applications have already been made for leases for culture, which are on file In the department. " Natural oyster beds owe their location to the chances of accident, especially of tides. Spat Is carried to a distance and there deposited. Consequently large stretches of suit- able bottom may be passed over by the mere turns of chance. It Is those suitable blank locations that private culture Is Intended to utilize. " The breeding of oysters artificially is one of the recognized Industries of the age. Astonishing results have been attained In the hands of private culturlsts. The capital required is comparatively small, the time of expectancy Is short, and the crop In three or four years is as sure as anything can be that depends on the elements. I do not see any necessity for jealousy between the fishers of public beds and private plauters. Such has not arisen In other countries, and there Is In reality little room for a collision of interests. " The revival of the oyster fishery does not offer the same difficulties that are met U4 ^'th In other flsherles it ,f private beds, as them. >ver Imperfect, to "ley would throw ueds more likely ture would be to JDslderable share egiDg be allowed e evil would be ^ beds from the D. 'mely, sheltered are everywhere in Bay, King-g y ^-ell adapted ^ure-if planted res may be of 3 of the entire St. John. X.B., "ng the flsher- ^nd. at a high shermen were to 30th Sod X •^er the same. It oflP Novem- Ddred barrels amended by ae of fishing. '• Suelj are the absolute selection of ' as to bring rintendence "■ the year her at the 'd some ot October tlsfactory. and beds nond Bay w'ere also That the 26 oyster fishing of this province can continue for many years to yield the large quantity now taken from It annually Is Improbable. There Is also the poLlbillty o TstniTarglr quantity being required from It in the future. For some years past the supSwhas been about equal to the demand, a glut In the market only occurring when a protracted nerloS of warm weather forced the shippers to sell their product at any price try could obtain P^Snl hT'"'''. ''^ P°P"'«"°° '° "'^ titles and towns of the western provinces Ms evident that an Increased demand will be created and the fishery will be required to produce a larger supply. The beds in Queen's County are now greatly overflTed anS unless proper care is taken the Prince County beds may soon be In the same cStrn The protection given by the present close season, while fairly satisfactory Is not suffl! c^nt. Large quantities of small oysters are landed during the flsllg seal and as they are unfit for shipn.ent. and cannot be utilized In any way. are ntlo'^Sio "ot ?n s^^';zc:?sJ^Z£r '- '-'- '- ---^ *^'« '-•- --' ■- -- " In the Interest of the fishery, winter fishing should be prohibited also Flshinc oysters in winter while of advantage to a few fishermen. Is most destnJtive to he beds, and some of the best beds In the rivers of Queen's County have been ruined bv It To preserve the beds at Orwell. York River, and West Kiver. In QTeen' County ctislie action is necessary ; and the question of totally closing th^ fishery on them for a em of years is deserving of serious consideration. Oyster culture might be carrL on t^ great advantage in this province, the numerous rivers and bays of the I and belne specially adapted for that Industry. Large areas, now vacant, could be utlized for Se growing of oysters, and. if surveyed and offered on lease, under p oper and reasonaWe res rlction would, no doubt, be readily taken up. The system of leasing g.oundsfo" the cultlva ion of oysters In the States of Connecticut, Rhode Island. &c.. has residted in a marve lous expansion of the Industry, and it would seem as If the time had an- ved when a similar policy should be adopted In Canada. The natural beds should be properU pro fisS.-" ""'"' "' *''" •"*"'"^'' ''' '''' 'i«P--tnient to be used'asTpubHc From annual report, ISUO, page 106 :* V ooQ^f *""f '^°'! " '^'^"•^'ise of 0,034 barrels, the total production for the year being foss Of tZt T'"'' -* '257 barrels in 1889. The unusually stormy season cans d much oss of time in the months of October and November, thereby reducing the output The cool season, however, favoured shipments, the products reaching the markets in uood order and realizing the highest prices obtained for many years Thrindust y rSns pretty much on the same lines each year. The shippers here supply thrsame customers ?he Drlnclnyfls^';^' ""''^T .''''''^ ''''''' '''^ '° '''' P™^*°^- « 'q^^''*^- -"^ Ontario Ihe punclpal fishery is carried on at Richmond Bay. Prince County. Ihe beds of this bay are extremely productive, and although continually raked for yearishow no signs of exhaustion, the product In this season, both in quantity and quality being equal to any former one. The Grand River beds have also produced well this year and aTe re hat the'L; ^'° ^''^ '?'!"°°- ""' '''' ^^'^'■™^^«' '>«^-«^^'-' t'^-''^ *« --ne complaint that the size . Jecreas.ng, Indicating that the beds are being overfished. The beds In the nrlnra iv^r^ir ''""'" ''" "r°"*°« '^^ P™^"'^"^^ ^'^"^ ^''-'' -^ -e now flsheS prmcipally for home consumption. To preserve these beds, drastic measures will be necessaiT, and it appears to me that nothing short of closing the fisherv for a number of years will have the effect of restoring them. The only regulation Inforce In tS pro- vince at present Is a close season, extending from the 1st of June to the 15th of Sentem- Der. in each year. This regulation, while no doubt of great benefit as a orotectlve mea- sure, cannot be considered sufliclent to preserve the beds. There should aiso be a re^u^a- tlon fix ng a minimum size, under which no oysters should be landed. At present larae quantit.es of immature oysters are brought to the shore by fishermen, anS as shippers S" TJ""^ '""T' "'' '1*.'" '''"P' *" '''■ ^"'^'^ '-'''''''' ^««te should not be allowed The «ame may be said with regard to fishing through the ice in winter. This mode of Ashing is now largely carried on, and where prosecuted must result In the destruction of •Inspector E. Hackett. 20 the beds Th<» n u «eaHon and "IlowInK -^Jn^'^nnr^'"""'^'- "'"° '""dlnRTrnmatnl ' ''°'' *''*'• T'>'« '"ay ™"'l- &e.. faliius back on th» Tj, "* ''^^ '^■•'^'^f<'«t Injury Is ,„",T*^" '° *^« ashing "ve oysters which mavh ^''^ ''''''^" ""• '^e mel s n th» T^ ^^ ^^^ "ead oysters bed- I Mould eaiieS; ,. '' ''""""'^ ^'^^ fl«h'"nnan's dra!/'""'^' ^'^"^ «n>otherlnff aj oyster being enormously ?ecu„d 1°''' "' '"''''' «« ^^tJenit ^Z '""'^^'^ ^'^'^ ♦'^^ «an3e ralUlon, and if the ronditLn . " '"'''"^ases very rapidly -thf '''f"'°» f^^ the land. The arles Of this Province affS^^^,:"^--able. ''aturi^v^r; qVS J' T T ^^ '^' ^^1 'Day desire to embark S^ovstTf„°T'*""'"^« *« the enferprisfnL ""^ ^"'^ «°^ ««*«- to always yield the necessarv «,fn7'°^ ' ""'' «« the natural i!L^""^*^ '"""^'«t who become profitable n^nnu ' "^P'-^- this branch of i„T f ^® ''"""^t be expected product Is sold In the ZZl' "'^'"'"^'^ Incessantly raked dnHn.u^'" ""^ the Narrows " Fishing through th. 7 Pf"^"^^es of Canada chleflv fn n ! '^^ ^'^^"^ reason. The f'outlnue. Will resuft .n ' '' becoming an established LT'^"" """^ Quebec. d«ood Within thTt "f,^:t„"'-'"^'^' *« the flshe?" T, is prf;tT 'T' "''^ '^ ""°^^cl to strong feeling agaln't t h , ^ ?' "°^ 'ts bad effects are nn^ "'^^ ^"^ ""'^ been Intro^ ^'' '- -£?3r "' ^^^" — - - - ^r-in;^- j«3 :?"' -:S2r~ -^-:crX^^^^ ~ on .chmoud 3ay. 3=^St^£Sf ? X^r^^Sr - - -- enou. w^^^dirrtrrrr "^^^^^^^^^^ - -- - co. they scrape the bottom in a ciS' T' ^"'^ '^ handle aCuf?o"'rr.T'°°"'^°'^'-'^^« &c., in a heap dlrectlv nm,! ! "" '*™""'' the hole cut in u ? ^" '°"^- With this tongs or rakes. To l^f ^' *be opening, and then fish thl ! ''^' ^'^"-^ '""d. oysters grounds Should be rLdTvn?/^^ '""""^ ''' '^^^iaZrZ'T "^ ^'^^ the common others. The season oi^hin. 7 !'' "' '^^ «*'«ters are a wTLv "^'*'''^- '^^e oyster overfishing. The only wav A *°° ^°°^ "'^'^ ^"1 ^ a very ?e 'T°"' *" P""'' PeoP'e and and extend the close selsnn !f '"^ *bat they can be laved J f'" "'^'^""^t the beds by to several of the flshe .'meTaJS '"' ''' "'' October in each ,1; "Tl '"' "^"^^^ ««blng " In addition to the destruction''' '""'"'" '° *^^ same Idea .^ ' '""^ ^««° «P«akInf S 2— t t-~^^^^^^^^^^ -titles Of imma- — ^«-tiy -.srhitirzVnX^s^^^^^ r^^; •inspector E. iiackett. " <3epanment. flx,ng a Immediately over an >d to raise and deposit ua. &c.. from the bed :e and die. This may oysters In the Ashing by the dead oysters, thus smotherlns any tterly destroying the ■he fishing of oysters neighbouring states, those places has be- 'nlsed with the same K f^n the land. The sent out by the half The bays and estu- nvate culturlst who cannot be expected [a. In a few years, ter should be taken sinoth., countries e of great national fishery was vlgor- *e last of October Miand and raising has exhibited no and the Narrows ^Ing season. The I Quebec, and If allowed to only been Intro- i-ent. There is a a»'e Interested In Kichmond Bay, s strong enough oysters are con- amon hand rake ong. with this S mud, oysters, Itli the common '8. The oyster >oor people and ust the beds by winter fishing been speaking -Ities of imma- the fishermen aps to rot. I nent, fixing a 27 minimum size, under which no oysters should lin landed, also one prohibiting winter nshlnfT. " Several of the foreshores on the bays and rivers of this province, where oysters at one time existed, but where no public fishery la now carried on, might be utilized for cultivation. The department has lately adopted the system of leasing or licensing those blank spaces to private parties for purposes of oyster culture, and It Is probable that numerous applications will I)e made for areas of this kind. The proper protection of the beds In the close season is attended with considerably difficulty. There Is always a demand at the saloons for oysters during the summer montlis. and unprincipled parties make great efforts to supply them. They generally repair to the beds in the night time and, after securing sufficient to meet the demand, convey them to the parties in small cans. This practice has been /ound very difficult to prevent, and may be carried on in the immediate vicinity of the guardian's residence The l)eds, however, wore fairly well protected last season, and while a little of this smuggling may have been done, open poaching was not allowed." From annual report, 1S92, page 92 : * " Oysters show a decrease of al)out 8,000 barrels. Owing to windy weather in Sep- tember, the catch was not so large the first part of the season as In 1891. This had the eflfect, however, of raising prices later in the year, nnd the men engaged in the Industry were well satisfied with the result of the season's ciH-ratlons. Richmond Bay Is the best oyster ground in the province, and although continuously and Incessantly raked, still produces large quantities of this excellent bivalve. The l)ottom of this bay appears to be covered with oysters, and the men are each year discovering large and productive beds, which they assert have never before been worked upon. " In this way new ground is being openea up, and the danger of exhaustion l\v over- fishing Is not so great na In the smaller bays and rivers. The number of boats and men employed Is. however. Increasing from year to year, while the output remains about the same. " This would Indicate that the supply is kept down to a very low point, and unless nature Is assisted In some way may ultimately fall. •• The small shallow streams have certainly suffered from overfishing, and in many of them the industry has ceased to be remunerative. The mud diggers have been largely used in the vicinity of living beds, and have without doubt caused great Injury to the growing oysters. Another practice that should be prevented is the landing of young oysters by the fishermen during the season. These immature oysters, being too small for export, are rejected by the buyers and thrown out to rot. •' Hundreds of barrels are wasted and destroyed in this way each season, which If returned to the beds, would mean thousands of barrels of the best oysters another year " Stringent regulations prohibiting the use of mud-digging machines within a certain well-defined distance of a living oyster bed, and compelling fishermen to return all small oysters to the water, should be adopted by the department with as little delav as dos- sible." ^ NOVA SCOTIA. In the year 1868. Mr. Rogers, Inspector of Noca Scotia, reports as follows (page 25) :— " I am Informed that the local Government of this province (upon what authority I cannot say), granted a lease of certain oyster beds in Malaga.sh Harbour to Alexander Macfarlane. Esq., of Wallace, for the purpose of cultivating oysters. The inhabitants generally are very much opposed to any such grant, as the mussel beds, and the mud on the flats is invaluable for manure, and the granting of these privileges to Mr. Macfarlane has entirely deprived them of its use. " I am not prepared at present to say whether the right to cultivate oysters may not be held by private individuals without interfering with the manure referred to. •Inspector B. Haokett. i'l 28 When the Ice goes out in ♦k PrtBe win 1evelop*th?8 bmnr; •/"'' ' "''P^ ^^^Vyil If'lT''*'' »'« Wallace ^li? -»- ns won „« ?o :;rerej;,-. -^ "--' ---"tr ::,r4r*7s -- ^-- a»«.«^ report, ,S7,, ,„,, ,,^ . . "'' °' ''' "- ♦lollara aunnaliy VVp i.?^ ^^ hnsiness In this llnp „!: ''•^slness. Our Amer can ^ intend In futS e o tur„ m™"- " "° '"' «"''J-« a^on '' 1^^ T' " ^^"^^ '»"k- ^f enterprising Persons tooSr.?*." ""^''^ ♦« ^'"^Zner a^'i; '' '""^'^ "''*'''«''• '^nd -ery llttlo capita, in req.d!" "'« »'"«'"«- .• othorrwJrti^ ""^f '"^- '"^"^'^ '--« /•Vom annual report J *''" '''°^*^ '"'^ ""•«:«." °°° '""°^' "° ^oubt. as 'S^^^^^i^S^^^^Z '^ 1Z -"» — .- .. cape f cveut encro't^iiments." BKITISH COLUMBIA ^ I'om annual rcnnrt tuvr ^«- ^^'•. ^. ./. l/rAr/^,„ .„n application may be favourably •« l>ls firm ZZZ Zf'TV''^ ^'^^^''^ "'e spiwn Lv h?"°° "' '"'^""^ « ^ew from '* 1« the spat from i,e tn ""f '^ ' ^"* """^^ ^'"It fo f ur Lr^ ' '"'"•""^'Js of yo„„g fry ones, yot n.ay be 1 o p„ T "hf, '^T"' ^"^^^ '^--- th^'t" 'ra7 7"'°*' ''^ P"""^^ ^S to test the matter. I Intend to fen "' "''"^^ °^«ter found^n i L' t''' °'' "'^ ""P^'-ted of Marcli ne\-t so ih,* , ^^^^^ i^ and protect a fn^ . ""^ Waters, in ord^r actual developmrntll'"' '" ""^ "^^^ ^i^-"* I wIlTie ,n I SsCt^'fT^ ^° ^^<^ « /'Vo« «„„,.„ ,,,„,, ,,„. ,, ^ *° "^^"••"^ you Of the .. „ "lion, ifiSi. pui/a 230 ; + Uur oysters are of small «i nnd finer flavour than oTr rl ^'^^Pia These oysters aro ^'^ L '""^ consumption are "j-oieis aie imported from' «!n„ 17. Sometimes •Inspector Roger. "° Francisco. Thev are tinspector Thomas Mowat. 20 " '"a matter of con- osslble. private enter- heries. and i have no ">. but Wallace. Tata- : when private enter- dvantage of the pro- ries, and unless they the present law pro- "ousands of acres of erJand, particularly Icost. Itlssurprls- '88. Our American o Diany minion^ of a ready niark'-^ at ' much needed, nnd sslble. Induce mu^e 'llow. no doubt, as foper, and In Cape iJive commenced forts, many others leatlon of a large forts are made In ^bments." ' beds he wishes 's. and says the 'Ipt of the lease y be favourably )m the Govern- ing a few from J fl'sturbed. It Is of young fry •8 to prove that f tbe Imported ters. In order ' In the month •m you of the ' to meet the isumptlon are ietter quality • Sometimes ■0. They are AtifnHn w H ^ ""u^* ''"' "'^ "°^ '^'*'''""^ "« «°«'J "" ♦"ose taken fresh from the Atlan le. We have a number of defined beds on this coast, but for want of proper care and attention they have deteriorated and are now almost worthless Mn.i R^ ^nT 'n "^"^^^ ^^'^'^ ^"""^ "•■""^^'^ '" P"'""^'' "> ^^^^ province, vh.: One to the Mud Bay Oyster Company, and the other to A. W. McLellan. Victoria Arm. I am In! formed that It Is the Intention of the former company to clear the beds and stocl them with eastern oysters during the coming season. Mr. McLellan Imported a lot of Atlautk- oysters to stock the Victoria Arm. and I have written him several times for a eporl Sch he promised, but so far he has neglected to send It. 1 understand, however that he venture was not a success ; the location being found unsuitable, the ' spat • pe;i8hed." From annual report, I88S, page 2J,2 : • •' Oyst(-r8.-Th08e have been taken in larger quantities within the past year ; the beds v7n T; \T T. ?'""^'^ '"'""• ''''' ""■«^''' P«^"''° «f "'« ^•'it-h vvas faken from the Vam^uver Island beds. The Victoria Arm lease has been dropped ; the Imported oj sters which were planted there proved a failure. u onto oj siers " Iteferrlng to Guardian Lomas's report. I would recommend that an annual close season be adopted for this province, from 1st May to 31st August, both days Incluste* hat a license fee of ten cents per barrel be placed on all oysters fished exclusive of those ThmrbVmarli'ed." ""' ''"' " "'"'""°" '' "^"^^ "'""'"« "" '''' ^' '''' ^^^^^^ '^'^^ From annual report, 1889, page 253 : ♦ " Oysters were consumed In Increasing numbers, and as the beds are limited and the variety small, the demand 1. always in excess of the supply The beds where these moUusks are now caught are few In number, the prinelDal ones being Chemalnus. Sooke and Comox. Guardian Lomas reports that li the modes o nsjung, as at present practised, are not changed, the beds will be ruined." From annual report, 1890, page 18S : * •• The supply of oysters has increased by about 500 sacks over that of 1889. A sack ™ r' . ^'•'^''- '-^'^^ '"PP^^ *' '"" ''^'•y «»^°^"t «f t^e demand. This Is becoming TrZt^^'"^''L?^'^. '''"'°°' "^ *"^ population increases, which causes the Importation of large quantities of oysters from the Sound bed, ^""""ou in t'hp^i.?..^"'? w'^'^f^'".^"''^*"''^ '^P°'*' ^^^^ ^^ ''"^^ "'^ "°ay^be Sn! |«"ch greater quantises 00/3 !« "' "^ *^° '^^^'^^^^lail U^T '"'' ""' °''*"'^«d «' «« not too much to say that ha „! '"'' '"''''' ^''"^ "PP^ar n iV^'i^f^^''. evident that as appear In the Blue-bonL J ^ ""^"^ yo"Dg oysters nr« ,i f ''^"^ '■«*"™8. And it annually without bereflt^^ ^"^ '^ '""'^«'- 20 000 to 30(S) h'T'^ ''^ '•«^''J««8 flsblng p. B. 1.-650 boats and ton«rH ^"l'"'. i',. 1 , N- B.-550 boats and tongs ^^^■C'50 ^'t^h "' ■'"'■• N. S.— 30 boats nn,i * « iKn ' '^'^ barrels. " ooats and tongs *^'j-oO 28,083 do ^ '^ 1.3t>7 do pan;aurp?o;Lt;ri„7£"'^":o^-- 1^ .0 only ''occasional flshtren ''"^ "*'°^'« *« ^-'^''P^ ^^oS) men'tho^^r; .'^^^^'-^'^^ng , The boats are not usPrt om , . ^ ^'^ described as boats that every farmer wl"'^ ^°'' "^'^^^^ Ashing The. „ .. in addition [otheToaT^^'/p,:;/-;f-ntageposs -« ^''^ ordinary all-work 'V^ZZ:TI'^^^- ^---t S'nir/p,?;-^^- ^^-'^ are ann„a„. r.,..d ' ^^'^^ ^"" "^ -- -'^ery 7r'-rled on without capita,. " I "POD the lobster nnd 'on Of canadn. «nd to Pse flHherlPH. ' rt'port, and Ig of this "/ ^'"^ oyster Kroiinds to express their view nnllclpated. and. If untlonal resources of 'lie lower provinces ' depth, and differing »> features that have ' t'"«t Of Ga8p(^. are owj l,,v deposits of "> depth. In 8„,ue 'e by the encroach- orosts, altering the tlJo coniinlssloners •yster beds of the P'J of Cape Breton • and that there Is profitable private svote their care to 1' It Is prosecuted e all the material ;lally built for the er beds and Ilsh coasting marine It may be men- n be obtained of yer, evident that returns. And it reckless fishing lessly destroyed ds. mp'oyed In the lowing approxl- ' I'lHt Vciir. barrels, do do do shery.-giving 3 described as lary all-work i-iy ''fQuirOd, 31 , '^"'"'"t^M T "'«"!""»" °' '"<• ""'•ery whatsoever, excepting a close neason from 1st June IBth .S..,)tember. lucluslv.' ; and nhore wardens without boats are utterly power- less to check pouchiug in the cin^ season. A series of .harts of existing oyster beds and of probable oyster Kiounds would necessitate prolonged and expensive actual survey, and should be made under the care of a general superintendent of oyster culture. Tlie coitiinlssioners, having carefully gont> over the evidence, beg to make the follow- ing ol>aervntlons mid recouiuiendii lions : They would respectfully rccoinniend to Your Honour's consideration that one general law or regulation Hi.ould cover the whole (.f tlie Caniullnn Atlantic sea-board, with the following provisions, namely :— I. That existing oyster beds be reserved to the public, and that their limits lie oincially defined ; II. That mud-dlgging be prohibited within sixty yards of any offlclally recognized workable live oyster bed ; And that suitabi,. portions of bays, cieeks. estuaries or harbours be considered closed for oyster lishlng, and said closed portions be laid off for the digging of shell manure ; III. Ihat bays of considerable extent in which are many ovster beds be marked off In two or more divisions, and that th.^ divisions be tislied onlv In alternate years • l\. That for the present, the present close season be retained, namely, from Ist June to l.)th September in eadi year, both days inclusive ; V. That under penalty of forfeltur,. of boat and appurtenances, lo fisherman shall bring asliore (excepting for anthorlzed purposes) any "round" oyster that do.'s not measure fully two inches in diameter of shell, nor j.ny long (oblong) ovster that does not measure fully three inches of outer shell, and that possession of such undersized oysters by any person shall be punlslied by fine ; VI. That all winter flMdug be prohibited for oysters (Commissioner Ogden dissent- VII. Temporary or permanent procbimatlon to close localities where the supplv is so nearly exhausted as to warrant closure. VIII. That under sectloi- 21. subsection 4 of the Fisheries Act a lil>eral Inducement .0 offered under a system of leases to persons who will undertake under stringent re-u- ations to grow oysters on private beds. That Is to say.-that a lease be given (under bonds), for not more than nine years (renewable) (all a nominal rent for the first three years, conditional on a sufiicienoy of biood oysters being planted on the area within one year after date of the Issue of lease. The Government to have a lien on such planted beds ; IX. Easy and Inexpensive arrangements, by which persons owning water-frontage may lease their own foreshores for oyster culture from the Government ; X. That rarllament be invited to appropriate a sum or sums for the formation of oyster beds In various waters and places found adapted for that purpose, and for trans- planting oysters, and restocking exhausted fisheries by natural or artificial means-ln accordance with section 21, subsection 5 of the Fisheries Act ; XI. The appointment of a responsible officer cf fisheries, capable of the position and to rank with the Superintendent of Pisciculture, as General Superintendent of Oyster Fisheries, and to have general superintendence of all public and private oyster culture ; XII. A system of registration of oyster boats, with other details to be arranged bv the department. With reference to clause XII., Mr. Commissioner Ogden moved the Insertion of the word " free " system of registration, &c. Mr. Commissioner Deacon moved, seconded by Commissioner Duvar that the annual registration fee for oyster-fishing boats be one dollar— Carried. Mr. Ogden dissenting. All of which above written report Is respectfully submitted. Dated at Shedlac, province of New Brunswick, the fifth day of Novemh'^r, A.D, 1887. EDWARD HACKBTT, Chairman, ALFRED OGDEN, W. B. DEACON, J. HUNTER DUVAR, Secretary. 32 'n.e ononuons extent t ''\ "' "'"'"' "' ''' ^onmi^sion, coir' "«*'°"«^ ••-'^uree ?of f' "' ^°«f'«°^- ^ites" he n? /'' ''""''^^ «^ ^^ane^ «f salinity ,n the waTe. s a"^';;;:' '"'""'• '•'^y an expert and be at spattinff time is and estuary, accord- and quality of the s can tell on loolslng ^as well as much >t of oyster culture ter to grant special 3 to plant or farm tJ of lease. But In 'erles is limited to fishermen-has to e supposition that >nopoly." Je natural history stationary, xhey er or larger beds, lie fishermen flsh if all the vacant fishermen would r in a few years public fishermen dealers for sale 'rs will not pur- ime they are in 'ly " for twenty s on oysters at >uid watch the Private culture 'en away, and valuable piece "J outlay. In alue increases comparison In Iff in value In "nent to give d be robbing ets of active i'lsion to see Id otherwise lek into the 33 hands of the Government at the expiry of lease, either to be re-let or to be thrown open to public fishing. *^ To properly supervise oyster fishing throughout Canada demands a special class of fishery ofiicers (with boats) distinct from the ordinary fishery wardens. Without boats they are nothing. This, however, is a matter of detail. Whatever arrangement Is made should be placed under one responsible head officer. As regards the size of leased areas. It must wholly depend on locality, especlallv on tides. Four acres of productive oysters Is a small fortune, and even one acre would aflTord a fair Income, but a much larger space must be Included within the lease to leave free space for the fall, drifting and collection of spat. At the Yerselie leased oyster beds in Holland the leased plots range from 12 to about 150 acres, and the term of lease Is fifteen years, at the end of which term, namely, In 1885, all the areas reverted to the Government, and were re-let at much enhanced prices. The term of fifteen years is too long for Canada, but the principle is the same. All of which shows that the superin- tendent under whose care the Canadian oyster fisheries shall be placed should be an Attention is directed to the address of Professor Hubrecht on " Oyster Fisheries in the Netherlands," delivered before the conference of the International Fisheries Exhibi- tion, at London, 1883 ; and to the annual reports, for various years, of the Shell-fish Commissioners of the State of Connecticut, U.S., for information of the proceedings of T^^r.T'f'^^T.fl^V^"*^^^ ^""^ ^"'^''^y^ °* "^^"^ '«'• "y^ter fishing. Also to report of United States Fisheries Commissioners for 1876, pages 271 et seg. And Canadian Fish- eries Blue-book for 1873, pages 197 et aeq. 2. The regulations for both public and private oyster beds In France are too tyrannical for this freer land of Canada, and the rules adopted in the Netherlands have too much Dutch stiffness for us more habile Canadians. Canadian regulations should rather be framed on the more practical methods in use in the oyster States of the United States In the State of Maine, persons wishing to cultivate oysters on the banks of bays or creeks belonging to the State must first obtain a permit from the local authorities The only exception Is In favour of plantations situated In the interior of bays and gulfs In no case must navigation be Impeded. In Massachusetts, on payment of fees, permits for twenty years to plant oysters In vacant waters may be obtained from the mayor and selectmen of each maritime locality but the national beds must be respected. In Rhode Island (Providence River) the commissioners of shell-fisheries can grant vacant water for five years-and the beds pay an annual tax to the State. In no case can more than one acre be assigned to any one person, and only one acre per head to mem- bers of a company cannot be sublet No definite term of lease. In Connecticut a licensing committee, nominated by the people, grants licenses of vacant water for oyster culture. The extent of ground occupied by any one person must not exceed two acres. Committees specify the term for which such license may be held. In the State of New Yorli all land-holders on the banks of Harlem River have the right to plant oysters on their foreshore. In Jamaica Bay, L.I., the same, but no Indi- vidual nor association can occupy more than a quarter of a mile of the foreshore. In New Jersey, proprietors of tidal waters may use it for oyster culture. In Delaware, any citizen of the State (but no foreigner) may inclose one acre for oyster culture, provided the public beds be not touched. In Maryland the regulations are the same as In Delaware, namely, one acre. Owners of shore frontages have priority of choice. No Information as to Virginia. 3= With reference to vacant waters and the likelihood of more or fewer natural oysters being found on areas allotted for private culture, thereby causing Jealousy and irritation, the following note Is appended to the United States Commissioners' report on natural OC-3 ■ii 34 oyster banks or beds is-a -ral .mail b.„L?'eparated bf ^l' "■» °"«"™l to'kwb. .r?™''' »»"«"C M to b, coMln- sl»o«s. isolated WerX "' ""«• *• to pJes where Sf r"'""* «»-'««. «an>, K ttls were tl!e cL^^L r"""* """■ "• -ot Sea IT »»"""« clreum. enterprise b, . .00 „,„.„. iS^-Stl-Jr S "J-ir °£ •hell. Of orster. "re watted "' ""'""' »■"' MSererteta, ""f .?' ' '"^ ?•"•. '.V. beea, or are now^i'l^lSr '°'"-°'"°' ^'»''^*« SSirthaT^S '"ore population to tSe square "n' .T "^«' ««" ^^ter p?,„ee eIT A''°i^ «o spot of Almost all the farms are Sn^i" ^^^^ ^""^ °*^« Part of the rufnl^f f /'"'"'^ ^«« a^so able the frontage fTces oi inif .''"''°' ^"'^ ^^ ^^^^^^ In width ai ?''i:^'*' «' Canada. --e tha. „..'. apX.r;;rr-ir c ifiHS-- - 7. Although It is *^°" '''' ^ ^«°^=«"^^ S^BVICE. CO.. ,n.„aiij. :i ""='»' »'»t«lTe .errtee ,or the SL.dla» Zte? a'°H "'"""^ »' : °&Kte'— , ..1.^. .■;;; $ i,8oo His expenses . , i Overseer 1 m^^'^ expenseV . .'. ..'.'.'. ^^K^^STILli^^-i.:::::::::;;;::;;;:;;;;;;;;;: iz'oJSrWaSifi'^ftir';' "'•' ^ •' •'■' : ■ .■•.■.•.■.■■■•••• ■•■■••■ • ■ : •■ : Wages of boats' crews, 12 mVn at iw)'; ' ' "'^° at $90 per season. 400 000 aoo 400 400 365 600 2,800 350 1,C Total, ssy -t.u ao prlvXgr'oundT^' "' * "**"*"'' ""^ "''^"'^ "''"^g'slratlon f^ei oV oyster 'tax ''^ 35 8. Statement of the catcli of oysters in Canadian waters, from the year 1870 Year. catch. Year. Bris. no record. 1879 39,450 1880 record. 1881 27,288 1882....".', 14.318 1883 11,716 1884 10,856 1885 29,576 1886 30,090 1887-(P. E. I., to date, 30,000 barrels or upwards.) 1870 Have 1871 1872 Have no 1873 1874 1875 [[[ 1876 1877 1878 to 1886. Catch. Brls. 28,632 34,348 31,498 54,646 50,540 41,956 57,132 02,905 HUNTER DUVAR, Secretary of Commission. From annual report, 1889, page xa^xi. Extracts taken from Deputy Ministers report : THE OYSTER FISHERY. Its Condition and Restoration considered S mon, Shlppegan Harbour and Gully, Tabuslntac, Burnt Church Bay du Vln nn^Ln!: other places In Mlramlchl Bay ; Kouchlboueuac T?inh.hn„i^ « . i ' '^^^ ""^"^ Shedlac and Bay Verte. In Nova V^cSr roTte^s fouTd ^^R,^^^^^^^^^ p^°^^«\^' Tatamagouche, River John, Plctou, Trackdle Mabou Mnr^nrl « !. iF' ^^S^^sh, Country Harbour. St. Mark's Rive;. L^b Hafb^l^^r, jXr^^^^^^^^^^^ Where In the Bras d'Or Lakes. It Is found around iheSe coast of «.t^ ^'^'^ a^^uirtSof^tr ''- '"^ ^''"^^ — -r^sid^fo^thfrw?; and;i°trl?r:Serrnr.cX^^^^^^^^ --f cae - « the United States' coasts. Along the whole tidal shores of Pn^^^^ °° New Brunswick especially, oysters of the finest description might LraTsedi^^ ^"'^ quantities were the natural facilities for their culture enhaSbv a nrnnJ ^"f""""! cultivation and protection. When It Is borne In mind that the mother a.llT', T^^"" *" 1,000,000 of spat each season, some slight conception mlybTi'LTo/ Sfn^r^? return from any careful system of cultivation. ^^^ probable "In 1880, this Industry yielded In the States 113,408,852, eighty oer cent nf „i,. u came from Chesapeake Bay. This high state of productiveness has bin Xlned „i^v by an^eg,nomlc use of existing oyster grounds, accompanied by care^rand lntem«eit 36 cultivation after thp suite din iVn.^'^r ^''^'^ *^« ^'^^'nTs r^ Tf Thl S^''°'''''' *'' ^"^'"'•"^«- persons c-ialmL a Lht % fl'."''"'*^"'^ hl-^self. and has no?.,- ^ ^*'''°° '™'" ^''^ A special commission, appointed In 18S7 * , ^^"^^^^^^ beds by thg Government /•rom Z)ep„ the eneourage- Inually gave, re- fere approaching Iduals. 00»-(£2,000,000). (d to the English 'f the supply of y Individuals or rt on the oyster Ing on any bed Inctlon of these close season Is Ing returned to cultivation has sslon from the Pered by other are worked In 8 seed, and at ish for oysters auction of the lesslon In the ught the sub- Ion caused by n great num- ■tant, pointed many people. Government )f the oyster he necessity Is Important earned with i Dominion. ■ exhausted. Improvident nlnlon has eservatlon. " A commendable effort has been made by a few persons towards the Introduction of oyster culture by private enterprise, and the effort has, the department Is Informed, been reasonably successful. It has, however, become apparent that If this fishery is to be saved from extinction, radical regulations, looking to a less destructive mode of carrying it on, are Imperative, as already some of the beds In the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, which, not many years ago, were conspicuous for their oyster production, have either become wholly exhausted or so nearly so as to render fishery operations no longer profitable. Notable amongst these are the once prolific beds of the harbour of Shediac, N.B., and although these beds gave unmistakeable signs of ex- haustion many years before its accomplishment, an effort made by the Minister of Marine and Fisheries In 1875, looking to their preservation and resuscitation, met with so much opposition in the district that it was abandoned. " The existing reasons for the depleted state of the oyster fishery are so fully referred to In my annual report of last year that any repetition of the facts appears uncalled for. " In 1885 the close season for oyster was extended from the 1st to the 15th of Sep. tember, and the season Is now fixed, by regulation adopted on the 6th of August, 1885, at from the 1st day of June to the 15th day of September in each year. This is the only regulation In existence bearing' upon the oyster fishery in the Dominion. The fishery has been relentlessly pursued, and may yet be, till the new regulations take effect, by any persons who see fit to rake oysters at any place and in any manner they please, and wholly regardless of the size of oysters taken or tlic injury to existing beds, by leaving large numbers of small oysters and shells on the ice. In the spring of the year to drop upon and destroy the beds. " Recently, the undersigned has had the advantage of perusing, among other docu- ments, a very Interesting and recent work upon the " Economic, Mollusca of Acadia," written by Professor W. F. Ganong, a native of New Brunswick, at present a lecturer in the University of Harvard. Mr. Ganong reviews the condition of our oyster beds, and says : ' There are two futures open to the oyster Industry of Acadia ; free fishing by the people and a lingering death, or a vigorous Government interference, and a great and lasting prosperity. This Is the kernel of the whole matter. Government Interference. It has worked well in other countries ; It would, under the same conditions, work well in this. The duty of the Government, If It take charge of it, would be two-fold ; to regu- late the fishery on the public beds, and to give encouragement to culture by corpora- tions and Individuals. " ' As to the first, the position and extent of beds must be determined, and each one given a period of rest, being fished not oftener than once in three years; the close season should be vigorously enforced ; fishermen should be made, under heavy penalties, to return to the water all oysters under certain sizes ; mud machines must be restricted to certain places In each district, being given ample liberty, but not allowed within a certain distance of a living bed ; mills must not be allowed to discharge saw-dust Into the water within a long distance of a living bed; fishing through the Ice should be regulated,so that refuse cannot be allowed to fall on the beds. As to the encouragement of culture, laws should be enacted which would give to a culturlst as good a right to his product, and as full protection from theft, as has a farmer. Areas In good localities should be set aside and leased for long periods ; but, as a rule, the public beds should not be trespassed upon. Some beds should always be reserved for public fishing ; freedom to take wild game, under common-sense conditions, the Dominion should be very slow to take from Its citizens. Private Individuals should be encouraged to take their seed oysters from our own beds, as there are none better, nor so good, for our climate.' " The undersigned observes that In France and In the British Isles, as well as In some parts of the United States, the oyster beds are divided into public and private fisheries, and a leasing or licensing system prevails In these countries. " It was evidently the Intention of the Canadian Parliament, so long ago as 1868, to encourage in the p„^nio way the development of this important industry, as witness the provisions of 31 Victoria, cap. 60. "By this Act Parliament provides for the granting of licenses or leases for the ex- clusive right of fishing oyster beds In any of the bays. Inlets, harbours, creeks, rivers, or 38 between any of the 1 0^ a v„,,e ,, $193,938 'whir : IS" '"J ^'»""'^'^- -'^'"ed at S90270 • rroseouted with ffieat?. ^ ""'^ ^1'956 barrels v»uf ' ^""^ ^^ 1882, 64.646 duoed In 1888 onlv solA ! '^ ^''"'S^ than ever anTl '"^'^ «* $126,458 weretni^n Mr. Brocchl states In lii« - ^"^.^79,000 orsters, of a value P.»l.,» .IT;;.?; "■"' ,«"«^ from so ,0 « ,„. ■""'" '"• _ ■■ '" a report to th" ttolll ""f" "" """'«■■?■ ""' " """SM- Mr The Marine ndmlnlstmtfnn ,, ^® ^^*^ December never ceavpA ♦« "^""srration has. ainoa +»,» •""", •-wiseci to enpoura"*! hir t» ^ *"6 creation «? tj T the expenditure by Parliament 'for the ted for that pnrpose, 'ct to I any regulation hat ' the In^trumeat le, Inasmuch that It lepartment Intended e. and the owner, such an Instrument take the form of a s holder, Instead of inchlse or right of slble to regulate In Q be accomplished |eld open to Cana- We for oyster cul- Qd In 1882, 64,646, 6,458 were taken this fishery pro* a the years 1887 nslderable, there 3 shelled In bulk, cchl, relative to lubllshed In the Is stated, when le State devoted periments have s to call special Ignorance and were silted up^ rented parts of > four i'ectares > Induce appU- overnment re- lion Which, in ictlon of Gov- rs, of a value 1865 was 297, exported rose )rdlng to the harged. Mr. ■Ir. Bouchon nd artificial li December, al Industry, 'sslons, &c., 39 every attempt having for Its object the development and perfecting of this Industry. It is to this, unquestionably, that ostrlculture owes its present prosperity and the constant progress it has achieved-a progress which has been so brilliantly represented at the Exhibition of Bordeaux.' " Mr. Bouchon Brandley, In another report (Rapport au Miniatre de la Marine relatif d l'o8tr6oculture sur le littoral de la Ulanche et dc VOcian, extrait du Journal Ojjickl dea 22, 24, 25 et 26 Janvier, 1887 j remarks on the progress of oyster culture in France : ' The strict observance of the decrees of 1852 in the conduct of the fisheries may be regarded as having contributed largely to the . actual prosperity. These decrees, the wisdom and opportuneness of which the event has demonstrated, were intended to stop the spoliation and exhaustion of the oyster beds, and subject their exportation to strict and regular regulations.' " The persevering application of these measures, the care unceasingly renewed, the encouragement and the example which the administration of the Marine continually gave, resulted in bringing about the restoration of the natural beds, which were ap- proaching exhaustion, and In provoking a revival of oyster culture by private indi- viduals. " ' On this subject it might be well to quote such authority as Mr. Harding, who, In his paper on mussels and other mollusks used as bait and food, snys : " ' I consider the 1 ^t and only way that existing natural mussel beds can be pro- perly cultivated and protected Is to make them the actual property of some one. If they are allowed to be fished Indiscriminately they will quickly become exhausted, as has been the case with hundreds of natural scalps on the coast. Fifty years ago mussels were very prolific on the east coast of England, and almost every small harbour had its natural scalps outside, which fed the ' lays ' or fattening grounds Inside, to the great profit of the owners of such lays. About that period some Ill-starred individual dis- covered that they were valuable for manure, when commenced a raid on the scalps, which is the origin of their present downfall. I can remember, as a boy, seeing hun- dreds and thousands of tons brought to land and sold to the farmers for manure at three- half pence a bushel. " ' An Act was passed by Parliament, in 1868, called ' The Sea Fisheries Act, 1868,' which enables the Board of Trade to grant provisional orders to corporations and private individuals to regulate oyster and mussel fisheries ; but the result so far has been very unsatisfactory.' " Elsewhere he writes : ' The secret of the whole matter Is, that where mussel and oyster cultivation has proved successful, the person undertaking the same has obtained a concession from the Government to work the beds exclusively himself, and has not been hampered by other persons claiming a right to fish on his grounds. The oyster fishings in Scotland, once so productive, have now dwindled down to a value of £1,000 a year, or a fraction of what they once* yielded. There are scores of pro- prietors In Scotland— I can state from personal knowledge— willing and anxious to begin oyster culture, to restock exhausted oyster beds or to establish new ones ; but they decline to make the experiment and run the risk unless they are protected, as in the United States of Amer'ca, where,, for example, in the State of New York, tLa State sells to individuals an absolute right to foreshores and sea-bottom suitable for oyster culture, and guarantees, at the time, that this right will be protected by the State. It takes from three to four years to rear a marketable oyster ; and if during that period there is no security against a fleet of fishing boats swooping down and dredging out all the oysters, as has happened more than once, the proprietor would be a fool who would attempt oyster cultivation. " ' Immediately after my visit to Loch Creran, Mr. Anderson addressed to me the following letter, dated 27th July, 1887, on the subject of the oyster and mussel fisheries on the west coast :— " ' Dear Sib,— With regard to our conversation of yesterday as to the cultivation of sheii-fish on the west coast, I trust the Board will see proper to take action so as to protect this Industry, without which protection It can never assume any Important pro- portions. 40 they equally protected a^nW ., °^'^ ^^^^ *"« "eds proteS 1 , '^^'^ °"* • ^WJe. ' Besides the acts o?^ ''^"' "^'^fibours. P'^^teeted against themselves were Quires to be protected" ' ^^^P^^^otors upon private beds the In. . , " Referring to the subject of r ''^ ^' "''''''' re- l^aveal yqu„t,,^^^^'Je<'tof Governn^entculth^^ Mr Yo„,^ ,^ Mr. McGlbbon, Ivy Pi„„«„ „ °*' ^^"^ ^^lom we land 18 concerned tiiepff?' "'^ '"^'^'' "^^ters do not nL ,f '''"°°' '">' the purpose ''ot altogether TiSd to th! L° ^T' °^ *^« "^^^'^ fiat^^s ha^be'f '', ^' '"^ '« ^^«- and to the resuscitation r ™^'°tenance of the suddIv f.l ^^° "''"^^t entirely, if or nothing has. Tsve°beei;:n"r '^"^^ ^^°«« pSX^^, "^"^"f Productive bed oyster beds bv «fl, . *^°°® '^^ t^Us countrv in th. J ^^^ deteriorated. Llttl,. naturally, thoug'h 21^11^7'' °°* Pre^oulV'rnown °//f "P"'^^ to create ^Iw Places for the growth or f^r.'lr?' ""^^lall/p 'ep^ed a e in': ''°'"^^^ "^"^^^^ m contiguity to which snnh '"P'^ storage of ovsters drlii , i °"^ ^^«««' "sed as areas are private oroDpr^r T''^ ^"« "«"ally located r.^fif '^"^ ^''^ natural beds the proprietors orZ'Srr'/'^ ''''' '^^'^ -ettlrely at JJS'''^.*'' ^««^« t^-« private rights over grounds on ^JT' ""^^'^ application Is m«L'^'f''"°° «°d risk of nspector to make an eSnaH„ ? ^^''^ '« « Public right of fish! '. "° °"'^«'' «l^l"ff the conditions are such th^ fh?°.''' *^« ^^''ound by dredglnl Lf. '^' '' '^ "«"al for an eessful, and that the prXbS ' '' " ''^asonable prospect of ovl T'^"" ^''"^^l^ that At Arcachon, for examnl^ ™,k ""'"^ artificial beds of Barra, since 1 of Loch Roag, and treated In the same sh them out ; whlJe, nst themselves were stry at present re- *. from whom we long been well ac- : Interest In them, for the cultivation We for the cultlva- -ected, and demon- as regards them- es of the British herles appears to . for the purpose So far as Eng- Imost entirely, If productive beds, Jrlorated. Little ag to create new reduced oyaters e cases, used as lie natural beds, ' of cases these tlon and risk of m order giving is usual for an fy himself that re proving suc- 3 render It un- ^rent localities e said to be a ' mud or clay, lemles of the ng as the bed n some cases ■ally, without area may or between the i'ster culture ^t I am not not on the )ut artificial Sclal oyster Qs of which farm. The to different 41 proprietors and concessionaries, and the flow a- . eflux of the tide are regulated by means of low embankments and sluices. In this way the water can be retained over ground which would otherwise be too long exposed during the ebb, or it can be excluded when necessary for such purposes as the preparation of the ' collectors ' for the spat, the removal of spat, the sorting of oysters, &c. The supply of suitable soil Is limited, but In many cases, by Its skilful utilization. It has been spread over areas otherwise unaulted for the purpose o' oyster culture. " ' In Holland, also, where in some respects oyster culture Is carried to a higher degree of development even than In France, and the area of many oyster beds has been extended over spots on which, without such artificial preparation, oysters could not possibly have grown, the natural beds have formed the nucleus of the ' artlflclal' grounds. " ' A notable instance may be found near Bergen-op-Zoom, where the construction of a railway embankment converted one of the mouths of the Scheldt Into a quasi bay almost land-locked, which has since been cultivated as an oyster farm, similar In general features to that at Arcachon, the flow of the tide being regulated by sluices. Oysters always existed over certain parts of the area, but by the construction of dykes, pits and channels, the area naturally available for the production of oysters Is largely Increased. " ' It is not to be Inferred that ground on or near which oysters have never existed may not possibly be converted Into an oyster bed, but the probabilities are In favour of spois whose natural adaptability Is shown by the presence or former existence of oysters.' " From Deputy Minister's report, 1891, page xxxiv.: " OYSTERS. " Last year's report contained a very full article on the meiisures which it was pro- posed to adopt for the preservation and improvement of this valuable industry, and in- cluded a risumi of regulations for the formation and cultivation, under proper restric- tions, of oyster beds. Since then, considerable progress has been made In this direction, and a system of reserving areas for the restoration of public beds, and licensing limited sections of ground to pr'vate applicants, for the purpose of encouraging natural and artificial cultivation. Is now in full operation. " At a conference of the flshery Inspectors, held at Ottawa during the month of April, 1891, the existing state of the oyster flshing industry of the Dominion, and the best means of securing Its expansion and Improvement, was fully discussed, with the result that the following recommendations were made :— " (1.) That no fee be charged for licenses. " (2.) No one shall flsh for, catch, or have In possession, any oysters the product of the Dominion of Canada, between the 1st day of May and the 30th day of September In each year, both days Inclusive, and that In all partially depleted beds no fishing in the winter season through the Ice be allowed ; the several inspectors to furnish the depart- ment with a list of such beds, and the department to make the necessary regulations for such prohibition. " (3.) No one shall flsh for, catch, or possess any ' round ' oysters under 2 Inches In diameter of shell, nor ' long ' oysters under 3 Inches of outer shell. All oysters taken under these dimensions to be immediately restored to the water, under penalty of fine and forfeiture of all materials, Implements, or appliances used, and the cancellation of the license. " (4.) That all productive oyster beds now In existence In the waters of Canada be divided with as little delay as possible Into three sections, which sections shall only be fished alternately, one section in each year, under the control of the local fishery officers, upon some general plan prepared by the department. " (5.) The committee recommend that tho department take the necessary measures to restock as many of the exhausted beds as possible, and that leases or licenses for a term of years be granted to parties willing to cultivate oysters, where no productive beds now exist, upon such conditions as the department may deem best. iii! lilt: 43 ^'^^'^^yT^uTZToJT' '^ ''-'^»"»«<' Within 200 . " ' -^o HJ8 Excellency ^ ''" *'' ''°°''« »' "* The Hlght Honourable sir l.„Kx>E„icK A " ' Vour petiuo " ' "''''''' ''''''^^^ ---" ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^- •"eet the oxp^n "?„'"■ "*^'"^ '«"°ed that P„..n„ "In response to th.« " answers. 49 any live oyster bed; y officer. 'maritime provinces ?" as for the fertllltv 'ears become greatly kless and inordinate Propigatlon of the which they were In- 'ifested among real- tie action taken by necessity of closing them time to recu- gthen the hands of Src. ' appropriation to > set forth : , the working of tPort of conslder- ' referred to has, If not wholly so, be successfully ss Of the oyster the oyster areas epartment, they a term of years. J term of years art for the pur- should be per- !lr enforcement may oe setting apart, unswlck. • ^nn's Bay ; 51aee Bay, in ' In the pro- past session and forma- Jc Harbour, which was formerly held In high repute for the excolleut quality of its oysters, but whose beds, owing to excessive and Improvident raking, had become practically extinct. A .Minute of Council, based upon such survey, was adopted ou the 1st September, 1891. setting apart about 270 acres of water area in the above-named locality, for the purpose of carrying on natural and artificial reproduction of oysters, and authorizing the Minister of Marine and Fisheries to incur the necessary expenditure in connection with such operations. " It M-as fully expected that these operations could have been inaugurated during the same fail ; but so much difficulty has been experienced in securing the services of n reliable expert that the experiments had to be postponed until the spring of 1802. This unavoidable delay may, after all. prove beneficial. While several authorities— especially European— contend that the fall is the proper time for planting, many others— and especially Americans— favour the spring months, as allowing time for the young oysters to grow large enough to be able to protect themselves and withstand our rigorous winter climate. Inquiries are being made through the High Commissioner for Canada in London, and Mr. Fabre, in Taris, for the purpose of securing the services of an expert with the view of his taking charge of operations next spring. When the services of a proper person have been secured, the department will be prepared to carry on operations in a systematic and, Jt is hoped, successful manner. '• A report on the Tidnish and Bale Verte oyster beds shows that the grounds are very much exhausted, and that very little fishing is carried on there at present. This depletion is, however, ascribed to natural causes rather than to overfishing- the water being shallow, the accumulation of old shells, and the Ice which forms over the beds. Is said to have the effect of killing the young oysters. This seems very plausible, but the real facts can only be determined by means of a careful Inspection of the bottoms, which it is intended to have made in the spring of 1802 by one of the officers of the fisheries protection cruisers. A careful examination of the grounds will enable the department to determine whether tb^ir condition is such as to warrant the expenditure necessary to survey and restock them. " In Xcva Scotia. "Sufficient Information is not yet available to admit of any definite action being taken In the direction of the petitions received from various localities In this province, asking for the reservation and planting of oyster beds ; but It is expected. If matters progress favourably, that it will be possible to begin operations at these points during the coming season. " In Prince Edtcard Island. " Summerside Harbour, once famous for the excellence of its oysters, has greatly deteriorated of late years. It is represented as exceedingly well adapted for the pur- poses of oyster culture, and with this end in view, arrangements have been made for a survey of the grounds and the setting apart of certain areas when operations are begun In the spring. " Petitions have been received from various other localities in the above-named pro- vince, praying that certain exhausted beds be reserved for artificial culture, but sufficient information has not yet been received to enable the department to take definite action, although it may be possible to begin work on some of them during the coming season. " OYSTER PLANTING. "In restocking exhausted beds, It is intended that none but the largest and most carefully selected oysters from Prince Edward Island shall be used, and these will be planted only after careful examination of the bottoms and the removal of deposits of mud, rubbish or dfibrls, likely to Interfere with their growth. As these operations will be conducted under the supervision of an expert, whose services the department expects soon to obtain, there seems to be no reason to doubt but that our efforts will meet with that success which has attended similar ventures on the great natural oyster farms of I: 44 -are be ndopted. ' '"""'"• '^'^'^'^ ""ould „ot nt^na'^TeaZ' ,;"'"*' '' """ "-re is "Torts. If proper menns and "ADVANTA0E8 0Fci;r,TIVATI0.V. " Vory little ft ""^-"^^OZB OF ci;r,TiVATio.v ""CE.VSXXOOPOVSTKBOBo™x,S hn- It „,.T '»''"'•■•!■ being |„ „, ,„,.„, , whether 11 I, advlaable tho practice appears to be to till ^^^^ °' ^^''^'-y go with th„ „ ^"^ °° *he coasts extensive areas at Purchase prw.nT''"' ^"'"Panlef Jth a farrr?.''.'' °' ^^^-'a^d «f the American Union mnoh h, ?^ '"*'"* desirable localini- r '^P""'' ""^J acquire oyster grounds to the hLZ K.Ji^""'"^ "' '^'"'^^^ exllr Siif /''" ^"''°"« S?ates acre, charged upon all groun^«1 companies to thirty acres Z ^ ^^""' ^"t "mits In of public schools Khnf T ?^^ '^^^^'J for oyster cuJtnl f" ° ^^"'"^'a a fee of $i n° Bay-the oyster flshigtatt"'i'"«^« '*« °^«t«r areas u' sir '"^''"^^^'^ ^o the suppo called the support ' Chesapeake >est grounds, Hag to loca- ntrol bf the ary from 25 ibout $1 per In localities licensing of '» as shown " To fix the maximum limit of areas. " The al)ove system is now In full operation, and during the present year licenses have l)een granted to the following parties, wlio Imve already entered upon the worlt of planting and cultivating tlie grounds lie cnsod to tliem :— '• Jleisrs. D. Ilatton & Co.. Montreal, 81 acres near Bay du Vin River, county North- umlK'riand, N.B., licensed for llfteen years. " Mr. Josoph Ilayley, Iluskhi, i: acres In Pownal Bay, Queen's count,r, P.E.I., licensed for nine years. "Mr. Charles A. Hyndman, Charlottetown, P.E.I., 40 acres, In North Iliver and Ellen's Creek, Queen's County, P.E.I., licensed for nine years. " Several other applications from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Bruns- wick and British Columbia are under con.sUleratlon ; and It is expected that the work of protecting and re-stockIng our oy.ster beds, which lins so propitiously begun, and which appears to be so favourably looked upon by an intelligent public, will be greatly expanded, and ultimately achieve the end which tills department has In view-that Is to sny. placing tlie oyster Industry of Canada upon a firm and stable basis of prosperity, so as to provide an additional source of wealth to our country, and particularly to our maritime pop\ilation. " Final recommendations In detail : " (1.) That no fees be charged for licenses. " (2.) The close time to l)e es'tal)il8hed between 1st May and 30th September, both doys Inclusive, and that In all partially depleted beds, no fishing in the winter through the ice be allowed. " (3.) Oysters ' round ' under two inches In diameter, and ' long ' under three inches of outer shell shall not be taken. " (4.) All productive oyster beds to be divided into sections and to be fished alter- nately. " (3.) The department to take the necessary measures to restock exhausted beds, and leases and licenses to be granted to parties willing to undertake oyster cultivation. ' " (C.) Mud digging to be prohibited wi*' '. UiK) irds of any live oyster bed, and per- mitted only at such places as are presci by a tlshery oflBcer. The oyster fishery has been partially brought under the license system. The close season Is now from Ist June to 15th September. Fishing through the Ice Is no longer allowed. However desirable a minimum size may be, it would be difficult and exp(>nslve to enforce such a regulation. Tlio department Intends restocking exhausted l)eds, and encourages operations of the same nature when undertaken by private parties. ' The regulations provide for the diguiug of mussel mud. From report of the Deputy Minister, 1892, page xv.: " Previous reports from this department relate the measures adopted, and the work done to promote and preserve the oyster fishery. These reports show that If the oyster fishery is to be saved from extinction, efficient measures would have to be adopted look- ing to less destructive modes of carrying It on. The reasons for this depleted state of the oyster fishery are so fully set forth in these reports, that It Is unnecessary to recur to them again here. " In 1885, the close season was extended by fifteen days, making It read from 1st June to 15th Stptember, in each year. This was the only regulation bearint; upon the oyster fishery of the Dominion, and it was manifestly Inadequate to ensure necessary protection to such a valuable Industry. The fishery has been, and could still be, relent- lessly pursued by persons seeing fit to take oysters at any place and In any manner they pleased, wholly regardless of the size taken and the Injury done to the beds by leaving a quantity of small oyster shells and mud on the Ice to drop on them In the spring of the year. These facts were brought to the Government's attention by the Minister of Marine and Fisheries in a report dated 1st March, 1800, and a Minute of Counci! was subsequently adopted recommending the following measures :— " 1. No oyster fishing to be allowed, except under leases or licenses from the Depart- ment of Marine ond Fisheries. 46 tbe cultivation Of oSrbed«%"'^^\''""*'°« °^ Persons desirous o? 0^/?^'^^^ °"^«J«- Plans and descrlnt?on7fnr „ ' .^^""'""ns were adopted to Zl - ''''*'""'°e "^^^nses for all nPyllcants free orirr '^ r°" '"' "''''' A^^ery liX" Th?/"' '° ^'"^^'^^'^^ srounds would be mLl „'^f; " T"" «* ^^^ same time deS ;h T ^^'"■® ^"PP"« " 1. License fee S?nl ""^ f°"°^tag basis :_ '^^'"^'^ ^^''^ *»>« "censing of the .. J^f^ " ^''«''««««« in New Brunswick. Of the kind in Great BHt"^^, ^'''' '"«^«* «°d most Importanfand nfl°"T"°° ^^"'^ ^^^^ inspection of oys!er bfd! ?; ""^'^ '°^"^«^ *« ^"'De to Canad" -1 ^^°"^' corporation the 5th June fol owfnf Z^^^ sentlemen sailed on the 24th m! °'^^'' " Preliminary examining the beds Kre a"" '""f ^^'ately proceeded toTheS r"'.''''^ ^'^"^^^ °° them that It would be a 'ultirT' '°'P^^"°° ^^ the whole of shp^r^^"' ^°^ ''^S'^" in a most deplorab^ condign thro?^ '"' °'^*"^^' oyster'S tu'e ^'^J':%««y/''°-lnced ruthless manner In wWch Vh * °^'' "^S'^ct, want of proper rnrl onS ^.5°"°^ ^^' ^^^^ lot of disjointed p^tJes J,tt "'f'' '""^ ^^^^ge^^ had cut theTafl f/7'""''° '^"'^ t'^^ It was four days Sre tS "", '"'"^°«« accumulation of sn^/ 1 ^ '^'' '^'^^'"^ ^ vate oysters upon Th. h» . '° "^ """"^ ^"'^ »» P'^ce 0° °' !°" P^"^ ''■'""nd the beds. could be very much I? ^^^^^"^^^ ^as found abreast of mJ^'^^ ^"""^^ *» cultl- and a sufficient del ni-^^^ ^ "'^''^ P'^P^"" "^eans Sere h^.'' ^^"''^^t^n's house ; it time, care and labour tT""\.''''''' ""'^^ ^ere ail*^^^ .^f '°f, f "^ ground all round, for oyster cuUure The h?.! °'*'^^''° P°^"°° of the bay wa. .^ ^^*''*'^ ^^ connected b^ that the .roSs^no; ° ^Se7olri,''i '«°^ ^-'^ -" -Ts ft'l^"""'^ "^^'-' cessful. the Shedlac beds IZu !.' ^"^^ «■"«* nearly silted unS .' '° ""''^ «» are employed on the oyster b.?« ^ T''^^ ^""^ thoroughly Seane^ h ."''''^ ^'^""^ «»^- he discarded. It Is ve'^.;%?3;'„Vt^^J°/'a"'^^ The rakeTt preleuTuse^^n?^^^^ '''''' '' no advantage In nlnntim, ? "^® *<^ *he oyster brood nSf ! '° Canada should mer season? but wu" tn'^nf "P°" «"'=^ heds In such 1 Ltv "^ .'• '^'^'"^ ^°"'^ ^« grounds could not bTmalT'.?'"" ""'^ ^"^"tlon the exnSf -, ^*'' '^"'"^"^ ^^^ «"m- so well adapted foiov^Jer..^"'^ ^ never-falling source of snlf" °"* '"« ^^^ these apart by Order In CoTnof./i"''^- ^^^^ ^""clude by reclmf^if' "^ ^^^^' «""atlon Is Harbour be changS, ?he Srthe'r"'*"^^' '""^ ""^^'al p S^g^S „? ''\* *'^ """'*« ««* above purpose. This recnr^ ! ° P°'"°° thereof being of „«„. ^'*^''' '° Shedlac ^^ "From'shedlac the MeTsTsTemn" '"^ ''^^^ carrledlt °" '''"« "^'^*«^«'- 'or the causeXm^liird ^ T^^"- oTt^^tr^' J^^ *^^^ ^-'^'^ *^« whole of m the same cond itS; Thf ^; ."^^ *'« ^^^^'•' heyond tJe rauZ °rf .?'^'"°*^'^ P'^^^he' exception of those wher»fl\P^*'^^^' generally showed a verv hTL^'"''^^^' *^« heds were ice. No grounds could ;?ftndT ^'^ '^«° ^"^ the habit of Jakln/nvT"""' ""^ *^« tlon Of oysters In the river and h^^^* '"®''"°* ^^^Pth of water t"^'*"''' ''"'*'"»^ ^^^^ Showing by the appLranlp^^t ^' ^^« ^^^ °« Dixon's P^StL! r""™"* ^''^ <="ltlva- hrought up, yielding eigh" very ZlT! '\'' " ^^'^ heenCluTed %?''*l^°"'^"'<^'^' clear this ground wn„i^ ^ ^'^*^®' healthy oysters anrt "* °'°"^ed. Seven hauls were thrive therfr InThe JayTnd' .""""^^ «' ve^ttlefabour ?nV"" ?'°'^ '''''''■ ^0 ground were found teLlng with Z' ^"^ «°^ ^'^'^^oZZjiZ' """"^ ^""^'^ much greater proportion of TJi I -'^'*^^ ^'■«'«>*J. growluJ verv?o * "-■ ^-''^''heg of opouion of oyster brood was found thin fhl?^,,'* """^ P'^""^"'- A ine ruii-grown oysters ; one 47 ihes In length, to be f 200 feet from any y a fishery officer, ster beds are made, taining licenses for ^eyois in preparing ese are supplied to he licensing of the i", as shown on the ranee, the Messrs. nnectlon with the entlal corporation Ike a preliminary chlng Halifax on rbour and began ic Bay convinced r found tL 9 beds ittentlon and the pieces, leaving a 'round the beds, enough to cultl- ton's house ; it round all round, ie connected by entirely useless ud, so much so Qake them suc- ■edges, such as Canada should "here would be urlng the sum- 'ee why these 3lr situation is the limits set ers in Shedlac itever for the ' the whole of nted patches, he beds were Ion, with the I through the t the cultlva- ty condition, 1 hauls were 3 shells. To Jrood would ■ patches of •lentlful, A 'sters ; one haul brought 10 oysters and 54 brood, another 40 brood and no oysters, and several hauls in like proportion. " Cocagne Harbour was found to be in about the same condition as Buctouche- oyster brood being much more plentiful than the full-grown oyster. No ground was found available for planting during the short visit of the experts. " At Rlchibucto, the experts report things In the same condition as in the two above- named places, with the addition of a much larger quantity of oyster brood over every patch of ground dredged. This brood was abundant and in the healthiest condition No mortality whatever was noticed ; everything brought up by the dredge proved to be oyster brood. The patches were small, owing to the operations of the mussel mud diggers, the surroundings being composed of eel grass and soft mud. Were It possible to form ground sufficiently hard to receive the spat, there could, from Bay Cove to Kingston Bridge, be saved a sufficient quantity of oyster brood to supply the whole of England's oyster beds. On every small patch dredged, the hauls of oyster brood were as follows :-163, 105, 195 and 108. Coming to a more extensive patch, the experts were able to get a larger quantity. One haul brought 811, the greatest portion of which con- sisted of undersized oysters. The oysters above Kingston Bridge are said to be inferior In quality, but there is reason to believe that If oyster brood were transplanted young on other beds suitable for oysters, they would develop into good marketable oysters Very few oysters were found in the N. W. River ; the grounds appeared to be very old" the mussel mud diggers having cut the beds all to pieces. The only ground found suit- able for planting oysters on was between Indian Island and the mainland. Some portion of this was comparatively clean, but the greatest part would require to be cleaned before It could be planted, there being a substantial bottom. " Throughout the whole of their Inspection the experts report that they did not find a single marine enemy to the oyster, which is in Itself a remarkable fact. The cause of the depletion of beds can, however, be accounted for In many ways ; destruction going on at a wholesale rate. On the arrival of the experts at Cocagne, there were found as many as twelve boats with men in them raking for oysters during the close season Three of these were seized, but the others managed to escape. While steaming up Buctouche Harbour, a number of boats were noticed raking ; the men flew in all direc- tions, leaving their rakes in the water. "Another cause of destruction is the fishing for oysters through the Ice. While dredging, the experts came upon a piece of ground consisting of a high bank When the dredge was hauled. It was found that instead of life and growth as before the whole contents of the dredge consisted of bleached shells, with no signs of life on them There had been brood, but it was deaa, and this unmistakeably showed that something was wrong. Subsequent information elicited the fact that this was the result of raking through the ice. Consequently, all brood exposed at such a time of the year means in- evitable destruction ; also, when the ice thaws, down goes the refuse, making a high bank. The mussel mud digger entirely destroys the oyster beds wherever it is worked The ground simply becames irreclaimable ; consequently, the Canadian oyster beds are becoming more contracted every year. Oysters are, moreover, taken all the year round regardless of size or close season. ' Inspection in Prince Edward Island. From New Brunswick, the Messrs. Kemp went to Prince Edward Island, on the 30th July, beginning their work by an examination of the oyster beds in Bedeque Bay. They report that the greater portion of this bay consists of mud and long grass, and that nearly the whole of the beds are entirely destroyed by mussel mud diggers. Oflf Oyster Point, there is a portion of^round where the bottom is hard, but the grass and weeds are so thick that it Is Impossible to know what the soil is like. Apart from this, there appears to be only one available spot for the cultivation of oysters, situated off the north shore towards Wilmot's Cove. Some part of this ground was found to be clean, but the greater portion was covered with weeds and short grass. The bottom was firm, the oysters brought up were of very fine quality ; three hauls yielded 22 oysters and 84 brood in a very healthy condition, the brood showing rapid growth. The grass could 48 with very little labour b 1 Richmond CXfo«Sf.„Tr'\ ^"""oS w°i22« °r' "" •"«"'"' oyster brood. In no sfnS?^ , ?''"''^' ""^^'^ ««" ooulS be foli « °''"'°°' """^'°S a mussel mud diggers althon^i .^ '"'^ ^^"^ ^^^^re, as they had n^fJ" ^^ ^^P^'^^ ^^^re 'nen could always Vorr^noV.""' *'"« *^>««« ^ere the besJ In tL h '"* *" ^'^^^^^ "^^ winds There wer» «! , ^ ° *''^™ o° account of tZtt, ^ ^"'y' ""^ ^^e flsher- off Mill's plrMcvV.r''/""'" ""^« «^ t^^e bedsle froveS I '''''"''"^ '"'^'^ «tr«i Squirrel Creel 'NSj'o,^°'=^Sbore, River Piatt ^Sr/cTrv'"^^ ^^"-^ '"^'^^ River, Schooner's S R«ri •^?« ^enward's Point Sa'ly FraSi 'n^""'^'' ^°t 12. Ing that every oyster tnL-o^ T °^ inspection In Prince Ertwo-^ t , were informed there were n«? J''^'' ^^^^ ^^^ very little soil or f.^'"'^''' ^^'•°°° steam launch. In wlst r?.';?"/^^^ *^^ ^^''J^^- where hey ciuTd S ' ^™"°''' ''"* condition was noticed efow^n/ °°^ ^''^^' abundance of ovsterh.f."^ ^"'^ t^« length. In Vernon RltrTh7eeLul7ofrh* '/'^ ""''' extendinglearirha ? '' '^«"^^ The experts were Informed fh„*^ ^^^ ^'^^^Se brought un 30 nlT/ ' ^ ™"e 1° The quality of som7onhI« T'^'^ ^^'^ t^^^ heavy frosts wh.I ^ '■«'°°vlng them presence of Mr. Frederic Kom^ '^*°'^® Edward Island it hn,„ , England on the loJh SenteS^ ^^^ "^ '°°««'- "^^inired he w^s nL ,!/°"'^^ ^^^^t ^^^e period Of thrlfye^'Js t!rnlt'trwor,^r* ^^"^ -- -" eSttlntf ^T *° m Shedlac Harbour so as tr, rnfiltu ''• ^® ^«8 then directed tT^^l ^''»««ed for a refuse and culch from the 1^ .^ *^^" ^* *°'' P'^ntlng, which ho m^^''''^ ^^^ ^-^onn^s L^ss' yf j,ir ""= -4r L^;;.^^^^^^^^^^^ or planting. This mot find sufficient Qe of the beds are that of cultivated eked with oysters Qdltlon, making a were oysters and the oyster met A great number 1 mud were only fhe experts were cut to pieces by ly, as the fisher- red from strong lauls were made arrows, Lot 12, oper's, Bldeford I Enmore River weeds and mud i in length, but md by remark- irdless of size, lerslzed oysters I be put a stop By this means mond Bay the River, Vernon T ground, but ro up with the I In a healthy alf a mile In nd 014 brood, y would com- Iver the beds Ifferent from t a conMnua- e river. The- ulture would ipon an ebb- aovlng them 1q Canada. Bay, many four Inches » danger of 3d, and the Id that the > return to aged for a ie grounds moving the lea around is not yet mpels him 49 " In addition to the above, Mr. Kemp was directed to Inspect Tracadle H-irh.inr in From Deputy Minister's report, 1893, page iriv. : THE OYSTER FISHERY. ™^?T■'°^f/^^!.^''• ^'°''* ^^"'"P continued the preparation of the Shediac grounds. The cul ch and shells which had accumulated on these beds were removed iTlTlT^T ""'"''^."^ ''" '""*'' °° ^'^^ «"^^"^« '^^''' «r in some of hrhole auled by the mud diggers. The ground was cleaned on the edges, the beds were made much arger. and the soil made ready for restocking with oyster brood Owi toTome Sy duung tne fall of 1892. In view of the lateness of the season, the danger from frost ZZ'Tf^^'.'T^f °' "'*'•■• '''■• '"'"^^ '"''"^'^ '' '^^''- P--"d«°t ^0 delay these opera: tlons till he following spring, which he considers the best time for planting as the oysters will then grow much faster if placed in shallow water during the spr'lng and Teh wa^mr^the rvlt/'T'' " '"''" '''''''• "^ ^^^ ^"'^ ^^^^ the water t'o become much ^^arme^, the oyster btuug very sensitive to the action of light and heat which promotes a rapid growth. Oysters planted in the autumn are not 1 kely to thrive as owing to the change of soil and falling temperature, the oyster is not properly ace mat'd r:^^:;sx"^^ ;irr=""'' " ^^ "" "^^ "^^^ •°^^' ^^^ ^^^ ->- «'^-^^ It is not neces, V v :■ me to deal with this subject much further, as it can be clearlv seen What strain ana abuse this Industry has been subject to in the maiittoe provinces which are fuUy mentioned in former pages, consisting of mud digging, rec^Lss and L dlscrlmlnae fishing. Irrespective of size or season, winter fishing saw-dust thrown In rivers which cover the beds, ordinary fishing, overfishing, and vkrlous other methods have been used which have only been detrimental to the Industry, nature having to con- Ifll^T^' "'l .w^JT °''*"^^^^ ^"•^ ''^''^ °° P^^^"^^> ««^«tance from man • but it is to be hoped that fishermen will see the necessity of adhering ro the regulations which have been framed in order to assist the recuperation of fished out areas Since I have oTheTrr T. ''''' tr '''"'°*' "^^ "'"^ ^-^^ •'^^'^ ^»^°"y taken up with h branch of the ndustry I have visited nearly all the principal oyster areas In the maritime pro- liccess'f ur'""^ ^""^ ^'""^^^ "^^' ''' experiments, which have thus far proved It was not long before the main facts were discovered which have caused the deple- tlon of so many of the oyster beds, and the department have since been engaged In trv- Ing to subdue some of the existing evils. e *> " " "j- The oyster Industry Is rapidly passing from the hands of the fishermen Into those of the oyster culturlst. The oyster being sedentary, except for a few days In the earliest stages of its existence, is easily exterminated in any given locality ; since, although It may not be possible for the fishermen to rake up from the bottom overy Individual wholesale methods of capture soon result in covering up or otherwise destroying thJ oyster banks or reefs, as the communities of oysters are technically termed The main difference between the oyster Industry of America and that of Europe lies In the fact that in Europe the native beds have long since been practically destroyed perhaps not more than 6 or 7 per cent of the oysters of Europe passing from the native beds directly Into the hands of the consumer. It is probable that 60 to 75 per cent are reared from the spat In artificial parks, the remainder having been laid down for a time to Increase In size and flavour in shoal water along the coasts. In the United States on the other hand, about 40 per cent are carried from tht native beds directly to market The oyster fishery la everywhere (except In localities where the natural beds are nearly exhausted) carried on In the most reckless manner, and in all directions oyster grounds are becoming deteriorated, and In some cases have been entirely destroyed. It remains to be seen whether the Government will regulate the oyster flahery before it Is too late or will permit the destruction of these most imporlojat reservoirs of food. At present the O C — 4 50 ZIZ I'oZ^otea'tMt'llT T'''' °' ^'«* "^ the United Stat.« taking into conerderX fhe ^" '%"' ^'°^^''^"° "^^ters win alwIvV/"'', '^""^'^ '^ can const, It seems certain !? . ^""*' "^^"'th of the natural l^i? ^"""^^ «° '^^v. still, oysters far below Eumn" '^ """^'""'^ "'"""nt of proteetion In 7^ *•"" """re Atlantic OVSTBR OUMDnE IN ENGLAND. "My lntto„,e „„„„,„„ „,„ „ „ " " '° '«' '"'""«a ><• tW. In 1793, an Act of Pnw.„. . " *° ''^'"''''^ as A great deal of the labourers' time la T^i ® ing the area clean and in order -thriVLn^"..? *"» ^^^ «™"°d8 at Whltst«h, . here explain that severaldass'es or QuS.'"'? "°" *''«'' «"« '"o Ive ,n Ifew r '^'^'P" and the area Is divided by stakea Lo ' °' "y"**" are planted 1 J ' ^ ""«* grade of cT-ter on t= ^' •'^acona and buora mt" -,-- ®° ®° t^ese CTounrf. »riiae or cy„ter on Its own particular bed. "^^""^ Patches, keeping each 51 called) commonly know'^ T he •' tl^ TSSf '°"'°'"'' "" ^"^^ "^ ^'^'^^ '''•^ men are required at an early hour In thP r^.Z !k ^ " messenger, but when these evening, that the bell will oUrno be ru^t^^^^ "' '"'f'""^ "-^ ^^^ P^'^^'""^ the time named to commence worrtn„nI?^.K 5°"°^'°^ ^°'-nl°» « "ttle earlier than These men are l2Sruc?ed how''lonV?o wor J' JKeT^Lv '' ^'^'^ °" ""^• the quantity of marketable oysters thevn J?, h' . . ^ ^""^ *° '^*"" "P°°' ""'J grounds which are from three to four .^ii^h.^V". ^^°'^ '' ^^"^ '^'^ ^'"^^ '"' *»>« arrival on the oyster b^dsTv one 0?"-"^-""-^^^ """"' *"' "°'' ^"°^ ''* ""^ '^^^' served for them \Z IVZ .1^ ^ ' ^^^^"^ '^''^ ^^^^^^ «° '^^ area especially re- sails are furled, the oysters are placed in the row-boats nnT51U k '^^f '^'"'"^ ^^^^^ **»« to the company's store with all possible speed. Te m^LoJ eaTbo^t "^ ''^ T ™T.Sl7aer^SLlie%airel"^^^ ^^° ^'^^ ^ --« '---n^ .^dt;trj:rs;^:s-— -ssj;^^^^^^ fresh sea water or let run dry. as desired. The nets of oysters are attaohPrt t^ ^ ^ suspended in the pits until they are required for markel the tl^varyiS diate use to about forty-eight hours, when the stock Is again replenished itT .n .^f ^ay that the public are supplied. replenished. It Is In this Sometimes, through stormy weather, the stock on hand will eet vorv invr „„ , such occasions a boat can always secure the number required and al2 • «borr;t ;;:^;ra\: ZllZr " '°^ ^-- *-^- -- <« ^ -e ana .„ or ::i-^yor7S^^^^^^ .ear. .o™,„, two ccnUttee. attends to tho fluanelal ukivs, l^^Me tTltht ,^ T.^'V''^'^'^ committee, which 'Jury"; It '« tJie duty of the latter o see that t,' '' "''""^ '^^ '"'^'^^^S committee, or for : they will lay off areas and „pe ?n end the l^v.r""^ '' """'^'''^ ^'""''^'^ «°d c^red minor dutU-s. a chalrn.an Is nppoTntedTn cha ' / "' ''''''' '^"'^ °*^^' deputy foreman Is attached to he latter with tr! °''°'''"' '^^"" '^ '°'-«°>«° «nd officers. '"«ei. with treasurer, secretary and other minor Srou""!" i':t^ 'o"L'!ILVc"rpltinnrin°'E ^".T ^^'^ ''''' °" ^"«"«" "^^^er cess vo cold seasons, which has causeH steai?.!"'^^''''"' °° ^^'""'^t o'^ «"c- coas . they owe to French ovstor culture th/«n^''^ °^'^''' ^""^"^ '^^ British n obtaining large quantities 'of ovs^e " by ttmcT?' '"""^ ^""' '''''' '' '^^'^^^^^ ing a milder climate, have crowned th^L i , ""'^^'^l means, where they are enjoy- furnlsh the English -"rk^ts wlTh whatevetZLTSLr""^" "'^'^ '''' '^"^ -^''"^ 'o of oys ors are Imported fron. Franco eac^vea? and W "', Tf'^' ^'''^'' Quantities Hone laid on their grounds 20 00<)W»0 of Frpn;., . '^ ^ ^^" ^''S'""^ the company demands of the trade In the foldrse son winT "/" ''"''''' ^^^'^ ^° suppl/the These oysters aro laid every spdng from V T"^ '''°°*' "1"'*'"^ "y^ter. Which are excellent fattening ground Supplyln'the'nnnr' '""''''' '"^ ^^« "y^*^'' '^^ds, oyster, and It Is found by pfaetlcrexpeSnce tli^^ ' ^''''™^^^ with a good cheap purchase an oyster two^hl^ds grown inXsSVof!' *^r""'''""^' " ^""^^ ''^tter to amount on artificial experiments. ?he oyfeteJs a?e som^H ^'^' '^"° '° ^^^^"'^ "'« ««•=« les by fast steamers direct from the French nlantatinr' ™°'''^'^ '° '"^^« <1"»°"- lald on the grounds. As many as 5 00<^ fS^ «?=? i ^' *"- ^ ""^ «"'^«> ^e Immediately bom-s. The dredging 1-ats Si run aTon^idTthTsteame'"".''''' '" '''' «P-« °^'«- oysters, and then sail over the grounds Str^butiniT'r'^ ''■"' *'^'^« '^ ^^^^^-l^ad of sail along. A large staff of men are ';««! ly emSvln . "^ '°'^°' °' '^^''^^'^ «« they oysters to be laid, so that no time Is lorand thT^Z '^ ^^^° ^^^'^ '^ ^^^ Quantity of possible. In the fall they are augLt atd marlel/ 1^^^^ *'^ '''^' «« ^""^ «« the members of the company with a nrofltXl 1 ,^ ^ employment to a number of beyond shelling and keeJlng^^"gr;uZ cieln ^o7the nf °° T^''^' "^^'^"^ '^^'^ "«'d sums of money are required to secure the stock iVtZT^T'' °' *^« "y^t^-"' '"«« has gradually been on the increase. Here is an"lllustratf„n ? T'^' ^'°°^' °^ half-ware. he vessel of Mr. Kemp, sr.. and a few others ?cal ed Sft' 1°' °''^°''- ^° ^^« ^^^r 186a the ordinary dredging boats, and are engaged rolvevi?^ *^'^ '''' '^'^'' *^«° fisheries to market) were engaged in obtaining ovsterlf!^ .^ «'" ^'"""^ '^^ d'«ferent one Of the cargoes consisted of 112 tubs of ovstpr/rl f^ P'''"""^ *°'- ^^^ company ; paid was SIX Shillings per tub. t"al value £33 Ss ^On^h^"°'. '° *'' '"')' ^^^^ P^'«« t^en inspection of the oyster beds In the maritime provinces ,ni«ol""' '™'° ^^°«^«' a"er an one Of his vessels had on board a cargo of the same auanml'."' '^'''^-^"^o ^ears later, sum paid for them by the .above company was "iSnernr"** ''"'"*^ "' °^«*^" ' '^' thus Showing the care and Interest taken to preserve so vahthT. ^ 'T^I ^"'"^ «' ^l'««0' These areas are perfectly level and even • fv,/J so valuable an Industry, working over them, there Is a good foundnt/- T ^'1,'^"^* «° ^^ ^^^ "eans of dredges oysters, they also act as spat collectors '''"' ^'^'^'^ '''''' «« « bed f^r the turj;.^ rtfoTthTsrraTerns v:^zVaT 't ^^^^ ^^'^^^ ^-^^ -t to dis. guarded by three watchb;ats with crewstrnZt^ ?° ^'^^ ^™"°'1«. they b^g is not even allowed to be used, und r an^Lnsfderaln "^^^^^^^^^^ he year 1887 a vessel na.iied the " ResoluteToTaCto'srtf f t ''?'"^ °^ ^1<> '■ «°^t hours ; compromised by navmenf nf iiv, ' ,, ''"'"*^'^s or the above company, vot the runttav y PHymeut uf xlou tor damages, Instead of allowing the case toTsetS 53 a rise and fall of Other by law thns s howlnR the valno and the care that Is bestowed on these beds companies are Just a. particular In their care and preservation of their beSs of ^i.tSn7''ViTr" '''''"' '"^'^"'^^ *«• '« '' ^P'^^'°"« '^"'"iS St at the head of the boach. and. besides containing the pits, the lower part of the bulkUuK Is divided nto packing rooms, storerooms for boxes, bags, twine, and other necessa -v nwi edal and mplements that are used, offices and committee rooms, and above this flat the " a e'Tons It^rrthlfh.rr/'V'n'l^'"^ ■■'"' ^^^"'^'^ "^ accommodating over six lu.n rej persons . It Is In this hall that all their meetings are held, being either annual nuarterlv or special and whorr nil their general business Is transacted, so that al 1 e worl o t ,e company is carried on under one roof. LYom these offices one has a splendhl view of Se sea. including the oyster beds In the distance. This work is carried on year after year by those connected with oyster grounds much In r.t T ?■""'■ ''"" ""'^"•'^ *" '"^ ^""" ""^' "•°"«' «" tl^-^t ^y h'B la^o^ and exer tiou he Is lookmg towar.l the future for favom-able results h„ JIl't/T"'"'"-''. """■"'' "" "' ^'""""'^ "" " ''""'y '"'•«« «™>"- " ^•'in. I'owever. be seen o^^ t is done ; Us methods are sln.p-e. gre,..t care Is taken of the grounds and brood he storage of oysters In sn,all net bass suspended in the pits is only temporan as th^ s.ock Is replen shed every day or every other day. as the case may be T !Lt?i' ' ""^^•■'•'■"^•'' °>-^'«^''^ '"•« "ft so hardy as the Canadian oyster, rhls ^^olk could be earned on In just the .same way in this country, even on a su.all scale, and it could be made to pay, with p.olitable results. the above company has recently 1 ecu transformed Into a limited company, allowing e..c, member an equal share, and any men.ber Is now at liberty to sell h?J s res to an body he pleases. I a,n pleased to srate the pric. of the shares Is continual y is ng hicl speaks tor .iself. The work is still being carried on under a commercial basis Z^ri' ' '"'" '"'■ "^ '"•■"• '''-'' " ''"'' "'■ «-M'erienced men acting as dh-ec tors and general managers of the concern. uuci.ioi» Very little, if any poaching is carried on by the outside fishermen In English waters At one .me some of the ordinary fishermen were strongly opposed to the scheme whexi companies appbed tor concessions, but after these companies became established in many cases it was found to be of great benetit to them, as it opened up a ready ma LTfor Livin 't "' "^"^^^'t- rl"^'^'«' >•«""« °^- «W. ""^J often they woull tind enfploAnent by luring themselves and their boats to the oyster growers, where their time nould be taken «as busk so that the apparent loss of a small area of ground which was entirely useless to them, but where they would occasionally try to fish upon, eventually became a source of employment to many of them with regular wages. Should any poachers be caught in the act. tht^y are severely dealt with at the hands of Justice, either by paying heavy fines or Imprisonment. To prevent raids being made by poachers on these valuable grounds a staff of watchmen are always on hand for both day and night work. Dogs are often trained on these watch boats to bitrk us soon as a boa or vessel comes within the limits of the .groumbs. or Is sailing bv. These means all tend to keep marauders at bay. Creeps or grapnels are sometimes used ; they are attached to chains and spread over the areas, which would catch a dredge if It were hauled over them. Prevention is often better than ( ure. follmvin^--'^^""^ "*"""' ^"^ "" ''^^°''^ "" *''" ^^"'"l'*'''" methods of oyster culture quotes the ''Oyster culture in England generally varies but little in methods from that of Whit- stable ; other localities, therefore, need be but little commented upon. At Faversham 10 the westward, and Hernt Bay. to the eastward, of Whitstable, sediment deposit and invasions of mud, and. at the latter place, shiftings of sand also, have been of consider- able annoyance. The remedy has been continual dredging of the grounds, together with Judicious shelling or macadamizing of the bottom iit certain points. Weeds have been carefully dredged out as .i means of Uceplng the ground clear and allowing the tides to wash off the depositing sediment. In regions where spat is expected to occur with some regularity, the greatest care is taken by reshelling and clearing the bottom, to assure the greatest chance of a successful set. This character of bottom is often secured in the 54 tent sllshtly t„r„-„,, „, i, ,|1 „L1" ■ ° " '""• '»""» In leWb nre of iml „^_ """'" °""« »nOI).VD» AMD ABBAa. honts. hullt expressly for that p,™r«?o-^-'''"°"°''' *""" '""'■'^"'' ^^ small steam « comparatively strong current "LTeannoTden '^ ''"''' '''' ^''"'^'"'^ ""^ inland w,Th l>erts are worked nearly every <^av if 1™!. . "° ''''"'' *" """'^^ *''«'"• «nd ns tlese boa «„,„„„, ^,,„ ^ ^,,':;; ',^^ n^ he dlrr «^°°°'»'™' ^« '"e steam tLs: Jo to the ontslde ed.e of the pacltllV" "oV'' .t? %r la^T 'eT ''' ^^^^" "' "^^ rpijp ^ f' " >«-ry jaiare ..eck area on a small this is tin'od^of cat"in;i?p Zt^'Z^:^''"'' "'""* ^'^^ ^'-"'"^ ^f their beds as from them, and on movlnj? these shells tilJ ''***''" •"*'^ ""'^ becomes separated Zl^^Zr' ^"'^''"''' -"nnt cl^l-tJr.;'" ^"-'^ ^'^'^^ '° ^P"-™. rou^hTtTe nre also easily detaehed or broken off from the v''? °' "'' '''''*^'' '° «s growth; tSeJ "1th some companies, the shellino' nf th i Sl»pp.v. "'" «'™'" '" -M'lns ojste, bed. ,„„ the .h.,., or the 1,1, of ;j.Xu'5 Shr:«:rs sirsh'!=nfr," °' "- — ~. - the r rench and Belgian markets • thTZ . ®"*P°ient 1" large quantities, especiallv to until a vessel arrlvis foithe pu;p se rtaSn^hr"'* '""^ ^°^ deposi;ed ?n th" pi s tliis way that I became acquainted w.fi! l^ \^ ™ ''"""^^ ^^^ ^'o^th Sea ; it was In I" one of his vessels engaged Jntj'e oTster f ^ V'^'' ^^^'°« accompanied my Tathe^ be having been connected w Ith Lse mern '/'"" *^" *""^ ""^'^ ^ ^«« Quite a boy uected With the river by a sluice, and c"n be drnin!', i^ '/'" ^^^^^^'^e. and are con- bottoms of the pits are above l^w wa5e " mL-? T „ "^ '° "°" *'*^^ '^ '^^^'''^'i. as the nearly all their stock of small oysters, are Sered thf ^"'"""'^' «' '''''''' '^ ^a^- he early spring, and If the weather is at allT^e'i the 0''^ ''''°"°* °' *^^ '''^^'^^ts In nL'i'Cth™ rr pis ."-s-£™ •» ^'s STni -?r OB rocesa of harrow- le loose sediment J tide. For this fijfth, are of Iron, so that the teeth rocess of former om the dredging y determined by nty of Essex Is ne and Crouch ; d by companies tect them from the Whitstable 'y small steam- nd Inland, with m. and as these ? steam. These the stern of the rea on a «maJl r their beds, as wind and rain; •mes separated ?. rough to the are small and growth ; they ties of cockles from them by es, the flsh of It, and is con- ater, are very the spatting very light, is Ping the sum- of the Isle of grounds, for especially to Jd in the pits I ; it was in d my father quite a boy, since 1859 ; ind are con- sired, as the ers, in fact, > freshets in 'h weakened d it is with I'ect on the ve oyster is of slow growth, but when continually moved from the beds to the pits, and then trans- planted back again it has the effect of materially stunting Its growth ; the shell is hard and clean, with a clear pearly inside. At Brlghtllngsea, in the waters of Colne Creek. French Portuguese, North Sea and American oysters are laid down for fattening purposes along the ebb-dry, the tl5e recedes from high- water mark, leaving extensive flats dry, which are excellent fattening grounds. Ihese areas are planted at. or just below, low- water mark, during the spring of the year, the owners watching thom and occasionally moving them about to prevent them from being silted over ; also to pick out any enemies or dead ones, and, when ready for market, are easily obtained ; these oysters are disposed of, as a rule, before tbe^ frost sets In, which is very destructive to the oyster when it is lying between wind and water, or they are removed to the beds lying in the channel of the river. At the mouth of the Itiver Colhe there Is a large tract of water named Pont, with a very firm bottom, something similar to the Kentish Hats, where public oyster dredging is carried on ; the oysters caught from such areas as these are generally sold to com pnnles, who relay them on their own grounds. No size limit is in force in England as the young oyster Is valuable, and If caught is not destroyed, but is placed on private grounds, the fishermen being ptiid according to size and quality. OYSTER CULTUUE IN FRANCE. Having given a general description of the way in which oysters are cultivated In l.ngland, it is perhaps unnecessary to deal with the French methods at any length as the work is chiefly artilicial, and I consider it cannot l)e carried on as" success- fully here as there. Tills is owing to the long severe winters which visit our shores Tlie Ice in the spring keeps the water chilled, and the weather being very unsettled until the spring is advanced, so that the season is late before anything can be done, as it is carried out in France, which I will try to point out as clearly as possible. The Industry in France was practically destroyed by overflshiug in the fifties when tlie Government took a firm stand and prohibited fishing throughout all their waters Ihls led persons to think of other ways und means of obtaining oysters, as large num- bers were imported for daily consumption. A series of experiments were tried by different persons which fortunately crowned their labours with success. Others, watch- mg their proceedings were Induced to make a venture at this new branch of Industry which seemed to spring up like magic. They obtained water areas, which were leased for a certain period from the State. These areas chosen were In sheltered and secluded bays and rivers, the ground was cleared of all mud, weeds and other refuse the areas were then covered with a coating of shingle, gravel or clean shells ; an order or permit was granted to obtain a small supply of oysters for breeding purposes from public beds, or they were purchased from other merchants, as the case might be These oysters were then laid on the area so leased. During the spawning season, brushwood was arranged all around and over their plots of land, tiles were also used, which were coated with a solution of sand and lime, forming a rough coating of cement for oyster spat to adhere to ; they are then arranged in layers or in piles laid crossways ; these tiles are not flat, but long and rounded, so formed that the spat might adhere to both sides of it. After the spatting season was over, they were carefully inspected, and if the spat had adhered, the tiles were sometimes placed into deeper water until the following spring ; others would strip them late In the fall. Their mode was to remove the young oysters by means of a peculiar kind of knife or chisel, removing the cement at the same time, and, with practice, a large quantity are removed in the course of a day. The oysters being very tender, cannot stand much rough usage, they are then placed In wire or gauze trays for a short time ; they are nursed in this way for more than one reason. The oyfsters are carefully handled, removing all the cement that can be done without killing them : they are then returned to the trays to protect them from the mafiiie enemies, viz., sand, mud, starfish, dogwhelk, dogfish, &c.. until they are sufficiently grown to be large enough to deposit them on the layings to grow Into marketable oysters. The trays are slightly raised from the ground so that no silt may settle on the bottom as dirt of any fi6 ^^'h oh lie on the foreshores, the oolZ fs wilMn, n ''''?" '''"''''''■ ^n these areaa tlKhf with a mixture of clav and stmn. hn J "" "^ '°^ "^one walls made water talned or drained off at wli a lo^! ,rt;r time" "ir T''' '"^ ''"'' '^' ^^'^^ "'«Vbe re- tn ns much as possible, but if time 1 wo^t'oL .' ""T''' '' ""*• ^^'^ ^^'^.r Is kept oysters, then the owner oan run off the water " '° '''""'°«^ ^'^ separating the ."-Su^'^r:!;;;:;;'^::,;;;:^,:;';;^--^ ^^^ up «« «« to ..Id w„ter. and lar«e of for transplanting p„,,,„«e8, or .e "t In?o TZrl Tn " '"" '''"' '"''^ ^'"^ ^"^ <'i«P'S«fl n livollhoo.1 In this way, n,on, womou ^nd 'h.i^.! l"'""'- ^^°'« f"'°»''^^« ^^111 obtain tl.e household together. „ .uustr "nu lo ^d Int'*! n.*'"''' ""'""^ ''"'''' '° '^•^eplnj the parent oyster, thoy must h.nve n the Z\ w.,1 "f'Pff «"^'^ «' the spat ripening In n to water ready for another .oasln's pat t ad e e'lo^ ' '"' '°'"*'°" '' ^^^-^t^^na iu Placing the tiles, b,..cause If planted too soon tie t.l., \ *""'"* ''''' """^ ™"t''"^ '■'' "^^^ the floating spat will not adhere to them t u^ If thi .n'T" '"""^'^ "'^^ «'"»''' «nd ^;-ator, cleaned again and dipped the son t mn v , f *"*'" ^'''^'' *° ''« ♦«'"^« ""t of the the tides before the tiles are .ephjced ' ' ^'''° ""''""'' "»'' ^'""•led away by yield of the last year, as con.pared w"°h tt noo; if \»«-«««''^- This Important counted for prinelpally through two causes ""' °' '°™"'' J'^""' '"«y be ac- I'lrst.— The natural ojster beds in tim nn\. r,<. . entire two years Immediately pr^^eSlnl the e r.^V? '°"/'"' '"' '^"'"^''^'^ '•'^«' '^' the 18.4, a.-JOO persons assembled, and In the snn^ e „V .1 '. ^""^"'^ °' '•"''^' '° ^'o^ember. gathering was In process. 40.300,0^ oVs^e'-fw , taien^frir^ '"''°^ "'^''^^ *'™« ^''^ of these were transplanted, as breeding ivJeT, f .h ^ '^''- "^ ^'"'"'t number altogether, an actual area of sen-bottom of - S hi ' T^''^ '"'''• ^■'^'^" ^"^^r^d, Second.-The former Imperfect mpH,n, "; ^^^'^tares (about 5,338 acres), to the extent that the yo^g o^eS were nroTect"'. T *'\"^''*^" ""^^ ^^^" '-Proved exerdsed that during hot anfl cold^Uher tl^ey S,m ^n^ their enemies and care was There Is about 15 feet rise and fill of tld» fn I l^""^^ ^® ^^^^ "^''er water, pnerally sloping from high to lot wate mari th.T.f '"''" ^°^"'^""^^' ^^« «''»■•«« «re long time to work between tides ; then somrthn;=? , ^?^ ^^''''°' ^ "^^'^^ "^'^a, and a or kept In repair that It can easl iv be sp.n fJ ? *" °^ ^''""^^ '"« ■•^1""'ed to be made The Chief cause of sucLsSof o r eShu^e in pr'"'' "."'!,•''• °° ^'°^« ^« ''« ^^asted ' to their grounds. It Is estimated thn .!! ! .''''''^ *' ^^'^ "^^°"^- ^^leh is devoted ment f,oa, this source around S o^ t f ^ roe 1?T ''7^'^"'^ ^^^^'^ «"<^ -P'^^ in the M'ay of leases of the groundrft « „n , f I ^ ""^ "" ''"^^ '"^^^'^^e to the State try. These oysters, when shipped from one Ic^e /J "'I? '' ''" ^'^^""^^-^ *»>« <^ol purposes or marketable products a rpaekedrilLht"hol' ''^'*'^''' '"^^ ^^''spJantlng or packed in boxes separately, ea^h oystei SlnS n£L ,!.' ^u^' "' ^ '""'«' '^^^ P'^ced Being packed In this way. thet wlU keen fn Wfl Zi? *^' """'^ '^"" downwards, naeasured or counted and thrown ll the bo^"";"', ,?"f "°° \T' *'''^° "^ ^^^^^ ^«« quire work and attention. Pretty heavy work hnsnl i'' ^" ^"""'^ Precautious re- Clear. All weeds must be retaovedc^Ik^e shells and «and"°,oL"f'" *° ""''^ *^« ^^«"°^ enough, and a good clean floor made If f t is nnt .^ ^\°V'*^ ^"^"^ ^^^''e there Is not able, and perhaps that Is one o7the cause, of h!?"' 'T""'' ''°^^"^'-' '^ ^'^^ reason- working for a comnanv. can »^" obtain "f "' their great success, a labourlnir man. if 2^ francs, girls and^boys about ^rnt' (ffrfnre^^araSu'; iTc'entsT"^" "" ^^™ »7 To ensure succeBB. Inbour must be carried on to n great extent, as there are enemies to the delicate young oysters, and If those were not taken oare of In the way they are. there would be nothing but failure and disappointment staring them In the face ; this they are aware of. and study their work accordingly. Competition in the trade also adds vim and life to their work, and they are to be congratulated on their success. After removing the young oyalers from the tiles they are placed In oyster trays or cases to keep off their cncuiles, where they reinaiu for alwut a month, or ijossibly longer, in order that those that are damaged may iuive time to recover ; their growth is rapid In this way ; afterwards they are laid at the bottom of the clairs. The clairs. which are used chiefly for fattening and greening purposes (of which the French are ho fond), are diluted with a little fresh water, and are kept more stagnant than the ponds which are used for growing purposes. Pare owners atllrm that the smaller the quantity of water tliere Is In a cluir. the oysters, being more exposed to the action of light and heat, consequently grow with great rapidity, I would like to show that a little pure fresh water may do good to oysters, both for breeding and growing purposes. I have taken tlie following extract from Phllimta' Ovstas, and all about them, of experiments made by pare owners at l^a GUonde. In reference to allowing fresh water to mix with the salt for breeding purposes, which Is as follows :— •' The basin Is fed by means of a large tlood-gate, opened at the rise of tide and closed when it recedes. This tlood-gaie Is placed at the head of a channel, the water froln which Is blended with fresh water at the mouth of a small stream. At first, great care was taken lest this fresh water should mingle with the sea water during the refilling of the basin. For three years the adult oysters placed In the reservoir of observation emitted no embryos, and even grew thin. The experimenters attributed this impoverishment to the too great saltness of the water, which was so great that it deposited salt crystals on the marine plants contained In the basin. The want ^f success was evident ; the ex- periments were abandoned, the oysters removed, and the piece of water converted into a fish pond. Froii, this moment care was no longer taken to prevent the mingling of the waters of the stream of which I have spoken with the sea water In the supply canal, and some time after. In raking the soil, a few oysters were found wiiich had been overlooked, It was noticed that they had developed and grown stronger, and a more extraordinary and an unexpected fact was that traces of spat were found In the neighbourhood of the flood-gate, and of the springs which rise here and there on the banks, " This wholly fortuitous discovery put the owners on the track of the truth. Some hundreds of oysters were again placed in the basin, and some colleotiug apparatus which was laid down became covered with spat, and everything went ou prosperously," Artificial production alma at the collection of the embryo oy.Mers. and In this way saves a vast number which, but for the Intervention of man. would be lost. It Is well known that at the moment of its birth the young oyster is provided with locomotive powers, enabling It to swim In the midst of the sea. After drifting for some time, the young oyster fixes itself on some extraneous body, loses for ever its own locomotive organs, and becomes the mollusc so well known. But these embryo oysters cannot fix themselves Indifferently upon any bodies coming within range. These bodies must be suflJclently smooth and clean. It happens, therefore, that in the natural course of things, a large quantity of these minute beings, the spat, not finding any objects to which to become attached, fall to the bottom of the sea and perish. That portion which has become attached under favourable circumstances Is for a long i)erlod exposed to many dangers, but with the care and attention which is bestowv>d ou these plantations, the mortality is only nominal, and If there Is loss In the first Instance, It Is not felt much, for the older an oyster becomes the hardier It Is. and Is more easily removed to some of the merchants' grounds, who place them In favourable waters until they are ready for market. The areas cultivated have to be studied, as each or some of them cannot furnish the seed and keep the same in a condition to compete In an open market. Some will engage themselves In securing the seed, and when of a sufliclent size, will dispose of (liem to other merchants whose grounds are so situated and adapted that they will fatten or N have obtained > ,.. spat/wheroonn U.ov fl' ,"'*'' '"»""« °J«ter ^ulturlHts. er' tlev solved the problem Uy .uMn^ Lot vlrLonV'""' '" """^^ ''^^'^ '"^y^- 'Aev Lave thV;tve"r° ^' ""^"'•'«*' "' other .omuH.r:;;';;^,"- ^rr ^^ ^--^ -«.ici. wo"d po«eH. The crust, when foLed Tl^,,Wn V f'"'''' """""•'"".v for .helJeulU.nU 1 •lue result Of this work la fhof «nd the flshery on tlie Srv-t:, " ^"""^ '"'^i'- t'iT„ri , t^^■tl';;'"■ "^/'^ ^"°*-^^- ^-o-:; : nilseo has been succeeded by comfort. " '"'^ ""^ *"•"""•« ^vllllng t„ work. «^S'i'E" CUIV. UKE IN HOLLAND. ^nto^^all^Sr ^SrSX- ^^ '« --^ ~ar. for me to iir,?"*:.""^ foreshores are also used as la'in^sr'" "'', "°^ ^'""^'^ «■•« "««' to sSt sets n. those that are not marketed ar. denosite rin^™"" ?«^ ^"'P"'^^' '^"" ^J'^" ^'nteJ tect them from the frost, snow and Ice t^ '^ *° " «»'«<^lent depth of water to p-o t he Government, and at the expfn tlin of T . "'"' "''" ^'"''^ ^^' '' term of year from *'°y;^thejghe8t bidder '^ "*'°° ''^ ""^ ^^''"^ ^hese areas are again leased by au" large s;ro"moS';^L;"en"ded"ln ^J.lttZ.VT'''''''' ""' ^^« leaseholders, and along the German coast. ' ^^''^ ^'""flelal culture has never been successful ^^^Th^e following Is an extract from Dr. Bashford Dean's .uropean methods of oyster Of Ho1=s":o^r:rcorratCTp' cl^^ -« «^ ^-.ed method become of greater Importance as demand iSn,u ,^ "^"^'' °' '^''"'^ ^-Ith us will m Holland has not hesitated to glve^S^.t i«L '""■"' '''■"P'''*^ '"^^reases. State poS that valuable land should not L^nHrr^^ A • ' ^* ^""^P^tltlve prices ; on the .^ -. Ji.8t rental, and that the balance es't^MshS hv ''^''''' f °°" ^'^^ <^°e« ^^ot pay" f^rt the end to all Interested parties. .Jarc'rrlL'LTprifa" lar^ '^ '' ''' ^^'^^^ ^^^ +lr n9 »J'. wLero tlie fton put on a oyster grow- X elnlrs ; and ts, lifter they Thi>y have which would V experience, ravel, with a cultural pur- lus. miles of In "He year rhled labour lid fiiLs rich voul 1 other- ! nn ncqulsl- » of Afrioan on another Ised In this eeu million there when order, well lery on the eome more e to work. for me to much the iv growth, to secure leu winter er to pro- ears from d by aue- ders, and from fall- e market, !, the soil uccessful 3f oyster 1 method us will e policy ! ground ly for it lirest in "The prli'M of leases vary accordlnt? to location and past results, showluf? how th» value of one locality above another for this and other purposes of oyster culture appears to be Kradually established by experience nnd Is, Indeed, recognized by those Interested In tBls Industry." The following are a few comparative numbers of the sums for which the same plots were leased In 1870. and the prices realized In 1885 forwards :— Allotment No. 102. size 12 acres, was leased In 1870 for Is. 8d. n year ; In ISH.'i, £202 a year was charged. Allotment No. Ita, 12 acres, was leased In 1870 for Is. 8d. a year ; In 1885 £227 a year was charged. Allotment No. 104, 12 acres, was leased In 1870 for ISs. 4d. a year ; In 1885, £252 a year was charged. Allotment No. 17(i, 12 acres, was leased In 18"r; rrr £22 lOs. a year ; In 1885. £508 a year was charged. Allotment 220, 120 acres, was leased In lf):o for £25 ;Ss. a year ; In 1885, £83 158. a year was charged. Allotment 1.18. 12 acres, was leased In iSIO fo £18 V) . a year ; In 1885, £702 10s. a year was charged. Others have gradually come down In the mii ' t as, for example : No. 280, 24 acres, brought. In 1877, £45 IGs.; In 1870, £1 lOs. No. 415, 18 acres, brought. In 1877, £2 Is.; In 18S2, 10s. The fluctuation Is. as you see. Indeed, considerable, and only rivalled by that my8t<'rl- ous fluctuation of spat which. In the breeding season, Is carried to and fro at each turn- ing tide, all through the basin of the eastern Schelde. It should also be specially mentioned, that after the Yerseke bed had been with- drawn from public Ashing, no obligatory close time for oyster fishing was ever pre- scribed. The lessees could dredge for their oysters at whatever time of the year they liked. That they did not generally do so In summer was. In the first plnce, for fear of disturbing the growth, the delicate edges of the shell being at this period more particu- larly liable to break ; and, secondly, because the oysters are found to be less palatable at this time of the year.. It will be noticed by the above that one of the reasons of success must be attributed to the leaseholders refraining from selling their oysters during the summer months ; although there is no close season, yet their own sound judgment is sufllclent to regulate the commencement of the season, which does not begin with them until the weather has become comparatively cool. OYSTER CULTURE IN ITALY. Artificial means of collecting spat in Italy has been carried on for years, although the method is somewhat different than that of other countries. It is not carried on to the same extent as in France, as the oysters are not exported in any quantities, and are chiefly used for local consumption nnd supplying areas In their southern waters with growing oysters. It was here that Coste pictured the successes of the cultural processes of Italy and strongly urged their introduction on the French coast, causing the institu- tion, under the patronage of Napoleon III., of a series of experimental measures, out of whose successes and failures has grown one of the most important of the coast indus- tries of France. A few extracts from the work of Dr. Bashford Dean on Italian oystei culture, will be very interesting : " Especially Interesting Is the fact, already shown by Coste, on evidence furnished by pictured funeral vases, that the processes in use to-day at Tarente, or in the lakes near Naples, are apparently the very ones that the Romans employed as early as the *"" -• *** *^ ..j.....t ^ .1. .,,?- •..Tfr.i.T? tjrtfa.^. n-T tttc iviu, rt;yi'C3t;iii, IS appearance, and actual position, the very ones that Pliny may have Inquisitively ex- amined, little thinking that their use would be handed down to posterity more carefully than the volumes of his life-long work. 60 ii£.' Mare Piccolo. As far out as onp cnn l!l .^ k f ^^^ """"^ ''^"'^^ "«»°d the shore of ends project several feet above "LTrfaJeeTW ' "'•'«"' V'^' °^^^*"- «^«'^««' -^^°«« perspective In regular lines, and o mark off the w«^.' T" ""^'"'^'^ *« »««« '"^^ d'«t«°t board. These IncK.sures. wWch In France woS T. '" uT '"*" '•'""'''• ^' ''^ ^ ^''«^'^«'' 15 feet square. They are leased at aboJ^rnl ''""^'^ °^'*^'" P"-*^'' "^^^^^^^ a»>o"t many as he can cul^vnL They a'^reme^^^^^^^ -'T? f °f '"''^ *="""••'«* ««^"'-«« «« obtained from the city council the leasehold of th^ Jlnt stock company, which has about twenty sections for an annuafsum of $lol tJ'' f''"?"'''''"' '""''"''^ °"* '" of this area Is the result and also thP rnni V^' minuteness of the subdivision culturlsts adds much to thVrccSrortL^r^'du^s'trr"'''"""' ""^ "" '""'''^ «' ^'-' pricSrc^v:;: t^%iTe r:"bXr t?;L\^^^^^^^^^ depths Of water andtake he mS of ov S fat e^e?!'"" T""'"^^ ""^^^^^^ '" '^" portion to the volume of water H^vrn,, h„?o ! fattened in a given pare stand In pro- vertical oyster culture To cuftlvSeioH.nnVu"f '*;" '' ""'' '''''' '^''^"^ ^'^^ '^^^^^^e beaches, have Incloied tSl ^rels and w? "^ '.' .?"''' '""" ''""'^"^'^ *'^«"- "^^^^y second'p re mfyTe if S"?n';;owi^'Iv,'' ^T'^ '' ^""^'^'"^ ^'^^ «-^^ "--t--. a prepare them for transpo A Tarelre nn'f '' '"'' '^ ^'^'^'^ ™"^ ^^''^^ ^° f''^"^" "^ dustry ; m an area of fifteen sauaTe 71. ^u .'"'''' '•^Present every branch of the in- fatten and prepare them tr the market* ' """'''* ""''^ '""^''^ ^'^^ ^°"°« «^«t-«- ^^ow, roper:n?itirru:;ei:d''ssz'^roi^^^^^^ ""^^''^^' °' ^°''^-- p-*^- ^^ -^^^ »^ mg them. «"spended devices for collecting oysters, growing, fattening and stor- thesT'^rrraSrSrS in tlrr' "'^'''/'^ """"'^'^^'^^ «' "^ P-'*^- ^* -ch corner together a few feet aLveth^ su See Tht'flJ^'r '""""'^ '"^' ^^^^^- ^"^^ '-'- doubt to the sheltered positions, mild weather, and the hot springs which abound there. \l^ fi4 OYSTER CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES, more^nfpntff^if u ^^ ^T"^ °° "^^"^ ^^'^ ""^"^^ ^''''^'^ °f '^^ ^oast line. In some places Tall "f uUht on ^r\fTf "/ '""""•^ '° "'•'^^'^ *« ^'•''^^ ^'^^^^ «'°»°18 into a high state of cultivation. Alter that is done, the flrst expense being the heaviest the erounrts are uept clean, and oysters are obtained for market at the same time Oysters are con sldered so cheap and plentiful that they are eaten by all classes ; they are also e^PorTd m large quantities to the European markets, also to the Paclflc coast for n Sntln^ nn, poses. This strain .pon the beds has the effect of diminish ng the taX^^^^^^^ '^ " inriufferrie^iyiir'?"" ''. ""' '^ •^^^"^ ^^'^^^ ^^ ^"-^'^ managor^en;, tl^e ild v\m not sufl-ei depletion. Commissioners were appointed in Maryland to ascertain the •"^ !''•''''"'■' '^'^'""^'"'^ ''"''''' -^"^ '° their report they state H.n t I *'*'^'"" P^"°P«"y °f the State Is In Imminent danger of complete destruo ion. Having reached this conclusion, the next step was to discover the cause of the ^i"?J'°f *'"/ rTV "' ""' '''''''' '"^^^^^^ ^'^^ 'ouM to be) IhL L dep etlon Of our beds is not strictly due to any particular method of gathering oysters nor o the destruction of the young, nor to the working of the beds at wronf seasoS but o tSe of'o'l S?a7e „r''""' 'r " ''■°" '""^^'''^ "^'^^^ '' transportatlorand f om 'the g ow?h of our State of a great commercial Industry which has an unlimited and SnstaX in ;7ir o^^alTof'th^tiut? 7T- r r'^'^' "''''■ '^^' --fu,raminS'of1t" ri n?c? , If . *•" •"' ^^^ conclusion which we ourselves have reached-that the oyster bottoms of our State are of greater value than the dry iard. and that they will some day support a great and prosperous population. Their vainSenaRt has n!«rJTr""'''^' "' '°"P"'^ ^"^ '''''' P°««'"« ^«l"e '° tJ^e future for whie ^he oyster fishermen have never earned much more than two million dollars It 7s nc ex dTarnnri.r '"'' °" '^"'"'^^ "^ ^^^"^'^ ''^ ^'^'^'"^ bundrerof minio^nVof h.,oI^P'',°"K*f. ^'f 1"!^°'* °° ^^^ *'y'*^'' '°d»stry of the United States, says that twentv IT^rL'l V' 1''^ ''°^° ^"^^^"'•^ '° ^'^'^°««^* B^y- New Jersey wurprodVcro^e hundred bushels of oysters ; and a Connecticut writer gives the following as theresult of three years of oyster farming under wise laws In that State :-" Fifty thousand ac^es ^Lft , ^ «"'". 1'°"°^' '°^'''"'*' *^'^y' '°^y «"^ fl«y '«=-'* State for a from the n^ent have ig 0' isr^, arms, uad ed oystei's pe. i :-It Is a lia should )r can our r commis- ^hlch was Jcale, and 71ZT ^ T'^ ?"* ^^^ °-^'^"'' «'°"°^« «' that State have been raised In three J ears from a position of Insignificance to the front rank. If the Importance of neillne our oyster bottoms with dead and clean oyster shells had been reoogSzed at the time me" iTaVren Sll'ri''"'""' ""'^ '' '''' '"^^ "^'^^ "« "-''««'- Its encourage^ Mnn ut !^f ^*'!^^' °"'" °'^^*^'" «"PP'y ^°"'d now be In no danger of exhaus- reticrvie^^oraTtudTur^ "" -"'' °° '^"^""«"' ^' " -« •-•'^^^ "^- - - - of tSs'51'stTonSerth'.r""'': *' «" Institution of great Importance. On the sea-board M^hnL h ^^""""^"^ ^^P '^'■e found m natural beds of wonderful extent, and are dls- or! 1^ nlnnd districts. Numerous as are the shell-flsh shops of London, they a-e but as one in ten when compared with the oyster houses of New York. In which cHvo vster- ealng appears to be almost the sole business of life, so many peopllare to be found indulging m that pleasure. The custom Is to have the oysters cookeS and this cullnarv process Is accomplished In a variety of ways, the mollusc being stewed fried or roasted ir;cn?no°r*" /"^'r ""^ '^ '^^ ^°°'^^'^ '" "'-"t twenty'dlS; Cs. n Tv of he ^^ol -known oyster taverns of New York, at n few minutes' notice. The great market for oysters Is he city of Baltimore. In Maryland, where It Is not Uncommon for ^nLo two firms each to "can" a million bushels In one year. Immense numbers of theJe canned oysters are despatched all over the States, to the prairies of ^he far wV^ o the cities of New Mexico, to the military forts of the great American desert to the res aurants of Honolulu, and to the miners searching for gold on The Rocky lounal^s- nl fn "T"'^' P'"'''^ '" ^''- ''"'' '''^^" ^'^nt *» ^^'^^^ ''•stances. The following figures will show that Baltimore Is the largest ovster mnrkBf .n th« Onfflrm"^ alon:"?'' consumption for seven months In the^e^S imThestrVay from 16 0(1 toVZn^S'n''! "" -"""^ ^''' '''''^^'' ^'"^ ^''^^^'^ « day, packing oysters ''' h^™^»^«»y «««•«". containing one and two pounds ot Oyster farming in America, as Philpot points out, which presents some features of resemblance to the French system, and also many differences, has grown up as the ernment ' "'"'''"'' ""'""' """ '^'P '' ""^ ^''''' en;ouragernt from Gov! nf p!ir«, y««'"t ^^^°'« ^°«*« ^°.e larger dredges than the sail vessels can, as they arc also worked by steam, at a great saving of labour and expen;t\ When the oysters hr.ve grown on t^jese beds lo a mer- chantable size, they are sometimes sold directly from the beds, but u)< ie frequently they are transplanted 'nto brackish or fresh waters, where th.y are pertnltf.Hl to remain for a short period, to troshen and fatten for market. The foregoing table affords the ground for the assumption that hy the 'me ol ihe opening of spring work in 1883, 45,000 acres of ground wil have been cieed-^d to app!i- cants by the comuiiii'.toners. These, with th ; 45,000 acres deeded by the tovns t>'loi to May, 1881, will n\-:y,v an ag,«re;.a(;p of 90,000 uerea held by cultivators under Staio juris- diction. Of this vast ai'(!i a Ini v.- joMlon has been cleared up and shelled. THE OYSTEIl WI8K> SV OF COKNKCTICUT. The methods employed In tills yta> iiie of th'^ greatest interest, for ConnectiMit has been able, by fVie adoption of a wist> jljiu, to buUd up a great oyster industry in a very short time, and to place tlie bu9fa.;s?s upon a sound and substantial foundation. Ihe ujtural resources of this State are limited, for upon the most liberal estimate, her lauiral be is do not exceed 5,000 acres, all told, which furnish a few marketable oysters, ajui are ch;(''y valuable as a supply of seed oysteis for planting. Three years of efficient pro- tection, under wise oyster ifiws, have produced such a change that the State, which -vras so receotly compelled to puichase oysters for planting has, we are Informed by good authorl;,', this year furnished seed in considerable amounts to New York, Rhode Tsland and New Jorsey, besides sending an Immense supply to European planters. One firm shipped, in ihe spring of 1883, sixty car-loads of seed oysters to San Francisco, from the beds of Connecticut. The sixty car-loads, or more than 15,000,000 young oysters, had been engaged by persons employed In planting on the Pacific coast. A method which Is capable of producing such a result as this, in three years' time, Is worth most careful examination. The waters of the State are divided Into two dis- tricts, a shore district and a deep-water area. In each area there are natural beds, which are open to the public, and private grounds which are appropriated to Individuals or compivaies by law for the cultivation of oysters. The Public Beds of Connecticut. The natural beds are open to all residents of the State, at all times except at night ; but no one is allowed to use a steamboat upon them, or to use a dredge which weighs more than thirty pounds. The use of steam vessels for dredging upon the public beds has only recently been prohibited. Steam vessels are used upon the private oyster beds, and the proposition to close the public beds to them was warmly attacked, but was finally adopted, and made a law by the legislature In 1881. In gathering seed near the shore, tongs, and occasionally rakes (those with ;ong curved teeth) are used, but the marketable oysters are nearly all brought from th i i torn by dredges of various weights, and slight differences in pattern. In the case • ■ .:' the smaller sail boats, the dredges having been thrpwn overboard and filled, are a :\'ed up by hand. The oysters themselves are ^ r. heavy, and frequently hali ch^ nmo'int caught Is composed of shells, dead oysters, v ;r ■, es and other trash, which m ■• < >.«.? mied out, thus compelling the oystermen to do twice or thrice the work which th. , \ould be put to If there were nothing but oysters on the ground= The work of catching t'^ ■ v ~<^ers by any of these methods Is, therefore, very tiresome and heavy, and varlou;- );,,■>. ments have been made, from time to time, In the way of labour-saving, from a n :>i92<. crank and windlass to patented complicated power windlasses, similar to those vsr^H Jn n a luedliui)- lemies o ' M>e 3pt comp; m- iters for th.'a Uid they Uf.e a. at a great ds lo a mer- quentiy they remain for a I (me ol ihe clv.ns 'loi' to c f^tait' .lurls- inectii lit has ry In a very iJatioi!. Ihe , ber urural ters, aju! are efficient pro- (, which Ai'as aed by good Ihode Tsland s. One firm CO, from the oysters, had years' time, nto two dls- beds, which divlduals or !pt at night ; hlch weighs public beds oyster beds, Bd, but was e with ^ong om th c B case ^f .:' , are h v.?ed chf^ amo'int 2ft. be :i!led ty n-ould be r t^- i-~+ers )m a I) mpl'.v lose V'Sr^ri !? 67 the Chesapeake boats. When a proper breeze Is blowing, drcaging can be accomplished tvum a sailboat, with one of these windlasses, with much quickness and ease. In a calm cr IH a gale, however, the work must cease, as a rule. Under these circumstances, and j«3 a« business Increased, it Is not surprising that the aid of steam should have been en'Jsted ; nor perhaps is the controversy which has ensued to be wondered at, since the iKt> eduction of novel or superior power Into some well-travelled walk of Industry has ever met with Indignant opposition. The first utilization of steam In this business, so far as I can learn, was by Captain Peter Decker and brother, of South Norwalk. After the Messrs. Decker's experiment, Mr. W, H. Lockwood, of Norwalk, not an oysterman, but an enthusiastic believer In steam-dredging, built the steamer " Enterprise " expressly for the business. Her length is 47 feet, beam 14 feet ; she draws 4 feet of water. She handles two dredges, has a dally capacity of 150 or 200 bushels. These were followed by several other steamers. The Private Oyster Orounda of Connecticut. The lands which are thus appropriated are taxed like real estate. And they may be attached or executed upon like real estate. The oyster committee of each town has power to decide upon the sum which Is to be paid for the grounds, and the term of years for which they are to be leased. No person can gather any oysters upon private grounds unless they are properly staked or buoyed out, and marked at each corner with the owner's name. The removal of oysters from private grounds, without authority from the owner. Is punished by a fine of from $300 to .$500, or by imprisonment for one year ; and the injury or destruction of the stakes or buoys, or the grounds, or the oysters upon them, Is punished by a fine of from |50 to ?700, or by Imprisonment from one month to six months ; and any boats which are used In violation of these laws are sold at auction, the captain receiving one-half the proceeds, and the town the other half. Certain towns, however, have a somewhat different law j thus, the town of Guild- ford has, by special Act of legislature, the right to lease its grounds for ten years to the highest bidder at public auction, but it cannot lease more than five acres to one person. The grounds which are thus appropriated to private parties by the towns are not used for farming or propagating oysters, except In a few cases, but simply for plant- ing, and the seed Is either taken from the public beds or Is purchased from the holders of private grounds In the area under the Jurisdiction of the State, or from persons out- side the State. The system does not, therefore, materially Increase the number of oysters, but It does greatly Increase their value : and It is therefore a great source of wealth to the people of the State, and nearly all lands adapted for the purpose are now appropriated. Deep-water Oyster Cultivation in Connecticut. The business of planting oysters In Connecticut, under the provisions which have Just been explained, grew so rapidly that all the available inshore bottom near New Haven was soon occupied, and these waters looked like a submerged forest, so thickly were they planted with boundary stakes ; and at last Mr. H. C. Rowe ventured out into the deeper water of Long Island Sound, and Inaugurated a new era In American oyster culture, by the establishment of an oyster farm In water forty feet deep. This new departure has led to the development of a uew form of oyster culture, which Is not planting but farming In Its true sense, since the " seed " oysters are seeds m reality, bringing forth after their kind a thousand fold, and thus building up, on private grounds what can be most briefly described as artificial natural beds of oysters. The movement which has led to this result is the most Important step which has ever been taken In America towards an enlightened method of managing the oyster industry. It has boon mot nt f-ach p.t.o.ge hy the most violent opposition, and Its history should be of the very greatest interest to all States which control waters in which oysters flourish. Mr. Rowe soon had many Imitators, and as oyster culture in deep water cannot be* managed on a small scale, the tracts which were appropriated were necessarily outside O C-5/2 68 S'l i 'r the limit of two acres, wlilch was all that was allowed by a strict Interpretation of the law. The vapid development of the Industry was watched with angry excitement, and as It was seen that the existing statutes had never contemplated anything of this sort, alterations nud amendments rapidly followed one another, now In the interest of the deep-water cultivators, and now in the Interest of the owners of the small planting tracts nearer the shore. The Hshermen along shore indignantly opposed the capitalists, and on the ground that everything under the water Is common property, openly romoved the oysters from private grounds. As there was no survey or exact delineation of the " natural beds," unlimited stealing from private grounds was perpetrated and loolied upon with general favour by the great majority of the fishermen, on the plea the grounds in question were " natural bods." Tlie deep-water cultivators, increasing in numbers and In Influence, were able. In 1875, to secure the passage of a law declaring that In a considerable area of the State there are no legally " natural beds," and the possibility of successfully propagating oysters in great numbers, in deep water, was soon proven, and the business continued to grow and to increase in Importance, in spite of opposition ; but so much discontent ex- isted that a resolution was passed by the legislature of 1870 in Its favour. The following account of the method of laying out and stocliing a deep-water oyster farm in Connecticut, and the statement of the attend ent expenses, Is copied from InycrsolVs " Report on the Oyster Industry of the United States " :— " The process by which a man secures a large quantity of land outside has been described. It is thought hardly worth trying unleds at least 50 acres are obtained, and many of the oyster farmers have more than 100 acres. These large tracts, however, are not always in one piece, though the effort Is to get as much together as possible. He obtains the position of the ground, as near as he can, by ranges on s he neighbouring shores, as described in his leases, and places buoys to mark his boundaries. Then he places other buoys within, so as to divide his property up into squares, an acre or so In size. In this way he itnows where he is as he proceeds In his labours. Having done this, he is ready to liegln his active preparations to found an oyster colony. Preparations. When a cultivator begins the preparation of a deep-water farm, his first act is to scatter over it, In the spring (about May}, a quantity of full-sized, healthy native oysters, which he calls " spawuers." The amount of these that he scatters depends on his cir- cumstances ; from thirty to fifty bushels to the acre Is considered a fair allowance here, I believe. The rule is, one bushel of spawners to ten bushels of cultch. He now waits until earlly in July (from the nth to the loth is considered the most favourable time, when he thlnlss his spawners must be ready to emit their spat. He then employs all his sloops, and hires extra vessels and men, to take down to the harbour the tons of shells he has been saving up all winter, and distribute them broadcast over the whole tract of land he proposes to Improve that year. These shells are clean, and fall right alongside of the mother oysters previously deposited. The chances are fair for catching of spawn. Sometimes tlie same plan is pursued with seed that has grown sparingly upon a piece of ground ; or young oysters are scattered as spawners, and the owner waits until the next season before he shells the tract. Sometimes the ground must be cleaned before any preparation can l)e begun upon it, by elaborate dredging, or otherwise. Within the liarliour, for instance, considerable muddy bottom has been untllized by first paving It with c'oarse beach snnd. No spot where there Is not a swift current Is considered worth tills trouble. The proper amount is 200 tons of sand to the acre, which can be spread at tlie rate of five sharpie loads a day, at no great expense. The sand forms a crust upon the mud firm enough to keep the oyster from sinking, and It need not be renewed more than once In five years. 69 Ejiprntes of an Oytter Farm. In either case, therefore, the planter's expense has not been enormous. 1 present herewith two statements of the outlay under the operations outlined above, which are as follows :— Xo. 1.— Fifty acres— 2,000 bushels spawners, at 30 cents ? OOO 00 15,000 bushels shells, at 3 cents 4r.(» ()(» Planting 13,000 bushels shells at 4 cents tvn) o<» Total lyi.Ci,'*) (M) Xo. 2.— Sixty acres-- 2,000 bushels spawners jit fHU couts ifl.llio 00 17,000 bushels shells, at 4 cents (WO 00 4,453 bushels Bridgeport seed, at 10 cents 445 30 Total !j;:i.L'5."» 30 In a third case, Captain George II. Townsend gave me a statement of the expenses of starting a farm of 25 acres off the mouth of East Haven River. Th's was a more elaborate arrangement, but, on the other hand, was accomplished through a variety of favourable conditions, cheaper thau would have been possible with the ground otherwise situated. 2,000 bushels small river oysters, at 25 cents if 500 00 Spreading same and stalcing, at 5 cents 100 00 000 bushels dredged seed, at 40 cents i>40 00 10,000 bushels shells, put down at 4 cents 4()u 0(» Total !i!l,240 (X> It would not be unfair to average the cost of securing, surveying, and preparing the deep-water beds at about $40 an acre, or about $4,000 for 100 acres. To this must be added about $2 an acre for ground surveys, buoys, anchors, &c. This starts tlie planter in his undertaking, and if these beds are in an exposed position they are liable to suffer loss by storms, shifting sands, &c.; if, on tlie other hand, they are well protected by nature, there is the watching and attention to be given to these grounds, as the catch- ing of the stocic, after it has matured, or the separating of the seed which must cost a further sum, but when once started, there are always oysters which are caught that can be marketed, so that you are killing two birds with one stone, catching the oysters, and cleaning the grounds. Manaytmait of the Oyster Farm. Having secured a spat of young oysters upon the cultch which has been laid down for them, they are left alone until they attain tlie age of three, four or five years, accord- ing to the thrift and the trade for which they are designated, by the end of which time they have reached a large size and degree of fatness, If the season has been favourable. If, as is largely done by those planters who live at Oyster Point, the oysters are to be sold as seed oysters to Provid.'»ii. e River, or other planters, they are takan up when only one or two years old. Xot a ^.eat quantity of this seed was so disposed of last year, not over 20,000 bushels, I should say. It Is not considered, as a rule, so profitable as to wait for the maturity of the stock. THE OVSTEn INDUSTRY OP NEW YORK. Many of the natural beos in these waters have been entirely exterminated, but. not- withstanding the great drain upon them which has followed the growth of the city of ro New York, niiiuy of the beds In East River, ai . i- ii I'li shore of C'ouey Island, are still In n prosperous condition, and contlnuo to yUM iiue oysters for food, as well as a valuable supply of seed oysters for pla'i Iiu^ T:ie preservation of these beds Is no doubt duo In part to the prohibition of rtr.«ct';ingr, but chiefly to the fact that for the last fifty years their fertility has been Increase by the practice of shelllnR thera Just before the spawning season, and thus securlni? the attachment nnf New York have been fully described, and it Is only necessary to say her .m ki^^ o uiforts have resulted In the preservation of beds which, owing to their pro.umlty to the great centre of commerce and population, have been very heavily taxed by the demands which have been made upon them. Of/ater Lntca of Nnn York. No person who has not been, n resident of the Stat(> for six months can take oysters within Ilie State, unless su li non-resident Is employed by a resident. No dredge operated by a. cam. or weighing more than thirty pounds, -an be used. No n.atural bed cau be usd for planting, or can be staked off for private use. No non-resident can plant oysters In the waters surrounding Staten Island, without the consent of the owner, and no non-resident can take oysters from the natural beds In the same waters. No person l.s allowed to dredge on the natural beds In the vie alty of Staten Island. Any owner of land udjolulng Harlem River may plant ..ysteis in front of his pro- perty, where the grouud Is not occupied, and no person can take oysters from such ground without his permission, under a penalty of $.50. The penalty for catching or dredgii t- oysters on private grounds in Kast River Is a fine of not more than |U50, or imprisonment for six months, or both. In Queen's County, any resident may plant oysters in any pul)lic waters where there are no natural beds, but no person can hold more than three acres, nor can he hold It unless 111' uses it for planting. No person is allowed to take oysters In Great South Bay, Long Island, Avith a dredge, or In the night, (/r between June loth and September 15th, under !i penalty =( required to pay his anunnl rent on or before the first day of April, and to ,„ at ist 100 bushels >'" oysters and shells on the ground, within one year of the da jf certificate, and In case of failure the oyster < ommic ioners have th-; power to t* ilnau he lease. Any person may sell and assign his interest in private oyster ground to any in- habitant of the coui-iy :or one year, but no person can at one time hold more than four acres There are three commissioners appointed by the town auditors, with power to deter- mine what grounds shall be appropriated, to make surveys and maps, to settle disputes regarding boundaries, and to receive money. The unlawful taking or disturbance of oysters on private grounds is punished l)y a fine of not less than »100, or by imprisonment for not more than sixty days, or both. There is no oyster police, but the planters have formed a protective association, and employ private svMtchmen. 71 Any Inhabitant of the towns of Hempstead and Jamaica, in Queen's County, may appropriate three acres of any lands which are nut already appropriated, for the cultiva- tion of oysters ; and upon tlie payment of an annual rent of *5 per acre, he has the right to \w the land for this purpose so long as ho remains an inhabitant of tlie towni^. No dredging Is allowed In lliese waters, under a penalty of $100 tine, or sixty days' im- prisonment, or both, and ttie talcing or disturbance of oysters in private beds is punished by $100 fine, to be recovered by the owner. According to the statistical suniniary of Professor G. B. Ooode, tlm> oyster Usherles of the United States employ M,805 persons, and yielded, in IHW» 22,11)5,370 bushels worth to the producer, $9,()a4,801. There is to bo considered an enhanceiiu nt on 13.047,l>'22 bushels in passing from producers to market. Tliis enhancement, which amoum-' to ii!4.3rt8.0()l results either from replanting or from pacldng in tin cans, and Increases ihe value of the products to $13,4.S8.852. This fishery employs 4,155 vessels. valued at $3,528,7(H». and 11,030 boats, valued at $708,,S30. The value of gear and outtlt amounts to !i!712.515. The value of sliore property amounts to $5,033,750. The total capital Invested in ovster Industry is $10..583,205. ''he actual lishernion number 38.249, the shoresmen, 14,5,5.;. About SO per cent of the > ..1 yield is obtained from thr wateis of Chesapealje Bay. <■ , , , Taking iuto account all those persons who are directly employed in the fisheries for a larger or smaller portion of tiie year, those who are dependent upon fishermen in a commercial way oi support, and the members of their families, who are actually depen- dent upon their labours, it cannot be far out of the way to estimate the total numb.r of persons dependent on the fisheries at from 800,000 to 1,000,000. Of the twenty-nine States ».,' Territories whose citizens are engaged in the fishing Industry, sixteen have more than i thousand professional fisheimen. The most importani of these States is. of course Mn "husett«. with 17,0<)0 men. At present, the oyster is one of the cheapest articles of c In the i nitcd States, and though it can hardly be expected that the price if American oysters will r.lwavs remain so low. still, taking Into consideration the great wealth of the n;. iral beds along the entire Atlantic coast. It seems certain that a mod- erate amount i protection would keep the oyster seed far below European rates, and that the imn - use stret. s of submerged land especially suited for oyster planting m l)e utilized and made ' oduct an abundant harvest at much less cost than that which nccompanies the compii. >1 system of culture In vogue In France and Holland. Extract on the Close Season. Among the favourite remedies for the protection of the oyster oeds, the sliorteulng of the season is a favourite measure, and it has many advo. ates. This remedy seems, at first sight, to be an effective one. but a little thought shows that It is, in reriitty, of no very great value. So long as the present oyster policy is maintained. It will 1 aecessnry to have a close season to facilitate the enforcement of other legal measures ; but ;, ;• Is clear to every one that a good number of fl>=!iermen, working upon a bed for ;i -^ovt season will do just as much damage as a lesser number working f .r a longer time, wfe cannot hope that laws to shorten the season will, in themselves, effect any great Im- provement in the condition of the l)eds. Thus, overfishing In November is, in this re- spect, just as bad as overfishing In May. At any time before the end of May, tlie disturbance of the beds can do little harm, and the experience of the Connecticut oyster farmers shows that the thorough raking of the beds, hist before the spawning season, is a positive ben. Sit. The young oyrers cannot attach themselves to dirty and slimy shells, and if all the sponges, hydroids and seaweeds could be dragged from our beds in April end May, and if the old decayed and slimy s lis could be ploughed under, and c; er. d witl ^leaner shells from below the surface. ..y dredging just before the spa^ nlng season, the fertility of the beds would be greatly Increased, and there is, therefore, nothing In the nature of the oyster to demand the ch ure of the beds in April and May. Enough instnnces luve been given to show that the prohibition of dredging ^^ 'M not save any bed which can be reached with tongs, and as the dredge is a mucli more 78 ... .\'f rp.t;rir c:r.^r:: jz^^^^^^^^^^^^ «„nniv 'n>l!'^ "^ ^^^ exbuustlon Of the bc'.s i8 because tbe demand has outgrow,. tl.M ^ilHiiiii Bornper. hold that the larger vessels are destroying t'hT oysters by the use ori^^v dredges, although the Connectfcut farmers find it to their Intrrest to u«Vnn t? . ^ private beds far heavier dredges, which they drag over he ieda by ste "m Tianv „AT" oyster packers who carry on their business only In the winter beflevrth„. ^!ul l ^ age Is due to the oystermen who flsh In March \nrnJnHM„v ^^^ '*'""• Dnnecessarii DmrnoHon of Young Oysters. beds'*" TZ:i V'ZitL'tTJl -^.!ito account for the destruction of our oyster ^^ 7^r« out^m tiS^tnS^sfs niSs o?Zt:^:.^!i:^^ often be found. They are. of course, dead, and as they are too small to be of any use! n their de«truotlon U a ('lour loss to nw people. It Is liiiposilble to prevent this from hap- pening LTaslonally, an In many caufu the little oygters are 8o ainall, and no Ormly fastent'il to the old one, that they rnnnot bo removed without deitroyluK them. We believe, however, that In caseB where Krenf mimberg of young are fastened to the large ones, the use or destruotlon of them at tlio packing house should be dUcouraged. This difficulty win disappear with the growth of the planting Industry, lor Hmall oysters will then be valuable as seed, and they will pass Into the hands of the planters Instead of going to the packing houses. The true remedy, therefore, Is the eueourageinent of plant- ing, and If our people would develop this business Immediately, all need for special legislation would disappear. It has taken our people nearly two Imiulred years to discover that we cannot afford to destroy oysters In this way ; we can hardly expect them to perceive that clean, empty shells are also so valuable that tjieir use for lime, &c., should be prohibited One of the commissioners called attention t(* the very great value of oyster shellh, and showed that tt great Increase of fertility would follow the return of the shells to the waters of our bay. The preservation of the oyster beds. Professor Goode regarded as a matter of vital Importance to the United States, for oyster llshlug, unsupported by oyster culture, will, within a short period, destroy the employment of tens of thousands, and the cheap and favourite food of tens of millions of citizens. Oyatm' Planting. Oyster planting Is the placing of small or " seed " oysters upon bottoms which are favourable to their growth. Planting also adds very greatly to the value of oysters, as they grow more rapidly, and are of better quality when thus scattered than they are upon the natural beds, and Ingor.soll quotes the statement that |13 worth of small "seed" oysters yielded, after they had been planted for two years, oysters which were sold for $114, beslde.s about thirty bushels, which were used as food by the planter's family. Oyster planting can be carried on only on private grounds, and It cannot flourish In a community which does not respect the right of the private owner to the oysters which he has planted. The Industry does not require a largo capital, and It cm be carried on with profit on a very small scale, although the oysters need constant and Intelligent attention. In all places where It has been employed It has greatly added to the prosperity of the com- munities which have engaged in it, and has greatly increased the population of the shores along which It has been encouraged and protected. Private VuUurf. The history of French oyster culture Is of very great Interest In this connection. Nearly twenty-flve years ago the French Government undertook the cultivation of oysters. In order to restock the exhausted beds. The Government farms were at first very successful, and they not only proved thuv oybter farming is very profitable, but they also served as a school for the Instruction of iho public In the methods of oyster culture. This example was followed by private cultivators, and the private Industry upon the French coast Is now In a very prosperous condition ; but a government reporv (Oyster Culture in Morbihan) upon the subject ; in 1875, contalno the statement that " the worst merchant in France Is the state." The state lacks that powerful lever called Individual Interest. An occupation Is not possible unless an assured profit may be rea- lized from It. The merchant alone can be certain of this, from a study of the markets and the demands of the consumers. The poorest merchant In France is the state. The state Jin.s (inite another P''.i't to play. Charsed with the nrntcctlcTs .".f all it ""nnot descend from this clevat' sphere of general usefulness Into the arena where opposing Interests of commerce are contending. We do not wish In any way to diminish the grati- tude due to those whether functionaries of State, or others who have laboured for the 1 sf 74 |jb< creation and development of this industry : but we feel the necessity of proclaiming in a certain measure the omnipotence and vigilance of individual interest. This Industry has paid a profit of not less than 100 per cent annually upon the capital nvested in the business, while money thus invested in other states has paid an annual interest of more than 200 per cent. One Arm laid down 250,000 bu.shel8 of shells. Several large growers have laid down as many as 200,000 bushels each. A still larger number have scattered a hundred thou- sand, fifty thousand, and twenty thousand each. Tliere are about thirty steamers engaged in the business, besides a very large number of sailing vessels. It does not admit of a doubt that the business of oyster growing, as carried on in the waters of the sound is exceedingly profitable. With regard to transplanting the oyster and its transportation, all experienced per- sons were of the opinion that delicacy in handling, and freedom from Jars, concussions and shocks of any liind, were desirable. Oysttrs, when under hatches, have very fre- quently been killed by heavy thunderstorms and firing of guns, Anv concussion or sudden shock will prove destructive, If tliey are in a confined space. ' Oysters taken up during the summer are much more susceptible to Injury from this cause than those obtained dui-ing the winter. Oysters: are transplanted at any and all seasons, but generally in the spring and autumn, ,/ r e. Results of Leasing Areas. Before the inception of the cxiuninatlon of the oyster area of the State, the industrv was not only insignificant, but had every prospect of remaining so. The examination and survey have directly or indirectly entirely changed this condition of affairs. When widespread ignorance as to the real condition of matters existed in the past, intelligent comprehension of all phases of the question is found in the present. In place of ignor- ance of the positions and areas of the natural beds and possibilities of ovster culture is a general diffusion of knowledge on both subjects. Instead of continual strife among those who worked the common and those who worked the private beds, there is practi- cally general harmony. Where, under cover of law. robbery of the common property was carried on by one class and depredations on private prooerty by the other now exists a complete restriction of both. The rights of the public and of the individual are equally protected. In place of what was virtually discouragement of enterprise in this field, is now liberal encouragement to all who will venture labour or capital in the development of the area Instead of an iuslgniflcant business, yielding little to the Individual and nothing to the State, a new industry, promising wealth and prosperity to the individual and increased income and Importance to the State, has begun Its existence ; and, finally, confidence in the future may be substituted for the fear of disaster to the greatest of American fisheries. The Chesapeake beds may and probably will be destroyed through the excessive and Illegal fishing they undergo ; the oyster farms on Long Island Sound may continue their struggle with star-fish and inclement weather-wlth the ravages of man and nature ; but so long as North Carolina holds open her hundreds of thousands of acres of territory to the cultivator, the oyster Industry of the country, employing its thousands of people and its millions of capital, cannot perish. TJie Fishery and its Effects. An extract from Lieutenant Wlnslow's report : " The oysters are removed from the beds in the James River with the tongs alone, no dredging being permitted, and this may account to some extent for the beds being made up of patches and ridges of oysters. This fnrmntifin Is nnli' n(jrontoiv/ir,.io iri n., mur!- n~ i-^ = '-<- ^i •-•■ - j.- , , „" . ■• — ^•" = " '" <-•• mucn n= u aasistB ihu rapiaity or tne current, and, in all ot ler respects, it is an evil. Beds such as Cruiser's Rock, Nasemond Ridge and Point of Shoals, when the oysters in places are too thick, would be much improved 75 by using a light scrape or dredge, Instead of the tongs In the fishery. If used with moderation, the surface of the bed would be cleaned, its area extended, the oysters would be more evenly distributed and cUowed more room for development, and the spat, having a larger and cleaner amount of " cultch exposed, would probably attach In greater numbers." InformaliOH given hy Oystermen. The cause assigned for the deterioration, and even the admittance of the fact, de- pended very much upon the occupation of the Informant. The tongers, or those who pursued the fishery with tongs alone, were unanimous In laying the deterioration to ex- cessive dredging, while the dredgers, or those owning pungies or other vessels employed exclusively with the dredge, while they admitted the decrease in the number of oysters, laid such decrease to the action of natural and unexplained causes, arguing that the evident extension of the beds and Improvement of the oysters, due to dredging, was sufficient to prove its good rather than its ill effects. T^'^ith regard to the depth of water and character of bottom, shallow water was pre- ferred, and sticky mud, or mud and sand, about six inches in thlcliness over a hard substratum, was considered the best, though a larger amount of mud did not matter, provided it was not so soft as to allow the oysters to sink In it, and had a strong current over it. The oysters were said to feed on the flood tide, having their bills open then and at no other time. No one had noticed any enemies or animals that preyed upon the oysters. and all semed ignorant of the drills and their destructive effects. The oysters are " culled," that Is, they are separated from the old shells and other dftbris, while the boat or vessel is on or near the bed. Everything except the oyster is thrown back, sometimes striking the bed and as often the mud. The young oysters, under a year and a half in growth, and less than two Inches long, are also thrown back. All persons interrogated were of the opinion that at least 75 per cent of the oysters on a bed are taken off each year, and that no more than 50 per cent should be removed. The spawning season was said to be from May until August, inclusive, though most of the spawning was done in June and July. All opinions coincided that the oyster in shoal water spawned first, but different as to whether, the depth being the same, all oysters on the same bed spawned at or about the same time, as many being for as against the theory. Currents were said to have no effect upon the spawning. Oysters of one rear's growth, three-fourths of an inch long, have been seen with the spawn In them, and oysters on natural beds were thought by tne m.ajorlty to spawn sooner than the planted ones, though there was not much difference. Oysters transplanted with the spawn in them, however, will cease spawning, A wet or warm sprln,^ would hasten the time of spawning, but would not shorten its duration. The young were supposed to " strike " every three years, though there was but little regularity about it, a bed sometimes running for ten years with a young growth on It every year, and then failing to produce anything for two or three years. Sometimes one part oi' the bed will be covered by young and another totally barren. The difference in time of spawning, in shoal and deep water, is probably due to difference in temperature, the deeper water naturally being of the lowest. The establish- ment or the refutation of this supposition, as also that of the difference of the times of spawning is very necessary, especially of the hitter, as It would afford a sure basis for such legislation for the protection of the beds as will soon be necessary. Mr. Rice, in searching for spawn in the oysters during the latter part of August and first part of September was unable to discover any except in those from deep water, and that fact. together with the inference drawn from preceding paragraphs, leads me to believe the oystermen are correct In stating that there is a difference in the time of spawning of the shoal and deep-water oysters. CANADIAN OYSTER INDUSTRY. The preceding general description of the methods used in some of the European coun- tries, and in different parts of the United States, serve as a sufficient model or example of 76 ^hat has been done, and also the business which might be developed in the waters of the maritime provinces and British Columbia, if capital and energv were brought to bear upon this valuable branch of the fishing Industry. orougnt to Dear v.J^T°f, ""f /''"t °^ investigation In New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and ,ri Jf ;, ,? °"^'^' •''"'°"^ '^^ P'°P'^ '^^'^' •■^" ^^■*'»^"t desire to learn everything vl^! n , !, '" "' °f °^'*^'''' ^""^ ^ ^""^^ °° *^«"''* t'^^t ^"l^ tl^« material assistance hich this department is prepared to give to those willing to embark in this business the day is not far distant when the whole coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia' from Caraquet to the Strait of Canso, including the waters in the Island of Cape Breton' as well as the shores of Prince Edward Island could be made to yield a handsome revenue to the provinces, while being of no small importance to parties desiring to engage in this lucrative business on their own account. fi.- Y^ to the present time very little attention has been devoted to the private or arti- n,Thnc'h r H° "« ?'"'''' "P°" '''''''^ ''''^'- ^^'« '""^t -^o^^'der tSe area ^f the rp.u 1« ' ??'.''T'" ''"'' ^''' "P°° ''"''^' th"-'"- "'d^ '°«des of fishing, the eckle 8 way in which the beds have been destroyed by cutting them to pieces during the win er months by means of mud diggers, worked by horsepower the contents ^. which are ransferred to farms and utilized as a fertilizer on their lands), the fl.hing for oysters through the ice during the winter months (which, I am pleased say, has since been stopped), all helping to deplete the beds (as the young and immature oysters being left on the ice to freeze and perish through the severity of the weather); the indiscriminate and illegal fishing, everything in the shape of an oyster being carried on shore, irrespective of size. All this has been carried on for years It is no wonder then that complaints are received of areas becoming exhausted and unpro- ductive, or that they cannot stand the strain which is brought to bear upon them, that areas are becoming smaller in size, and in many cases are entirely mudded over choking and killing the few remaining oysters that were on the beds. The methods used in taking oysters are with single-handled rakes, and tongs ; dredges are very little Oysters being a valuable article of food, are the me^ns of bringing large sums of money to the districts where they are grown, caught or cultivated. As our areas are gradually being fished out, it is for us to take steps to prevent their extinction, if possible. Now that there are such facilities for the transit of perishable goods, the demand is far greater than tlie supply, henc^ one of the chief causes of overfishing. Being public grounds, every fisherman considers he has a right to fish while there are oysters to be caught, so that the stock left on the grounds for breeding purposes, in some Instances Is very low. The only way to avoid this, is by granting leases or areas to resident appli- cants for the cultivation of oysters under their own care. These private lavings will be watched, guarded and improved. The public areas would not be &o heavily fished upon and If small ones were taken from them, it would be to transplant them to a private bed' instead of being added to the pile of dead oyster shells, of which so many are to be sera around the packing houses and landing places, no one caring what becomes of them although they are one of the chief causes of exhaustion of the beds, which, if left on the nshlng grounds, would become the very backbone of the oyster industry Speaking of public oyster fishing areas, it is seen that "with few exL-eptlons the beds are gradually but surely becoming depleted, as every one considers they have a right to fish, and no one cares to try and improve the beds, for if one person attempted to do so there would be one hundred that would do Just the opposite. Under ordinary conditions each natural oyster bed is able to yield a certain number of oysters each year, and whenever this number is taken in excess the beds suffer, and if the practice is con- ^nnM r '""«Vr°*l'""-'' ^^ destroyed. To restrict the fishery to any great extent would. In effect, deprive many of the poorer class of people of a portion of their sub- stance and means of livelihood, neither is it necessary beyond the actua' close time except In extreme cases, to do so. My Impression Is that the general effect of a ieneth- -Til.,.. '^" s:iinri- iiit- o.vstcr nsncrmen upon the beds in greater numbers than ever at the opening of any particular area that has been reserved No mere restriction of the fishing can possibly accomplish the desired object, and It Is only a matter of time before the end comes. 77 The following regulations, if carried out, no doubt would materially assist tliis branch of the fishery ; they were passed by Order In Council, dated 28th day of December, 1893, and are as follows :— 1. No person shall flsh for or catch oysters without a lease or license from t;ie Min- ister of Marine and Fisheries. 2. The owner, person, or persons Interested in a flshlng boat employed in the oyster fishery shall cause a memorandum in writing, setting forth the name of the owner, person, or persons in, crested to lie filed with the local fishery officer, who, if no valid objection e.xists, may, under instructions from the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, issue n fishery license for the same, and any boat or fishing apparatus usi^d without such license shnl! be deemed to be illegal and liable to forfeiture, together with the oysters caught tliereii; and the owner or person using the same shall be sub.leot to the penalties prescr.bed by tiie Fislierles Act. 3. A.! buats tlshlng for oysters shall have a registration number corresponding with that of the licens legil)ly marked or painted on the bow of tlie boat, in white coloured letters on a black ground, and the initial letter of the port to which such boat lielongs. snob letters to I)e at least eight inches in length. 4. Oysters shall not be fished for, caught, killed, bought, sold or had in possession, betwejn the 1st day of June and the 15th day of (September, in each year, both days inclusive. 5. Fishing for oysters, or any other sheil-fish, through the ice is prohibited. 0. No person shall flsh for, catch, kill, buy, sell, or have in possession, any round oysters of a less size than two inches in diameter of shell, nor any long oysters measur- ing less than three inches of outer sliell. Round oysters of a less size than two inches in diameter, and long oysters measuring less than three Inches on the outer shell that may be accidentally caught, shall be re- turned to the water alive, at the cost and risk of the persou so fishing, on whom, in every case, shall devolve the proof of actual liberation. Provided always, that persons holding fishery licenses may obtain from the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, permission to flsh for and catch small oysters for the purpose of planting, or stocking oyster beds. 7. Fishing for oysters is prohibited on Sunday, and from sun«et to sunrise on any jther day of the week. 8. No person shall dig mussel mud within 200 yards from any live oyster beds, and then only at such place or places as may be prescribed in writing by a fishery officer. 9. The use of rakes for the purpose of taking oysters on any beds prepared or plar^ted by the Department of Marine and Fisheries Is prohibited. Oysters will find a resting place on various kinds of soil ; they are to £e found on rocky and stony bottoms, attaching themselves to twigs and branches oi' trees that may be lying In the water, or any other hard, clean substance. The oyster is also found on shelly and muddy- bottoms. It will live and thrive in mud as long as It is not too soft to become entirely burled, and has free access to running water. Such oysters are gener- ally long and irregular in shape, with a soft chalky shell, while an oyster taken from a firm bottom will not, as a rule, be so large, and the shell is composed of a harder sub- stance ; such Is more regular In shape, especially when found singly. Oysters that grow In clusters are chiefly found on areas where there is .i lack ' ' 'iroper cultch, and natur- ally attach themselves to each other. If these areas were d' A upon, it would loosen the sediment which would be carried away by the tide, clei.nse the shells, remove the weeds and extend the area, which would be much elear.er than it is at present, as the oysters are fished with a rude kind of rake, which contracts rather than extends the beds. If all our oyster areas were divided up into private holdings, the whole could be watched. Its condition and capacity much more carefully and exa tly ascei-talned. than can ever be the case under State management, and an enlightened system of private cuitlvaliou would be tbe wo-*^ f?»',ro snfi^gu.".vd .".s-iinst th<> oslinnsfion of the bfds. The only obstacle In the way preventing the developmert of such an industry among us is the existence of the sentiment that since the oyster grounds belong to the whole 78 people, they are not In a proper field for private labour and industry. Fish have always been regarded as common property, because it Is not within the power of individuals to Improve them, or increase their numbers or value, but this is not true of oysters An oyster is as subject to improvement by cultivation as a garden root, and the cultivation of oysters is therefore a perfectly proper and legitimate employment for capital and abour, and the common right to the beds must in time gi^•e way to private enterprise. Just as surely as the common right to the natural products of the soil has given way before the progress of civilization. Such a change as this cannot be brought about rapidly without causing imaginary hardships or ill-feeling, and it is therefore best that It should come slowly, but the common right to all our people to the use of the oyster beds is a very different thing, from the right of a portion of our people to exterminate the beds ; and since It is plain that the Interests of the whole people demands an Im- mediate change in our oyster Industry, steps should now be taljen to render possible the growth of our oyster farming Industry in the future. Theoretical oyster culture seems so simple, that the wonder is there are so many failures at it. When we come to put our theory Into practice, we begin to And how many local circumstances there are. apparently trifling In themselves, which really exert a powerful Influence on our calculations ; and It is only by many years of watch- ful observation that any one can acquire sufficient experience to be able to understand and cope with the numerous difficulties which will beset the path of an oyster grower' If, however, we were asked to sum up the principles of oyster culture in as few words as possible, we should say : Keep your cultch clean, keep down the vermin, separate from the collectors as soon as possible, protect from frost during the winter, keen the oysters quiet during the spatting season, and hope for warm, calm and settled summer WfifttllOl'. I will now deal chiefly with grounds that would be kept and attended to bv private culturlsts, as I bel eve the above course is the only hope for the oyster consumer to secure his stock. As the grounds are now so overfished it must be plain to every one that the supply of oysters in the future must rest entirely upon the products of private enterprise rather than from public areas With this end In view, the Department of Marine and Fisheries have for the last few year., granted areas of ground covered with water, or foreshores, in the form of a license or lease to persons applving for areas where HvenS "^T ^'''*°^ '' '""•'*' °"' *^"* ''' ''''''' "° «^«*^'" ^'^^'^^^ »" o^taln^ livelihood, such areas are reserved for the public, but where a bed has become depleted tnrough overfishing, overgrown grass or weeds, mud, or other causes, such areas can be app ed for. or areas where no oyster fishery ever existed, leases have been issued on application and on payment of SI per acre per annum, payable In advance, the applicant paying all charges for obtaining plan and surveys, &e. The forms of application were as follows, with regulations to guide surveyors in preparing plans and description, for applications for oyster fishery licenses. o-ni>uuui. xor APPLICATION FOB OYSIEB FISHING PRIVILEGES. To. ISi) The undersigned hereby applies for a License of Oyster Fishery Privileges at in the County of Province of covering the fcliowing limUs." 83 Shown on a plan of survey accompanying the present application :~ (Here insert description of Jlmita. by metes and bounds, showint connection with previous surveys made, or with some well-defined boundaries on shore All surveys *n t Tws DepartmSt.""'"''^ '"''^''' '" accordance with the printed regulatSor.s Issued Signature of Appllcari't or Applicants 79 REGUtATiONS to gulde Surveyors In preparing Plans and Descriptions for Applications for Oyster Fishing Licenses. (1.) All surveys of Oyster License Limits are to conform to the largest scale Ad- miralty Chart published, of the harbour or locality to which the application refers. Such Chart can be seen on application to the Fishery Overseer of the District in which the limits are situated. (2.) Boundaries are to be fixed by reference to well-defined objects marlied on the Charts, or by any Surveyor's boundaries already existing, but In these last cases, the Surveyor's boundaries must be defined for platting on the Chart by reference to points marked on the Chart, so that they can be accurately located by the Ofllcers of the Department from the Surveyor's description. (3.) Where surveys are bounded by lines, these lines must be due astronoLjlcal east and west and north and south lines. (4.) The extremities of any lines, or other boundaries, when on land, must be marked by monuments in accordance with the law governing land surveys. (5.) The boundaries of lots, when in water, must be so defined that they can be easily located at any future time. Satisfactory definitions would bo two cross ranges on land, separated by an angle of at least CO degrees, with the objects in range defined on plan, or at least three sextant angles, each of not less than 40 degrees, measured to four prominent objects on shore shown on the Chart. Compass bearings alone, unaccom- panied by any other cheek, will not be accepted. (0.) A plan of the survey must be furnished, which is to be made on the basis of the Admiralty Chart of the locality, as above mentioned, either on the same scale or some multiple thereof, or it may be platted upon a printed copy of the Chart. On the plan, all boundaries, distances, bearings and connections, with reference points, must be distinctly shown, and an error, clerical or otherwise, will condemn the whole survey. (7.) The plan must be accompanied by a description giving the miles and bounds of the lot and Its area in acres, in such terms as would, In the case of an ordinary land survey be held in a Court of Law, to be a legal description for a title deed. (8.) In the event of previous surveys having been made In the same locality, the plan is to show the nearest boundaries of such surveys, and their relation to tiie new survey. After the application and plan are complete it la submitted to the inspector of fish- eries for transmission to headquarters, with his report of the area In question, and if approved of by the department, a form of license is made out in his favour for a period of nine years, on a form similar to the following :~ OYSTER ABEA FI8HEBT LICENSE. No. Dominion of Canada, Province of. Special Fishery lilcecse issued under authority of Sec. 21 of the " Fisheries A:!t." The herein named resident of , County of • • •. i^'' consideration of the payment of the acnual g,im of Dollprs, ^ :, i-eby licensed lOr the term of years, to plant and form Oyster Beds and tc Fish tor Ojsters within the following waters, that is to say : (Full description of liiuits given.) The preseat license Is granted under the foHowSng conditions :- 1. Tlial the Licenuee thali -jse and appljf tlss 'j/r'"'!eg6; •lant- Ing, breeding, culture, production and fishing of Oysters, and uses connected therewith ; and for no other purposes whatever. 80 if^ stntlr^l Lra^oTsI^ L "th"''"^'' '"^' '''''' '""^^ '^ -^-'n verified by "".lor the prosc-nt License ^''''°""' ' ""'^ ^^'^^ ^^^ ""^^'ef sold In Canada each year person or persons d„,v ZZZlt ^^Jt such effeef ''"'^" "''' '''^'"'^^- "■• ""-•• marlced on the north'^SrstnUe or buoy '"' "' "'*' *'^ ''''''''' "^ ^'^^ ^°* P^^'^'^ vearly'Tn'l.tln''^";;,:?"'"? f . "' ^'^^ "'^'^"^^ ^'^'^^ ''■ ^^y ^"t thereof $ i V . . r^ T' . "^^ '*'"* ^''"'■""^ ^'" ''«<^°'°e °"» and void. Countersigned and dated at. For Minister of Marine and Fisheries. •*'«»« day of lag .Fishery Officer. or dirty, hard or soft, even or uneven If dlrtv It shonM hr^...! °. ' " '^ '''^*°' the weeds, if any. should be -move'd and^thtStto^Zra^tTaVp^TsI^^^^ tZld beLr It ""'^' '' "" °'' '^^'^*^^ '^^' ^'^^ *"-'"^ -- «^ the'oM^sh'ellj'wm gfeSy In planting oysters no hard and fast rules are given. If oysters are fonnrt tn ti,,, m certain waters. It Is as well to continue cultivating them on The same arT ''' Great care should also be taken to plant oysters in a sufficient depth of wfltP,- t. r. tect them from frost and ice during the winter months, upon a firm bottom ^? f-- ^*' G feet depth at low water time in sheltered places, beeper wat^rwouW be IZsnh ° to efcir^jir o"f ^Lrd'^rsUirr^tiTiT^^^^^^^^^^^ --^ r- oysters down among every state of tilth One must keep coLS^dlpIr'' ^ '"' "' the bed Itself, but the public beds outside, so as t^Lep ?hrSottom flffor^ 1^^' " 'if "^ and growth of the young oysters, and free of its multitud nous and natura enenZT oyster ground is naturally dirty in the summer. Seaweed grows rapidiv S hntT« V. " it:::r.ttT '^"^ ^°"^^^"°"^'^' ^« ''- ^™ ^'-c^rsVounirre I will now give an explanation ot the dredge and its uses in oyster culture. 81 Oyster Dredges. In preparing grounds for cultivation, the main object Is to have a clean area to begin ■with. The most efHclent, effective, and economical method in this case is the use of the dredge, which is a triangular shaped instrument, consisting of a bit or rake nearly three feet long, made of flat iron about two inches in width and set at an angle so that it comes in contact with the ground, behind which a small bag-net is fitted, and made to hold about a bushel, this will receive and collect all the bit of the dredge has turned over The sides of the bit are Joined to two pieces of Iron about three feet six Inches long and welded together at the upper end to which a ring is fitted, a rope is attached to this ring, and in this way it is towed and brought to the surface when required. It is also strengthened by a piece of iron running from the ring down the centre two thirds the length of the sides, and connected by a cross piece of iron holding the two outside limbs in their place which strengthens the frame considerably ; to it also is secured the upper side of the net. The bag or net, is so constructed that the lower or underneath side is generally made of iron or galvanized wire rings and made into a netting, because tliere is more wear on the lower side, as It is dragged over the bottom of the ground, and most of the weight of the contents lay on that side, while the upper side is an ordinary pieet- of common netting made with strong twine, this being much lighter, it fills out forming an open-mouthed bag by the action of the water running through the meshes while the dredge is being towed over the grounds. The lower end of the bag is kept square by means of a stout stick attached to both the lower corners, this keeps the net from foul- ing, and also acts as a handle when emptying the contents of the dredge on deck. The dredge Is towed behind a steamboat or from the weather sid6 of a sailing boat, the boat being allowed to fall to leaward and forge ahead slowly, the length of rope being regu- lated from the deck, by the depth of water the bed is lying In, speed of the boat, and the conditions of the weather. After a little practice it can easily be ascertained whether the dredge is full or empty, or is catching anything or not, by feeling of the dredge-rope, if everything is satisfactory, a strong vibration is felt on the rope as the dredge is being dragged over the bottom and the weight is found to Increase, sometimes the boat is going too fast, or the line may be too short, and the dredge does not even touch the bottom, this is called swimming the dredges, and can only be adjusted and regulated bv practice, both as regards the speed of the vessel or the length of rope. Where dredges are worked by hand It is not desirable to have them made too heavy, it would be a greater advantage to work two lighter ones than one heavy one ; and that fault alone would often prejudice many persons against their use. The iron frame- work of a dredge weighing about 20 lbs. Is a very fair weight for a hand dredge. The lighter the line the better It will fish as there Is not so much resistance against the water. The result is that the dredge Is towed lightly over the beds, collecting all surface shcVs, stones, weed, oysters, brood or any other substance or matter that lies In Its way. If oysters have been planted, or are laying on the area, they are caught much faster than by the ordinary methods now in use in this country. Large quantities of oysters may be caught in the course of a day from a well stocked bed, by the use of the dredge, a large item would be noticed in the course of a season In the way of saving labour, it being far more economical and satisfactory to use a dredge than any other implement or method. It also disturbs the sediment or silt which is naturally carried away by the currents, and the result Is the grounds are cleaned while the oysters are being caught for market. It keeps the areas level and If the shells are old and decayed they may be removed to the outside edges of the bed, the dredges are sometimes towed to the extreme length or breadth of the cultivated area or even beyond It, the shells and refuse often being thrown ovei-board outside the edges of the bed, and if this Is continued it can easily be seen that: the beds must become more extensive, and the result Is that by the use of dredges the beds are increasing in size, while the methods now In use are of no value whatever in cleaning or keeping an area In order, and only tend to contract rather than extend the beds as is the desire of any vise vfishiag to make aa Improvemeut and success on anything that Is undertaken. O C— 6 82 Dredges are also used In England to obtain the whelk, which is used as au article of rood and also a valuable bait for cod-fishermen. It is likewise used to c.,^^h .n,i « f and starfish, utilized by the farmers as a fertilizer nd q'Sra ^umii 0?^^^ employment in loading their boats with them for the different markets , The lioU. u ^?*'^*u '!,'■'"'"''* ^^'■'''''' "■''^^'^ ^^^ S'"""""^ '« composed of moving sand, or where mud deposited ; consequently, since the siz^^ and number of these places are becoming Try iml ed. only a very small percentage of the young oysters can find a rest^g S and the remainder perish. By putting down suitable cultch Immense quantities of the wan dering spat (or fry) may settle on it. and thus be saved. As a Jule the na ural beds occupy most of the suitable space In their own vicinity. Unoccupied ground maf how ever. be pi^pared for the reception of new beds, by spreading sand gravel and s^eHs over muddy bottoms, or beds may be kept up in locations for permanent, naturarbeds by put Ing down oysters and cultch. Jusf before the time of breeding, thus giving tSe ;na^ ajhance to fix themselves before the currents and enemies have had tfmefo destroy TT '^Mf'^^'f* ^'''■'" °' oyster-culture is the preservation of the natural oyster-bed«i Upon this, in fact, depends the whole future of the Industry, since it is not pXble that any system of artificial breeding can be devised on these shores, on account of pro ectfng the seed during the long winter, which will render it possible to keep up a supply wih out at least occasional recourse to seed oystera produced under natural conditions It Lo h"^J r ''^/''"°'* «» ^^'^ l^^^e «t»dled the subject, that any natural bed may in time be destroyed by over-flshing. by burying the breeding oysters, by covering up the projections suitable for the reception of spat, and by breaking dowi. through the act o^ of heavy dredges, the ridges which are specially fitted to receive the future spat Professor Huxley qvotes : "As regards the future of the oyster Industry "in Great Britain, the only hope for the oyster consumer, lies in the encouragement of oyster cul- ture, and m the development of some means of breeding oystera under such conditions that the spat shall be safely deposited." conaitions Great care should be taken of the spat, as the older It Is, the hardier it becomes and if the young are saved the future may be looked forward to by reaping a goorha;ve8t The living and dead shells of the adult oysters furnish the best surface for ?he attach! inent of the young, and for this reason the points where oyster beds are already estab- lished are those where the young have the most favourable surroundings and the best «how for life. The beds thus tend to remain permanent and of subatantlally the same atee and shape. It is well known that shell fish of all kinds thrive best where the sup^y of lime is the greatest. The dead oyster shell Is soon corroded and In a few years Sost entirely dissolved by the seawater. and I think this fact Is another reason why the 7^ Zr «?,t! Tl Zl^:^l^!^. ^!^J .^?^J-^ *^« -PP»y Of oysters Is UmUed ^yZ ""-"-■ ' r-c^i-r- t^, =Kj. uui V.-U-CU we recollect iiow imnonant it la that tha young oysters should soon find solid bodies to fasten themselves to. and that they shonW protect themselves by strong shells of their own as quickly as possible, it will be^n 83 that the danger of exterminating a valuable bed . ^verdredglnir wouW J)p mi.nh in<.= i# the empty shells or cultch were replaced on the bee. ^'°'^''*'"« ^""''^ »'« '""c*" "ess If hnttn!!,"''?.? ^^^ """"^ ^"'^° *° ^''^ ''^•"•'^ °' ''•^^"«' «t°°««- &c.. which are found at the bottom of the sea on or near oyster beds. It has been the practice from time Immemorial to supplemen the natural supply by throwing down deposits of this sort on ZteJ grounds. Oyster and cockle shells make the best material for this purpose In defauU of this, stones and pebbles may be used, the great point being that the cultJh whatever It is composed of. should be clean, and for this purpose the shorter the me ris llld down before the spat falls the better. '** Shells may be collected from oyster saloons and deposited near the shore exposing hem to the weather, the sun and rain, frost and snow will have the desired effect upon 1Z\1 "^ 7'» ^-l "'"""""^''^ '■'*""'^'*'^ ""' -^^ «'"«"°''^ °'- oth^-- '"'^tt.r. and when Taw pon the oyster beds are excellent spat collectors, they also serve to make a Arm founSa tlon in extending an area If required by the planter. Or they may be obtalld from oyster beds taken In the dredge when fishing for oysters and laid on shore In heaps untu required for use, or when enlarging an area may be deposited there each day as tSey are caught according to the discretion of those who have charge of the work Whenever the natural conditions will admit of it, the yielding capacity of an oyster voun^ov fe. r^'' '/ 'rrl''' """ ^''"^••^'"^ *^« «^°""^ '°^ t^« -c'^p ion of the W.PH W.H H , TT^ ^''°''' '^""'"^ ^^ "°P^°^«'l t,y removing the mud and sea- Si w^^'^ "''\''^ ''""'''"^ '''' ^''"'^ •*' °y«*^" '^"'J «ther molluscs over the ?,.,■.„" circumstances will permit, all vermin which are taken In the dredge which kill oysters or consume their food should be destroyed ; In England this collection is generally used as a fertilizer upon the fishermen's veg;tab,e gLdens thrill ^ upon gardens. '''"^'' """"'''''"^ '^"^ ^'""^ '^' °^'*''' ^"^' ""^ P'"'^'°^ '^""^ ^' '""""'^ nh«o1:Srrr ''"^ ''T P'^P^'^^ ^^^ °^''* **^P *« t« «tock It, and it has often been observed that the removal of oysters from one ground to another has the general effect of Improving both their flavour and size The spring of the year, before the hot weather sets m is the best time for planting. By placing the oysters In shallow water during the spring and summer months, they will grow much faster than If placed In deeper water .■IS the sun causes the water to become much warmer, the oyster being very sensitive to the action of light and heat which promotes a rapid growth. Oysters planted In the autumn are not so likely to thrive, as owing to the change of soil and falling tempera- ture, the oyster Is not properly cllmatlzed before winter sets In, which very often" proves disastrous. Oysters grow but little during the winter months, with the exception of getting thicker, consequently it Is all risk or loss with little or no gain although there are exceptions in every case. Young oysters taken In the spring will have survived the winter, the change of water and temperature becoming warmer, gives the oyster every chance to live and grow. In obtaining the necessary quantity of oysters for planting purposes extreme care should be taken of securing them in a fresh condition, and if time wUl admit of It. to overhaul these oysters and brood very carefully, and If they are found to be In clusters they should be separated as much as possible either from other oysters, shells stones or anything else they may have adhered to. This separation gives the oyster a better chance to grow into Its natural shape, as oysters grow much better singly than when In clusters or bunches. In securing the stock the size of the oyster should be considered for which I give the following reasons : Small or young oysters planted on a bed are preferable, as their growth alone will result In large proportionate returns and profit A young oyster Is not so likely to die when transplanted to another bed, as when older nor is It any advantage to transplant a full grown oyster unless for Immediate use. In the oyster trade of this country one great advantage is the rapid growth of the bivalve, when as Is the case here, they are bought and sold by measure. - - • — '= — .— .-», .!. • .iiviiiDs >Dr BtotjE lor marKet. to separate any small oysters that may have attached themselves t.. full grown oysters or shells that have been brought to the surface in the dredge with tether cultch and In this way a person is always Improving his own grounds \7hlch he will soon find out to O C—6y2 64 hiB advantage. BxperlmentB have beon made by the department with depleted beds at Shedlncv N.n. The arons there have been cleaned and restocked with young oysters whicn have ^roM-n very fast, are full of life, and on several of the oysters and shells ^ere are trnr-es of spat, from the smallest size up to the full-grown bivalve ; the ground mm r^r'Jn^in'li'" I'T.'H'J' T'"'"''''- "" ""' P°''"°° ^' "'« ^''^ "^^^^^^ ^^^e planted ZZ ^;\"'"/«'"n"' ' I^I- Tl'""'* oysters have grown very much more than those which were obtained from Miu-toufhe or Cocngne, although the latter are In splendid condition riie woaltli within the reiul. «f our people and their descendants. <■ jm the oyster grounds In our waters Is almost boyond belief, and It Is not too much to affirm that their money value Is more than equal to that of dry land. Temperature of the Water. During the time whilst engaged In the provinces, I paid strict attention to the tem- perature Of (I.e water, and see no reason why there should not be a spat fall each year If the grounds are In a suitable condition. The temperature gradually rises during the summer months until It reaches about 70 degrees, when it a- gradually falls, giving aniple time lor the spat to become attached to any object, and start growing before the winter sets In. The waters In the ba.vs and rivers are admirably adapted for the cultlva- t on of oysters In that respect. In the annual report for 1890 I have submitted a table showing temperature, place and date, for three successive years. Close Season. ■ lo 15th September ; while this Is against ai-u during the months without an K, I iO 'j'ose season extends from the 1st May n'i. nave power to alter U ; and have ex- la England, the close season Is from 14th *> • hottest month of the year. No doubt. The dost> season Is at present from 1st Jr the popular notion that no oysters should »! think the dates are well clmsen. In Ireland to lat September, but the Fishery Consval^^;;' erclsed such authority In numerous Instanc* a. May to 4th August, which often proves to be „ the 1st October would. In some ways, be preferable In Canada ; but the season now that winter fishing Is prohibited Is already so short, lasting a little over two months and n half, that It would seem very hard to further curtail It. If the weather gets warm In the latter end of September, it is the shipper's business to use hla judgment In sending oysters to market. That Is one great advantage of a person holding a license for an area of oyster grounds ; he can meet the demands of the market without overstocking it by sending the best quality and size, leaving his small ones to develop Into full-grown oysters. • In the first place It Is Imperative that whatever close time Is required shall be honour- ably and conscientiously observed ; as there Is nothing to be gained by sapplylng oysters to the public during the summer months. If oysters are caught for market during these months, the grounds would be disturbed, the supply of breeding oysters lessened, and It would be impossible to calculate the amount of death and Injury caused to spat! young brood, and Immature oysters, by securing a" small quantity of oysters In order to satisfy the palate of a few fastidious persons who are entirely Ignorant of what they are eating. The close season should be as well observed, not only as far as the oyster Is concerned regarding Its breeding qualities ; but at that period It Is really not In a fit condition to be eaten, and fatal cases have been reported through eating oysters during the hot weather. I may also state that It Is Just as Injurious to flsh oysters through the Ice as It Is during the hot weather and spawning season. Where this practice has been carried on, as has previously been done on most beds, heaps of refuse, consisting of dead shells and mud are found ; large numbers of dead young oyster shells are also found bleached by exposure ; the loss of oysters In this way must have been enormous. Where the ice does not actnnlly rest on the beds it Ma the practical effect of protecllug the oysters from changes in the temperature. This has proved to be the case In Ostend, Belgium where the oyster pares happened to freeze over. Originally they were always breaking 85 th<> Ice, thinking it might hurt thp oyster to be frozen over, but they suffered Kieat mor- tality ; upon being ndvised to let tlie Ice remain they found scarcely any death among thcni, and have since that time always allowed their pares to freeze. Frost sometimes congeals the sliells together, and lln' oyster dies frrui starvation. ShelU have been opened and the oy-sters found euvelopeci In Ice. In this state, though dead, It Is peritctly good, If eaten at once, but when thawed the dead oyst'T quickly becomes putrid. 1 winter, after a thaw, snow water comes dov/n the rivers, increasing the volume of fresli water wliich soiiietliiies causes great mortality to the oysters. It Is a very noticeable tact, although one might think that under w "v the weather would make no difference to tliegroun ' hut such is not really the ca^ Duly when the weather is mild that tlif soil below the surface of the water becon >' and soft, and lu these places o.^slers and brood are often taken, but when the n r becomes cold tile Ki'Jimd becometi close and h.'ird, and oyst.r brood cauuot be tnk^u at all In the cry same place where it was taken previous or .lust after the cold weather. This Is another example that it is Injurious to work too much upon tlie l)eds during the winter months. It has been noticed that during the last few years oysters have been taken In very fair quantities from the river tlats and areas that dry at low water, but these areas are not always to be (IcpeiRled upon lu their yield, as they are placed lu stich an exposed local'ty being subject to the frost. It makes a great (liffer<'nce when the frost sets in on i'feas such as these, if tlie frost comes with any force diiriug spring tides when these areas dry at low wiiter it is nearly always fatal to the oyster, if on the other liand the lee makes during neap tides and remains. It acts as a covering and protection to the oysters, and when the Ice actually rests upon the flats the soil Is sutbciently soft to allow the oyster to be pushed luto the mud until the 'C rests on the whole area. In such cases the oyster will live, but where the oyster is exposed to the frost by low tides and heavy wilds, the oyster itself becomes frozen, wl'ieh means certain death, especially to the half-grown ones. This was particularly noticed on the flats at Davles roiiit, Orwell River, P.E.I. , covering an area of about seven acres ; in 1890 over 1.000 baii»'ls were picked up. That winter the Ice made during low spring tides which appeared to kill nearly everytliing off, as there was not one-fifth taken from there the following .vear. Townal Ray was found to be In the same condition ; this has been noticed iind watched by practical men. Th3 following extracts are taken from a special report by Profesaor lUltranl E. Prince, Commissioner of Plsheries for Canada, in the department's annual report. ISO.". It is entitled, Pcculiarititu in the Bireilin;/ of Oustrrn :— " In studying oyster propagation, the first Important fact to be noted is this, that each oyster originates in an egg of extremely minute size. This egg Is like a round ball, but soon assumes the form of a somewhat oval body. Each measures about one tlve- hundredth part of an inch In diameter, so that five hundred of these eggs in the case of our Atlantic oyster (Ostrea iirginiana. Lister), would cover an Inch if laid side by side. The English oyster (Ostrea ednlis, L.) produces much larger eggs, no less, in fact, than one two-hundred-and-fiftietii of an Inch in diameter, or more than twice the size of the oysters' eggs in our Canadian water. •' Each egg has the character of a minute grain of soft living matter, practirally In- visible to the naked eye, and unprovided with any protective shell o- hard membrane. These eggs are produced by special organs In the mature oyster at a pp.rtlcular period known as the breeding season, to cover which period legislative prohibitions have been enacted in all civilized countries. These special organs form a network Imbedded in the fleshy body of the oyster. The network Is made up of very delicate canals, with pockets or follicles at intervals, and it is iu these follicles that the eggs irise. The eggs, when ripe, pass down the fine canals Into a main duct on the right and left side of the oyster. These larger right and left ducts open Into the fore part of a silt or depression, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 1*3 HO 1^ 2.2 1.8 1.25 IIIIII.4 1.6 150mm V <5> /, ^; y / /IPPLIED^^ IIVMGE . Inc ,JS ">53 East Main Street ^^=--: Rochester, NY 14609 USA .^S^E Phone: 716/482-0300 .as=-.== Fax: 716/288-5989 e 1993, Applied Image, Inc., All Rights Reserved 4^ i\ ^\ ^\ "« «G '-'Sr""-^ '""" e.osI\?tr;;e:fL1Cr:,rcJe""^^ ^'■^ ^•^^" chamber, and matter. ^;e^;:;^p„Z^:L^el^rt.;;'r,el^'"^ "'^^'^•'' ' ^-""" «™-« "f „ving « fact, that distinguished from eachUer." a trafned eiZlZL^Ti. ^^ "'"' «P^^"« ^«» ^e b"t When magnified under a powerfi m^orosPnnJ .7 "* ^^^ ^^^ °' ^'^ Instrument ; dissimilar. The late ProfessorRvder df coveJed T ^''TT' '' *'^« *^° '« ^'^""•^ character, for when using a mixture of mpM,?. •^»>«"'<^«' test of a very efficient hollc solution), he found «mt Se eggs wo" ?Jirco.o?,f h'""/™"'" '^ «''*"™*'^'' «''=°- appeared of a blue-green colour ^ '^"'"""''•^ ""^^ '*»'' t»>e «Perin granules .ant7^^^^^^^^^^^ '« -"r SVtreTarr^rr^^^^^^^^^ T'T"'^ '° ^ - t.e eLvii^rrrtrtir^^^^^^^^ . .p. uaantle. or Bhell^.hamber. as it JaTbl .S, rZ ""' ''""""^ '•^'*^'' ^''^ ^^^^'^^ "^ '^^ when the oyster opens Its shell, the Inrush of wnTI ^^^f '"'f '*' '"'°"*^ «°^ "«»>* that into the open water, and occur n such ooLtlr ?T^^ ''''™ ''"*• '^^'^ «°at nwav some oyster beds Is quite ^udv^^?them 1 Z f*'!.?''* '''' ^"'"''^^^ «' ^he sea on m a single season, fifty to one hnndreS Silll^n^ 7 ' ^""^*'*^ "•"^*"^ •"'^^ P""'" ^^^th. undergone .he essential process ofertnLTlon On, 'T ^''° ^'^^°- ^'^^-^ ^^^^ ^^t by the male oyster can accomplish tL" The e.ljret"'* 7"' '''' ^"'^^^ P''"^"*^^'^ duce nothing unless vivified o? fert ll2d Now the ntn, ' .°'''' '*""•""• "°^ ^"^ P"""" sperms, which pass Into the shell clamber ^Z l^f th ^'''^'''^' ^'""^ quantities of sperms are simply washed out Into t ^nnl I ^ ^^^^ ^'^ '° ^^^ '^male. These the floating eggs' ,f the te^h r ^^J^The; T^^J,:: ^ l""'' "'"'' '""'^ ^""^^^^ -"^ bers Of both eggs and sperms fall to aS^e this and of rZ"''"'''''; .^°"°"^^« °»'°- nor sperms. If they are kept separate, su vJve ve y C' wh " Th ^ '''"''"' "^^' a living sperm. It rapidly changes Its annenrrnl! ! ^f Y ° ^^'^ ^^^ '« Penetrated by need not be described here S ev pZedThL th. I"'''*"'''- f""''^ ^"""P'" ^''«''««« speck. Is carried about In the sea Inil^lLT ! '^^^ '''° """"'* '°^'^""« floating temperature and season the 11 tt" e egg become's I'ZT''' T '' ''''• «^™'-*^'°^ *« *»•' oate Shell. It soon settles down and become7.ttache.7n ^"^^^y«- P^^'^^^l with a dell- " It Is possible that deterlorntinn 7/^7. "t*"?''^*^ ^o any available object. disparity in the relatlve'tmSof^u^t^rets""-^ T' ^* ^'"^^- ''"^ « -'»- Paeifle oysters, at any rate. ' '° ^''^^ ^^^^'-^ "^ the Atlantic and " Under favourable conditions, however sn^h ic n the sea by a single male, and such is the au;nthv nf """'i'"' ""' 'P"™« P'^"'-^'^ ">to the perpetuation of the beds Is ensured unlelfnn ^? T^"""'^ ^^ ^"^^^ ^'"'^^^' that sperm suffices to fertilize a single egg " circumstances intervene. One whi^h'rreTCroSrbl^Jk si'™ ."h """ *'^° ""^^ - ^- -"»-« Of eggs fecundity of the Atlant'oy ter' buTihe younrhave^r"'/"' one-hundredth part'the tlon until somewhat advanced instead of be^n! *''^^« ^^e advantage of maternal protec- m the first and most frail ronkuion.^'in afl he sptw if *'^"°P^" "'^^«^- -^"« «tlll tlon of the embryos or 'spaf ever arrive at mnt^iri!' T^^""' " ^^'^ °"°"*« P'-oPoi- beset them when floating in the sea thp,- •« "' - ""^"'^ ^'""^ *^^ P^''"^ "'•^''^^ Which the spat settles, or%l;s may present conSnsfLr^''^ 7 *'« "'''''' "P- able. Artificial culture attemp s to avoid these peHs a nSt ' ^' ^'''' ^'"'"^ ^^i^^yom- disadvantages. ^^® P^"^"^ "^"^ to overcome these most serious 87 " Canadian Oy»ter. " (1.) Sexes separate. " (2.) Unfertilized eggs shed by parent. " (3.) Eggs and sperm meet In the open sea and fertilzatlon Is accomplished. " (4.) The swimming embryo Is naked and has for a time no shell. " (5.) Number of eggs enormous, probably 50 to 150 millions produced by each female oyster. " European Oyster. " (1.) Sexes combined In the same individual. " (2.) Eggs never shed before fertilization. " (3.) Eggs fertilized and retained within the mother-oysters* shell. " (4.) Embryos protected by a thin shell, r^nd emitted as ' olack spat." " (5.) Eggs do not exceed one or two railllons, i.e., one egg for every hundred eggs produced by the Canadian oyster." Oysters will spat In shallow water sooner than they will In deeper water, owing to the difference of temperature at the different depths. They will breed long before they are full grown, very probably in the first year of their age ; certainly in the second. Their productiveness appears to reach Its ninximum at five or six years, and afterwards to decline ; but much further observation is needed before any certain knowledge is acquired. The state of the weather, however, has a serious Influence on the spawn, and on the adult oyster power of spawning. A cold, wet and windy season is very unfavourable, and a decidedly cold day will kill the spat, so that It will be seen that while in the embryonic state young oysters are very delicate and susceptible to cold. If the tempera- ture of the sea suddenly drops many degrees, they all close their shells and fall to the bottom dead, just as a frosty night will " nip up " and cause to fall off from the branches the delicate blossoms of fruit trees. If, on the contrary, the weather continues of a warm and equable temperature both day and night, and If it be at the same time calm, the young oysters will have a chance of taking up their positions on the various sub- stances they love best, viz., stones, gravel, empty shells, living oysters, and other clean hard substances. In this connection I quote from PhUpot's " Oysters and all about than " : " A controversy hinged upon whether an oyster, while on the bed, lay on the flat or convex side. Mr. Frank Buckland, who originated the dispute, maintained that the right, proper and natural position of the oyster, when ai the bottom of the sea, is with the flat shell downwards ; but the natural position of the oyster Is of no practical import- ance whatever ; and I know from personal observation of the beds at Newhaven and Cockenzie, that oysters lie both ways. Indeed, with a dozen or two of dredges tearing over the beds it Is Impossible but that they must He quite higgledy-piggledy, so to speak. " There have been several other disputes about points in the natural history of the oysters— one in particular as to whether that animal Is provided with organs of vision. Various opinions have been enunciated as to whether an oyster has eyes, and one author asserts that it has so many as twenty-four, which again Is denied, and the assertion made that the so-called eyes projecting from the border of the mantle have no optical power whatever ; hut, be that as it may, the oyster has a power of knowing the light from the dark. Fishermen say that If the water is clear where these creatures are lylns in their beds, they may be seen to close their shells whenever the shadow of a boat passes over them." The oyster is not gifted with any kind of locomotion, except during its earliest stage, remaining afterwards stationary throughout its life. In the pares at St. Joseph's, in France, which are most exposed to the Inclemency of the weather, the oysters are turned, and laid on their flat sides. This ingenious arrange ment renders the animal less accessible to the action of the cold, and gives the shell a firmer position, thus preventing It Xrom being too easily lifted by the surf, and from being thrown to a distance by the violence of the sea. 88 OYSTER FOOD. In discussing the question of oyster food In Its many aspects the eenerni Pi.„r«nfn. should first be examined. The oyster. It Is well known. Is^ulteln jLure Tits feed n« ™o:„. ,^? "''^" slightly opened, and with the dark-coloured seusorv currem wtnTL''T'''''f V'^' '"**' "^ '''''' "^ "^ '"^ foodrealrwater sand or mud. Oyster food. It will he found, consists mainly o^ZioL'a pa JcSS InT, 1 'I °'T"'^ P'""'' "'"' ""--^^ '''' remarkable power of mov'nTfree"? about In the water. Unlike any other plant, they are Incased m a palr^ saLr like glassy shells, fitted one to the other like the lid to a pill box. The g?assv cases of S minute plants appear In no way to Inconvenience the oyster's digestfon The mn^L?, .rjr:'t«',r,x»s,r ""'''' ■" "•" '■"""»■- •" '" »"- '««'• •»■' »-" .■»» „v.,2f '' ,"'"'" '"'" °°' """^ '° "'"'iefMloi-. OM when mixed with sea water the XZ: T f ^°"°^' "'""'" '" """° »■'<' >'">»■ °»" 'to taads of others thaa those whc actually eal.I.e.. ■ oyster, and think that It will fatten It; this notion Is absurd In the extreme a t wm the same way as sand will, the consequence Is, the oyster puffs up, turns a deathlv white in colour, loses Its flavour, becomes very Insipid, and If left long S^hisTa^e wrsoolS ie chnnL^r'^r' ""■' ""*'''■ ''' ""Presslon the oyster Is thriving. Let any pe onThe T.ZLI' T T''' "^''^ *^^^ ^'^ •='*"-"• t'-y th« f°»'^^'ng experiment IpiacltSe oysters In a barrel or other receptacle, putting each oyster In separately wlh the deep kSn,n.TrT^'' r''' "' "^^"-^ °« P°««'b'«' '^^'J ^«^«r °ver with a wet doth or sac'k sr.i^.'L-iirr 'thTwix ,rdrrmu?h'rr'i sr ii— THE ENEMIES OF THE OYSTEB. a^aT.'T * "? """^ "^^^ '^""''^ '"^^'^^ t^**^ t»i« cultivation of oysters Is a matter of small importance, and when the area Is planted there Is nothing further to troSb^ about until they have grown large enough and are ready for market, but I must call your attenclon to the facts of the case, when you will see that It Is not all sunshine with the oyster culturlst ; some of the items referred to will be found In the following pages, beginning with the Fiveftngei-s, or Starfish. The following is quoted from Philpot:-" No person would have thought, on placing an oyster and a Hve-flnger side by side, that the starfish was a relentless foe to the oyster. Those who can remember their first fruitless endeavours to open an oyster may natur- alli wonder how the starfish can achieve such a font. As I have repeatedly seen it propeeds as follows :-Clasping the oyster in its rays, it brings it mouth opposite the hinges From the mouth It pours a secretion which paralyses the hinge-muscle, and causes the shell to open. It cannot, like a dogwhelk, extract Its prey and put It into Its stomach, so it reverses the process, and puts its stomach into, or rather over, the oyster, protruding the stomach from Its mouth, surrounding the oyster with its coats, digesting it. and then withdrawing the stomach Into its body. The wildest fancy of Oriental legends never equalled in grotesque imagination this perfectly true history of the oyster and the " But although the starfish can. in this extraordinary manner, manage to devour an oyster as big as himself, it must evidently be somewhat troublesome to him, for he pre- fers to attack oysterbeds covered with " spat," " brood." or " half-warc."-that is. oystere from one to three years of age-whose shells are not so hard, and whose tlesh is more delicate and pleasing to the enchinodermal stomach. " Starfish will also feed en mussels wh! ,L themselves destroy oysters by smothering them, and on whelk-tingles, dead crabs, barnacles, &c., so that, after all, they may do some good, as a certain amount of vermin in a game preserve Is anything but injurious to the welfare of the whole population ; the vermin keep up the balance of nature by destroy- ing and eating the sick and weakly animals, wliich might otherwise die a Imgering death." SCO Urchins. The next on the list of the oyster's enemies is the Echini, " sea eggs " or " sea urchins," whose well-kno',*a empty cases are so common on every shore. The body or the sea urchin consists essentially of an exterior shell, or solid corona, '^"^ered wHh spines, and Invested in a delicate membrane, furnished with vibratile cilia. This corona is formed of an assemblage of contiguous polygonal plates, "dhering together by their edges. The plates are so arranged that the shell is divided into vertical zones These zones are of two kinds, one being very much larger than the other; the plates of the larger zones are covered with sharp spines, which are movable, and serve at °nce for protection and locomotion. The plates of the smaller zones are pierced with pores, from which Issue filaments, by which the animal breathes and walks. It can travel either on Its back or stomach. Whatever '^'^'l^^'^'Jl'l'J JZl always a certain number of feet which carry them, and suckers with which they a tach themselves. In certain circumstances the animal walks by turnlug upon itself, like a '"'^NoSlS'irmore curious than to see a sea urchin walk upon smooth sand One of the mos singular organs of this Interesting animal is Its mouth. " !«7°«t cudouj Placed underneath the body. It occupies the centre of a soft space «"!««t«'i/"\^,„*f'",^ resisting membrace ; It opens and shuts Incessantly, showing five sharp teeth project- ngfom The surface, the'edges meeting at a point, supported and ^ATern ^'oThTs complicated framework, which has received the name of Aristotle's Lantern To this 5Sdable mouth Is attached an oesophagus, or gullet, and an intestine which extends along thi interior walls of the corona, describing the circumference of its principal """"^hat sea urchins are regarded as vermin In the oyster pares has been proved by the followrng evidence :-In the month of May of a certain year, a sudden mroad of these I" lit 90 iliere tor nolllng." "'""^'^'O. a«lw„j. „na nafvelj remark,, ■■ ,u., "ejuS m° liot/Hhclka. The "dogwhelk" or " whelk-Hntrio •• /» oysters, and destroys them Tn tst numberr ' 7" J"^'"""^ '« "^^^^^^'^ "^Jurlous to lows r-These dogwhelks seem to find un short «" ®,"''''*"'^ 'P^'*'^^ «' them as fol found in numbers, for my friend Mr Brownln/Tn' °' '""' ^''^^''^ ^^« "^'^t^rs may be TtlTZ'^T ' ""'^ •''°y«*«r« out ,n brmld^ianneTl*'"* "°* ^^'•^ '""^^ «^o som^ at the time they were found, not large euoLh to h^, . ^'^ '^"- ^^««« «y«ters were, down on private beds, so the dredire., Tt! . . ^""^^^^^ "P a^^ taken away to lav proper size. They had not howevef calclT^"''' '° ''''^' '""'"^ till they grew to til soon after the departure of the flshermen ?o?,„ ? T". "'" ^'^'"^ ""^S'^' for these rascafs were there before them, killing eve y one of th? .''" "'" ^'" "« "'« Ashermen atd empty shells; and when the dredgermen eal n..? "''' ''^"'°^ ""'^ the clocks or found nothing but whelk tingles and flveflngers but r'' ? *"'" "^ *^« "^^ters. the;^ is the Astyrls. discovered In ChesaDenS.V'"'^ °' '''' °^^*«^' Particularly when youn^ il7Tr "■""""''^ ^« •^"ow?""srg\'eat"[;jr;to'r'^''' f '• ^^^^ ^^' -"i wS:^: and the destruction of the young allurtPH t„ i .,? ^^ *'^'*^'' *" ^ong Island Sound be effected by this animal. 'S JargelumbL' ^.'''T'^^^ ^^'P^^ts as due to drills may doubted ; but as It Is possible that the A^t^As mn, .""""^ ^^ '^^ ^*^^"^« ^'^^'^ot be -re extended Investigation o^ .Is <^^^^^ tt^^l:^:^ :: ^^^-^:;^2^^ Seaweed. «. W.T0I tzz:':zttsr:^z::z:t "7 »" -- --• - ■> ■— it covers the cultch. so that the snat tMttL?,^ f,'"""*^'' ^""^ «* the season of spatting Which would smotfier the spat even fu 2" ' '' '' '°''" ^""^' "''' ^«»«S ^"^ and dlrcy ground. The oyster aieascannoT^ /' "^ '''^''' ^°*^ ^^°«™»y makes foui ' the cultivation of oysters. '''°"°* '^" '°° ^^'^'-"^ for the reception of spat! and Scaworim. boren=s%rsh^ :?- prti."-?;i:-S s •^^-t^^^'^'- ^° - — • -- the enemy by depositing some pearlv matter Eetwipn TT' T'^^ '''^'' *^« "^^««'on of or ln°r\'' ,"°' '•^"^ ^°'°P«' '^''° to Tat a retrlat BuZf '°'^ ""^^ ^'^^ '"^"th of for In the holes drilled by the seaworms n n Jl,.!t ? * ^*''^'"« "»''« »ot so fortunate • a parasitic sponge, which InsInuaTs™ Leb^on. " 1°°. ?"'" '""'^^ '''' *^« assauUs of the oyster, causing the softer par s of the shell to tt n w ''' *'/" "^ Predecessor n?o Whole substance of the oyster Mke a dry rot in wlf ''V/' """^ «Preadlng through the loosened shell becomes detached and empty on trewateS. ""'" '' ^''''''''' "' ^ »« Sand, The worst of sind Is that it Is very MabTe toLmTT, "'"^ ^°"'^ "e to his welfare not unfrequently occur. Just as they dl in h deS ^f*'/ T^^ """^ '''"' '^^^^'oZ the deserts of Arabia, destroying suddenly 91 whole caravans of camels and men. When I was at the Isle cf R6, Dr. Kemmerer gave me a famous Instance of a large number of oysters being destroyed by sand. This event happened at a place called Morlque. There was a great number of tiles laid down at this spot, and there were, besides, a large number of oysters naturally adherent to the rocks. Just outside, however, there was a moving sandbank. The oyster spat had taken well, both on the tiles and on the stones, but during a storm the waves brought a quan- tity of sand, ruined the whole bed, and killed every oyster. Although sand in large quantities Is very dangerous to oysters, yet a certain quantity Is by no means prejudicial to their welfare. The admixture should amount to what my friends at K6 call sable vaseux, or mud sand, which is very good for oysters, but it re- quires an experienced eye to know It when they see It. Sand destroys oysters either by smothering them en viasse. or by getting between the shell near the hinge, where the oyster cannot get rid of it. Frost, Ice and snow are also destructive to oysters, but Buckland Is of opinion that in all ordinary frosts, where the oysters are covered with three or four feet of water, they are safe. By reading the above it will be seen that it is dangerous to place oysters on areas where the sand Is continually shifting, for when the oyster opens to feed, the sand is drawn In between the valves of the shells, and it is unable to throw It out on account of Its weight, consequently It dies. Any person thinking of cultivating oysters should first ascertain whether the area in question is suitable and the question can be settled Just as easily by experimenting with a few as with a large quantity, and. in the event of failure, would save a large expense. Mussels. I must not omit to mention mussels as being one of the oyster's enemies. In some places, they are more so than others. They are the worst plague of the pares at 016ron. They multiply there in such numbers that If the ooncessions are not visited and the mussels removed each time the tide allows it, they soon cover the ground In very thick masses. 1 also remember an instance where mussels had spat on two oyster areas In Holland. One owner endeavoured to remove the mussels, letting the oysters remain, but the mussels grew faster than they could be cleared off, the consequence was that mud had accumulated to such an extent that the oysters were literally smothered, and what did live were thin and starved, and were a dead loss to the owner. The other area was cleared of Its oysters with all possible speed, and the only loss Incurred was the labour In removing the stock to more suitable grounds. On another occasion, a spat of mussels settled on the Whitstable Oyster Company's grounds ; as soon as it was discovered. In- structions wore given to the men to remove all they possibly could, but, in the meantime, a vessel-load of starfish were deposited over the grounds to destroy them, as starfish will always take to what is most delicate and easy to get at ; the mussels being very young at this time, were, with the aid of flvefingers and man, soou got rid of ; the starfish were then In turn disposed of, by being caught in the dredge, or they would soon have attacked the young oysters, when they found that mussels were getting scarce. Mussels Increase and grow very fast, attaching themselves to any firm substance by means of a collection of horny threads (byssus) with which they hold themselves m any one locality. Mud collects among their numbers and mud banks are often built by myriads of these shell-fish attaching themselves together. They thrive on muddy bottoms and become very numerous, they live on the same food as oysters, and when found in the same locality, the result is that the oysters are starved out. The men at Arcachon say that there Is not enough lime In the witer for both the oyster and the mussels, and the latter being the stronger, they get all the lime, and the former m>v correspondingly. This Is one way of expressing the gener-il fact that some- how In the complex struggle for existence the mussels get on best. Mvd Digging. Among other enemies, not only to the oyster, but to the beds and areas themselves, Is the most destructive machine ever Invented, this is the mud-dlgging machine. 92 I fini not nwnre of such a practice ever exuttnn. i„ „ and yet within the last thirty yearrmiSnt!^,^' '",'*°^ °^^^' P*""""" °' the globe, thousands of acres of ^ood o^-sler flshTr „re„« . ' u ""'* *'""" ^^'° '''^'^^' «"<» called mussel mud. which I think nftin m , , "^^ ^^^° destroyed. It Is commonly tlon : It chiefly cons Of tie hens 0? tZl ""' ^'"'T '* '''°' '"^^^^ "«'««*« that has settled In layers In the loca Itv 'TS.'^Th 7. "'" ^^*^°'"P°«^'i. with mud Kometlmos fo„„,i, bn not In the nronn^H"" ,,, I "^ '^"'^ ^^^ °J'«*«''« = "^»««el shells are name It bears. Some T he"e XZ^ ' have elrf, '''"' "''' °'* ^° ^^«° «»^« " «^^' found 20 and 30 feet deep but ThLZll^ ^^^ '"'' ''^^^' "" ^''^ •'eP°«"« are often area for cultivating ,rrpose" '' '"" """"' °' ^"^ ^^^ '« ^^»''*'". « I>as spoilt the are?:o\;:r:rwlaluf5-':n\7ns*o^\TJl""?"l "«"?-^^^ ^' °- --"'- -ci rivers, others mairectly. and yet\^ey are L^n^SlS;l^T' '\'''' "''"'•"''°- ""'J *<> -""^ now speaking iu f„vo, r of the oyster flsher,p"nVH '"'"'^ ^^'^'^'^oyoa by man. I an. am afraid I may i.u rather hard on som! oft.? f Preservation of the beds, but I however, facts are stub irn tll^s „„ i , " '''"" ''"''' '" ^'"^ '^"Wt of using mud ; The constructLr this ichinpl ""T ''''''^'' '''^P'"'" ''''"'■ Of about eight feet in heigrel J nlle wrZlfw"'." r'''"^"""' ^^""•^•^» frame-work tl.e upper part a block Is atta 1 o "throtrJh Xh 7^ ''. ' "^ """■" "'°^- "^^ ""'^ ^°'^' «" .onnected to a strong shove s'ol or S.JI.h "J'"" "^ '"P''' '' '^°^'^*^' «°^ «°" being this scoop is attached to a longsJout it^ff :^'*",f""'-P ^^^^vy Iron teeth on one side ; l'.v means of a binge and a sprfnf a tachoT 7 .?'"'• ^"'^'°« '"""^ ^^ ^o 30 feet long, the bucket into sle^ghl. wSen nS^.^to Sf;. ,7 ' "^.r"'" "' "^^^P^^'^S *' <^°°t«°t8 of Who Places the scoop i^to ^os. on ' hi 'canb/St ,T U fs'n",''' 1 "'"■"*^' ''^ «°^ '"'^°- lee is suSientS ^oU' o'S; tT Uight ^o'^l ''^^^"' 'T '''' ^''^ '^' ^^^^ '^^ digging for mud generally commences dnwf^.. ''"'' ''"^'''' '""" ""'^ ^^a^-' &c.; is dull. The diggers wifi tw ^ ^''^ """"^^ °* February, when other work entire length o'ffno^l b^d sZtTmes'c^UirA'^'^r "^ *'^"^'^^^ ^'«^* through"?Je even thirty feet, and 'from nln toXnfeS width T V^'^' '^'^'y^^^' ^r np in course of time with soft nmd n, m1 L Tl' '"^'^ ^°^^^ '^"' sometimes fill destroys a large area of veiT vVl aWe nv °. ^^^ ''"* ''''" "'^^^ '"• ^"'^^ totally is Of little. If Ly use. to^h/oi^i^rirrni^rrr ^^" "^^^^ ^^ ^-'«''"^^- -^ in our^t^r ani M^. anrrr:g;rtL%rth.sTnn •^rj" '''^ -«^ ^--^ ^-^--*^ be. This system should be 3edlate^ stoni!, * '^^'^'^ '" '""^ '''^'''' " «bould eerned. or I am very much afr^^d th! ^ ^ m " "^ *" "' ^^^ fishermen are con- flsherles will be enti ely ru ned This is o^/nf 'm" '°'°' ^"^^^ °"^ P"''"^ "^^^er Of our readers, the reports of flsheiy officers of ZJ '"' '° 'f °^'"^ '^^^^^ '''' '^^"^^ the Injury then done was more than Tn.Lf ^^f ^!T' '^''^° " '^'^''^y «bows that Edward Island flsherlTs riport Sated S^"''''. nSn '^tr'"^ '^ ''^''° '^""^ ^ ^^'"'^^ minions Of tons of oyster shellsand mud hni'T /,^ ^''^ P"" *^° °'" *^«'^e years, beds by means of dreS ng mth"LT Iried bv'!, ''" "^''vf "^ '^''"^" ^^""^ °y«t«r Of 18&S. an officer states thaT •' oSrr n™ 1 f .?T °° ^^'^ '"«•" ^° ^"^tber report that they may be destroyed^ th^Serin'S? '" *'' '^'"^ ""^'^'^ '" «"-^-- thesi;:grs^:;^"rp^Lr at sr- -t ^:^ ' ^^^^ ^^^"-^^^ -•^ — ^ed ,n farmers Is placed upon thefr ?Ld Ta fer^llLr b, 'I'T^'V"''' ^^^ '^^^P ""^ '''' to «..r expectations I cannot say. T Z::^^- Z:Z^i:^,rS^^£Z:::^ ^ 03 of the globe, removed, nud Is commonly rther molestn- ?<1- with mufl ise! shells are en give It the sits are often has spoilt the le and rivers, and to many ' man. I am e beds, but I f using mud ; I frame- work it one end, on ne end being on one side ; 30 feet long, contents of by one man, l)y practice, frame-work, >rsc8 hitched ad when the 1 gear, &c.; 1 other work through the enty-flve, or •metlmes fill 'hich totally claimed, and n destroyed Qt it should 3n are con- ibllc oyster i the notice shows that m a Prince elve years, from oyster ither report In summer, irranged in eep by the 5s come up ur and dls- mssel mud t an extent 'n a larger Int out the r.;rr^"rr;:"-;»s,';;»'ri!rrw,«., ..„. ..*.■ .»..« » bear out what I have already «t"7' • ';,^^ ""f . J .nform d t mt tUe local Govoruu.ent of Nova Scotia, dated 18«8, and s as f<"°^f --''"" '"^^^^.j „ ,ease of certain oyst.-r beds this province (upon what authority 1 ^^^'^V'^^' \^'°'Z\\Mnce, for the pu.pose of ,n Mulagash Harbour to Alexander ^^^"^^^ , .do .pos;d to any sue., grant, cultivating oysters. T»'V/' ' r,n t' rnat Is nXl le lor ;.:»«...•«. nud the granting as the mussel beds nud the nuul on *'';"f ';.';;""' ,i,.od them of Its use. 1 au. not of these privileges .,. Mr. >I'^f";,""'^,,f;;,^?;;\'^''eitivate oysters may not be held by prepared at present to say whether the i^*-'^;" ^"' ^J.^.^^^ t„. ^vheu the ke goes private ludlvlduals without 'f^'-f'''- "«,::'\^ .\^; "'^"'^Vum e of considerable Import- out in the spring 1 will be nble to ^u^ge be ter »* « ;\ "'^^^^^ ,„^,,„Hse In this as ance. and very desirable to «'f ""^f !' "'^ .' " ^^^^g and ^ have no doubt that oysters well as many other branches of our '°^>"f '". "^"'^fj"^^ Tntamagouche and may be profitably ^"l^lvated. not only a MalaBa«^ l>u ^^.,j, ^^^.^,„j, ,,,^, ^::^;::t.^^^^'o\:^^^^^^ Pvovnee. as well as to all con- ^%tday the a.ove-mentloned area, which w^^^ -j .ased to tje Ho. >- -cfa.^^^^^^ troyed by these mud-dlgglng machines. ^.^ gay officially my report. sub- In 1895 I had the pleasure of vlsltlug laiamaguu muted to the department, was as f°"°^^'* = ^^^ ^-Quud Is situated in the basin at the Malagash Day.-Tixe only place wheie oyste.s are i .j^^^ „f several narrow head of Tatamagouche Bay on tl^e ^^st slde^ iSfe^C but Lbigh tide a large extent of streams or channels which ^^^^/''^"^^^ "„ 7^.7 and are protected from the outside by water is seen, which covers extensive mtM A^^J^^^'^'l/^iy^arrow channel to enter the spits or bars running out from both ^^°\«^' ^^'^^J'"/ ^\,s on the north side, situated in basin, making the place almost landlocied The ^aj^ on ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^.^ Cumberland County, are called ^f^PJ^f.^^'^^^i ™eVcounty is called Thrumpcap bar. island, and the bar on the south ^'^^f '" ^J^'^f ';\\'ese bars, which dry at low water. There are also some small bars or \^^8^« *°''^l *els^^Mc; are .M to keep the bars These bars are covered on the t^r hLralng thtmussds. that .ost of the oyster from washing away ; it is on these bars- ^"J^^f ^"^ ^.^ uterally covered with young spat rests. The bars are natural spat «°"«^^J°;j;^7i,e;e ledges, they are killed by the oysters every fall, and unless they are Packed from tnese g ^^^^ ^ ^^ j^. :Lrity of the winter as the ice res s ^P^^f^^^/^f navigation, scarcely an oyster is formed that in the spri°g^'"°°**^4' ^J'"' tolT^ver. when these beds or ridges glisten r sprklf rshtt orgrrsrs^ng-do^o on the semi-transparent shells of -.'.ThTsrms before referred te -.y - t^^^^^^^^^^^^ -^ oysters were in these streams until J^^^ J.^' ;"",,. f. industry, and I have every reason So ders. These men are interesting themsdves in thi^ '^X'^^My carried on off Block- to believe they will ^^'irL'TZZJ^tS^y^^^^ '« the south of the bar leading house Point on the east ^'-^^^'/^^^'^.^g^f^e ouster beds originally existed, but are now to Tatamagouche River, ^^^f^^^ff *f 'Oyster mud is to be found here to last for ages, covered over with mud and eelgrass. Oyster mu as the quantity taken is ^^'^ «,^,",^;- _,.er ncensco for areas amounting to about seventy Twelve persons are now hold ng oyster licens ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ,cre- and many others desire to ha^^ /reas gra ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^jj^^ JLn possible, had the ^^-^.^^^.^ ^^^J totaliy untfor cuitlvation in other locali- r^wS^h Srr^^^^^^ -d "tiC m tL same way as Malagash Bay. 94 Under the heading of enemle« r u flsheLl'llrUrt'whe^nTt tasT""^ "''""^^^ -"^""^^ to oysters fron. .h be increased, both ,n Qual^/and'Slt?"' '^ °° '^""^^ ^^'^^ ^»''- valuaJle'b'vaTv"^^^ 95 t 60 2 I- to « s o &c &c ;<> ^ ,= ■ Z ~ A '. > ■ i -i - - 1 .».**'■ •■ :'.?.Vx't.P.^V.'z'-rV.T.^.f.V.\'~J'4ts.'i jtf 5 »• •;■ d J g r: •?; ri 5- ..■•** ^ ?ii'3:*-liJri-;'r s '. si^* a ili§^^3ll?sf?^ii^§i^^a|l £ "?,SSSSfeJi??.S?« :i 1-? ^-« irj ^- T4 s; T ».; i S5SSS3S{;5S33?SiS^|i||fi S'SS?(Si<5U:SS'3l3i'5'aS'5S?'!S?iSR (§• =:??■ 21US»S2»3;?H i5«• BV nivr'AUTMKNT EXPEllT. To tli.> rionoural)!.. Ottawa. Slat December. 1808. Mil' LoiMs n. Daviks, K.C.M.(}.. .Vc. MlnlHttT of Mnrlne nnd risherleg. Ottnwn. have U;': ;j;.;rr;,';>^.?^^",J';" «»7---- I proceeded to Murray H„rb.„r. and «rea which imVerv^.yi^^^^^^^^ ^^e weed and eelgrasH from an Which conid be ^onver e7ln 1 an ovS T^^ """° "' ''''°« " ^^'^-^^'^ ^°"°'" Hituated to .he north of IteZw" wLt i«.nnH ^ ,*''" necessary labour ; this area l« this waB very thickly covered wlhoeUriBrn J' h*^ '"f ^"""'^ °' '""'" ^"""^ ""'^ """^ = of the wee,l has t.oen remo' ed ff .er Jllfh. wl^''. '""?'*""* '""■'''°«' "^"^'^ ^^^^ ^^^o'e put a layer of Rrnvel or7ne8tone«nnH.h ',,/'' '%"^«"'^'"J ">«• '» will be necessary to oyBters for spalln^ and grow nrm.r^L.r' h "' ". '°"°'"^"°°' P'-e^'oua to laying the a good oyster bed. No oyMertdrare located "In'^M^^^ !'."' " ^"' '« converted Into oysters are to be found on the flats and Jhe! n ' , ? '"'*"'*"'• ''"^ occasionally a few ditlon. Showing that If oysters were pLned there °.l !"/ ''""'"^ ""'' '^ ""^ ^""'l ^°«- win grow. There Is much «,nPcnio7i„ '* ^^"^ "''«'"> *o believe that they come from. «ome ^rro^o^'^'ot TreTr^^Ld; Xtl^^^^^^ "" '' ^"^'^ ^^-« «^«'- others seem to think the few oysters ^oJnr! n£ ^^ 'l ^''^^ °°* ^"^ '°'^'^*«1' ''^hlle boats. Which they clean out aTterretnrnfnr, J^^ ""^'"'^ '™" *''« fishermen's own Of Charlottetown anrorwer OysS oV. Si '' TfY f ''^'°«' «^''»°° "> »»>« ^'^'^'ty Been by the deposits of dlad sheHs which a « aLnn f '^. '° **•''" '"'''"'' " ^'» l'^ Close to Where I have been prfpa nrJifgrounds thf. i"5«."L^ *'' "^™^"' «°°"^ will encroach on the area already set «nn!f * ' * ' T"^ ^ ''*°PP«'* '•^'•e or they mud m Fox. Greek and MurraTJlvfrs 'T^l^^^jf/; '"".".T "'*''''' "'^« ^'* ""««^' upon by the farmers for years pL^'arare^^ToVru^wtr; Jofo^r c^Tur^ nicmfoiTO BAY. p.ic.r. makC ^gtr ij^pfctrn reiThrsuir '^'^^"--^ ««^ -^ -^^--^ — com:ruj^;i7h\^rrait;:rT:^ r™«« -«»> ^^^ -t the above locality, with the exceDtlon o! JLT tn^? Zl **""* * ^"^^ ''^ats fishing In islands, most of tkem were eSed In P ckl J°thf ' ?'''°/ """'"' '°^'*'» «°^ 0"'^"> the water until nearly war8t!deep at low' waSr time ' " ''"" *'* '"'°™«' ^'^^'°* ">*« i^nr^p^^^^^^^^ r^^^'is;^r^=ghr* «•-- - see the result of leaving the small ones oT he beds These men wT" "^ ''^'°°'°« *° and after flndln,-? the oysters are getting scarce where theVhn„t^ commence fishing, down and cull their oysters over. th« ^rkSl-^ on-, - ^ °"'°'**'' '^"^ «" snaall ones that are taken Into the b^at-atta^hed toTa^eToJ;^^ s^epTatrdV^^rnl 9T 1808. BY ber. 1808. liter culture, engaged In nrbjur, and J88 from an able bottom this area la 1 and mud ; y tbe whole lecessary to I laying the iverted Into lally a few T good con- i that they ese oysters ited, while men's own he vicinity as will be Qers, some re or they' lig mussel been dug ' culture. nt waters, h did not fishing In a Curtain tdlng Into liver and are more e, as the Inning to s fishing. , win sit and any y means „r n Khnrn blow from either the back or blade of n Hmall hntohct. usuall? rnrrled f..r he n uroo e of s in In"' ■ torn of oysters ; the «n.all o„eH nr,. thou returned to the water ' , rrrl.rin H then Kele.tr.l to .omiue.Me tlshlnR aRaln. This Is carried on unl 1 *;. B.h..ry oC r.' ...,,,1 ,1,0 whol, ,.n„., line ~,„.r,. oy„.,. .xl.t. 8n,.n ..,..cr. »v,e say from the 20th or 3nth of "f''°'^"' ^7";; , . ^,.„ru by using dredRos. wbere he of navigation, then many a n;'"2 '^ An Im K nary Hne might 5e drawn from Gull Cro;\r^JesTrr t;a;:rBetVro"Sron%he ea/s,de. allowing fishermen to dredge on the north of th'^ "n^; , j^^ j^ken to be of fair size, but *'^®""" , , „„^ Hnta hPtwpen Curtain Islands, Innumerable small oysters are The oysters landed at S*. t-leanor s ^^rt 0. fl.berman appears to take no rJa^Sh^lnTh: Ipe ST oysler so that he w.U QUIckly til a barrel : the auantlty T.Z by each f ^-an -^.tr^oaU^^^^^^^^^^^ -"h a sta« of sutfi- It appears to me tha ^^^'f ,Jf; 'VaTns required, and see that no one fishes but clent force to Inspect and enforce t^« ^^sulat ons q , ^^^^ ^^^^ those holding "^^^^^^'^^/^^SfleTat^.Se^rntTolnJs, so that oysters should be landed landing stations «b«"lf„^,«„2;f named or arranged with the principal buyers, or easy only at such P^-^^^^^^ ^ ,«^n^tarden^ho^^ Se on'hand to Inspect all boats as they land places of "i^c^f ;/°'^,?^i ''^^-Xones are brought on shore, such officer might see that their ovsters dally. « any small ones are uro b ^^^^ ^ ^^ instpnd tuey are replaced on the beds by ^^^^P---^^^^ would tru^seTjeTdeaTof ^pe^^^^^^^^^^^^^ P-e a great benefit to the Industry. O C-7 98 TBACADIE, N.S. On Visiting the Krt.unds at the above place I fniin,i tho* +i,» oysters hart grown thA«ker and larger I a so ^otiS^ „ luL^ "^^'^ *''*"'°' «°<* *^« nniongst them ; this remit I attrlbSe ohlflU.„ \ ^^* percentage of dead ones from the time t was ci: gh Zu relald as^.^ n i'""^'' "'"^^ *'" '^'''' '^"'^ '''''^'^ the dead oysters were ohSed Thlv it ! f^^ ^^""^ ""'^ ^ "°"'^«'* *^e shells of the Shells i,e,ng verTtoSSld^e LTe'aVtrSe^'^Th^^eU^^^^^^^^^ T" «^''"'°^- good, and of a much more salty flavour than thnL f ^ 1*^^ °^^*"'^ '^'^^ ^^""^ was unable to find any trace of thirveaUsnat^^L *^' north-west arm. I and wet weather that prevailed in this Lcnm^ h, "!^^* "^ °° ^"'*'"°* °' ^^^ rainy limited time T was ther^ as the we^thi^ ^ *^ ''°^ ^''^ 'P''"'"^ «^'^«°°' «'«»• *<> the to make an extenslvrexamLtL to e^ff nn '"'^'^■"'', '"''°« ""^ ^^'^^^ ^ ^^«« """^^le the bay. but. taking eveJ^inr.nto col Lm^^^ ^'^"1''^ «" ^""^ °t^«^ P'^'-t^ of condition. '' consideration, the grounds were in a satisfactory CLOSING PUBLIC AREAS. yoar7ir:rd\'d;cS filing i^rr c'at?^ :^r? ^^"^'"^ "^- -'^'^'>' «' ^^^e Ashing of these grounds the dP^nf,^ u'^'' ' *^*' ^ attribute chiefly to the ovei- and tSe Increase in Senumbe^Tfi' hi' """^ h^comlng much greater than the supply, the Increase iS price gMng them Lr™ T " '^!''' ""'''''' '' °^'°^ principally to trying circums.ancol' Se onTeaTence ?s t/at thTbLr '"' '''t: '"'° '' "°^^^ '°°'-« oysters, and before the ovstera havTntL L-f , ..l,*"'^ """^ becoming denuded of and the beds have n'o S to^^ove F^'emen can ''''thT T *''^ ^" ^^"«^* it themselves, and It would be ndvirhT. ,t ll . f ° ^^^ *^'^' ''"* ^«°"ot Prevent certain areas fo? a imlS tfl tr^llv fo^. "''""'''f "' ''^' '"''"^'^y- *° ^'««« ^-^^ be of advantage to tLe flsherren L IS ., T,*"' ^'^^ ^'^''' " ^°°'^ ^^ '°"°1 to had been closed they wou d hTve ;omethin^ to 1^/^ ^^ "T"''''' '''^'"^ °° «° "^ ^hat Clyde River and Long Seek might be ?ise..ve7„?' V^^ °^'*'''' '"""''^ ^« ^"» S™^°- Johnson's River and Pownall B v in f„! """''"^^^'y «^^h year; then Mill Creek, the island ; areas also TNewB^.nJS "^"/^^^^h areas might be closed down on same way. and I an sn e if this mZ '"''' ^^^ ®'°"^ '"'«'^* "^^ '•^^"lated in the effect It would giveTfresh art to ^h-^n-iir «'^f ° ^«^'°"« thought and carried Into would be some^Wng worth ending to f„r -o?.''"f>,'''? ^''''' '° ^°°^ «^^P«' ''« there oyster on public beds is not sufflHentiv ^Tl ' °\^*-^^"^'««' the natural growth of the. year, and fhe bedstu'sl ^SL^'Z^, t^^ZZ'Z^ir' "^^^^ ^'^ PBIVATE ABEA8. seen that, although in its Infancy. TwmrveiSSra'ta^g'u^^^^^^^^^^ T " '" future, already between 1.100 and 1,200 acres of cround hnl ho^ T, ^ *•"* °^"' waters, while other applications ha^e been a?so mJSe M^nlh ° ""? "^ '° ^°"'°*«° enterprise can see the necessity of contlnungtlfe sam? flt^^^^^^ oyster, and when properly managed it is found tc^\..J^ «. k, . '»«'°tenance of the the oyster buslnes?. a' d LXg a pie e of gTunS find Tint, ' S'T^" ^^"°°« '° stock until they find a firm market : tlTo persons' can i^' Ttl f '"'' '''^^*°* *^^'^ their culling as they can return all immature oysters to their b^ds T'' ''""?"'" '° develop into larger oysters, giving a profit, if only in thlgrSw h afonl T '^° ^"^ *"'* sold by the measure ; it is especially so with tLse who SS f^orthrnr^! oysters are men when 80 many small ones are to be found when c'n.nrtblrover f^f SrL '^" ubialulBg possession or au area for the purpose of nuttine h intno I! / - , ^" the beds may be stocked by picking or LtJhlng sma, o/sti "f^m t^^^^^^^ there has been some objection to this, as it Is r^orted trdjle^e The :aS"Jds.Tu; 99 nn, and the i dead ones lad received he shells of re growing, 's was very est arm. I >f the rainy also, to the was unable er parts of latlsfactory ch, of late 3 the over- he supply, ncipally to inder more lenuded of ire caught 3t prevent lose down e found to area that uU grown, lill Creek, I down on ted in the rrled Into •; as there th of the. ease each the marl- and It Is the near OomlnioD into this e of the arsons In in,; their icular in lay and sters are y flsher- ket. Oa tlvatton, ■y beds ; eds, but „er. .re ,e.™, p...» where "^'^Z l^T, t Vwl'Ju;,:^;^!"^ ^7.tee" rrrum™t,.„ o, ,.v«e„ ,» .r v„ ;-« «-r.rn.r.=;m le.«d where oy.tcr, e.lM and ^"^r; b ,»to [Us ouTy f" r.o 8lve the» pioneer. rrrriuCe:"r.r.':vS etdi'^'-r ." l; ,? » .<.u., «.» wor.e. "%^,SSlL.,y or .his n.-..; hjs b .„ p.,r*^^^^^ .av,.n,^e 0,^.^— resouree anfl It has h»J '>''''\"y''°'i^^'\'XTZM mark and at the doors »t more .mall oysters hare heea destroyed »'»™ *« '™ """;,,|„., „,e„„a areas ; then, packers' warehonses than have ever »«» *■« by ""'^J \";',°-,;'f „„a valnable soil .,„,n m„, ^^'^^'ZZT£m::7c^TZ:::m\^'o«.^ L I™ has had also ;i:'s?Xt- 1 r; T^^ha w„h .^^^^ :S"p°fed"ron rs,rr JSraryS:««°wh.h were'too .ma„ ,.r marliet left to decay. ,i„„i„tPi^^ ^^^^^^^^ l^,,,, ^e taken to ^tmTne^r rtroTthrBa/rFunrs^^^^^^^^ -ke some experiments as to tne water oysters exist in the «««;;;°""/ ^J^V^'^;^^^^^ to wash ashore, which ruI^rortrbe^^rthatlS^^^^^^^^^ outsU; the same has also been 'KXl r^aJSps-L found in the Fmglish Channel and North Sea. ^^^ .epth^ ;sdr^^i:^w^-^^^-s^^ discharge their waters Into the gulf. 100 OVSTEB FISHING— ITS IIETIFODS. rnoLTnlZVsTJZl Z'^ZZl::':!''' ''' ^-^^'^^^ ''''' --' advantageous be given below Lnplements used are many, a description of which will e^te^nrirthe-'Ltr^^U^tr^^^^^^^^^^^ necessary machine, where areas reauiie oinn ,1 , . ^°'"'°*°°' althougn a very economic in the saving of ImrnmfrahomThr' °° '"'f "'"'' ''''''' ^'^^^^ «^« °>°«t dlflferent localities where thcrme wm' iriorn/^r "'!, "i"^f °' '''*'''°"' ^"'''^ '«'• "^e are hove up by a hand^S and in «lt "f^^ *° ^^ ^"'''^"'^ ^^^ ""'^d. others bottoms the foLer ?s mosuy wo^lfed '°"' '"'^^ '^ '''''' ^'"^•^ '« "^^-J- On shallow ^^ A fun description of this implement will be found in the special oyster report, page as therVirinsi^^^^^^^^^ aTitTdraT.ed ^' '".? 'T '''' '""^ '"^^ ^^'^ ^ b-'^' Of the uet is made o a lighter ILZ^Zf.r" ?' ^°"°'"' ^'^"^ '""^ "PP«^ Portion through the meshes l.eei T.l rarop;n";osltr"'"- ^"' ^'^^ «^"°° °' ^'^^ -^*- island it^^fSe^rt^o^'Ss'ired'^ri,'^^*^^' ""''' ^^'^«^ '^^ ^^'^^ ^^<^-rd handles will work easiyaLu one tSdti/fiV''"/' '" '^°" '" "^^""S^*^ t^^"^* l"'"' varies in size and lench of ]?!,,?., ^ "'"^^'^ "^ ^''*^ '"^"'^'^ '''•°"" the rake ; it average length"' b^^n'dlrb^ng'irorinrt^ru^^^fe^';;!'.^: Tl " l! "^^-^ '"^''''^ where curved iron teeth nboiiA in.i.L i ^^' "^"^ °' '^^^^ ^''""t 30 inches, When working with tie 'ton.sthi boat U,l' ""h""' ""^ " ^"'' '"'^^^^ "P*''-* ^--^ A^^^l = from time to time, a r S ed the totTT h°'"" "° °'''*''" ^'''' '^"'^ "^'^'^ ^»>out oysters and weed, which may lav in 1^1 '^' ^* !<^° "f ^'l "'^ the .bottom, and collects the tongs to the surla e tircomen s are cuHed"!' f 'T^ h"^" "'^'^'^"' = °° '•«'«'"« are returned to the water whTe thev Lttio nn\^ V'!J'"^ "'" ''^^*^'^' ^^»« *!»« «hells man can take a small iw-boat and nnivift ' ^.T""' ""' '^^ ""^^ *^"""^s them. A to flsh. While dredges r'nuiL^^^rvi^ bo^aVTh TaL\7''^ '" '' "'^" '^ ^'^"^^ bottoms Tl'onTlr^L 1:T '"' "T^"^"^^' "°"P'^°^^°*' •« -«^ -^ere the rake is about 30 inches wide wl^h ZrlT.VT J""""'':'- '^'^'^ ^^^'^« *° '^^'' the arranged about one and a ialf Tnches an?' S T.? '.° '" *°*^^^^ '" '^°S*'^' ^"'^ Will collect the shells and oysters from fhlL^^, '"""^'^ *''°'° ^^ *° ^5 feet long ; it through the crust of the beds and dlf mo!.e l.'""'°"°f '"'" "°^"^° ''^°'^«' ^•'«'^'^''« good they reap by their catch ^ bv tS? .^.r^n Tf *° ^ P'""" °' ^'•°"°f the water nee Edward !d that both he rake ; it ised for, the It 30 Inches, 't are fixed ; Doved about and collects on raising le the shells es them. A 8 he pleases where the In size, the length, and et long ; it s, breaking Id than the )ming more depressions eventually, :lng a hook I obtaining circular or a depth of e either of 1 an oyster a rule, the Imes when iprinklo oil mrly. But rson using Ich is split and when Jxtracted ; d no very small ones are obtained. It la seen from the above that all sorts of schemes are formed to remove the oyster from its bed. and very few persons are to be found who would lay any small oysters on these beds for development or Improvement. MUD-DIGGINO AKEAB. Several applications were made by the farmers to have some alteration made in the mud digging areas, and. In compliance with Instructions. I have been over the Eas^ West North and Johnson's Rivers, have drawn fresh lines and limits, and reserved further areas for the use of oyster fishermen. The present arrangements are satisfactory to all parties concerned, and a copy of the metes and bounds has been left with the fishery officer in Charlottetown for future reference, the original having been placed on file in this department. SIZF, LIMIT. Mv attention has been drawn to the size of some of the oysters shipped to market, and when speaking to the fishermen they state their oysters are within the size limit as they claim these small oysters are round, whereas the round oyster belongs to Caraquette. and the following regulations were originally intended for those oysters only, but it is '>ot made common use of wherever oysters are caught. Clause 6 of the oyster regula- Tns reads as follows :-" No person shall fish for. catch, kill. buy. se 1. or have In nossesston any round oysters of a less size than two inches In diameter of shell, or any fonTSste'rs measuring less than three Inches of outer shell." I would strong yaavise hat this regulation should be altered so as to read as follows :-" No pei-son shall fish for caSh km, buy or sell any oysters measuring less than three inches of outer shell, with the exception of Lose taken from Caraquette and the waters of Gloucester Coumy Three inches of shell will give a very small oyster, and that size is the lowest limit that It Is possible to give to be of any benefit or value to the Industry. I have the honour to be, sir. Your obedient servant, ERNEST KEMP, Oyster Expert.