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to reproduce their species; that lobsters of nine inches in clear length are a little over<br />
three year old; and that the average of lobster life is eight to nine years—some few<br />
giant males of great age, nowithstanding. On this data, if correct, the general<br />
theory of lobster protection may be safely b tee!. The practical question narrowa<br />
itself to the important queries: can the bulk of small lobsters that escape in the<br />
fishing season ever multiply so fast as to reach nine inches, despite the annual fishing<br />
and bring the standard baflk in quantity and dimension to that which existed before<br />
the industry was overdone? Or would three years of complete rest so advance the<br />
crop, by three years in the scale of age and reproduction, as to bring the small<br />
lobsters of to day forward into mature spawning fish in the fishery of 1S9?<br />
Closing the lobster season on 15th July liberated the lobster fishermen for the<br />
fishing of mackerel, but they found few or none to compensate them for the loss of<br />
six weeks' factory wages. This intensifies the cry on their part for a renewal of<br />
lobster fishing next year.<br />
Here offering no opinion as to the desiralsitity of continuing the lobster fishery<br />
in its present exhausted state, I would suggest that, were it. restored to its former<br />
condition, it would be advantageous to raise the standard of dimension to ten clear<br />
inches, as has been done in the United States. At present it is all but impossible in<br />
Prince Edward Island to keep the size up to nine inches.<br />
The staff of fishery wardens is altogether too small and too slenderly paid, to<br />
keep anything like sofficiently strict watch against undersized lobsters in faotories,<br />
sometimes scattered over miles distant from the officer's residence. Existing regulations<br />
as to supervision therefore prove signally ineffective in practice. For the extra<br />
service the wardens have this year been called on to perform they have put in a<br />
'claim for compensation.<br />
Prosecution of twelve offenders has been made, and fines imposed. The penalties,<br />
where there are any effects, are in process of collection.<br />
OYSTERS.<br />
Oyster fishing was prosecuted with vigor. According to a proverb among fishermen<br />
that a dry summer produces good oysters, the quality h-ts been superior. The<br />
market runs in commercial grooves, the shippers supplying the same customera<br />
year after year, chiefly in the upper provinces; but were increase of production to<br />
take place, new markets would open, the oyster being one of the few articles whereof<br />
the supply rarely equals the demand. In 1886 were produced 33, E25 barrels; in<br />
1887, say 36,448 barrels, and this year 35,861 barrels. To this add ,O00 barrels used<br />
in home consumption. The catch would have been larger but for unsettled weather.<br />
In accordance with directions from the Department, extra care was this year<br />
taken to prevent the shipment of oysters in advance of the legal day. Efforts were<br />
successful in checking it, bat, as usual, an immense rush was made in the earliest<br />
days of the season. The first shipment, 440 barrels, was made from Summerside on<br />
18th September, and 1,000 barrels more before the week was out. One consignment<br />
ot ten barrels was expressed to Quebec on the first legal day to head the mar<br />
ket, at an expense of $25 freightage.<br />
Canada is perhaps the only civilized country in which the oyster fishery, as a<br />
national resource, is not carefully developed. The State of New York has just coin<br />
pleted a three years' survey of its oyster beds, under the able superintendence of<br />
Mr. Eugene U. Blackford. Connecticut has made an exhaustive survey and issued<br />
easy and practical regulations for private culture. Delaware, Virginia, and other<br />
States, have comprehensive rules. What has been done in France, the Netherla,nda,<br />
Britain, and in a lesser degree in Germany, need not be here mentioned. Suffice it<br />
to say that in all the countries named, the Government can lay its hand on any spot<br />
of ground suitable for oyster cultur , and the public are encouraged to develop the<br />
oyster industry both by public and private culture. In Canada it is not so. In<br />
Australia oyster planting is being attended to. An English company, crowded for<br />
room at home, has even leased the Bay of Aboukir, in Egypt, for a like purpose.