DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

127
to reproduce their species; that lobsters of nine inches in clear length are a little over
three year old; and that the average of lobster life is eight to nine years—some few
giant males of great age, nowithstanding. On this data, if correct, the general
theory of lobster protection may be safely b tee!. The practical question narrowa
itself to the important queries: can the bulk of small lobsters that escape in the
fishing season ever multiply so fast as to reach nine inches, despite the annual fishing
and bring the standard baflk in quantity and dimension to that which existed before
the industry was overdone? Or would three years of complete rest so advance the
crop, by three years in the scale of age and reproduction, as to bring the small
lobsters of to day forward into mature spawning fish in the fishery of 1S9?
Closing the lobster season on 15th July liberated the lobster fishermen for the
fishing of mackerel, but they found few or none to compensate them for the loss of
six weeks' factory wages. This intensifies the cry on their part for a renewal of
lobster fishing next year.
Here offering no opinion as to the desiralsitity of continuing the lobster fishery
in its present exhausted state, I would suggest that, were it. restored to its former
condition, it would be advantageous to raise the standard of dimension to ten clear
inches, as has been done in the United States. At present it is all but impossible in
Prince Edward Island to keep the size up to nine inches.
The staff of fishery wardens is altogether too small and too slenderly paid, to
keep anything like sofficiently strict watch against undersized lobsters in faotories,
sometimes scattered over miles distant from the officer's residence. Existing regulations
as to supervision therefore prove signally ineffective in practice. For the extra
service the wardens have this year been called on to perform they have put in a
'claim for compensation.
Prosecution of twelve offenders has been made, and fines imposed. The penalties,
where there are any effects, are in process of collection.
OYSTERS.
Oyster fishing was prosecuted with vigor. According to a proverb among fishermen
that a dry summer produces good oysters, the quality h-ts been superior. The
market runs in commercial grooves, the shippers supplying the same customera
year after year, chiefly in the upper provinces; but were increase of production to
take place, new markets would open, the oyster being one of the few articles whereof
the supply rarely equals the demand. In 1886 were produced 33, E25 barrels; in
1887, say 36,448 barrels, and this year 35,861 barrels. To this add ,O00 barrels used
in home consumption. The catch would have been larger but for unsettled weather.
In accordance with directions from the Department, extra care was this year
taken to prevent the shipment of oysters in advance of the legal day. Efforts were
successful in checking it, bat, as usual, an immense rush was made in the earliest
days of the season. The first shipment, 440 barrels, was made from Summerside on
18th September, and 1,000 barrels more before the week was out. One consignment
ot ten barrels was expressed to Quebec on the first legal day to head the mar
ket, at an expense of $25 freightage.
Canada is perhaps the only civilized country in which the oyster fishery, as a
national resource, is not carefully developed. The State of New York has just coin
pleted a three years' survey of its oyster beds, under the able superintendence of
Mr. Eugene U. Blackford. Connecticut has made an exhaustive survey and issued
easy and practical regulations for private culture. Delaware, Virginia, and other
States, have comprehensive rules. What has been done in France, the Netherla,nda,
Britain, and in a lesser degree in Germany, need not be here mentioned. Suffice it
to say that in all the countries named, the Government can lay its hand on any spot
of ground suitable for oyster cultur , and the public are encouraged to develop the
oyster industry both by public and private culture. In Canada it is not so. In
Australia oyster planting is being attended to. An English company, crowded for
room at home, has even leased the Bay of Aboukir, in Egypt, for a like purpose.