DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES,

129
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 suitable bottom may be passed over by the mere turns of chance. It is
1hce 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 calturists. The capi—
tal 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
planters. 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.
with in other fisheries. It resembles more an agricultural process: the seed is sown
on a prepared soil, the crop is attended to and cultivated when growing, and in four
years the harvest is reaped. The oyster plant is perennial and lives to a great age.
I have before me an oyster shell from Curtain Island, Hulisborough Bay, ten inches
in length and showing over forty annual layers of shell. Once established by artificial
culture the supply might be made practically inexhaustible, inasmuch as oyster
enemies, especially starfish, are comparatively few in these waters. Oysters in
Prince Edward Island are taken only in shallow bays or in the tidal creeks from one
to six fathoms, and such tidal water is not included in land grants, and hence under
the jurisdiction of the Crown. In the present unsettled state of the fishery no one
will risk the planting of private beds, as it is doubtful if either the law or custom
of the country would protect them.
The leasing of areas for private culture would be a check, however imperfect, to
the extinction of nat ural beds from natural causes, for the reason that they woul&
throw off their surplus of free floating spawn and thereby make the natural beds
more likely to be impregnated. The first part of lessees' enterprise in artificial cul.-
ture would be to level the ground and have it paved with materials that would catch
a considerable share of the floating spawn. Were it further made imperative that no
shell.digging be allowed within a given distance of surveyed and officially recognised
beds, the evil would be curtailed as far as it is possible to be. Other advantages to
the public beds from the establishment of private culture will present themselves on
consideration.
In this Province the requirements for successful oyster culture, namely, sheltered
bays and estuaries with sound bottom and the suitable degree of salinity, are every—
where in the three counties, and oysters could be readily plianted. Cardigan Bay,
King's County, and the estuary of Winter River, Queen's County, areespecially well
adapted forplantations. Some few favored localities are as favorable for culture—if
planted with proper seed—as the far-famed English coast of Kent4
In regard to further extending the close season, the following figures may be of
use. Summerside is the main port of shipment, sending away two.thirds of the entire
catch, but from other ports shipments are also made to the markets of St. John, N.B.,
Quebec, Montreal and other places, chiefly in the Upper Provinces. Supposing the
fishermen get to work, from 5th to 15th May, they can meet the spring demand, at a
high price, say 1,0(0 barre's. Epicures would perhaps suffer more than the fishermen
were spring fishing stopped. From 15th September, when the fishery re.opens,
lo 30th September, about 8,000 barrels are shipped. In October, say 13,000; in
November the same, November being the month in which supplies are laid in for'
winter. To cut off November would therefore be inconvenient, commercially. In
December a few hundred barrels will cover shipments. According to appearance,.
the fishery had best be amended by strict regulation during the fishing season, rather
than by shortening the time of fishing. It is, however, a matter for farther
consideration.
Other items present themselves in connection with the public fishing. Such are
more clearly defined duties for the 'Wardens; a definite legal size of oyster; the absolute
prohibition of fishing through the ice; the licensing of oyster boats; 'the selection
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