Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-06-19
Oysters Of the Upper Sound.


A fair estimate makes the shore
line of Puget Sound controlled bv
Thurston county equal 10 about sew
enty-tive miles. The advantages re-
sulting from thus being adjacent to
salt water cannot be over-estimated.
Besides number of good barbors,
this extended shore expanse affords
many convenient commercial outlets
to every farmer whose property is
bounded by the meander lines of the
Sound.
Oysters and CLANS can be had
merely for the labor OF digging and
dredging, while salmon trout and
smelt are equally abundant i'm every
considerable inlet that skirts the
shore. The vastly indented coast line
OF Thurston county, if properly util-
lied in the planting and raising Of
oysters, alone, would afford lucrative
employment to hundreds of men,
while the cash returns for the export
ed product would reach far into the
hundreds of thousands annually.
From reliable sources it appears that
the output of the Olympia oyster beds
amounts to from two hundred and
fifty to three hundred sacks of oysters
per week during the season, say from
four TO five months in the year. These
sacks hold about a hundred and
twenty pounds of oysters each, thus
making about fifteen tons a week, or
in round numbers two hundred and
fifty tons for the oyster season.
These oysters are worth $25 per ton,
and there is received by those en-.
gagged in the trade at least $3.50 for
considerably less than half a years
labor. Now these figures are signili-
cant indications OF what would be the
result if our oyster beds were taxed to
their full capacity of production.
Relying upon United States census
reports for our guide, we find that six
teen years ago there were less than
one hundred persons employed in the
oyster industry within the limits OF
what is now the State OF Washington.
The capital invested was $3.50, and
the number of bushels produced dur
ing the season $1,000. At three dol
lars per bushel, the price then real
lied, the gross proceeds amounted to
N5,OOO. 1t is safe TO say that since
that time the oyster production has
more than quadrupled. A fair esti-
mate would be quarter OF million
dollars for the value OF the oysters now
produced each year in the State OF
Washington. In ten years even these
figures could be quadrupled.
Now the seventy.five miles OF shore
line in Thurston county afford hun
dreds OF acres OF tide flats splendidly
adapted to the rearing of as fine
quality OF oysters as the world can
produce. Puget Sound oysters are
not unknown to commerce; on the
contrary, they have already a national
reputation for their peculiar flavor.
In the up-to.date edition OF the Cy-
clopsdia Britannica, honorable mention
is made OF Straits of Fuca and Puget
Sound oysters" These are there
spoken of as being small but of "fine
flavor" Such testimony as this is of
incalculable value to the oyster deal
ers OF the upper Sound districts and it
should be duly appreciated by them.
In three years after planting the
spawn, oysters can be shipped from
the beds in paying quantities, and
there is no fear of Cutting the mar.
ket, for every sack we'll put up will
bring its full cash value on delivery.
Like that of all other perishable pro-
ducts, the oyster industry is cash
business from the Indian or white Ia.
borer who does the dredging, through
all the the upgrade lines OF middle
men to the actual consumer himself.
In word, it is cash from beginning
to end.
Thus, will it he seen, here is an op.
portunity for live, energetic men to
open wide door of lasting industry.
Who will stay home from Alaska and
make the ventureP