Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-10-05
EASTERN OYSTER CULTURE.
History Of the Experiment in Pacific County.
WASHINGTON,

u LaSeCih OyotCi III dSihN SOuuVy
has been conducted quietly, and little
has been said or written thereof.
Northward of Tokeland, and on
ground covered by the waters OF
Willapa Harbor, near the mouth OF
Cedar River, are located the beds that
are destined to become more or less
famous as the experiment becomes a
success, or proves failure. This
ground is owned by the Willapa Har.
Dor Oyster Company, with headquar-
ters at Astoria, w. E. Tallant being
the President. The company is
capitalized OF $4,000, with the capi-
tai mostly paid up. Wallace Stewart,
an old-time oysterman, is manager.
Within the past two years 500 bar
rels of oysters have arrived from Long
Island Sound in refrigerator cars,
especially packed and looked after.
Upon arrival, they were quickly loaded
on barges, rapidly taken to the place
named, and as evenly and carefully as
possible distributed over the ground
which had previously been prepared
and selected with view to the best
possible protection from storms, sand,
moss, starfish and all known enemies.
The trans-shipment is tedious, owing
to the ever occurring causes for delay,
which often proves costly on account
of the perishing OF the oyster, and
extra expense of attendants. The
first shipment arrived in April, 1899,
and was week longer in transit than
it should have been. The consequent
loss staggered the promoters to the
degree that the shipment camo near
being the only one.
More than usual care must be exer-
cised in their planting, as we'll as con-
stant vigilance afterward. The beds,
of course, are subject to tidal influences
and are. as a general thing, uncovered
at extreme low tide, and to control
the depth Of water over them necessi-
tates the construction OF dykes around
the beds, that they may be properly
protected in freezing weather. This
is an imperative need and entails an
expense that the cultivator OF the
native oyster does not have to bother
with, although IL would often insure
to his advantage to adopt this method
during the Winter storms. There is
also a tendency for the oysters to wash
in ridges, and if not Immediately re-
stored to normal condition, there is a
considerable loss from smothering.
The Eastern oyster is considered fit
for market at the end of the fourth
year after planting, and with the
constant decrease from the time of
shipment to the time of marketing,
the loss may safely be put at 40 per
cent.
Another hindrance is green moss,
which during the Summer months
covers the beds to such a depth that
suffOcation of the oyster often ensues.
A still greater evil than all, is the
starfsh, of which about 10000 were
killed this year by systematic work on
the natural beds in the best known
channels of the bay. 1t is said that
many beds in the deepest water have
been wholly exterminated by them.
Then, too, the starlish, if not destroyed
on the new beds, or not prevented
from entering them by means of the
dykes heretofore mentioned, add
another danger to the successful cult
vation and growth OF the Eastern oys.
ter.
| Successful cultivation, therefore, de.
pends upon the utmost vigilance, and
the employment of all possible safe
guards. The oysters must be planted
ON especially prepared and protected
ground. They dare not be planted
deeply for the reason that all could
not be garnered when ready for market,
nor could they be properly protected
from the effect of storms. So it will
be seen that the handling of the East
ern bivalve is no child's play. The
, experiment thus far has been costly
one, for no oysters, worthy OF mention
!, have been marketed, and it is a ques.
|. ton whether it will prove financial
success, but there is this to say, that
the replants have grown rapidly, are
most delicious in taste, and firm in
texture. Mr.. Stewart lately stated
that with glass, young oysters
could be seen in the propagating
tanks which the Government has
> established near by to try the effect OF
artificial propagation, and he was
, greatly encouraged, for thus far propa'
: CATION by natural methods have
/, proven a dismal failure. If this small
: beginning is really success, it will be
. but few years before the handicap ol
5 shipping from the Eastern to Western
! waters will be removed. The success
Of the production of Eastern oysters
| here as we'll as the successful cultiva
: ton of the replants means a grea
y deal to the State in general, and te
l Pacific county in particular. Ont
h thing is very certain, if this thing doe
not prove a success in every way, i
: will be no fault of the Willapa Harbo
}. Oyster Company, who are doing al
they can in every way, sparing nelthe