The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-01-19

" StsSoSSSA Fo,'oV III ga
perimenting with TIE propagation of
Eastern oysters ION Puget. Sound and
WIllapa 4aarbor during. the coming
sumnlAr: There, is this amount in the
fund voted by tile last legislature for
the purpose, and within few days
Fish Commissioner Little will have
before him the report of Professor
Doane as to the preliminary work and
be ready to make his plans for the sea-
son,
Professor Doane last summer made
thorough investigation of conditions,
paying especial atteotion to Willapa
harbor He made trip to Yaauina
bay, Ore, where Professor Washburn
had been trying experiments for some
time, and then went East in the states
interest. The result of his inyestiga=
tions will be given In special report
to the fish commissioners which is ex-
pected to arrive from Pullman within
few days.
What corresponds most nearly to
the French park system will be at
tempted on Puget Sound. A repre-
sentative of the fisheries department.
is now looking for suitable location
and is personally visiting those parts
of the Sound which seem best adapted
for the work. Fish Commissioner Lit
tie desires report of this character
before deciding upon location.
IF possible, a natural oyster bed is
desired, or place where oysters have
been raised artifcially. At Tokland,
on Willapa harhor, Eastern oysters
have been found to flourish in West
ern waters, but have not yet been in.
duced TO spawn. This is the problem
which the fisheries department will
attempt to solve this year.
A place will be selected where it will
be possible ts enclose portion of the
bay by building dykes, and this will be
used for experimental purposes. 1t is
proposed to build dyke or gate ten feet
high and keep the water inside an en-
closure at depth OF not less than
eight feet. Inside here the effort will
be made to raise Eastern oysters alti7
ficially. The plan involves number
of details rot yet fully determined
upon.
The theory OF oystermen is that the
receding tide carries away the young
oysters, and in the case of Eastern
oysters which have not gained foot
hold, destroys the young as fast as
they are Matched. This makes it i'm
possible to propagate Eastern oysters
in an exposed place with any degree OF
success, though as shown at San Fran
cisco, it could be accomplished ulti-
mately by keeping the bed supplied
with new oysters for an indefinite
period. This, though, is too uncertain
and indefinite, and the park system is
expected to solve the problem earlier.
In Mason county the park system for
raising Sound oysters works remark
able we'll.
Fish Commissioners Little will en-
deavor to interest the government IN
plan to bring out Holsters and attempt
their artificial propagation in Puget
Sounp. If unsuccessful in interesting
federal officials the state will under
take the work out of money appropri-
ated for oyster and lobster cultivation.
1t is proposed to bring the Holsters out
before they are Matched, as the fish
commissioner has found there is ex-
treme danger of mature Holsters dying
en- route.
The lobster experiment will be tried
on some rocky point. A stony beach
with grass and seaweed growing to
lessen the rush of waters and flood and
ebb tide, is desirable. Both the oys-
sters and Holsters will be brought from
the East in April. Fish Commission
Little goes East next month to make
arrangements.-Ledger.