The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-12-14

sters On the faclflc coast, which has
been one of the MIST questionable
undertaking. that has beSn instituted
by the commission. Opinions as to
re outcome Of Che experiment haye
Zen quite varied: s0she opinion of a
Qualified expert viii be appreciated.
GA this subject Conmissiony Bowers
SAYS:
Althougl the eastern oyster has
= n acclimatizcd in the Pacific states
~ number Of yearf, it is only in
California that natural reproduction
is known to have taken place. If the
oysters in Oregon and Washington
have reproduced, the young have not
survived the free swimming stage.
This matter is naturally attracting
the attention of the state fishery au-
thOrities. Reference to the studies Of
the eastern oysters planted in Yaquina
bay are made in previous reports of
the division. In 1889 the condition
of the oysters in Willapa bay received
attention. The commissioners had
planted many barrels of eastern oysters
in the place in the past, with the
understanding that they would be
promptly guarded and left to multiply.
The absence of recent reports from
this lot, together with requests from
the state that the physical conditions
in the bay be considered with reference
to oyster propagation, led the commits
sion to undertake a preliminary ex-
animation. DR.. H. F. Moore, natura-
ist on the Albatross and an oyster ex-
pert, having been detailed to visit the
bay in August. 1899, made the follow
ing report:
Pursuant to orders / have visited
Wlllapa bay Tor the purpose of exami-
ming the eastern oysters planted there
by the commission and to determine
whether natural spawning has taken
place, and if not, whether there are
physical conditions to prevent it, /
have found that the oysters planted
there by the commission have been
almost extermined,. somewhat
lengthy search resulting in finding
but five. The reasons for this are not
be defined from the brief examination
which it was possible for me to make.
They may have become buried by
shifting of the bottom or by the de-
post of silt, but from the condition of
the shells found am inclined to think
that neither explanation is adequate,
and that some at least, of the trans
planted oysters have found their way
to market. | understand that these
oysters were bedded rather thickly,
aud it they and the dead shells haye
not become buried they have certainly
keen carried off through some agency
l have learned from tie oystermen
that at the end of the first year large
proportion of those planted had survi-
we'd and were on the beds, bat. after
that they became gradually fewer. 1t
would appear, therefore, that they had
withstood the vicisitudes of transport
tation with a fair degree of success.
"During the last two or three years
several private beds of eastern oysters
have been established in different parts
OF Willapa bay, possibly because i. is
somebody's interest to protect them
from depredations os unprinciplp,l
persons.
"In this connection | should ccun-
sci against further paintings of oysters
on this coast by the commission un-
less satisfactory guarantee can be Of
fered that they will be protected from
theft. A general assurance from the
oystermen of a given locality is not
sufficient, as then nobody feels the re-
sponsibil:ty and no one wishes to as.
sumo the onus of prosecuting the Of
tenders even if They're detected.
in two of the five oysters found the
ovaries were well developed, ang ap-
parently ripe eggs could be squeezed
from the uviduct. The other three
were not sexually mature, and as nc
males were found the possibility OF
fertilizing the eggs could not be tes-
ted. / understand, however, that
Professor Doane OF the State Agricul-
tnral college succeeded in fertilizing
some eggs earlier in the summer. : He
Is aaid to be carrying on experiments
on the artificial formulation As a sol
ution OF the difficulties in establishing
self-sustalning beds.
$50 far as l could learn there il nc
evidence tina: the eastern oyster has
ever naturally spawned here, or rathe,
that there has ever been set CT spat
/ think that the cold water here viii
prevent that, under ordinary condi
tons, bat believe that in shallow
ponds suitably constructed. and With
proper precautions against the dcposi
OF silt on the cultch, spat may b
raised for c,,La.<>..e.,-. Il 80. .