The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-10-11

from their enemies, the starfish
and crab, can be grown in Ha-
= waiian waters as successfully as in any
other waters on both the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. The recent investiga-
tions of the experiments In oyster cul-
tivation in Pearl Harbor showed that
the oysters had not lived and the cx-
pertinent to all intents was pronounced
a failure. w. ". Armstrong, who has had
wide experience in the propagation of
oysters along the Atlantic coast, falls
to see that the result OF this expert
ment proves that the cultivation of the
bivalves cannot be carried on success
fully If the same precautions as are
employed BY the French cultivators are
established here. Time and patience
are two attributes in the raising of
oysters which are essentials which must
be taken into consideration.
THE conditions for raising oysters
in Pearl Harbor," said Mr.. Armstrong
yesterday, ARE wholly favorable. The
existence of shell mounds at various
places in the harbor indicates that the
oyster flOurished here at some previous
time. They were OF an excellent shape
than the ordinary ones owing probably
to the existence of so much lime in the
water. That part Of the Island of Ca
hu was thrown up by some eruption.
distance of some thirty feet, and prob
ably all the oysters were then destroy
ed, and there has been no growth since
then that has amounted to anything.
The oyster fiourishes in the tropics as
well as in the temperate zones. An ex-
cellent quality is found in Tahiti. The
late British Commissioner Halves stat
ed that he had found quite an album
dance of fine oysters on the coast of
Tahiti. In the Gulf of California very
large and luscious oysters are found.
On both sides OF Cuba there are eN-
cellent oysters. They flourish in warm
waters. In the Gulf OF Mexico all along
down the coast of Texas to the Mexican
line they are found in quantities II is
conceded. however, that the oyster of
the tropics is not quite as fine as that
obtained in the colder regions.
The water OF Pearl Harbor contains
just the proper mixture of salt and
fresh water to produce Il good oyster.
1t is of the same quality as the water
largest quantities of oysters in the
United States are produced. Prof.
Agassiz, when he was here two or three
years ago, looked into the matter and
agreed that there was no reason why
the oysters should not flourish here as
well al elsewhere and strongly advis-
ed that experiments be made.
But the oyster in every country has
to fight its enemies. In Long Island
Sound where the finest quality are
found for the eastern American mar
ket, the star;ish is 50 destructive that
it at times imperils the industry.
Cases are known where a body of star
fish have settled on a body of oysters
and have destroyed in twenty-four
hours as many az 10000 bushels In the
Bay of San Francisco the same diff
ficulties are met with, and probably the
most expensive oyster grounds in the
United States are in San Francisco Bay !
because they have to be protected by |
upright planks driven into the mud like
a stockade SO that the starfish cam
not penetrate it. In the event of the !
loss of n single plank starfish would |
get in and destroy large guam
titles These enemies have largely in
terfered with the growth of the oyster |
in the waters around Califor- |
MIA.
Small experiments have been made |
in oyster growing in Pearl Harbor but |
they have not been conducted intel
ligently or with skill, and 1t Is not sur
prising there has been no success in !
the venture. All the oysters that have |
been planted there have not been pro-
tected from the crabs and starfish and |
perhaps other fish. The difficulties of |
raising oysters here cannot be any |
greater than in the bay of San Fran
cisco and in some parts of the East
ern States where protection is obtained |
only at vast expense.
Probably the French system of oys-
ter culture would be the most success
full in the Hawaiian Islands. If fish |
pond covering half an acre, was prop
erly prepared and the sides either
or walled in to prevent the
;rabs or startish from coming in, and
The communication between the harbor
and pond made through thin wire sieves
SO as to permit the free ingress and
'gress OF water at all times, there would
would thrive. After the oysters were
planted in the pond they would have to
become acclimatized, for experience
shows that oysters will not breed i'm
nediately after removal. and in some
asses they will not breed for two or
hree years. II the oysters thrive. AS
hey will thrive, and experience shows
hey do thrive here, then after the &C
has set in the breeding
Will take place. Then If the enemies
ire carefully excluded. the spat or
pawn will fix itself to any rocks or
'mooth substances that may be in the
'ond. These spawn would be- removed
lfter a few months to another pond
md the small oysters given more room.
This is the French system which is
'racticed with great success for the
'arisian market.