The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-03
MMS CANADIAN OYSTERS.
Sudden Jump Into Popularity Of h DO
minion's Btvalves.

mfni0n's BtNalvos.
QUEBHc. Nov. 2.-The ooent jump OF
Canadian oysters into popularity both In
the United States and In Europe, where they
received the highest award at the Paris
Exposition. has been followed by a visit
OF inspection here by DR.. F. II. Moore OF
the United States Fishery Commission,
The commission intends to make an at
tempt to breed oysters by artificial means
on the Pacific coast. Former attempts
In this direction, both by Canada and the
United States resulted in a failure. DR..
Moore has been engaged with the Canadian
oyster expert. Mr.. Kemp, In taking tempera-
ture and other observations. and In testing
the salinity OF the water in various parts OF
Prince Edward Island.
As oysters are supposed TO thrive best
in cool waters. DR.. Moore expresses aston
ishment at the high average temperature
Of the Canadian oyster beds. his observa-
tons showing that the temperature ranged
from 90 TO 90 degrees. Experts have re-
ported hat on the Pacific coast the tenn
perature Ia from seven to eight degrees
lower and moro favorable than at Prince
Edward Island.
Canada's fsvorte oyster Is the Malpeoque.
which, like the Narrows. the Caraquet
and several other prime bivalves comes from
Prince Edward Island. They are the
largest Of Canadian oysters n the Cara
quets the smallest.
Tn Malpecques, when In prime condi-
ton. are very large, specimens being often
met with up to eight or nine inches long.
Some are almost circular. but most Of the
larger ones are about two-thirds as wide
as they are long.
BY tho majority OF Canadians the largest
oysters are the most highly esteemed.
They are exceedingly fat and meaty, those
Malpeoques, when In good order, and are
always taken in a single mouthful. As
smaller ones are preferred in the United
States, the dealers who nave a Canadian
and an American trade are able. by ssorting
their stock before shipping, TO obtain the
highest price for both large and small
Malpecques.
The Narrows are beautiful oysters, quite
as valuable as the Malpecques in many
localities. Both Malpecques and Narrows
have a particularly saline flavor. Can
adams and even Americans h have
lived here long enough to become accus-
TONED to them, prefer them to the famous
Blue Points, or any other less saline bivalve.
The Canadian oyster fishing season begins
on Sept. 10. This year a strong attempt
was made by the Mayor of Quebec and
others 10 induce tho Dominion Govern
ment to allow the season TO open "A few
days earlier than usual so that Canadian
oysters might appear upon the bill of fare
for the Duke and Duchess OF York when
they dined here on Sept. 10, the date OF
their landing in Canad The Govern
ment declined TO make the exception, how
ever, and there II a movement afoot to
have the opening Of the season deferred
until Oct. I.
The minimum limit Of oysters allowed
TO be caught by the law is two inches in
diameter of shell for round oysters and
three inches Of outer shell for long oysters.
A change in this limit is now proposed.
As an illustration Of the unpopularity
here Of the small oysters so much in vogue
in the United States, the Canadian oyster
expert reports that "a threc-inch oyster
Is really too small for market. but when it
comes down to two inches il II out of char
acter altogether. Several com plants have
been made OF the small size limit that is
at present in force. and until n change il
made the fishermen will not throw over
an oyster which il really OF legal size, though
utterly unfit for market"