The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-31
OYSTERS ON THE MAINE COAST.

The Damariscotta shell heaps have
long been one of the objects of interest
on the Maine coast and puzzle to the
scientist. The existence of oyster
smells In vast quantities is considered
proof positive that the bivalve once
hourlshed at that point, and the accum-
niatlons are accounted for on the
theory that the Indians held their oys-
Ter Dakes or r0asts or stews there.
Ihere Is no other way to account for
IL. Inc abOrlgines would have had no
means TO transport such an amount of
shells from distance, and there would
nave been no object in it. The shells
are fact, and as the footprint in the
SAND was proof to Robinson Crusoe
that human being had passed, 80 the
shells show that in prehistoric times
oysters grew at Damariscotta. If they
grew there once, why would they not
grow again? And why should not oys-
tiers flourish at other favorable spots
along the Maine coast? That is the
practical question long ago suggested,
to answer which some efforts have been
made on the part of individuals, and to
settle which the Maine fish commits
sion now proposes to make a systematic
attempt.
Though oysters once t1ourished along
this coast and Massachusetts bay and
even farther east and north to the gulf
OF st. Lawrence; they are not now
found on commercial scale north of
Long Island Sound. As matter of
fact there is colony of one variety in
the Sheepscot river above Wiscasset
and the supply is plentiful, but the
creatures are described as small, wa
terry and lacking in flavor, being thus
OF no market value and indicating that
there is something in the conditions not
adapted to producing the best quality
There are also beds in the bay of Cha
leur and around Prince Edward Island,
and in the latter the oyster cultivation
is said to be successfully carried on,
though the product has not the size
or flavor of the Providence river or
Chesapeake varieties. The exist
ing beds at Sheepscot and Prince Ed
ward Island prove that some varie-
ties are adapted to these waters, and
the question is whether the more valu-
able kinds may not be induced to grow
here.
This is the question which the COM
misslonerS of sea and shore fisheries
have started out to solve by expert
uCuIo, anu w UCSlA Will UuCy nave
planted oyster seed-bedS in several To-
calities the past season and have had
two experts on to examine the condi-
lions. These men. one a Providence
river grower and the other a govern
ment official, it is said have reported
favorably in all but one particular, and
that is the danger of the young fry be-
ing caught and chilled by an thrush of
cold water. -Four paintings of ten bush
els each have been made-one in the
Damariscotta river, one in York river,
one at the mouth of the Saco and one
in the New Meadows river. The young
oyster is sensitive to changes of tenn
perature and reproduction is affected if
the water goes below or above certain
points. 1t is said that the government
feared that sudden change of tenn
perature during the season when the
delicate Spat was swimming about
would destroy them by the wholesale.
1t will take time to determine this and
other questions; meanwhile it is report
ed that some of the oysters planted in
York river were dug up lately and they
showed healthy condition and signs
Of growth.
That it would be a great thing for the
State to acclimatiZe the oyster and make
it as hourishing as the lobster and The
clam needs no argument, and it is
worth while to make the experiment.
There is a possibility that the ocean
currents have changed since the time
the Damariscotta heaps were made,
and that the species was destroyed by
the ingress OF cold Arctic currents.
However, it has often been shown pos
sible for animals to change their eli
mate without injury, and the scientists
have cultivated new and harder species.
A hardy orange has been produced that
will stand the occasional Florida freezes.
Why should not Burbank produce an
oyster that will grow in the cooler wat
ers? And if good oysters can be pro-
duced on the coasts of Scotland, Den
mark and Norway, why not on the
coast of Maine? = Portland Sunday
Times.