174a 

 PHILIP H. PARKER 

 understanding of their potential. (2) The current pre- 

 dicted need for additional sources of food makes it 

 necessary to know v^^hat our resource is capable of. (3) 

 It is only thru full realization of the magnitude of the 

 oyster producing potential of Puget Sound that adequate 

 consideration can be given to this resource in the con- 

 tinually increasing competition for use of the water. 



"Many biological, hydrographic , and geo- 

 graphic factors, along with cultural techniques, inter- 

 relate to determine what the oyster producing potential 

 of Puget Sound is. Demand for oysters, economics, and 

 competition for use of the water area will determine what 

 portion of this potential will actually be realized. 



"In making this evaluation I would first 

 like to briefly consider some aspects of demand, and 

 secondly go on to review in some detail the actual pro- 

 ducing potential of Puget Sound. 



"Demand for oysters is governed by many 

 factors. Some clues that seem particularly important in 

 evaluating demand are par'b and present rates of oyster 

 production and the reasons for changes; the trend of human 

 population; and the general availability, of food, present 

 and future. 



"Figure 1 presents an evaluation of oyster 



