BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 469 



The oyster industry is rapidly jiassinj? from the hands of the flsher- 

 nion into those of oyster-cnltiirists. The oyster, being sedentary, ex- 

 cept tor a few days in the earliest stages of its existence, is easily ex- 

 terminated in any given locality, since, although it may not be possible 

 for the fishermen to rake up from the bottom every individual, whole- 

 sale methods of capture soon result in covering up or otherwise de- 

 stroying the oyster banks or reefs, as the communities of oysters are 

 technically termed. The main difference between the oyster industry 

 of America and that of Europe lies in the fact that in Europe the 

 native beds have long since been practically destroyed, perhaps not 

 more than (J or 7 per cent, of the oysters of Europe passing from the 

 native beds directly into the hands of the consumer. It is probable that 

 from 00 to 75 per cent, are reared from the seed in artificial parks, the 

 remainder having been laid down for a time to increase in size and 

 flavor in the shoal waters along the coasts. 



In the United States, on the other hand, from 30 to 40 per cent, of all 

 the oystei's consumed are carried from the native beds directly to mar- 

 ket. The oyster-fishery is everywhere carried on in the most reckless 

 manner, and in all directions oyster-grounds are becoming deteriorated, 

 and in some cases have been entirely destroyed. It remains to be seen 

 whether the governments of the States will regulate the oyster-fisheries 

 before it is too late, or wdl permit the destruction of these vast reser- 

 voirs of food. At present the oyster is one of the cheapest articles of 

 diet in the United States, while in England, as has been well said, an 

 oyster is usually worth as much as, or more, than a new-laid egg. It can 

 hardly be expected that the price of American oysters will always 

 remain so low as at present; but, taking into consideration the great 

 wealth of the natural beds along the entire Atlantic coast, it seems prob- 

 able that a moderate amount of protection will keep the price of seed 

 oysters far below the present European rates, and that the immense 

 stretches of submerged land along our coasts e-pecially suited for oys- 

 ter planting may be utilized and made to produce an abundant harvest, 

 at a much less cost than that which accompanies the complicated sys- 

 tem of culture in France and Holland. 



233.— BRIEF 1VOTE8 IJPOIV FISBI AIVD THE FISHERIES. 



By CIIAS. "W. SMILEY. 

 [Mainly extracts from the official correspondence.] 



Fish-culture in Oregon. — Mr. B. F. Dowell, writing from Jackson- 

 ville, Oreg., August 30, 1884, says : The yearling trout at my ponds 

 near East Portland are from 6 to 8 inches long, and those hatched this 

 spring from 1 inch to li inches long. I now have about 7,500 lively 

 fry. All are doing well. Two of my neighbors have commenced rais- 



