The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster 



dustry pioneers, to which all the old timers who had 

 been engaged in the oyster business were invited as 

 guests. Only three were left who were charter members 

 of the Olympia Oyster Growers Association, and who had 

 signed the original Constitution and By-Laws thereof 

 fifty years previous; all three were present, to wit: J. J. 

 Brenner (age 96), George Draham (age 86), and the 

 author of this book, E. N. Steele, (age 74). 



The banquet was followed by a program. Harley Post, 

 Toastmaster, introduced the guests with historic refer- 

 ences to many things of interest which had happened 

 during the numerous years he had worked with them in 

 the Olympia Oyster industry. 



As speaker of the evening, I gave a graphic review of 

 the origin and development of the Olympia Oyster cul- 

 ture, the harvesting and marketing, the rise and decline 

 of the industry, and made numerous references to parts 

 played by the different pioneers,. 



Following this, there were very interesting talks by 

 Dave McMillin, Earl Brenner, George Draham, and other 

 old timers, relating their experiences connected with 

 the Olympia Oyster industry during the past 50 years. 



DECISION TO HAVE THE "LIFE HISTORY OF 



OLYMPIA OYSTER" WRITTEN. 

 As an outgrowth of this event, the Olympia Oyster 

 Growers Association decided that while the pioneers 

 still lived who had personally experienced and partici- 

 pated in the origin and development, (the life history, let 

 us say) of the Olympia Oyster industry, it should be 

 written and preserved for posterity. 



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