The Rise And Decline Of The Objmpia Oyster 



I, E. N. Steele was selected to write this story, largely 

 because I had been Secretary of the Olympia Oyster 

 Growers Association from the date of its Charter until 

 December 1941; over 35 years, thus being in possession 

 of the records, correspondence, and an exhaustive file of 

 information that had come into my possession through 

 the years, and having taken an active part in the import- 

 ant incidents connected with the history of the Olympia 

 Oyster. I knew the history of every area where 01ym.pia 

 Oysters were grown and had known personally those en- 

 gaged in the industry. The assignment was accepted by 

 the author with a hope that he might put the facts to- 

 gether in such a manner as to do justice, not only to the 

 quality of the oyster, but to those pioneers who develop- 

 ed the industry — a few resourceful and determined men 

 who found an oyster growing in the waters of Southern 

 Puget Sound in it's wild state, and step by step develop- 

 ed the highest level of oyster culture known by man. 



The perfection attained was such that in 1929 the 

 United States Bureau of Fisheries, in Docum.ent No. 1066, 

 made the following comment: 



"In the southern part of Puget Sound the oyster in- 

 dustry has developed an elaborate method of cultivation. 

 This system of oyster culture, which is employed chiefly 

 near Olympia, was developed through the utilization of 

 methods used in France and by experimentation and 

 observation made by the most progressive oystermxen." 



It is hoped that this book will be of interest, not only 

 to future generations of those who took part in the re- 

 corded events, but that it may contain sufficient 

 authentic information to be of general interest. 



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