The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster 



operate. So on May 25,1914, the Oyster Bay Growers had 

 a meeting and decided to form a new Association to be 

 known as the "Oyster Bay Growers Association." Their 

 principle objects was to establish a patrol to protect 

 their oysters from theft or other predators, meaning 

 ducks. 



On July 28, 1914, they adopted a Constitution and By- 

 Laws, which were signed by the following charter mem- 

 bers: E. B. Taylor, Mgr. of S. K. Taylor & Son; J. J. 

 Brenner Oyster Co., by J. J. Brenner; E. N. Steele; Olym- 

 pia Oyster Co., by G. W. Draham, Pres.; Olympia Oyster 

 Investment Co., by G. W. Ingham, Pres.; D. R. Helser; 

 J"ohn H. Blass; J. B. Bowman. 



This organization employed the ex-deputy sheriff of 

 Thurston County William Vance, as its patrolman. It was 

 maintained until 1925, a period of eleven years; the ex- 

 pense being borne by self assessment of its members. 



At one time the Federal Game Warden, who was 

 questioning the legality of shooting ducks out of season, 

 asked that the gizzards ol the ducks be sent to Washing- 

 ton, to see if they were eating oysters. Over one thousand 

 were sent, each with information as to the date and time 

 of day, stage of the tide and where killed. These gizzards 

 showed a content of from one to twenty-seven oysters in 

 each one, depending largely on when and where shot. 

 The quantity of oysters per year eaten by ducks was esti- 

 mated to run over one thousand sacks. Following this 

 experiment, a permit was granted to carry on the patrol. 



But upon change of administration the Federal Game 

 Protector challenged it again. He made a trip out here, 

 and the conditions were explained as we took him over 



(74) 



