The Rise And Decline Of The Ol}fmpia Oyster 



13 



State Oyster Reserves 



THE EARLY LEGISLATURES, AFTER THE STATE 

 of Washington attained statehood, were made up of pio- 

 neers. They must have appreciated very much our natur- 

 al resources, and especially the native oyster. It is always 

 easy to view and appraise the wisdom of legislation from 

 the standpoint of history from results of said legislation. 

 In the case of oyster legislation by our pioneer legisla- 

 tures it is difficult now to see how it could have been im- 

 proved. We owe a debt of gratitude for the wisdom, fair- 

 ness and practical manner in which it was treated and 

 covered by legislation meeting the needs of that day, and 

 the years to come. 



First, they passed the Callow Act, which has been 

 previously referred to. This basic law gave those who 

 had, prior to March 26, 1890, occupied oyster land and 



(81) 



