The Rise And Decline Of The Ol^mpia Oyster 



about, to develop, protect, and hand down through post- 

 erity to future generations. In reporting our management 

 of that trust, and that the decline has not been the fault 

 of said trustees, I shall set out the facts. 



I have already stated that from time to time pests, 

 enemies of the Olympia Oyster, have appeared and how 

 these pests have been treated as a challenge, the same as 

 pests of upland crops. They have been kept down or de- 

 stroyed. The star fish, the cup or slipper shell, the drill, 

 caused a lot of work, but were overcome to an extent 

 that they did not materially reduce the size of the crops. 



The oyster growers feel that the decline has been 

 caused by pulp mill waste from the mill at Shelton. To 

 substantiate this belief a separate article has been pre- 

 pared, citing authorities by biologists standing high in 

 their profession and appearing in Public Documents, 

 which co-ordinate with the opinion of the oystermen 

 acquired by experience and observation. It will be found 

 at the conclusion of this thesis. Appendix A. 



As to the decline of the Olympia Oyster industry, I 

 refer to a bulletin No. 49-A, published by the State of 

 Washington in April, 1949. It was prepared by Donald L. 

 McKernan, Vance Tartar, and Roger Tollefson, State 

 Oyster Laboratory, Gig Harbor, Washington, and is en- 

 titled "An investigation of the decline of the Native 

 Oyster industry of the State of Washington, with special 

 reference to the effect of Sulfite Pulp Mill waste on the 

 Olympia Oyster (Ostrea lurida). 



In his introductory remarks the author expresses in- 

 debtness to Drs. W. M. Chapman and A. H. Banner, as 

 well as to Messrs. John Glud and Lief Wahl for making 



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