The Rise And Decline Of The Olympia Oyster 



of Mud Bay. He developed it by use of a fine system of 

 dikes, grew a good oyster, and continued to operate it 

 until his death. His family still operates it. 



Mud Bay was never the seed producing ground that 

 Oyster Bay was. Years later than the incident above re- 

 lated, J. J. Brenner Oyster Company acquired their 

 holdings in Oyster Bay. It was very good seed ground. I 

 have often seen their long string of scows loaded heavily 

 with oyster seed from their own beds, move out of Oyster 

 Bay, towed by their own power boat, to be planted on 

 their beds in Mud Bay. What a difference a new mode 

 of transportation has brought about. 



History records that Michael T. Simmons was among 

 the first pioneers to settle in this region, and that Chris- 

 topher Columbus Simmons was the first white male child 

 to be born West of the Columbia River. It is therefore of 

 interest to know that several of his relatives have be- 

 come interested in oyster production in Mud Bay. 



M. C. Simmons, a pioneer oysterman on the west 

 side of the bay, was one of these. He died many years 

 ago, but his widow carried on. Then their son Dudley 

 continued until his death. Those beds are now owned and 

 operated by Hershel H. Adams. On these beds are still 

 found the Olympia Oyster, about the last in Mud Bay. 

 ZaZa Simmons, another pioneer oysterman, is also re- 

 lated. He has been for many years an oyster grower and 

 packer on Mud Bay. His shucking plant is located near 

 his oyster beds. 



The Ellison Brothers, Ray and Newell, are also re- 

 lated to the pioneer Simmons family through marriage. 

 In 1924 they purchased a small tract of Mud Bay land 



(107) 



